The company has booked docking in the town for six famous ships: the Aurora, Arcadia, Oriana, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II (often called the QE2).

All of the six ships are very large and Queens Victoria and Elizabeth are among the most luxurious cruise liners anywhere, Westfjords news site BB.is reports.

Another big cruise company, Aida Cruises, will also start sailing to Ísafjörður in 2013.

As well as this, Holland America Line, which runs ships including Maasdam and Prinsendam, has decided to start calling at Ísafjörður again in 2013 after several years’ gap. The town’s regular cruise ship customers have already started booking docking for 2013.

This year was already a record breaker for the town, with 35 cruises booked to land — although five were cancelled at short notice. Next year looks good too:

“Next year is nearly sorted, although there can always be some changes which come up nearer the time; but advanced bookings for 2013 look very good — Ísafjörður looks like a real hot destination for that year,” says Ísafjarðarbær harbour master Guðmundur M. Kristjánsson. Asked what the town has to thank for its increasing popularity, Guðmundur says it is the reward for all the marketing in recent years. “We have been conscientious about attending overseas conventions and getting ourselves known among the ship companies,” he told BB.

He says that pre-bookings for two summers ahead have never looked as good as they do now — adding that the town needs to decide fast how to deal with all the extra traffic. All the ships will not be able to dock on the quayside and some will need to lay at anchor; meaning work should begin soon to widen the channel, Guðmundur believes. Cruise ships are a big part of the harbour’s business and increasing numbers are a good thing for the harbours service and the entire town, he adds. Many hundreds of local people earn welcome extra money on ‘cruise ship days’ in a wide variety of ways such as making food, guiding tours, helping in shops and cafés, driving coaches and manning the welcome/tourist information booth at the quayside. Ísafjörður is one of eleven cruise ship ports in Iceland.

The Icelanders have been travelling around Asia in two groups for the last three months. This was the first time they had all met up again and decided to take a pleasure cruise around nearby islands. There were 90 passengers on board, mainly Europeans.

After around an hour at sea, “One of us was in the bathroom and saw that the sea was coming in through the head and she somehow managed to get out,” one of the women, Eva Sigrun Gudjonsdottir told Visir.is.

Some people jumped off the boat before it had the chance to turn over. “I ran for the handrail,” says Gudjonsdottir. “There are very many people in a bad way after that, battered and with broken arms.”

Other boats in the area came to rescue passengers; all of whom escaped — and most without injury. Gudjonsdottir said the scene was one of sheer panic, with people screaming and frantically trying to find their friends.

The women have not been given an explanation for the boat’s accident; but foreign media have reported that it was over crowded and that it capsized because of all the dancing. Gudjonsdottir said, however, that nobody was dancing at the time of the accident. She added that little or no safety equipment appeared to be on board.

The six Icelanders are shrugging off their ordeal to the best of their ability and are continuing with their trip. Next they will visit Vietnam and Thailand.

(Photos from library and for illustration only: not directly connected to story)

With the cruise industry experiencing a resurgence, the Nordic region is set to experience a growth in passenger numbers continuing on from last year’s rise. The Norwegian Epic has identified the newest travel market and currently represents the only large scale cruise liner offering solo deals.

The new studios are unrivalled in the cruise industry. At just 100 square feet the rooms are certainly small – about the size of a low-end French motel room. However, each studio features a full-size bed, writing desk, flat-screen television and en suite bathroom. All based near the middle of the vessel, some studios even have interconnecting doors for those travelling with friends but requiring an element of privacy. There is also a studio lounge where single passengers can mingle over a coffee or an evening drink.

Though lacking in views of the water, the Epic studios are set apart from the rest of the ship through their location on high deck. Connected by an internal corridor the wing is for studio occupants only meaning separation from the 4,000 other mainly couple guests aboard. Prices are only a fraction above the usual per person rates and represent a huge discount when compared to the usual single supplements. Just how popular the new offering will be remains to be seen.

Siminn calls its international service On Waves, which it has been operating since 2002. The company provides mobile GSM services for cruise ships, ferries, cargo ships and private jets, allowing end users to use their normal mobile phones all over the world.

According to the company’s website, the technology is unique and they were the first company to offer such services.

