Scandi, Nordic, Baltic - A trip with a lot of firsts!

[Seat0B]

Back in early 2023, the family realised that a big year for wedding anniversaries was approaching in the period March 2024 to March 2025. Mr Seat 0A and I, and both his sisters (who are twins) and their hubbies were all to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversaries in this 12 month period. So we decided to plan a big trip together to celebrate a combined 120 years of marriage (3 x 40).

Well, things did not turn out quite as we all expected back then! Most of you will be familiar with my surprise diagnosis of leukaemia in mid 2023 and the long recovery from the chemo. So we modified the plans a bit, and then the husband of Twin 1 suggested we all consider a 2025 cruise around some bucket list places. Thus it was that we agreed to travel en famille on a cruise around Iceland, Greenland, Faore Islands, Shetland and Norway.
The husband of Twin 2 then flatly refused to join this trip, so we are heading off without them for our 3-1 = 80 celebration.

It has been an epic piece of long term planning, with the cruise itself booked in November 2023 - at that time I needed some bright spots on the horizon, and this certainly fit the bill. This is the longest ahead that I have ever booked a trip, and to be honest, I thought it would never happen! But time has rolled on, and we leave on Tuesday for a much bigger trip than first planned. A trip that is full of firsts for me. First cruise. Many new countries. As well as new destinations in countries I have previously visited. I am very excited.

Care to join me?

 

[VPS]

Of course we will join you

Have fun

 

[Seat0B]

Our flights and the cruise

On Tuesday we will fly:

CBR-SYD on QF1432 Y classic award flight on Dash-8
SYD-PER on QF 5 paid J purchased during DSC offer on B787
PER-LHR on QF9 paid J purchased during DSC offer on B787
LHR-HEL on AY1340 paid J on A32.

Journey duration about 34 hours, plus getting to the airport. That should give me long enough to watch a few box sets on the IFE!

We will have 4 days in Helsinki, and then we fly to Reykjavik, on AY993 Y classic award flight on A321. Here we meet Twin 1 and her hubby, and will road trip around the southwest of Iceland for a week. We will spend time in Reykjavik, Grundarfjordur, Keflavik and Vik, and then on 31 August, we will board our 14 day cruise on Norwegian Star visiting the points noted on the map below.


At the end of the cruise, we will have 2 days together in Oslo, and then Twin 1 and hubby will do their own thing and we will continue by flying to Vilnius (Lithuania) via an 8 hour stop in Helsinki - another set of Y Classic reward flights, this time on AY912 on Nordic regional for Finnair on an E-190 and AY1107 on Nordic Regional for Finnair on an AT-72.

We will spend 3 days in Vilnius, train to Riga (Latvia) for 4 days, then train to Tallinn (Estonia) for 4 days. After that it is the Tallink Ferry back to Helsinki for a night in the Clarion Airport Hotel (in the terminal building, I believe) before we make the long trip home. We leave on 28 September and fly:
HEL-LHR on AY1335 - paid J on DSC on A320
LHR-SYD on QF2 - paid J on DSC on A380
SYD-CBR on QF1429 Y classic reward on Dash-8.

We arrive home on 30 September, after about 36 hours. And it will only be 9 am! That is one hell of a big day.

 

[Seat0B]

Our hotels

Oh my, people are not kidding when they say the Scandi/Nordic area is an expensive destination!!

In Helsinki, we will stay at Scandic Helsinki Hub - 4 nights for ~$1400, and no breakfast included
In Reykjavik it is Fosshotel Lind for 2 nights at the start and 2 nights at the end for ~ $1800, again no breakfast
Then Grundarfjordur Bed and Breakfast for ~$400, with breakfast
Hotel Jazz Keflavik for ~$450, with breakfast
Hotel Katla by Keahotels ~$450, no breakfast

Then after the cruise, we will stay at the very affordable Comfort Hotel Runway Gardermoen for 2 nights ~$390 including breakfast - Mr Seat 0A is delighted we will have a runway view. But of course there is the cost of getting from Oslo city to the airport each day on the Flytoget train ($75 return trip per person, plus $40 airport shuttle bus round trip to/from hotel). This will be an interesting decision to review after the trip. We were originally booked at a city hotel, at over ~$950 for the 2 nights. Then Finnair cancelled our flight that was originally in the early afternoon and the replacement flight leaves at 0830. I don't like early mornings and making that flight would have been a very early morning. So we decided to combine my love of sleeping with his love of runway views and just suck up the travel time and costs (we should be about $150 in front but ) .

