2010 Itinerary

Inclusive Prices

Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All ship accommodations, entertainment, special dinners, land transportation, sightseeing, porterage, and the services of local guides, drivers and the Tauck Director are included. Transportation is included from Keflavík International Airport to either the Grand Hotel Reykjavík or the Hilton Reykjavík Nordica (where hospitality day rooms have been reserved for you), provided we have received accurate international flight arrival information at least two weeks prior to the tour departure date. The tour ends at Keflavík International Airport at approximately 2:45 PM on the last day of the tour. Transportation is also included from the ship to the Hilton Reykjavík Nordica, as well as from the hotel to the airport, for those guests who choose to spend additional nights in Iceland. Transportation to and from airports may be shared with other Tauck guests.

Ship Accommodations – The tour price includes all stateroom accommodations with private baths aboard Le Boreal. To be launched in May 2010, Le Boreal will have 132 staterooms and suites and 139 crewmembers. All staterooms and suites are outfitted with twin or double beds, face the outside and most have private balconies. The amenities for each stateroom include Internet access, safe, flat-screen TV, video on demand, minibar, radio, telephone, individual air conditioning and 24-hour room service. The ship may accommodate up to 264 passengers. In addition, Le Boreal, which flies under the French flag and cruises at an average speed of 16 knots, features:

• 6 Decks
• 2 Restaurants
• 3 Bars, including a piano bar
• Library and Internet room
• Beauty center, spa and fitness center
• Laundry
• Outside pool
• Shop
• Medical facilities
• Theater with 260 seats
• Elevators to all decks

Triple accommodations are available in Superior Cabins on Deck 3 and Prestige Suites on Decks 5 and 6 only.

Children under the age of 18 must be booked in a room with at least one adult.

Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary.

Tauck Director – Iceland: Land of Fire and Ice is conducted by one Tauck Director for every 40 guests who remains with the group throughout the tour. Your Tauck Directors are professional, fully trained employees of Tauck.

Gratuities Included – All customary gratuities for restaurant and ship staff, local guides and drivers, and Tauck Directors are included.

No Options Sold – Your Tauck Directors will assist you with information on free-time activities based on honest opinion and guidance, but will not sell you anything. This means better value and a more relaxed, pleasant experience for you.

Not Included

Airfare to the tour departure point and from the tour ending point is not included. Airfare may be purchased from us for travel originating in the United States.

Hotel Rooms Before and After Tours – To avoid jet lag and possible flight delays, you may wish to make hotel arrangements for the nights preceding or following your tour. As a service, Tauck will book additional nights for you on a space-available basis using special rates only available through Tauck. Hotel room charges will be added to the tour cost. If you wish us to arrange additional nights for you, please view our hotel selections listed under Extend This Journey on this webpage and then discuss your request with the reservations agent when you book your tour.

Luggage Responsibility – Although every effort is made to handle your luggage carefully, we cannot be responsible, assume liability or accept claims for loss or damage to luggage and personal effects due to breakage, theft, or fair wear and tear through hotel, airline and group carrier handling. It is important for your own self-interest and protection that you make certain you have adequate insurance to cover these eventualities. Please refer to the details provided under Tauck Travel Protection on this webpage for more information.

Lost luggage is an unfortunate possibility in today's world of airline travel. We suggest that you:

• Pack some basic clothing in your carry-on bag
• Split your items between your suitcase and a traveling companion's suitcase
• Do not pack any vital medications or valuables in your checked luggage
• Confirm that your luggage is checked and tagged to your final destination at airport check-in
• Be sure to place your luggage claim tags in a secure place for your flight
• File a claim for any missing luggage immediately before leaving the baggage claim area
• Secure a case number and contact information for follow-up communications
• Be certain that the airline has your onward itinerary

Your Tauck Director will assist you with airline communications, but has no inside contacts to guarantee or expedite recovery of lost luggage. All recovery costs, including the communication costs, are your responsibility. Check your travel protection details for covered expenses.

Personal Expenses - Phone calls, room service, alcoholic and bar beverages, mineral water, soft drinks, laundry, dry cleaning, airline excess luggage charges, vaccinations, visa fees and services, and other optional or incidental extras are not included and may be significant.

Additional Information

Airline Security Measures –

If you are traveling from the U.S., beginning in 2010, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Secure Flight program will require that your name, as it appears on your domestic or international airline ticket, precisely match your name as it appears on the government-issued photo ID (i.e., passport or driver’s license) that you present during security screening. The ID name must also match any additional airline data, such as frequent-flyer information. For example, if you present your driver's license to security and it says John T. Smith, your ticket must also say John T. Smith; not John Thomas Smith, not Jack Smith, or any other variant. Your date-of-birth and gender information provided to the airline must also match your photo ID.

