Rib Express Whale Watching Tour: The Complete Review

Thinking about getting up close and personal with some whales in Iceland? That sounds exciting! The Rib Express whale watching tour is something that might be catching your eye, so you want to get the lowdown on whether it’s a splash or a miss. The thing is, a whale watching trip, it’s an investment, and you probably want to know you’re putting your cash into something worthwhile. Right? So, we will explore this particular tour, covering all the important stuff. You know, from the boat itself to the chances of spotting those awesome marine creatures, plus, we’ll look at other practical things to consider before you decide to go for it.

What Exactly Is Rib Express?

Rib Express? Alright, well, that’s the name of a company, and like what you may have guessed, they specialize in RIB boat tours from Reykjavik, Iceland. Their main thing tends to be zipping people out onto the North Atlantic in these small, speedy boats to see the whales, puffins, and whatever else is cruising around out there. That type of boat, a rigid inflatable boat, you see, are super cool because they can cover distances pretty quickly, so it is said they’re able to get you to the whale watching spots quicker. But, you know, it can be a pretty bouncy ride if the ocean’s choppy! Another thing you should know about, the tours, well, they’re smaller. The boats don’t hold too many passengers. Usually, that results in something a bit more personal of an experience than what you get on one of the bigger boats with, like, a zillion other tourists.

Tour Specifics: What You’re Signing Up For

Okay, now we are looking into, so the ins and outs of the Rib Express tour, like, what do they actually offer? What might surprise you, is that typically, the basic whale watching tour they offer is a two hour deal, zipping out from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour. Generally, it’s advertised to be a pretty exciting spin, with the aim to get you to see the whales in their playground fast. Keep this in mind, tours can change with the seasons. Sometimes they add in, like, a puffin watching element when those adorable little birds are around in the summer months. With what I’ve gathered, before you even step on the boat, the guides are keen to give you a quick safety talk and kit you out in waterproof gear, because, let’s face it, the North Atlantic can be, you know, rather chilly. They are trying to make sure, that at least you have on enough layers so you don’t get completely soaked or freeze. The whole point of going out on a smaller RIB boat is, arguably, you can move quicker, cover a bigger area, and then also get nearer to the whales without startling them, potentially.

What Makes It Stand Out? The RIB Boat Advantage

Okay, so why should anyone pick a RIB boat tour when there are other, bigger whale watching boats around? Right, so these boats are smaller, in a way, which means they can zip along the water more quickly. What that also implies, is that you have a larger chance of seeing multiple spots when they’re known to hang out. Then you have the passenger count; the tour groups are generally smaller, as such, creating what some folks have told me, as more personal, close up kind of an experience. Like, if you want, it is very possible, to have a chance to chat more with the guide and get answers to every single one of the questions you have without, seemingly, having to compete with dozens of other people at the same time. Just to add a heads up, remember those RIB boats? The fact is, they might not be the comfiest option if you are expecting smooth sailing because, let me tell you, they tend to bounce all over the place if the water gets choppy.

The Wildlife: What Can You Expect To See?

You’re going whale watching, correct? So, I imagine you are curious about what type of wildlife you can hope to spot on the tour. You should be reminded that whale watching in Iceland means you are viewing wildlife in their habitat, which also suggests you will have to go in with an open mind. Most common, what I can tell, are minke whales and humpback whales, two types that frequent the waters near Reykjavik. Then there are the white beaked dolphins and harbor porpoises, which tend to be spotted quite often too, more or less. Very infrequently, the orcas are around, but there’s definitely not any promises for seeing those. Then, in the summertime, puffins frequently put on a show. I want to give you a heads up: The animal sightings aren’t guaranteed, that should be understood. The sea can be really unpredictable! Although, reputable tour operators, it seems like, will give you another shot free of charge if you don’t happen to see anything, sometimes.

The Crew: Guides and Their Expertise

Guides can either, that is to say, make or break any tour, but that tends to be amplified out on the open water. Many reviewers frequently report the Rib Express crew members being extremely knowledgeable. What seems to matter, these guides aren’t simply drivers; you will find them pretty informative about the local marine life and the area’s geology too it’s almost. So, their job tends to be spotting the animals. With that in mind, they can, like, really add tons to the tour. Some folks claim they can give you info regarding whale behavior, feeding habits, and whatever stories related to the Icelandic coast that comes up. In what’s considered my book, what tends to be important is that the guides usually show that they really appreciate the animals. A true interest helps a lot when you’re looking at spending a couple of hours searching the water and facing all the weather that Iceland wants to send your way. You just know, right?, they care about your experience.

