Iceland, with its active volcanoes, glacier-topped mountains, and plethora of geothermal pools, is known as the land of fire and ice. But it was the ice (or at least the cool weather that comes with it) and a break from the crush of summer tourists that my husband and I were most interested in this summer after spending most of last July in the heat and crowds of the Mediterranean.
We got both—and so much more—on a recent 10-night circumnavigation of the island on the 228-passenger luxury expedition vessel Scenic Eclipse, which brought us to cascading waterfalls, rugged landscapes, and volcanoes as well as picturesque villages and islands off the traditional tourist and cruise paths.
One day, we hiked past puffin-filled cliffs and across the Arctic Circle on Grimsey Island. On another, we got an unexpected private tour in the little-visited town of Sauðárkrókur after a school teacher spotted my husband and me wandering the hills above town and offered to show us the highlights, including the town’s geothermal plant and the site of an old, hand-operated ferry crossing. The town is perhaps best known as the jumping-off point for a trip to Dragney Island, but the seas were too rough that day to visit that island—a bird-watcher’s paradise and home to a famed outlaw in ancient Icelandic lore.
Indeed, while many visitors like to take in the otherworldly sights of this mystical country by driving its ring road, the best, and easily most relaxing way, is to explore everything Iceland has to offer by sea.
Whether you want a more traditional cruise or one like expedition line Scenic offers that has adventurous extras such as Zodiacs, kayaks, bikes, a submersible, and even two helicopters for “flightseeing,” there are just enough (as in not too many to feel overcrowded) cruise lines offering a variety of full and partial circumnavigation options.
Where Iceland cruises sail
While a host of sailings across Northern Europe make stops in Iceland, how many ports they visit depends on the length of the cruise, size of the ship, and whether they are making a full or partial loop around the island.
For instance, Viking has two 900-passenger ships that sail seven-night circumnavigations with stops in the most popular ports. But those ships are too big to dock in smaller villages such as Sauðárkrókur, and Grimsey Island is too far north to include in the shorter sailings.
Most circumnavigations begin and end in Reykjavík, the country’s largest city, which is also a stop for other ships sailing the region. Given the popularity of Iceland as a tourist destination for both land and sea travelers, I was a bit concerned that it would be crowded at the height of summer. Instead we discovered a beautiful, insanely clean city with just enough bustle to be lively and fun.
Most sailings, even those going to Greenland and beyond, include Heimaey Island off Iceland’s southwest coast, where we hiked to the top of the volcano that nearly took out the island’s town center in 1973.
Another must see is Akureyri, a major fishing port and university town, with access to inland attractions such as the legendary Godafoss, known as the “waterfall of the gods,” and steaming geothermal fields with impressive lava formations.
One of my favorite ports was our overnight stay in Seydisfjordur, an artsy village in the Eastfjords at the end of an 11-mile fjord—a breathtaking scene backed by snow-packed peaks and a waterfall. We arrived in the evening just in time for a reception at the local arts center that included a performance of Icelandic folk music. The next day we skipped the guided tours and instead checked out two of the ship’s e-bikes to cruise the hilly neighborhoods and beyond before walking up to the waterfall and then heading back to the village for some tasty fish and chips.
From the quaint port of Djupivogur, you can do an excursion to the Fjallsarlon ice lagoon, where Zodiac tours will have you dodging icebergs to see the face of a glacial ice wall.
Isafjordur, in the Westfjords, is known for its music scene and the nearby attraction of Vigur Island, a privately owned bird sanctuary and eiderdown farm inhabited by a family of three along with the eider ducks and thousands of puffins.
Also in the west, the fishing village of Grundarfjordur has an impressive and much-photographed cone-shaped mountain, Kirkjufell, and it affords access to glacier sights in Snaefellsjokull National Park, where adventurous travelers can hike an underground lava cave.
The Iceland cruise season runs roughly from May to September, with most sailings in June, July, and August. Here are some of our favorite Iceland cruises.
The best Iceland cruises
Spend a little more time in the village of Seydisfjordur on a Windstar sailing.
Photo by Andrew Mayovskyy/Shutterstock
Around Iceland with Windstar Cruises
Best for: Cultural immersion
To book: Windstar’s seven-night Around Iceland cruises are priced from $3,908 per person
What we love best about the Windstar Cruises weeklong Iceland circumnavigation itinerary is that the 312-passenger, all-suite Star Pride spends full days in the ports and, like the Scenic Eclipse, has an overnight in Seydisfjordur, which means more time to hang with the locals, enjoy a craft beer, or otherwise enjoy a bit of Icelandic culture. A good conversation starter is to ask locals if they have written a book, since a fun fact is that one in 10 people in Iceland have published a book (those Icelandic winters are long). Aboard the ship, the impressive cuisine includes fresh fish bought locally (including Arctic char, halibut, cod, and haddock), local cheeses and charcuterie, and Icelandic beers, schnapps, and vodka on the official cruise line of the James Beard Foundation.