If you make your air travel arrangements through Tauck, please ensure that the name you provide us precisely matches your name as shown on the identification you will use while traveling. If you make your own airline reservations, please ensure that the airline has the correct information.

For more information on the Secure Flight program, please visit the TSA web site, www.tsa.gov, by clicking here.

If you are traveling from an airport outside the jurisdiction of the U.S., you will need to determine what travel documentation and identification is required for that particular airport.

Due to heightened security regulations, certain items such as a metal nail file, pocket knife, cigarette lighter, or tweezers, and some liquid, gel, or aerosol items may not be permitted in your carry-on luggage. Please call your airline prior to departure to obtain current information on non-permissible carry-on items and recommended airport check-in times.

Air Services – Airfare may be purchased through us for travel originating in the United States. By using our air services, you agree that we, in purchasing, selling or otherwise arranging air transportation, are acting only as your agent and are not liable or responsible for any accident, death, personal injury, illness, property damage, delay or other loss or expense of any nature whatsoever arising directly or indirectly out of any act of God, or any actions or omissions (including any failure to provide services) or default of, any carrier. All carriers are independent contractors and are not owned, managed, controlled or operated by us. Your airline ticket constitutes a contract between yourself and the airline only, even if purchased through us. We are not liable for, and do not assume responsibility or accept claims with regard to seat assignments, schedule changes, flight changes, cancellations, claims for a refund or reimbursement of airline ticket fees, or any other loss incurred by you for any reason whatsoever (including, without limitation to, bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar relief from creditors). We must handle ticketing for our special fares, which are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed until reserved. Our air services can only be purchased in conjunction with a one of our tours. Tickets or e-ticket numbers will be mailed with final documents. If you cancel or change your air booking before or after departure, all airline cancellation and change fees will apply.

Holiday and Museum Closures – Museum visits and personal shopping time may be disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances or the many religious, state and civic holidays locally observed.

Itinerary Changes and Price Flexibility – We pledge to make every effort to operate all tours as advertised. We reserve the right to alter or curtail the itinerary, or substitute sightseeing, hotels, and/or conveyances as deemed necessary. Any savings realized by these changes will be refunded to you. Any resultant added expense will be covered by us. Although not expected, prices on this website may be modified due to unexpected significant external factors not forecast at the time of publication.

Journey Start and End Times – The tour begins at 12:30 PM at the Perlan Restaurant on the first day of the tour. You or your booking agent will be advised of any change to this schedule. Your tour ends when you arrive at Keflavík International Airport at 2:30 PM on the last day of the tour.

Membership will be granted to all persons. We reserve the right to terminate the tour of any person who is abusive of others or whose behavior disrupts the tour.

Photography on Tour – Occasionally, we will use photographs taken by fellow guests or your Tauck Director on your tour for promotional purposes. If you prefer that your photo not be used in any marketing activities, please notify your Tauck Director at the start of your tour.

Preparing to Go

Travel Document Requirements –

If you are a U.S. citizen, you require a valid passport with an expiration date of at least six months beyond the completion of the tour. However, you do not require a visa to visit Iceland for a short stay of 3 months or less. Please note that longer stays abroad for any purpose may require additional travel documentation.

If you are citizen of another country, please contact an embassy or consulate of Iceland to determine what travel documentation you will need for entry.

All guests are required to provide their passport information to Tauck at time of booking.

We strongly recommend that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, the date of expiration and your citizenship, as well as both sides of your driver’s license. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents are misplaced, lost or stolen.

Travel with Children –

Age Recommendations ― Children 5 years of age or older at the time of travel are welcome on this Tauck journey. Based upon our experience with family travelers, we have a minimum recommended age for each journey to encourage comfort and enjoyment for all of our guests. All activities are available for children 8 years of age or older. All children must be accompanied on activities by a parent or guardian. At least one guest in the traveling party must be 21 years of age or older in order to make a reservation.

Babysitting ― Our journeys are designed for adults and children to share the wonder of discovery together. if you require babysitting services, your Tauck Director will put you in contact with the appropriate hotel staff with whom you may make babysitting arrangements. There is usually an additional fee for these services. Many hotels do offer on-site babysitting services; however, babysitting services may not be available at all of our hotels. Please note that our Tauck Directors are not responsible for providing babysitting services.

