Monday 10th August 2026

At Sea, en route for Isafjordur

Steps: 10,413

We are back on U.K. (B.S.T) time, just for today.

Despite the extra hour, I missed breakfast this morning for the first time on this voyage.  However, I slept well and feel a little more rejuvenated after days of mild travel fatigue.  Yesterday, the sea was noticeably turbulent; today is calmer, but outside the temperatures are in single figures Centigrade. 

I spent time this morning in my stateroom trying to catch up on a lecture given yesterday on eclipses, their history and how best to experience Wednesday’s total eclipse.  At around 11.30, I wrapped up warmly to walk around part of the open decks 12 and 13 as well as three full laps of deck 7.  During this burst of uncharacteristic (for me) exercise,  I found it cool out there, but not unbearable 9°C.

What I hadn’t realised was that where we are now, and where we shall be sailing is the best place and time of year for whale watching.  12.58. Time  for lunch! 

That’s weird!  This blog was published before I finished writing. (17.58 hrs)

I joined Janet, Frank and Trina for a buffet lunch in the Kings Court. Their dining room breakfast had become a big disappointment this morning and they were not keen to return to Britannia for lunch!  Despite being busy, we found a table for four in a bay window area.  I chose duck, not a l’orange but with a mix of other strange choices.

After lunch, I adjourned to the Carinthia Lounge where, at 15.15 hrs astronomy expert Markus Stablei would be taking questions from the floor mainly concerning Wednesday’s extremely rare total eclipse, which I understand to be the first ever in Reykjavik.  I learn that the whole event will take two hours from 16.47hrs to 18.47 hrs, with absolute totality just 60 seconds! 

I may do a quick circuit of Iceland’s capital on a hop-on hop-off  bus.  My plan is to be on Deck 14 facing west, probably identical to the plans of maybe 2,000 others, although many will have their own private balcony, any west facing being a perfect spot.

Captain Connery surprised me in his noon-day address that at 16.00 hrs, we would cross the Arctic Circle.  I always believed that Iceland was just south of the ArcticCircle. Google confirms that the mainland is, and perhaps we are approaching from the North.  

I did a little more deck walking late this afternoon but it was too windy and cool to stay out for long.  I joined (again) Janet, Frank and Trina in the Chart Room and then in the Royal Court Theatre for an early Showtime, with comedy ventriloquist Jerry Goodspeed.  He was quite funny, but not exactly hilarious.

Now, it’s time to change for dinner. I would like to see the Pink Floyd and Friends Show, rather earlier at 21.15 hrs.  This might not work out, however.  I made it to the show but was disgustingly late (around 20 minutes) after foregoing two minor courses at dinner.

I caught up with Simon and Liz after the show. However, what I saw of Amethyst’s performance was superbly and extremely well presented with spectacular huge imagery (see illustration above).  I do have to take issue with some of the audience.  A woman sitting next to me was playing with her phone, the bright L.E.D. light from which was distracting and annoying.  As at any on board entertainment, people casually (including me on this occasion) turn up late. Those who don’t like the event merely walk out. It usually doesn’t matter how good the show is.  However, I don’t recall people walking out when Alfie Boe played the Royal Court Theatre on the 2023 World Voyage.  And I think Bob Geldof kept all his audience on that same voyage.

Tonight, it was still light at midnight. However, the clocks go back a further hour at 2am. 

I shall get my head down now, and try not to miss breakfast tomorrow.

Many thanks for reading, David in his room 00.23 hrs.  B.S.T.