What To Bring With You On the Tour

Figuring out what to take along, well that’s important for something you’ll enjoy while touring. Even if the tour company gives you waterproofs, you should really wrap up in layers. Think base layers made of wool or synthetics, some sort of a fleece, a comfy coat on top of that. Trust me, it will get cold on the water! In terms of accessories, it can get fairly bright on the ocean so bring sunglasses and maybe a hat to stop you from squinting. And obviously, don’t forget your camera. What I’ve found out, bringing a camera that has some kind of zoom lens is recommended. You want something to zoom in and catch, in a way, some clearer shots of the whales when they actually surface. If that sounds right, bringing a waterproof bag or case, it may just come in handy for the sake of protecting any type of sensitive electronic gear from sea spray, too, it’s almost. Bringing snacks isn’t usually required, but it’s, arguably, smart for packing little energy boosters just in case you begin to get peckish, particularly if you go on a longer trip.

Photo Opportunities: Getting The Perfect Shot

Goodness, getting stellar whale pictures needs some preparation and a little patience. A point to remember is that these RIB boats, they can move and jump when they’re on the waves. If I was you, I would ensure you keep a solid grip on your device or camera! Have camera settings adjusted before setting off to that they’re perfect for taking shots in that, sometimes, bright, marine setting. Utilizing continuous shooting mode, so you never miss any bit of the movement while the whales leap out of the water sounds helpful to me. Getting pictures, if that makes sense, is easiest as the boat turns or slows. Take photos of more than just the animals, alright? Also take in the other scenery! Capture Iceland’s rugged coastline, dramatic cliffs, to provide, you know, context for any tour. Also be sure, before returning to shore, you get some pictures of the people on your boat, because capturing reactions can really help tell an amazing story, doesn’t it?

Booking: How and Where to Book A Tour

For most folks, booking something tends to be fairly easy. Just go directly to the Rib Express website. Loads of times they provide times, prices, and you can just reserve right on their site. Something a number of travelers sometimes do, just a bit, they find tours from any third party travel websites or local tourist offices. The thing is, check all details to make sure you realize precisely, more or less, what that entails. If possible, so it may just sound better to reserve ahead of time, mostly if you plan on going during summertime or some type of holiday because everything tends to fill up fairly quickly then. Some may say you should definitely peek at their cancellation policy, so in some respects you would know about what to do in cases of sudden changes to the plans or if, supposedly, the weather goes crazy.

Pricing: What Should You Budget?

Setting a budget ahead of time just comes highly suggested, mainly because these whale tours, these will just not be cheap. Most often, prices tend to change based upon things, such as the time frame of any tour, or just what that tour consists of. Commonly, a simpler whale tour for a couple hours it might be the least costly of any alternatives. What has become evident, longer outings, and trips which come bundled along with other adventures, such as visiting some puffin colonies in some locations, may cost slightly more. A point to remember, prices may differ with seasons; summertime is extremely popular and in some cases might show higher prices when compared with months not as busy. The Rib Express can, it’s clear, sometimes include prices for adults. If it sounds ideal, inquire about potential discounts, especially if buying a trip for children, or if you are considering taking the family.

Pros and Cons: A Quick Rundown

We have gone over, so that’s the essentials, why not think about a rapid listing with regards to some possible positives as well as negatives when picking the Rib Express. The great things might consist of how fast you can get to destinations by making use of small RIB vessels. Getting individual attention, as there can be fewer travelers; it can make for some amazing picture opportunities because of the boat closeness to any wildlife. When considering drawbacks, it isn’t really well suited in case you anticipate having some really relaxed or comfortable outing, simply because they could be rather bumpy if the water is harsh. Any additional gear is, of course, good; yet people do need space to then safely bring them aboard without it feeling over packed. It’s worth repeating, obviously, this wildlife touring could hinge dramatically as per day’s conditions; for that reason just prepare properly and appreciate every second!

• Pros: Fast travel to whale locations, close encounters, skilled guides
• Cons: Can be bumpy, gear limitations, wildlife sightings can be unpredictable

So that, essentially, gives an extensive check of that whale viewing tour given with Rib Express. From what sort of encounter will happen at some RIB ride all over toward the animals one could witness along to crucial suggestions you may just wish to keep close when thinking regarding taking part. One hopes every nugget included really helps whenever sizing up regardless of whether this tour, is that what one wishes for what journey awaits!

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