Followed by a stint of very affordable Accor hotels in the Baltics - around half the price of the Scandi/Nordic area, and some of that paid with my growing stash of reward points since I joined ALL signature. We will stay in:

Novotel Vilnius Centre
Pullman Riga Old Town
Movenpick Hotel Tallinn

And finally, the last night at Vantaa airport at the Clarion Hotel Helsinki Airport for ~$350 including breakfast.

 

[Seat0B]

What's New?

First time for us in:

Finland
Iceland
Greenland
Faroe Islands
Shetland
Lithuania
Latvia
Estonia

New places in Norway - Alesund and Kristiansand.

Never done a cruise before. And boy have I learnt a lot about cruises in the time since making the booking. I'll write a separate post about that. I've definitely made some travel mistakes with this, and it started with letting the brother in law make the decisions about the cruise. Let's just leave it as - we have a different approach to travelling. So the time spent with the family on the road and on the cruise will be both lovely and fun, and frustrating as all get out. But at least I know what I have signed up for, in advance. And how I will do things next time. Not even sure yet there will be a next time for the cruising....

 

[RooFlyer]

sounds wonderful. I will be following along.

 

[Flyfrequently]

A trip that is full of firsts for me. First cruise.. I am very excited.

Care to join me?

Am on board @Seat0B, hope there is a First Lounge in there somewhere and happy 40th celebrations to you all

 

[Flyfrequently]

What's New?

I've definitely made some travel mistakes with this, and it started with letting the brother in law make the decisions about the cruise. Let's just leave it as - we have a different approach to travelling.

Mmmm @Seat0B think you mentioned not letting others plan your travels in your last TR . ......

 

[Lat34]

On board and looking forward to your new adventure.

 

[masco131]

Our hotels

Oh my, people are not kidding when they say the Scandi/Nordic area is an expensive destination!!

In Helsinki, we will stay at Scandic Helsinki Hub - 4 nights for ~$1400, and no breakfast included
In Reykjavik it is Fosshotel Lind for 2 nights at the start and 2 nights at the end for ~ $1800, again no breakfast
Then Grundarfjordur Bed and Breakfast for ~$400, with breakfast
Hotel Jazz Keflavik for ~$450, with breakfast
Hotel Katla by Keahotels ~$450, no breakfast

Then after the cruise, we will stay at the very affordable Comfort Hotel Runway Gardermoen for 2 nights ~$390 including breakfast - Mr Seat 0A is delighted we will have a runway view. But of course there is the cost of getting from Oslo city to the airport each day on the Flytoget train ($75 return trip per person, plus $40 airport shuttle bus round trip to/from hotel). This will be an interesting decision to review after the trip. We were originally booked at a city hotel, at over ~$950 for the 2 nights. Then Finnair cancelled our flight that was originally in the early afternoon and the replacement flight leaves at 0830. I don't like early mornings and making that flight would have been a very early morning. So we decided to combine my love of sleeping with his love of runway views and just suck up the travel time and costs (we should be about $150 in front but ) .

Followed by a stint of very affordable Accor hotels in the Baltics - around half the price of the Scandi/Nordic area, and some of that paid with my growing stash of reward points since I joined ALL signature. We will stay in:

Novotel Vilnius Centre
Pullman Riga Old Town
Movenpick Hotel Tallinn

And finally, the last night at Vantaa airport at the Clarion Hotel Helsinki Airport for ~$350 including breakfast.

Not sure when you’re planning to head off, but it could be worth looking into Choice Privileges for those Scandic hotels.
I actually wrote a post about it here:
Choice Privileges hotels and Why you should look into this
It goes through how I managed to save quite a bit on Christmas bookings, might be useful for you too.

 

[Seat0B]

Mmmm @Seat0B think you mentioned not letting others plan your travels in your last TR . ......

Yes, I am a slow learner…although those mistakes were all made around the same timeframe, they just are taking a long time to actually play out

 

[Seat0B]

Not sure when you’re planning to head off, but it could be worth looking into Choice Privileges for those Scandic hotels.
I actually wrote a post about it here:
Choice Privileges hotels and Why you should look into this
It goes through how I managed to save quite a bit on Christmas bookings, might be useful for you too.

Thanks @masco131. Unfortunately too late for me this time - we leave tomorrow. But I am 100% certain we will be going back to these areas on another trip in the future, and that will help me a lot then.

