We Cruise Near the Arctic Circle! | Akureyri, Iceland | Norwegian Prima: 11 Day Solo Cruise

[@seebunlim]

So beautiful!!! I think I must visit Iceland! Love the fairytale garden. The homeowner is so kind to open his garden to the public. The houses are beautiful. I think the best experience is taking a leisurely stroll in a residential area, taking in the houses and visiting local shops (yes, including supermarkets!). You don’t really need excursions which likely go mainly to ‘touristy’ places- at least that’s my assumption, not having gone on a cruise before! It’s a great idea to spend more time in Iceland and drive around. I definitely look forward to your videos on that 😂. It does look like Iceland is an expensive place to live in but wow the views alone are so worth it! Btw, I vote the Mickey Mouse outfit as the best outfit for your 11 days on the cruise!🤣

[@TravelWithBen121]

Wow! Thank you, Lim! Iceland should definitely be on your travel list 😊 I agree about seeing residential areas, I love seeing ‘normal places’ and not just the tourist hotspots. I’m always interested in the local supermarkets wherever I visit 😂 maybe not as exciting as the waterfall but still interesting! Driving the Iceland ring road is definitely on my bucket list! Iceland is very expensive but the scenery is like another planet! HAHA when I saw the Disney art in the gallery, I knew I had the right shirt for that night! 😂

[@MICHELLE-gu2qc]

Wow how spectacular is Iceland 🇮🇸, like you said every where you turn is breathtaking. Just stunning Ben. I find it funny how Greenland is all ice and Iceland is really green. They should change their names. How amazing is seeing the majestic whales 🐋. Outstanding video

[@TravelWithBen121]

@@MICHELLE-gu2qc thank you! An amazing day 😁

[@dezzaofoz]

When i went to Reykjavik i was walking in the main st minding my own business and ending up walking past Bjork the singer going shopping. Beautiful country!!!

[@TravelWithBen121]

That’s lucky, Des! I agree, beautiful country! 😊

[@goldenblooms6672]

I love seeing supermarkets and taking the local buses/trains when i travel. That’s how you see what the local life looks like

[@TravelWithBen121]

I totally agree! Real life experiences 😊

[@goldenblooms6672]

@@TravelWithBen121 I was on the NCL Encore and some decks were very obviously filled with cigarette smoke. I remember you said the same thing about another NCL ship. Was it the Getaway? Is the Prima the same? I love their food onboard and was thinking of going on the Jewel but wondered if a lot of their ships are like that?

[@goldenblooms6672]

@@TravelWithBen121 I was to work onboard as well and I always miss Publix in Fort Lauderdale.

[@TravelWithBen121]

@@goldenblooms6672 hmm I do remember the smoking area on the Getaway is on the pool deck so it always smelt of smoke! Food is always great! I’ll never understand anyone that complains about food on any ship 😂

[@hollyecf]

Ahhhh...my favorite world traveler taking us to an Islandic market. That was fun and interesting. That town was just beautiful. Whales and daylight almost 24hours! I would stay awake as long as I could. Thanks Ben for another awesome adventure!

[@TravelWithBen121]

Thanks for coming to the supermarket, Fredwina 😂 the 24 hour daylight is a strange feeling! But fascinating! 😁

[@gerrilarsen29]

I enjoy just listening to your viewpoint on things. Interesting to learn you’re a teacher.

[@TravelWithBen121]

I think I should start another KZbin channel just talking about stuff 😂 Yes! I love being a teacher 😊 thank you, Gerri!

[@list-and-sell]

oh my goodness, this cruise checks a lot of the bucket list items. Cheering you on as you add more personal bests like - furthest most northern point on the planet to your list.

[@TravelWithBen121]

It’s definitely a bucket list cruise! Thank you! 😊

[@pams6792]

Enjoyed your video as usual. There is another solo cruiser whose videos I watch and she is on the same cruise, but going in the opposite direction. Your ports intersected this weekend in your videos. Interesting to see your two different perspectives of the same port.

[@TravelWithBen121]

Thank you, Pam! Do you mean Meredith? 😊 I watch her videos too! Very interesting to see her perspective on the same ports! She was actually on the cruise before mine, she disembarked the same day I embarked!

