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How to get UK to Iceland in 2008?
With Smyril dropping Lerwick (Shetland) service for 2008, any suggestions best (fastest) way to get UK to Iceland for next summer 2008?
Don't really want to spend a week on a ferry! Anyone tried shipping out vehicles? Any suggestions? 2008 schedule: http://www.smyril-line.com/Admin/Pub...edule-2008.pdf |
Denmark
Hi,
There's been another thread on here recently about the same timetabling issue: If I recall correctly, one option is to ride to Denmark (make that part of the trip) and then ferry from there - may be worth considering? Cheers, |
I too am planning to go to Iceland in july 2008. It's always been a bit of a pain to get there and back. In 2006 Smiryl tried to drop Lerwick from the schedule but the courts upheld the contract. It has now expired so it comes as no suprise that they've dropped Shetland. You can still sail from Scrabster which is near Thurso. The problem is that before you could come back via lerwick but now you will have to sail to Hanstholm in Denmark and travel down to Esbjerg for the ferry to Harwich. The main fly in the ointment is the additional cost of the DFDS ferry. I just got a quote, one way £235 ! I haven't costed the outward ferry but it will be at least as expensive so you're looking at £500 ish on ferries. I've put off going for 2 years and I've decided that I'm definately going next year and if it's going to be £500 then that's the price I guess, what can you do ? All I can do is book early to try to minimise the cost. I priced a Harwich-Esbjerg one way this September a week before I wanted to travel and they wanted £630 !! I declined their kind offer. I hope you get sorted it sounds like an amazing place.
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If it's during summer then you can go from Scrabster but there's still the three day wait on the Faeroes on the way back. The Denmark option on the return looks appealing to me as it saves time and the UK ferry port is Harwich but if you're from oop north the extra UK mileage might balance things out. I haven't checked out the cost of using two ferry companies yet either.
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All of the longish sea ferry routes are expensive but, depending where you start from in the UK, Denmark is not all that far - therefore, cut out DFDS and ride to Denmark via the cheapest, shortest cross channel route.
In short, minimise the use of ferries. |
So much for my "I'm definately going this year" statement. Without boring you with the trip itinery, door to door the travel time for me is 10 days. I want 2 weeks there so total that's 24 days ! I'll search the HUBB and Google to see if I can fly me and the bike there but I'm not too hopeful. I think my money will be better spent on the Santander ferry and an enjoyable fortnight in the Pyreneese.
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If enough riders get together you could put the bikes on a vehicle and someone with the time drives them there and then you fly in. There are some enterprising companies offer a motorcycle delivery and support service to Morocco, you could ask them if they could do the same for Iceland. Morocco is too hot in the summer anyway. Try the ::. UKGS'er.com .:: - Powered by vBulletin if you ask around there someone will give you some leads and some riders may be interested in joining you. Steve |
Hi Steve, I loved the report of your 2007 trip. It made me decide to go this year. However, I've just found my plan for my postponed 2007 visit using the 2007 timetable. It was a day and a half Scrabster-Iceland and a day and a half Iceland-Lerwick on the return. This is acceptable. On the 2008 timetable the outward trip is the same but the return voyage is 50hrs to Denmark (no Lerwick) travel to Esbjurg and wait a day for the ferry home. That's 4 days !
I should have gone this year, DOH. |
Shipping options for 2008
Has anyone researched shipping options for the summer of 2008 ?
Im just about to start and happy to share intel on here. If someone already has info, its silly to double up tho. Thanks in advance. Mike. |
Hi Mike, I'm sure all of the info we need is on here if only we could be arsed to search for it. I'm going to try to get some time in when I'm at work this week on nights. I'm going to see how much it would cost to post me and my bike through the mail !! It would probably be cheaper and quicker than the ferries but very dark in the crate! Ha ha. If I find anything usefull I'll post it here.
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EMISKIP 2008 quote
Hi ..