Safety and Welfare Responsibility ― We welcome the participation of child travelers on our exciting excursions. If you are traveling with a child on a Tauck journey, you have the sole responsibility for ensuring that that the child with whom you are traveling follows all rules of safety throughout the tour. By traveling with us, you release Tauck, Inc. and our partners of all liability for any risks and/or injuries to the child with whom you are traveling.

Special Travel Documentation for Children

Authorization for Travel

If you travel into or out of the U.S. with children under the age of 18, you should be aware of the following: because of increasing incidents of child abductions in disputed custody cases and because children are at risk as possible victims of child pornography, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) strongly recommends that unless the child is accompanied by both parents, you should have a note from the child's other parent (or, in the case of a child traveling with grandparents, uncles or aunts, sisters or brothers, or friends, a note signed by both parents) stating that the parent(s) not traveling acknowledge that the parent(s), family members, etc. who are traveling into or out of the U.S. with the child have permission to do so. CBP also suggests that this note be notarized. While CBP may not ask to see this documentation, if they do ask, and you do not have it, you may be detained until the circumstances of the child traveling without both parents can be fully assessed.

If there is no second parent with legal claims to the child (parent deceased, sole custody, etc.), other relevant paperwork, such as a court decision, birth certificate naming only one parent, or a death certificate, will be useful.

Many other countries also share this concern for children who travel without both parents. To ensure smooth travel, we require you to comply with the travel regulations of each country visited. This information may be obtained from a country’s consulate or embassy.

Authorization for Emergency Medical Treatment

In the unlikely event of a medical emergency, a medical facility will require permission from the child’s parents to provide treatment. Therefore, we strongly suggest that you bring along a letter from both parents (including other pertinent documents as cited above) authorizing emergency medical treatment for their child.

We are not responsible for the disruption of travel caused by the improper documentation of any guest, including children traveling without both parents. While there is no definitive format or standard, click here to view a sample letter for guardians or one parent traveling with a child.

Air Conditioning – Le Boreal and the motor coaches used on this tour are air-conditioned for your comfort.

ATM and Credit Cards – We recommend that you contact your bank in advance of departing on this tour to determine whether you will be able to use your ATM and credit cards while traveling. When contacting your bank, notify them of your travel dates so that they will anticipate charges being made outside of your hometown and do not suspend your cards for what may appear to them to be “suspicious” charges. We also recommend that you make a photocopy of both sides of your ATM and credit cards to leave behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your cards are misplaced, lost or stolen.

Clothing and Packing – Your cruise along the coast of Iceland is casual. Dress for comfort and convenience with a wardrobe that is adaptable and allows for layering. Comfortable, cotton clothing is suggested. The weather in midsummer in Iceland is cool and temperate. You will need a light jacket or fleece, a light sweater and a rain poncho. No special attire is required for dining.

Most importantly, bring comfortable yet sturdy walking shoes that have already been broken-in. It is important that your shoes have good ankle support, as we visit some sites where pathways and stairs may be uneven and unpaved.

Valet laundry services are available on board the ship.

We recommend that you pack an adequate supply of your prescription medication in its original container to last through your entire journey, together with a copy of your doctor’s prescription or a letter from your health-care provider on office stationery explaining that the medication has been prescribed for you, a list of the generic names of your medication, your travel documents and a change of clothing in your carry-on bag to avoid any inconvenience in the event that your flight or luggage is delayed.

Following is a list of recommended items to pack for your cruise journey to Iceland:

• Comfortable, cotton clothing
• Shorts and long pants
• Short and long sleeve shirts
• Sunglasses, sunscreen, hat
• Swimwear
• Gym wear
• A light or medium weight sweater or jacket
• Lightweight waterproof slicker
• Comfortable walking shoes with adequate ankle support
• Binoculars
• Insect repellent
• Camera, lenses, batteries, memory cards and plenty of film
• Battery-operated travel alarm clock
• Collapsible umbrella
• Pre-moistened towelettes
• Zippered plastic bags to protect your camera and cell phones during ship to shore transfers
• Copies of your travel documents that should be secured in the safe in your hotel room while traveling

Elevation – Most of the tour is conducted at sea level. The highest elevation is 3,500 ft (1,066 m).

Health – You should be in good health, able to climb into and out of a ship-to-shore transports and walk reasonable distances over unpaved and uneven terrain. Some of our walking excursions are in and around rugged coastline and coastal villages.

We regret that we are unable to accommodate wheelchairs or scooters on this tour. We also regret that we cannot provide you with individual assistance for walking, dining or other personal needs. If you require such assistance, you must be accompanied by an able companion who will help you.

Throughout the tour, we will provide you with clean and safe drinking water.

If you have a medical condition that might limit your participation in activities, please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice and notify Tauck as soon as possible, if you have not already done so. We will advise your Tauck Director accordingly.