[@pams6792]

@@TravelWithBen121 Yes it’s Meredith. Interesting, I was wondering the time distance between your two cruises. You both seem like such nice people.

[@carolleiter6027]

Very nice. The air looks so clean. I bet it smells wonderful there. That cheesecake looked scrumptious.

[@TravelWithBen121]

@@carolleiter6027 you’re right, Carol! I still think about this cheesecake 😂

[@pamelahaskin9738]

What a beautiful place! Makes me homesick for Alaska where we lived in the wilderness for many years there. All the daylight of summer was my favorite part of living there. Thanks for bringing all those memories to mind.

[@TravelWithBen121]

Thank you, Pamela! I will make it to Alaska one day 😊

[@anniefitt8623]

One of my favorite things to do in a new country is to go to supermarkets! I love to see all the different products that aren’t available in the US, so thank you Ben for taking us into an Icelandic market! Interesting about the lady with the Service dog, but not surprised because Icelandic regulations bar all dog imports (and horses and sheep).

[@TravelWithBen121]

I agree, Annie! I like seeing the different stuff they have in there and the prices. It’s strange to think that some people go to that supermarket every week and I’ll go one time in my life 😂 thank you for watching!

[@jholly5747]

Ben, it was interesting to hear the different grocery prices in another country. I live in Canada and four chicken breast at Walmart cost $22 Canadian. So the $22 asked for for chicken breast and Iceland is equivalent of $29 Canadian. That’s really really expensive. I don’t know how much more chicken breast cost in the US but I bet it’s not $22.

[@TravelWithBen121]

@@jholly5747 Iceland is extremely expensive! I was very surprised, I don’t know how people can afford it!

[@yvonnedunbar1740]

We just joined your channel. Love your content. We wondered where you went to college, with such well spoken comments. Aha! You’re an English teacher! So you travel on vacations? But you were a crew member somewhere. Where’s your story. Didn’t get to see your ride on the Prima’s racetrack. Keep up your good work. If you’re hungry, no reason to not get a coffee on your hikes!😅

[@TravelWithBen121]

Thank you, Yvonne! I’m glad you enjoy my videos 😁 my story is a long one 😂 I’ll tell it one day! The only cameras allowed on the race track is on a chest mount and I didn’t have it! But it was a fun experience 😊

[@charleskerr4655]

Enjoyed watching this made me feel I was there! My career was teaching high school Science so I especially like seeing nature in all its glory. Thanks for posting these for us all.

[@TravelWithBen121]

A fellow teacher! Thank you Charles, nature is amazing!

[@suelala3706]

Loved every minute of it! Thanks for taking us along!

[@TravelWithBen121]

Thank you for joining, Sue! 😊

[@akemim9434]

Loved loved loved all of your travels today. What a beautiful place, I love cold weather too. Enjoy the rest of your cruise.

[@TravelWithBen121]

Then you would love Iceland, Akemi 😂 thank you for watching!

[@david1234lee]

So, finally you saw Moby Dick ! " And the great oceans roll as the rolled 5,000 years ago !"

[@TravelWithBen121]

Whale watching at the midnight sun was great! 😊

[@david1234lee]

@@TravelWithBen121 Did you manage to get a boat and stand there with spear in hand screaming " I am here, Lord !"

[@thomasscott4239]

This was my favorite port in Iceland last year on the Prima. I did the same as you and walked everywhere. I heard that the botanical garden was the furthest north in the world. I was there in July and it was full of flowers. Thanks again for your video.

[@TravelWithBen121]

Great, Thomas! It’s a very interesting place 😊 sounds like I was a little too early for the botanical garden!

[@sheri1972]

No McDonalds, but I learned today that they have a Costco! As I have mentioned before, I’ve almost missed my cruise ship when I venture out to check out the Costco in ports outside the U.S.

[@TravelWithBen121]

Very interesting, Sheri! I don’t remember seeing a Costco but the reason there’s not more ‘chain restaurants’ is because it’s not convenient to send supplies to Iceland because of the location!