I just got quoted £990 per bike for UK to Iceland return. Price includes all customs work, and up to 7 days storage each side. Drop off at Immingham and collect Rekjavic. Sails Thursday from the UK arriving Monday. Then customs after this. Sails Wednesday from Iceland arriving Sunday. Then customs after this (which can take until Friday im told). Mike |
HURST Transportation
Do travel on UK to Iceland .. but DONT do bikes. They reccomend EMISKIP.
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I just had a look at the Smyril ferry timetable for 2008 and they have changed it from when I looked a week ago.
The 2008 summer sailings no longer call at Scrabster, and the route has changed. It would now be possible to sail from Bergen/Norway to Iceland via Faeroes and return to Bergen via the Faeroes and it looks like a 48 hour trip. You could sail from Newcastle to Bergen have a stop over and then on to Iceland. Maybe worth checking the Smyril site out from time to time as the sail times appear to change like the wind. Steve |
Wow! a grand just for the bike. Return airfare to Rekjavic on top? Must be another £200-£300. I want to go but for that money I think I can get to the States.
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Steve thanks for that, I'll check the "new" timetable out. I've been to Bergen many times and it's a great place. The cost of a return ticket in July though is £350 on top of the Smiryl ferry. I really think I'm priced out of the market. At these prices you could fly there and go on an organised enduro trip in the interior. I'm sure I saw one using KTM's. If a few of us got together we could buy a boat and sail there ourselves for less money ! :rofl:
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I've been following this with some interest: it is the penalty we get in the UK for living on one island and trying to get to another one!
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I mean how far can it be, the bloody Vikings rowed here for f*%$* sake. If there was a direct ferry maybe more would use it. Iceland is getting more popular with plenty of coverage by the likes of Top Gear. Maybe Smiryl will put Lerwick back on the schedule in 2009.
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Just been quoted £1800 to ship a Land Rover over via Eimskip.......perhaps not then!
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As I remember the timetable was very confusing it's maybe easier to call them and check - maybe if enough queries they might (unlikely I know) add Scrabster back in. They speak great English and using Telediscount: low cost international calls - from any UK-Phone it's less than 10p a minute. Obviously I have no relationship with either Telediscount or Symril - just a happy traveller to Iceland with them this summer. And Faroes are worth a visit too - just book accommodation in advance and prey to the sun gods!
(Good luck with the shipping option - if you can get a group it's the 'quickest' option travel wise) |
Shipping to Iceland
Hello guys
My name is Johann and I live in Iceland. There are three shipping companys currently sailing with freight between Europe and Iceland. Eimskip - ForsÃ*ða samskip.is Atlantsskip I guess is would be wise to get a qoute from them all Flying to Iceland are: Icelandair - Cheap Flights to Iceland | Vacation Packages | Discount Airfares to Iceland Iceland Express: Cheap flights to Iceland every day with Iceland's low-fare airline low budget company flying from stansted. British Airways SAS Scandinavian Airlines - fly SAS! Book your low fare SAS tickets online! Fly to Scandinavia! flysas.com - SAS International Flying to Oslo Norway They all have diffrent prices on diffrent times but most of the time Iceland Express and British airways have the lowest price. Regards Johann:mchappy: PS: please check out my homepage Drullumallarafélag Íslands there you can find lots of biketravel pics from Iceland under a button called "Myndir" |
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getting there
I'm also interested in doing iceland next year so i sent an e-mail to smyril line and this is the reply i got-(hope it helps)