Le Boreal has a full time licensed physician on board at all times.

We strongly suggest that you have adequate health insurance when traveling abroad for these reasons:

• US Social Security Medicare Program participants will not receive coverage for hospital or medical costs outside the US.
• Many US health insurance plans do not provide coverage overseas. Those that provide "customary and reasonable" hospital costs abroad may not pay for your medical evacuation back to the US, which can easily cost $10,000.00 and up depending on your location and medical condition.
• Many foreign doctors and hospitals require payment in cash prior to providing service.
• Uninsured patients may be refused service.
• Many foreign doctors and hospitals require payment in cash prior to providing service.
• Uninsured patients may be refused service.
• Countries with socialized medicine may not provide full services to non-residents.
• Payment of hospital and other expenses abroad is the responsibility of the traveler.

If you are a citizen of the U.S., no vaccinations are currently required for travel to Iceland. For complete vaccination information, contact your physician, the public health service in your area, or the CDC. The Travelers' Health Section of the CDC operates a 24-hour, prerecorded "Travelers' Health Hotline" at 877-394-8747 (toll-free in the U.S.). You may also log on to the CDC Internet website by clicking here.

If you are a citizen of another country, please contact an embassy or consulate of Iceland to determine what vaccination(s) may be required for your travel.

Luggage Restrictions –

Checked Luggage – General

While it is common for airlines to allow passengers to check more than one piece of luggage per person, space constraints during your Tauck journey make it difficult to accommodate extra luggage. We ask that you limit your checked luggage to one average size suitcase per person.

In addition, airlines have adopted more strict policies in enforcing number, size and weight limits. Luggage exceeding maximum restrictions may require expensive overage fees, frustrating and hurried re-packing at the ticket counter, or even risk being left behind.
Many carriers require that checked luggage not exceed a weight of 50 lbs (22.7 kg) per piece. Airlines revise luggage policies frequently and often without notice; therefore, we cannot be held liable for the accuracy of the weight limit listed above. We urge you to check with your airline before traveling to determine current number, weight and size restrictions. It is also important to note that restrictions for luggage number, weight and size may vary with the same airline based on the class of service you select. First and Business Class ticket holders may have different restrictions than Coach Class travelers. You may wish to consult the website, luggagelimits.com, by clicking here.

We cannot be held liable for additional fees or inconveniences imposed by the airline due to luggage number, weight and size policies.

Please be sure to attach your Tauck luggage tag to your suitcase before leaving home!

Carry-on Luggage – General

Although oversize bags and wheeled, carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for motor coach travel or for many on-tour flights. Most modern sightseeing motor coaches offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats or in the overhead rack is typically small, and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags, etc.

For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece, and that you bring only those items you need handy during the day such as make-up, medications, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or on the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may be inaccessible during daytime travel.

Destination Information

Cell Phones - We understand and appreciate the value of instant communication when we travel; it keeps us in touch with friends and family, and it's a reassurance in the event of an emergency. However, the use of cell phones can be disruptive to a tour and to other guests who are enjoying their vacation. As a courtesy to others, we ask that you refrain from using your cell phone during motor coach travel and group functions, or when sightseeing and when the Tauck Director is addressing the group as a whole. There are usually many opportunities to make or receive calls at times when it does not affect others.

Communication with Le Boreal is via satellite. We recommend that you consider its use only for emergencies only. Additionally, satellite communications may be disrupted due to atmospheric and navigational conditions.

Please contact your cell phone carrier to determine whether your cell phone service extends to Iceland.

Currency and Exchange Rates - The official currency of Iceland is the ISK Icelandic króna (plural krónur). You will generally not need to carry Icelandic currency, as in most cases electronic payment is accepted. Other currencies are very rarely accepted in Iceland. A notable exception is Keflavík International Airport, where the U.S. dollar, euro and some other currencies are accepted by all merchants. Certain stores in downtown Reykjavík accept some foreign currencies.

To obtain the latest currency exchange rate, you may want to check your local newspaper or log on to the Internet website, oanda.com, by clicking here.

Customs and Tax-Free Shopping – Currently, Iceland levies a 24.5% Value Added Tax (VAT) on consumer goods and services. (The tax rate may be higher for luxury items and lower for basic goods.) As a rule, if you are not a resident of the country (or of the country’s intergovernmental economic community, e.g., the European Union) in which the purchase is made, you may be entitled to a VAT refund and should inquire about the refund policy where you shop.