 

[Pushka]

 

[Seat0B]

I've just finished my packing.

Check in bag is 22 kg. It has quite a few things in it that will be consumed along the way that are also heavy eg 3 x big bottles of Gaviscon for the reflux, so I am looking forward to getting it a bit lighter and emptier as the trip goes along.

Once again we have a 2 climate trip, with Finland and the Baltics being pleasant late summer temperatures of around 20 degrees +/- a bit. Iceland will be Canberra winter temps around 5-11 degrees, and Greenland even colder. So I have many layers of merino and fleece, technical under layers, and plenty of down - a vest, a jacket and a coat. Plus waterproof hiking boots. Beanies and a sun hat, gloves and scarves and sunscreen, swimwear and a travel towel for the sauna and Sky Lagoon. Truly a case of packing for all conditions. In addition to my clothes, I have a travel laundry kit (several small sachets of washing powder, 2 elastic clothes lines, a handful of pegs and a lingerie bag). Also some picnic/snack/meal in the room things ( knife, fork spoon, sharp knife, bottle opener, veggie peeler, rollable chopping board, 2 bowls and 2 travel mugs). My luxury items are my microfibre hair turban and my silk pillowcase, both of which are very friendly to curly hair like mine. The thing I am least likely to use will be my gym wear - although I have made myself a promise to use the gym on the ship at least on the 4 sea days we have. And at least the gym leggings can double as lounge wear/pyjamas.

Carry on bag is 7.5 kg. It's full of things I don't want to be without should my luggage go astray. In my case this is:

• literally half a suitcase full of my medications for the trip
• a down jacket and vest
• a couple of books
• my jewellery ( a few earings and 2 necklaces)
• a single change of clothes (socks, undies, shirt and pants)
• a few personal care supplies

My trusty travel back pack which is 5kg. The contents of this are:

• my plastic sleeve of trip documents - plane tickets, hotels, cruise stuff, car rental, train tickets, ferry ticket, attractions etc
• my favourite milk candies from Japan - great for soothing my chronic cough
• a note pad and pen - for those important things I need to write down
• an old QF amenities pouch repurposed to contain all my cords, chargers, battery pack etc
• my round the neck travel pouch with passport, IDP and cash currencies
• my water bottle
• a book
• my trip diary
• my LAGs
• my Bose QC 35 head set
• my ipad (not pictured)
• my phone (not pictured)
• my reading, driving and sun glasses (not pictured)
• my physical wallet (OK Boomer!) (not pictured)

I know for sure that I will use and appreciate every thing I have packed. As I have remarked before, hats off to those who manage to travel HLO. It's just not for me .

This is the earliest I have ever been ready for a trip - it's 14 hrs until we leave the house and I am ready except for adding the last minute things like phone and specs tomorrow morning. I'm already liking how this feels.

Edit: To remove some details in photo

 

[Seat0B]

I'm anticipating 1394 SC for this trip, which has DSC on most of it. Already have 260. Have at least 56 SC for domestic reward bookings via Points Club. Plus a further 300 SC for #Japanuary2026. And half the wedding travel to South Africa will be in this membership year (bad planning by Seat Son - very rude to hold a destination wedding on 28 Mar when my year ends 31 Mar ). So I have retained Platinum, but not nearly enough for P1 - oh well, first world problems. May make it to the 2400SC bonus thingy depending on what I get for flying to South Africa, and the loyalty bonuses. Andnow might make LTP at 90 rather than 91 . Or maybe QF will have aDSC offer that I can get onto for the wedding flights....that would throw me a real challenge for making P1.

Yep, I am in the mood to travel!

 

[Lat34]

I've just finished my packing.

Check in bag is 22 kg. It has quite a few things in it that will be consumed along the way that are also heavy eg 3 x big bottles of Gaviscon for the reflux, so I am looking forward to getting it a bit lighter and emptier as the trip goes along.

