Iceland Cruise Ports
If your idea of a great destination for a cruise is one full of sun and sand or if you like exploring multi-cultural cities full of skyscrapers, museums, and shops, then a cruise holiday to the country of Iceland may not be for you.
On the other hand is you want to experience a different culture, a remote feeling and some of the world’s most stunning natural landscapes compete with glaciers, volcanoes, lava fields, mountains, geysers, waterfalls and fjords- well Iceland has all of that and so much more and it is for its incredible natural resources and landscape that attracts so many holidaymakers to its shores each year.
From our point of view, the best aspect of Iceland with the harsh nature of the centre of the country, all of the great sites and towns/cities are located around its huge coastline and that makes a cruise the best way to take in as much of Iceland as possible whilst on holiday there.
Cruises to Iceland
Cruise Holidays in Iceland
No matter if you are doing a round trip from the UK to Iceland, are enjoying a cruise around the many ports found on the coast or you are stopping off in the country on a transatlantic journey to Canada/America, any of the fantastic cruise ports found in the country will be amongst the most memorable parts of your holiday.
From the fjords in the north to the capital city of Reykjavik, your entry into any port will allow you see enjoy the natural beauty of the country and see just what is awaiting you onshore excursions do the sheer size of the mountains found near to all of the ports of call on offer in Iceland.
The country is also home to incredible wildlife and with the land of Iceland so often sparse and devoid of life, it is the seas that offer sanctuary to animals, so expect to see whales, dolphins, and sharks as you sail from port to port.
Iceland Cruise Guide
Popular Ports in Iceland
When it comes to starting or finishing your cruise in the country, there is only one port of call that will likely be the choice of your chosen cruise line with the nation’s capital city of Reykjavik also the country’s leading and largest cruise port and also close to the country’s only international airport.
Other ports that are frequently visited are found mostly in the country’s fjords at Akureyri, Isafjorour and Seydisfjordur.
The country’s capital city is home to the main cruise port in Iceland and is often a port of call that offers an overnight stay. That is great news for visitors as there is lots to see and do in the city itself but it is also a great place to set off on excursions to see the country’s iconic Golden Circle of geysers, mountains, volcanoes and waterfalls.
Akureyri is a town in the north of Iceland that despite been the 4th largest urban area in the country, it retains a small town charm and is easily explored on foot.
The town is known for its incredible natural beauty and for the entrance from the coast down the Eyjafjorour which is well worth waking up early for before a day of exploring.
Isafjorour, or Isafjordur, which simply means ice fjords certainly lives up to its name as the town sits on the stunning Isafjaroardjup fjords and it is surrounded by huge mountains which are capped in snow for much of the year.
The small town is easily explored on foot from where you gain a real sense of the incredible size of the surrounding mountains and you can take it sights such as massive waterfalls the towns many colourful houses.
Seydisfjordur, or Seyoisfjorour, is a small town in the east of Iceland that is found at the end of the fjord of the same name.
The port is another one known for its natural beauty and for the mountains that surround it but it is also a great to explore a number of waterfalls and a nearby puffin colonies amongst other highlights.
Other Icelandic Cruise Ports
The small town of Grundarfjordur offers all you could want from an Icelandic cruise port including stunning mountains, a volcano but it is the famous Snæfellsjökull glacier that according to Jules Verne in the book Journey to the Centre of the Earth was the entrance to the earths centre.
Djupivogur is a small town in Eastern Iceland that sits on the beautiful Berufjordur Fjord and offers access to the Vatnajokull National Park.
Heimaey Island is the largest of the Westman Islands just off of the southern coast of the Icelandic mainland. The island is a great place to spot seabirds, including the millions of puffins that nest there every summer.
Siglufjordur is a small fishing community in the north of the country that is mostly visited by smaller ships looking to give their passengers a chance to experience rural life in the country.
Husavik is a small town that sits on the shores of Skjalfandi Bay in the very north of Iceland that is famed for its historic wooden church.
Popular Cruise Lines
Iceland is a country on the up when it comes to tourism in general and especially when it comes to cruises with a wider range than ever offering round trips to the country or cruises that either start or end in the United Kingdom.
Some lines offer cruises that also take in the Norwegian Fjords whilst some continue on from Iceland and go to North America.
Amongst the most popular are Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), Silversea Cruises, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line and Hurtigruten.
Iceland
Location: North Atlantic Ocean
Capital City: Reykjavik
Currency: Icelandic Krona
Language: Icelandic
Demonym(s): Icelander, Icelandic
Top Ports: Reykjavik, Akureyri, Isafjorour
The country of Iceland is one country that can certainly claim to be unique and mean it, due to its incredible sparseness, its volcanic land, and its polar climate.
The country is a relatively new one in terms of its overall existence and it is a country that is new in terms of been inhabited by humans with the Vikings first visiting in around 874 AD.
The country also stands out for its barren nature with a lack of trees, grass, plants, flowers, and other aspects of a vista that we all but expect to see.
If Iceland you are more likely to see lava fields and even the sea bed than an orchard or forest and it is just those sorts of differences that makes the country such as fascinating one to visit and one that you simply has to explore.
What better way to do that by sitting on the deck of a cruise ship with a drink in hand?
As you sail down one of the huge fjords or along the rugged coastline you can always be assured of something new appearing that will leave to speechless and will likely see you taking out your camera to make sure you can show off the mountains, waterfalls, volcanoes, cliffs, black sand beaches, glaciers, geysers, and icebergs that you have seen.
Best Time To Visit
Due the cold and ice, as well as rough seas, that hit the country throughout the long winters, the majority of cruise holidays will only visit Iceland in the summer months and they are certainly the best time to visit.
Cruises From UK
If you want to visit Iceland directly from the UK, you can do and there is a growing number of ships and lines that operate itineraries between the 2.
Ships tend to take 3 routes if they are on a roundtrip journey, with some heading to Iceland via Greenland, some via Norway and some just go direct or with a stop in the Faroes.
If you want to spend more time sailing around those areas and less time in the North Atlantic, there are also several repositioning trips offered.
Cruises From Southampton
There is often the chance to sail to Iceland from a range of cruise ports in the UK but for the widest variety of lines, ships and itineraries, it is the cruise port of Southampton that leads the way.
Here at CruiseHols.co.uk we bring you all of the information you will ever need to choose the right cruise destination for you and your family.
Our destination guides include everything from ports to attractions and excursion to the positives and negatives of the destination.