If you are not a resident of Iceland, you may claim a proportional VAT refund when shopping in Iceland. The refund is limited to purchases that are intended to be taken out of the country and amount to a minimum of ISK 4.000 (including VAT), made at a single point of sale. The store personnel will fill out the necessary Tax Refund Check. The check and the purchased goods must be produced and made available for inspection on departure no later than 3 months after purchase. When departing from Keflavík Airport the Tax Refund Check can be cashed in the currency of choice. Other departure points usually offer mail-refund services.

If you are a U.S resident who will be returning to the U.S. at the end of the tour, current regulations permit bringing back the equivalent of $800 USD in goods duty-free, as long as you physically bring them with you. There are limits to the amount of alcohol that can be a part of this exemption. Certain restrictions apply to unaccompanied goods mailed from abroad to the U.S. Please call your local customs office or consult the U.S. government's customs regulations as contained in their publication entitled Know Before You Go by clicking here.

If you are a resident of another country, please refer to your own resident country’s rules and regulations regarding customs and duty-free shopping to ensure compliance upon your return.

Electrical Current – The electrical current on Le Boreal is 200 V, 50 Hz, AC. If you bring electrical devices that do not conform to this standard, then you will need to bring the appropriate adapters and converters.

Internet Access – Internet access on board Le Boreal is available.

Time Zones – Iceland lies in the Coordinated Universal Time (or Greenwich Mean Time) Zone. To determine current time in major cities around the world, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, timeanddate.com, by clicking here.

Weather – Iceland's weather is cool, and the Icelandic climate is temperate. The warm North Atlantic current ensures generally higher temperatures than in most places of similar latitude in the world. Iceland's summers are cool which is typical for Scandinavia. There are some variations in the climate between different parts of the island. Oftentimes, the south coast is warmer, wetter and windier than the north.

In midsummer, daylight takes over and there is no night darkness during June and July. The name for this is the Midnight Sun.
Midnight Sun

The midnight sun is a natural phenomenon occurring in summer months at latitudes north and nearby to the south of the Arctic Circle, and south and nearby to the north of the Antarctic Circle where the sun remains visible at the local midnight. Given fair weather, the sun is visible for a continuous 24 hours, mostly north of the Arctic Circle and south of the Antarctic Circle. The number of days per year with potential midnight sun increases the farther pole-ward one goes.

Due to refraction, the midnight sun may be experienced at latitudes slightly below the polar circle. For example, it is possible to experience the midnight sun in Iceland, even though virtually all of the country lies to the south of the Arctic Circle. Locations above 60 degrees latitude that are south of the Arctic Circle or north of the Antarctic Circle experience midnight twilight instead. The sun is at the horizon to 6 degrees below the horizon, so that daytime activities, such as reading, are still possible without artificial light, on the condition it is not cloudy.

Since the best time to experience the effect of the midnight sun in northern Iceland is from June 12 through July 1, you should not expect to witness the full effect of this phenomenon, but you will enjoy long days of sunlight.

Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)

The Northern Lights occur when the solar flares blast out charged particles that race through space as solar wind. At speeds ranging from 186 to 622 mi (300 to 1000 km) per second, the solar wind commonly takes two to four days to travel the 93 million mi (149 million km) to earth. The particles penetrate the Earth's magnetic field and travel down into the ionosphere along the lines of the magnetic field around the poles. At an altitude of between 60 and 400 mi (97 and 643 km), the particles strike the gases in the ionosphere, causing them to glow and thus form the aurora.

Since the best time to view the Northern Lights in Iceland is from September through March. In the summertime, the aurora cannot be seen because of the long daylight hours.

If You Have to Cancel

Cancellation Fees – Regardless of reason, cancellations of confirmed bookings result in our incurring costly penalties and cancellation fees from our travel and hotel providers. Therefore, if you have to cancel a confirmed booking, we will charge you a cancellation fee according to when your cancellation notice is received in our Norwalk, CT office. To help limit your liability, Tauck offers Tauck Travel Protection.

If you choose to purchase Tauck’s Guest Protection or Cancellation Fee Waiver, you will have the cancellation penalties waived. Click here for more details.

If you choose not to purchase Tauck’s Guest Protection or Cancellation Fee Waiver, you will incur cancellation penalties per person as follows:

60 days or more before departure
$1,100 per person (the amount of the deposit)

59-30 days before departure
50% of the cost of the cruise per person, not including air (if applicable)

29-1 days before departure
100% of the cost of the cruise per person, not including air (if applicable)

Did you know that you can link-up Tauck itineraries to create longer journeys? Many of these trips are in the same region, and depending upon availability you might connect with them before or after your trip. Alternatively, you might find one of these options better suited for your interests and preferences or for when you are available to travel.