Once again we have a 2 climate trip, with Finland and the Baltics being pleasant late summer temperatures of around 20 degrees +/- a bit. Iceland will be Canberra winter temps around 5-11 degrees, and Greenland even colder. So I have many layers of merino and fleece, technical under layers, and plenty of down - a vest, a jacket and a coat. Plus waterproof hiking boots. Beanies and a sun hat, gloves and scarves and sunscreen, swimwear and a travel towel for the sauna and Sky Lagoon. Truly a case of packing for all conditions. In addition to my clothes, I have a travel laundry kit (several small sachets of washing powder, 2 elastic clothes lines, a handful of pegs and a lingerie bag). Also some picnic/snack/meal in the room things ( knife, fork spoon, sharp knife, bottle opener, veggie peeler, rollable chopping board, 2 bowls and 2 travel mugs). My luxury items are my microfibre hair turban and my silk pillowcase, both of which are very friendly to curly hair like mine. The thing I am least likely to use will be my gym wear - although I have made myself a promise to use the gym on the ship at least on the 4 sea days we have. And at least the gym leggings can double as lounge wear/pyjamas.

Carry on bag is 7.5 kg. It's full of things I don't want to be without should my luggage go astray. In my case this is:

• literally half a suitcase full of my medications for the trip
• a down jacket and vest
• a couple of books
• my jewellery ( a few earings and 2 necklaces)
• a single change of clothes (socks, undies, shirt and pants)
• a few personal care supplies

View attachment 464829View attachment 464830

My trusty travel back pack which is 5kg. The contents of this are:

• my plastic sleeve of trip documents - plane tickets, hotels, cruise stuff, car rental, train tickets, ferry ticket, attractions etc
• my favourite milk candies from Japan - great for soothing my chronic cough
• a note pad and pen - for those important things I need to write down
• an old QF amenities pouch repurposed to contain all my cords, chargers, battery pack etc
• my round the neck travel pouch with passport, IDP and cash currencies
• my water bottle
• a book
• my trip diary
• my LAGs
• my Bose QC 35 head set
• my ipad (not pictured)
• my phone (not pictured)
• my reading, driving and sun glasses (not pictured)
• my physical wallet (OK Boomer!) (not pictured)

View attachment 464831

I know for sure that I will use and appreciate everything I have packed. As I have remarked before, hats off to those who manage to travel HLO. It's just not for me .

This is the earliest I have ever been ready for a trip - it's 14 hrs until we leave the house and I am ready except for adding the last minute things like phone and specs tomorrow morning. I'm already liking how this feels.

I'm very impressed!!!!! Have just forward your post onto our travel companion who leaves Friday for MNL overnight then through to LHR via MCT. We are two days behind

 

[Seat0B]

Here's something hilarious. The connecting flights to SYD are on separate PNR because QF no longer offer J service between CBR and SYD (or maybe only one really early flight a day - I have lost the plot because it never suits). So when I went to book the trip, it put us on the Dash-8 but wanted to charge a ridiculous, Canberra taxed fare of over $600 ONE WAY = $2400 for us both there and back!!!!!!!!! I decided to take the risk of the unprotected connection, knowing we could drive to SYD in a bit over 3 hrs if they cancel our flight (not unheard of in CBR) or there is an unacceptable delay. That would see us just squeak in with enough time to check in, though no lounge time. I got classic reward flights for us both, both ways for 32,000 points and $310.

Anyway, for the last few days, QF have been spamming me with emails about my upcoming trip and how to prepare for it - for the rewards flight to SYD - not a single email about the big trip SYD-xPER-xLHR-HEL, not one.

 

[Seat0B]

I'm very impressed!!!!! Have just forward your post onto our travel companion who leaves Friday for MNL overnight then through to LHR via MCT. We are two days behind

Oh I cannot wait to hear about your time in Oman. Do take it easy, it is extremely hot there at the moment. In Dubai on the weekend it was 42 degrees and super humid, and last week it was 41.5 and a sandstorm at 0730 as Seat Son drove to work in Abu Dhabi. Oman is, if anything, usually a bit hotter and more humid. Drink litres and litres of water.

 

[RooFlyer]

Might want to pick up a roll of paper-based tape (stuff you put around edges when you are painting). You should be OK for hours of darkness (?6) but I use the tape to block off escaping light when the curtains aren't black-out (also if you want to kip during the day). Can also be used on nuisance LEDs in rooms if you aren't packing duct tape for that purpose.

Can also tape over the ends of spare batteries in case you get an over-strict security guy.

 

[Seat0B]

Might want to pick up a roll of paper-based tape (stuff you put around edges when you are painting). You should be OK for hours of darkness (?6) but I use the tape to block off escaping light when the curtains aren't black-out (also if you want to kip during the day). Can also be used on nuisance LEDs in rooms if you aren't packing duct tape for that purpose.

Can also tape over the ends of spare batteries in case you get an over-strict security guy.

Ooh yes good point. Will add that now. Thanks.