[@EikiHelgason]

Hell yeah man! Thanks for talking about my skatepark and giftshop! Got a person in today that told me she had to check us out because she saw us in this video 🙏🏽

[@TravelWithBen121]

23:26 my man, Eiki! Wow, that’s amazing! I’m glad I could help you out a little bit! I hope your summer has been great! 😁

[@david1234lee]

Good afternoon, Dan ! I never visited this place before but I used to think the streets are all icy with polar bear roaming nearby ! Actually, it looks like California ! Haha ! The snow-cover mountains look holy and at 12:37 it should not be all bright ! Man, it is enchanting ! Enjoy !

[@TravelWithBen121]

It’s a beautiful place, David! I learned that polar bears are not native to Iceland so you won’t see them 😂

[@david1234lee]

@@TravelWithBen121 Thanks, Ben ! You have broaden my global view !

[@LornaMuir-e8s]

Really enjoying your podcast Ben. Going on the Prima next year to Iceland,Your videos are really going to help

[@TravelWithBen121]

Thank you for watching, Lorna! You will love the Prima, it’s great! And the itinerary is amazing 🤩 enjoy your cruise!

[@annoneill4169]

Also, I think that amount of light would be a head wreck (for me!)

[@TravelWithBen121]

@@annoneill4169 it’s a strange feeling for sure!

[@zebasd]

Thank you great video

[@TravelWithBen121]

Thanks, Seb 😊

[@breinich2]

I loved my trip to Iceland on Prima in May, another wonderful video today. I’m an English teacher too, living in Hawaii so I have Asian students. See you on the next video.

[@TravelWithBen121]

Cheers, John! Next video is an interesting one 😊

[@grego5565]

Great video! Loved the grocery store content

[@TravelWithBen121]

HAHA I’m glad to hear it, Greg! 😂

[@chocolatemint9225]

I’m booked on this cruise for 2025, thanks for the tips! Yes I heard about the impending cruise ship ban also, so that’s why I booked the trip. They just don’t want the huge cruise ships anymore. So in the future you’d have to fly to Norway and use a smaller, non polluting vessel to tour the fjords from what I understand

[@TravelWithBen121]

Enjoy the cruise! I had an amazing time 😊 it’s a shame about the cruise ship ban but it’s understandable!

[@Elisabeth.Eriksson]

So much fun to see your videos! 😊 Always visiting Supermarkets when being abroad to see prices and what stock they have. Looking forward to hear what you payed for the trip with Prima. 🎉

[@TravelWithBen121]

Thank you, Elisabeth! I'm always interested in the supermarkets too HAHA! Price reveal in the next video :)

[@daniellilienkamp5202]

I saw the midnight sun in Alaska several years ago. At first it seemed weird, then it became the new normal. When I got home and it was dark at night it freaked me out a little. 🤣🤣🤣

[@TravelWithBen121]

Midnight sun is fascinating, Daniel!

[@MrGlendale111]

Very nice visit to Iceland. I like how uncrowded it appears to be. It looks beautiful. Everyone that has visited Iceland, always tells me how expensive it is there. I use to live in Alaska. That's another place where its daylight at midnight. I never got use to that.

[@TravelWithBen121]

Very uncrowded! I like to go where there’s no people 😂 the daylight is definitely something that would take getting used to!

[@matthewhildebrandt1901]

Another great video, Ben! Thank you for warning us that cruise ships will soon not be able to go to Geiranger anymore. I've already started looking for a cruise that stops there. I've already got a cruise to Central America early next year, so it will be a challenge to fit it in before they stop offering that port. Sadly, I'm not wealthy. Seeing the waterfall would have been great, but the grocery store was a nice Bonus. 😂 That was my attempt at humor for today, but seriously, I do enjoy checking out local stores at ports.

[@TravelWithBen121]

It’s a shame, Matthew! But understandable that they want to protect a beautiful place. HAHA bonus footage from the supermarket 😂

[@maigoff5725]

How far from the cruise ship to the church?

[@TravelWithBen121]

@@maigoff5725 maybe a 20 minute walk 🚶

[@maigoff5725]

What month did you go? Do you have to order hop on hop off bus ahead of time?