Recent years have brought a record breaking number of cruise ships to Icelandic shores, as the country’s amazing natural beauty and midnight sun continue to capture the hearts of tourists from all over the world.

Hafnarfjordur is a prime dock for berthing cruise ships. The picturesque town boasts an excellent and sheltered harbour with berthing for ships up to 300-350 metres long with 8-10 metres draught.

The Port lies within easy walking distance of Hafnarfjordur town centre, with its selection of restaurants and unique shops. Hafnarfjordur also benefits from being a mere ten-minute drive from Reykjavik, the capital city and cultural hub of Iceland.

Not only an ideal cruise destination, Hafnarfjordur is also an expert in dealing with containers, bulk, breakbulk, fish, general cargo, oil and repair facilities.

The Port of Hafnarfjordur has two docking sites separated by four kilometres. The Straumsvik site is next to the Icelandic Aluminium Co Ltd (ISAL) smelter and Gasfelagid Liquefied Propane Gas depot. The main berth there is therefore equipped with a suction unit for unloading bauxite.

The other Port of Hafnarfjordur facility is closer to the town and has a wide variety of facilities on offer; including for dry, cool and refrigerated cargo; oil unloading; 24 hour bunkering and mobile cranes to lift up to 150 tonnes.

For further details on Hafnarfjordur Harbour and its growing list of services, as well as its increasing importance, visit the website: www.portofhafnarfjordur.is

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The state of emergency imposed by the government in the face of fierce political protests was lifted on 14 September, but the political situation still looks gravely uncertain.

But from the tourist’s point-of-view, nothing much has changed on the ground, according to Elizabeth Ravech, Australian wife of the owner of the Krabi tour company Andaman Camp and Cruise.

“We have never had so few bookings approaching the high season,” Ravech says of the Krabi tourist industry. But she goes on to say that the effects of the political crisis have been negligible in Krabi – nearly 500 kilometres south of Bangkok.

In Bangkok, there have been clashes between supporters of the embattled ex-Prime Minister and those who believed he should step down, in adherence to court demands. The House of Representatives voted for a new PM yesterday in a vote that is still proving contentious.

Several dozen Thai protesters were injured during the clashes, and one died – but in a big city like Bangkok, it has always proven easy enough for tourists to keep away from the trouble.

The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises visitors to Thailand to keep away from large gatherings of people during the period of political uncertainty – good advice according to Elizabeth Ravech. “But in many places outside the capital, for example here in Krabi, there are no big crowds anyway,” she adds.

If anything was going to cause a real nationwide crisis, it would surely be the collapse of the important tourist industry, for which Thailand has been famous for over 30 years. The money and international perspective tourists bring to the economy has been promoting stability and prosperity ever since.

“I just don’t think the foreign press realise the damage they might be doing when they turn a political protest in Bangkok into a doom story about all of Thailand. It’s just not true,” Ravech states, matter-of-factly.

Thai politics will provide rich pickings for squabbling columnists for a long time to come; but most would probably agree that sensible and careful tourists will find Thailand no more dangerous today than it was six or 12 months ago. Just steer clear of politics: surely good advice wherever you go on holiday!

Voyages of Discovery is a destination-led specialist which offers travellers more than the average cruise. Passengers can chose to enrich their travel experience with informal onboard lectures in order to learn more about the landscape through which they travel.

In mid-June, the company is offering the Fjords, Faroes, Fire and Ice II cruise which explores Norway’s fjords and the geysers of Iceland. The cruise takes passengers near the Arctic Circle where the summer days are long and offer plenty of sunlight to enjoy the spectacular arctic views.

The Land of the Midnight Sun tour also leaves in mid June and offers travellers the chance to see seals, whales and a variety of birds flying through the breathtaking scenery of the Norwegian fjords.

The 14-day Baltic Treasure cruise takes in both Scandinavia and Russia while the 11-day Norwegian Fjords and Scottish Islands cruise offers a shorter itinerary but no less dramatic scenery.

Prices for all of the cruises mentioned include a free connecting flight from Dublin to London Stansted with Air Dublin. Prices also include meals, taxes, and a coach transfer as well as on board lecturers. Single travellers will not be charged a single supplement.