We are the General Sales Agent here in the UK and we have been advised by Smyril Line that you have requested a brochure. This has been sent to you by mail, and in the meantime we would just like to give you some information per email. The Norrona departs from Scrabster every Wednesday starting from the 18th of June up until 27 August 08. The departure is at 0630hrs from Scrabster, arrival the Faroe Islands and Torshavn at 1900 on the Wednesdays, departs again at 2130 and arrival at Seydisfjord on Thursdays at 1200. Return from Seydisfjord is on Thursdays at 1600, arrive Thorshavn at 0830hrs on Fridays. The best thing to do is now to get off the Norrona and stay in the Faroe Islands for 3 days, or you depart Torshavn at 1100hrs on Friday and arrival Denmark and Hanstholm at 1800hrs on Saturdays, Depart from Hanstholm on Saturdays at 2230hrs and arrive The Faroe Island and Torshavn on Mondays at 0900hrs.. If you stay 3 nights in Torshavn you can depart on Mondays at 1200hrs, arrival in to Bergen at 1000hrs on Tuesdays and depart again at 1300hrs for arrivals on Wednesday at 0500hrs in to Scrabster. Prices in GBP starting from: GBP146 Car package incl. up to 2 persons/ in couchette below car deck (Up to 1,9 H & max. 5 m. L. & max. 2 m. W) Return Price from Scrabster to Seydisfjordur from GBP462 Car package incl. up to 2 persons/ in a inside B4 cabin sharing with others (Up to 1,9 H & max. 5 m. L. & max. 2 m. W) Return Price from Scrabster to Seydisfjordur from GBP526 Car package incl. up to 2 persons/ in a inside B2 cabin with 2 lower berths (Up to 1,9 H & max. 5 m. L. & max. 2 m. W) Return Price from Scrabster to Seydisfjordur from GBP782 Car package incl. up to 2 persons/ in a outside A4 cabin sharing with others (Up to 1,9 H & max. 5 m. L. & max. 2 m. W) Return Price from Scrabster to Seydisfjordur from GBP594 Car package incl. up to 2 persons/ in an outside A2 cabin with bunk berths (Up to 1,9 H & max. 5 m. L. & max. 2 m. W) Return Price from Scrabster to Seydisfjordur from GBP832 Car package incl. up to 2 persons/ in a outside A2 cabin with 2 lower berths (Up to 1,9 H & max. 5 m. L. & max. 2 m. W) Return Price from Scrabster to Seydisfjordur from GBP1018 Car package incl. up to 4 persons/ in couchette below car deck (Up to 1,9 H & max. 5 m. L. & max. 2 m. W) Return Price from Scrabster to Seydisfjordur from GBP632 Car package incl. up to 4 persons/ in a inside B4 cabin sharing with others (Up to 1,9 H & max. 5 m. L. & max. 2 m. W) Return Price from Scrabster to Seydisfjordur from GBP696 Car package incl. up to 4 persons/ in a inside B4 family cabin (Up to 1,9 H & max. 5 m. L. & max. 2 m. W) Return Price from Scrabster to Seydisfjordur from GBP888 Car package incl. up to 4 persons/ in an outside A4 family cabin (Up to 1,9 H & max. 5 m. L. & max. 2 m. W) Return Price from Scrabster to Seydisfjordur from GBP1160 Car package incl. up to 2 persons/ in an outside A4 sharing with others (Up to 1,9 H & max. 5 m. L. & max. 2 m. W) Return Price from Scrabster to Seydisfjordur from GBP764 Accommodation in a basic hotel in Torshavn starts from £87 per twin room and £61 for a single room. http://uk.f259.mail.yahoo.com/ya/dow...a&head=b&Idx=0 If you would like to book: Please advise names, dates of birth, outbound travel date, departure point and arrival point, cabin grade, type of vehicle, length in meters, height in meters, width in meters and registration number. We also require your passport numbers. Height and length measurements should be given ‘overall’ to include any roof boxes, box trailers or bicycle racks, etc. (NB Smyril Line reserve the right to deny boarding or surcharge passengers with vehicles exceeding the dimensions booked) |
scrabster is still a go go
got really pissed off that we would have to ride or ferry to denmark then faff about with a ferry to iceland. we have been planning to go in summer 2008 for a while now. i contacted scantours, the uk agent for smyril ferries and was told that scrabster is still a departure point for the ferry. they mailed me scedule info the same as in the post above. i mailed them once more to get the cheapest price for 2 bikes and 2 people and below is the reply.