[@TravelWithBen121]

@@maigoff5725 this cruise was in June 👍 I think you can buy a ticket for the hop on hop off bus at the bus stop.

[@glendavajmire7832]

I'm thinking about booking this last minute if someone cancels for the 7/14 one (I doubt it). They had an opening yesterday that I should have booked but I chickened out! I'm a solo traveler as well and always go to the solo meets. What was the age group of people in the solo meets and were there a lot? I've seen such a mix at all the solo meets with NCL. I did Pride of America though in January and it was maybe 30s-60s. I still talk to 2 people I met during them and 2 other people I went last summer on the Gem!

[@TravelWithBen121]

I hope you can fine a spot, Glenda! The age group of solos on this cruise was mostly 50-60, a few older and a few 40’s, I was the youngest! There was around 50-60 solo cruisers on this cruise. Solo meetings are a great way to connect with others 😊

[@glendavajmire7832]

@@TravelWithBen121 Thank you! I thought this may have been younger due to the time of year and it being more adventurous but it looks like I'm wrong!

[@cathypowell7254]

Thanks again. I prefer to travel to cooler places. I am not a fan of really hot weather. Ben have you been to Alaska? 💙

[@TravelWithBen121]

Not yet, Cathy! It’s on my bucket list 😊

[@cathypowell7254]

@@TravelWithBen121 mine also. Hopefully in 2025.

[@betsyhertzog1454]

So you were a crew member for ? What was your job ?

[@TravelWithBen121]

@@betsyhertzog1454 entertainment 😁

[@clyster3000]

When you go up there again definitely go to Myvatn. How terrible about the service dog. I think the cruise line should have told her about the quarantine rules. It makes perfect sense iceland would not risk having a dog enter the country.

[@TravelWithBen121]

Thanks for the tip! Yes, I’m not sure who’s to blame regarding the service dog! Thank you for watching 😊

[@jholly5747]

@@TravelWithBen121 if you have a service dog, it is your responsibility to know if you can disembark at a port. I am blind and watch the blind KZbinr Molly Burke. She has a service dog and when she cruise to the Caribbean, she didn’t get off at any port because it was just too much trouble with all the paperwork she had to deal with. I don’t have a service dog myself, but just because I’m blind I think it would be better if I just stayed on the cruise and enjoyed all the amenities instead of having to worry about tangerine manoeuvring around a strange port, although I will have my husband with me as a sided guide sorry that was TND ER not tangerine. Sorry Siri doesn’t understand what I say sometimes as I dictate this to my phone.

[@chrisrobertson3189]

Ben, where (website) do you get your last minute cruise prices? We live in south Florida and can jump on cruises anytime if the price is right. Thanks!

[@TravelWithBen121]

I’ve already made a video about it, Chris 😊 kzbin.info/www/bejne/eIWpiKOVeM92b6Msi=tI96Wqd0IrvQc2w6

[@stevefoxg]

Ben I like the way you show these places in such an unvarnished way. How much did you pay for the cruise?

[@TravelWithBen121]

Cheers, Steve! I try to show real life. I talk about the price in the next video 😊

[@Marant1000]

You’re an English teacher and you said “should have WENT to the Caribbean”? Is this correct in British English? “Should have GONE” is correct in American English 😊

[@TravelWithBen121]

Surprisingly, I’m on vacation and not in a classroom. 😂 (you missed a period to end your comment. 👍)

[@Marant1000]

@@TravelWithBen121 I’m on vacation, too! I will borrow your excuse 😁. Your videos are enjoyable.

[@annoneill4169]

You look like you're frozen!

[@TravelWithBen121]

@@annoneill4169 it’s called Iceland for a reason, Ann 😂 wasn’t too bad though!

[@yvonnedunbar1740]

Stop and chat with locals!

[@TravelWithBen121]

I tried, they weren't friendly HAHA

[@yvonnedunbar1740]

Too bad. 😢Glad you did get to chat with a shop owner. After I sent message.

[@TravelWithBen121]

@@yvonnedunbar1740 thanks, Yvonne! I like meeting new people along the way 😁

[@nanaontherun1968]

Why do you always think everyone died with regret?

[@TravelWithBen121]

Because everyone does…