Page 15 - AAA Now! – AAA Central Penn – November/December 2022

TRAVEL
Sailing the Briny to
Iceland and Greenland
Dramatic landscapes and towns steeped in legend and history define the amazing journey to Iceland and Greenland with Princess Cruises.
Begin this adventure in picturesque Falmouth, England, which shares the Cornish Coast’s colorful history of shipwrecks, smuggling and privateering. Cornwall is scenic England at
its best, with superb seascapes, picturesque harbors, and a countryside of green fields and hedgerows.
From Falmouth, the Island Princess sails to Cork, your gateway to romantic Ireland. Stroll down narrow country lanes and see the lakes of Killarney. Visitors can also scale the narrow passages of Blarney Castle to view the famous Blarney Stone.
Then it’s onward to Akureyri, gateway to Iceland, the “Land of Fire and Ice.” Shaped by the powerful forces of nature – glaciers, volcanoes and the mighty Atlantic Ocean – Iceland is perhaps best described as a land of contrasts, both geographically and culturally. The island is in a continual process of transformation, much like its society, which blends Nordic tradition with sophisticated technology. Interestingly, the town of Akureyri
lies just below the Arctic Circle, making the climate temperate. Flower boxes fill the windows of houses, and trees line the neat, well-tended avenues.
In contrast, Isafjordur, located in the West Fjords, is predominantly a fishing center, and it is Iceland’s least populated region. Some of the country’s oldest and best-preserved buildings, dating from the 18th century, are located in Isajordur, which boasts a vigorous and varied cultural and artistic scene. The ancient settlement site of Eyri downtown is enclosed by the narrow Shutulsfjordu fjord, which shelters the harbor in all weathers.
The northernmost capital in the world, Reykjavik is the gateway to Iceland’s natural wonders, which range from icefields to thermal pools. This unspoiled demi-paradise is home to a very old and sophisticated culture, known for its cultural liveliness, modern architecture, and exceptional cuisine.
From Iceland, the Island Princess sails to Greenland, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. The small town of Qaqortoq, meaning “White Palace” in Greenlandic, is the cultural and
commercial center of Southern Greenland. Lured by the wealth of marine mammals that thrive in the offshore waters during summer, Europeans were drawn to the site over 200 years ago.
The fishing port of Nanortalik, Greenland was founded in 1797 as a Danish whaling center. Summer visitors to this extraordinary and extraordinarily isolated port, meaning “place of bears” in Greenlandic, may spot polar bears on the offshore flow ice. The offshore waters also teem with seals and minke, humpback and fin whales. Ashore, brightly painted wooden houses cluster to a rocky peninsula in the harbor.
AUGUST 8 – 25, 2023 — FROM $8,219* PER PERSON, DOUBLE OCCUPANCY
CRUISE ITINERARY
Cornwall (Falmouth), England | Cork, Ireland (Cobh – for Blarney Castle) | Akureyri, Iceland | Isafjordur, Iceland | Rekjavik, Iceland | Qaqortoq, Greenland | Nanortalik, Greenland
For reservations and information, contact your local AAA Travel Advisor at 888-743-2844.
*Rates are subject to availability at time of booking and include taxes, fees and fuel surcharges which are subject to change. All pricing and included features are based on a minimum of 20 full-fare passengers. Airfare is currently not included in the price of the trip. Airfare will be added when rates and schedules become available and may have a different payment and cancellation schedule from the cruise portion.
ICELAND AND GREENLAND CRUISE
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