Dear Sir, If you were to depart with Smyril Line on the 23 of July for arrival to Seydisifjordur on the 24th and return on the sailing from Iceland on either the 21st of August or the 28th of August and spend 3 nights in Torshavn the price would be £464 in Couchette accommodation below car deck, with facilities down the hall. This is the minimum sleeping accommodation we require. If you would like to book this, please return the attached form. Kind regards/Med vänlig hälsning, Ulrika Andersson Scantours UK Ltd 73 Mornington Street, London NW1 7QE, United Kingdom. Tel: +44(0)207 554 3530 Fax: +44(0)207 387 4496 mailto:ulrika@scantours.co.uk www.scantours.co.uk so it looks like we will be booking fairly soon. will also double confirm that this is a sailing from scrabster, not from denmark. hope this is of use and if it is i guess we will be running into you somewhere in iceland next summer suerte oz |
Post-Smyril shipping option from UK to Iceland
Eimskip is a long-established Icelandic transportation company that offers regular shipping services between the UK, Europe, North America and Iceland. It's southern route (shown below) may be of interest. Check their website Eimskip - Home to check current schedules
Southern Route (operates on 14 day cycle) Wed Dep Immingham Mon Arr Straumsvik and/or Reykjavik Wed Dep Reykjavik Sun Arr Immingham |
Iceland 2008
Oz
My partner and I are heading out to Iceland on 13 August 2008, sailing from Scrabster at 06:30hrs. Only got a week in Iceland unfortunately as we've got to factor in the 3 night stop-over in the Faroes which has played haoc with the planning. Auch well, such is life. £752 return for my girl and I in 2 berth cabin + bike obviously - not cheap, but what the hell It looks an amazing place and we can't wait to go! Can anyone however advise what the road surface is like on the main road that encircles the island? Since my partner will be riding pillion I can't risk anything too risky - wouldn't want to risk damaging the bike! Steve - your photos were exellent, although my girl is now doubting her sanity for agreeing to go on this trip! :scooter: Cheers. John |
The circle road in Iceland
Hello John
About 95-7% of the circle road in Iceland has a paved surface Here is a picture taken on that road: http://www.dmfi.is/geys2.jpg The rest normally has a hard gravel surface that should not give you any problems Similar to this one:http://www.dmfi.is/P6180104.JPG The gravel can be a bit slippery in the rain but if you take it easy and wach out for pot holes and loose gravel on the sides of the road you will be fine. Here is a picture taken on Kjalvegur F-35 a 200km road that crosses the country from north to south: http://www.dmfi.is/2003_0618_004714AA.JPG Regards Johann |
Circle Road
Hi Johann
Thanks for the reply and pics. The paved road in your picture puts UK roads to shame! The gravel sections don't look too bad either. Riding the roads around Edinburgh will have prepared me just fine I'm sure! Regards, John :mchappy: |
The circle road
Hello John
I found this article on Wikipedia for you on the circle road Route 1 (Iceland) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Cheers Johann :scooter: Drullumallarafélag Íslands |
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Atlantsskip ??? Iv been trying via email for some time, but no joy. Thanks .. Mike |
samskip
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Iceland
I visit Shetland once or twice a year and was stunned to learn that Smyril had stopped the run. ( Smyril/ politics/ whatever).I did the run to the Faroes once and planned to do it again until I got wind of the news, and probably Iceland too. Has anyone got any info on, at the very least, cabin share, to reduce the costs at least a TINY bit, from Scrabster? What does the Icelandic government have to say about this as it surely must have some impact on the tourist economy? Gill
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check out the prices!
just found this after some tips from a friend!
www.seaview.co.uk/ferries/smyril_line/booking.html was quoted £252 on a couchette! or £316 in shared accomadation. |
What would a shipping container cost to get to Iceland and then back again after say 2 or 3 weeks?
Seems that with 10-12 bikes this could be a reasonable option. I've no experience with mass bike shipping but it seems that there is a limited window to visit Iceland and there is probably sufficient demand. Been contemplating Iceland for some time now but the logistics seem to put me off. Any ideas? Matt |
I was talking to a bloke online the other night who says he has done iceland. he told me its cheaper to fly you & your bike from rotterdam than get the ferry.
ive not looked into this, but he seemed sure of it so it could be worth investigating. |
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