Exploring Iceland: Fjords, Waterfalls, and Wildlife with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions
Best for: Short and educational sailing
To book: This five-night cruise is priced from $6,645 per person, with a $500 discount for kids
While Lindblad Expeditions does impressively in-depth circumnavigation itineraries, the soft-adventure line also offers this five-night gem, focusing on western Iceland and perfect for those who also want to spend time on the Ring Road. Passengers sail to remote fjords, complete with hikes and Zodiac rides that will bring them to scenes such as the spectacular Dynjandi Waterfall, the largest in the Westfjords at 328 feet tall. Keep your eyes open along the coastline for nesting terns. A NatGeo-trained photographer aboard will help you get the perfect shot to prove you saw nesting puffins off Heimaey and elsewhere en route. The ship is the 138-passenger, polar-class National Geographic Resolution—with the fun option of catching views while camping in the lush bed of a glass igloo on deck.
Ponant’s Iceland Mosaic
Best for: Underwater views
To book: Ponant’s seven-night Iceland cruises are priced from $6,990 per person
French line Ponant’s 184-passenger Le Bellot offers a unique perspective on Iceland, with an underwater Blue Eye lounge equipped with whale-eye shaped portals, large screens showing live images, and hydrophones capturing underwater sounds—all available as you relax in a “body listening” sofa, which vibrates in sync with the maritime acoustics, and sip a perfectly made martini. Another bonus of this small ship is that the western-focused itineraries include a stop in the tiny village of Grimseyjarhreppur, the one inhabited place on Grimsey island, Iceland’s northernmost inhabited island, bisected by the Arctic Circle. Grimsey is a key destination in Iceland for spotting nesting puffins.
Everyone in the family will delight in the port town of Grundarfjordur with its famous Kirkjufell Mountain and adjacent waterfalls.
Courtesy of Frugal Flyer/Unsplash
Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Magical Midnight Sun and Chasing Eric the Red
Best for: Families
To book: Regant offers 10-night Iceland cruises with two-for-one adult fares from $10,699; and $1,499 fares for children on select sailings
If you are traveling with kids and willing to spring for a truly luxurious bigger ship sailing, the 750-passenger all-suite, all-inclusive Seven Seas Grandeur, like its sister ships, is done up with yards of marble floors, crystal chandeliers, an expensive art collection, and fancy top suites. So how does this fit in with kids? For one, they can come aboard select Iceland sailings offering highly reduced fares for kids. And perhaps more importantly, during those cruises, families will have access to the Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Club Mariner Youth Program for ages 5 to 17, with a range of activities such as movie nights, mini-putt tournaments, and dance lessons, overseen by professional youth counselors.
Scenic’s Iceland and Greenland Explorer
Best for: Luxury expedition
To book: A seven-night Iceland cruise from June 14 to June 21, 2026, has two-for-on fares from $16,097
When it comes to expedition cruising, Scenic offers the best of both worlds on its all-suite luxury yacht, Scenic Eclipse. While the ship carries a maximum of 228 passengers, it offers the space, amenities, and service you would expect on a larger, ultra-luxe ship. With a nearly one-to-one guest to crew ratio, this is indeed luxury expedition cruising at its finest. And nearly everything but the helicopter and submersible rides are included, from alcohol and specialty dining to excursions and kayaking. Scenic Eclipse has six dining venues—including a French restaurant and popular sushi bar—24-hour room service, and an expansive spa with an outdoor pool, infrared chairs, steam and sauna, and a full service hair and nail salon. Despite the high-end amenities and outstanding cuisine, it maintains that casual, come-as-you-like expedition atmosphere across its bars and restaurants. In 2026 and 2027, Scenic will change its Iceland route to skip the eastern side of the island and instead will cross the Denmark Strait to the seldom-seen east coast of Greenland, including the tiny Inuit settlement of Ittoqqortoormiit, before heading back to Iceland and disembarking in Reykjavík.
Viking Cruises’ Iceland’s Natural Beauty
Best for: Value
To book: Viking’s seven-night Iceland sailings start at $4,999 per person
Viking Cruises’ well-planned circumnavigation of Iceland is a perfect one-week sampling that brings passengers to pristine shores and friendly towns and villages at the head of fjords and offers access to such attractions as waterfalls, glaciers, puffin colonies, and moonlike volcanic landscapes. Passengers start with an overnight in Reykjavík, which allows quality time to visit the surprisingly hip city’s waterfront and art museums or head off on a whale-watching tour. The 930-passenger Viking Mars and Viking Neptune, which sail the itinerary, are similar to other ships in the Viking ocean fleet, with modern Scandinavian decor and an impressive assortment of complimentary specialty dining venues, including a Norwegian café. One shore excursion each day is included in the fare.
Fran Golden contributed reporting. This story was originally published in July 2023 and was updated on August 7, 2025, to include current information.
