Is a Viking Iceland cruise right for you?
I just came back from a trip to Iceland with my sister. It was the trip of a lifetime, what you’d refer to as a “bucket list” trip.
We visited on a Viking Iceland cruise (we joined the Viking Mars for the Iceland’s Natural Beauty cruise), which is unique in a country where most travelers prefer road tripping. If you have the chance of only going to Iceland once, and for a short time, a cruise is probably the best way to go.
I want to share with you the pros and cons of visiting Iceland on a cruise, so you know exactly what to expect.
Iceland is a place rich in contrasts, where the ice of glaciers melts when meeting the incandescent volcanic lava. Here, the bitterly cold wind blows on your face while you bathe in the natural pools of a hot spring.
You can see the delicacy of the thousand shades of the Northern Lights (well, we visited in July and it never even got dark for the 3 weeks we were there, but it’s a fantastic northern lights destination, much like Alaska). But Iceland is also home to the geysers, the midnight sun in summer, and the shortest days during winter.
We saw (almost) all of these during our (almost) time in Iceland. If you are considering a trip to Iceland but don’t know whether to take a road trip or a cruise, this place is for you. Continue reading, and I am sure by the end of this post, you will be able to make up your mind.
Pros of Taking a Viking Iceland Cruise
Let’s start with the positive aspects of taking a Viking Iceland Cruise. You will soon realize there are more pros than cons.
Comfortable stateroom
There are different kinds of staterooms on board a Viking cruise, for different price ranges. We had the most economical one, and it was perfect for us.
Rooms are organized so neatly that there’s storage space for everything, and enough mirrors and lights so you can style yourself. All rooms have a balcony where you can sit to sip your morning coffee, have a glass of wine, or simply admire the views. And the beds are incredibly comfortable.
You can unpack
After traveling by car for 10 days and having to pack and unpack every other day, one of the things we appreciated the most once we got on board was the fact that we could finally unpack for the rest of the trip.
Once you get on the cruise, you unpack your suitcases and don’t have to open and close them every time you move from one place to another. This is very convenient and allows you to save time and relax more.
You also don’t have to worry about check-out time, especially when you have an early morning excursion.
All the pampering
We noticed this the minute we approached the cruise. Immediately, someone came to fetch our suitcases, which were then delivered to our stateroom (we didn’t have to carry any heavy weight: not that we would have, since there are plenty of elevators on board).
Once on board, you get a glass of champagne (this didn’t go unnoticed, since I am a massive champagne fan) and a warm towel. While the champagne isn’t an everyday treatment, the warm towel is offered any time you get back on board.
But there’s more. The cruise has its own swimming pool – in fact, there are three on the Viking Mars: an indoor one on the 8th deck, as well as an outdoor infinity pool, and a smaller pool by the spa.
Oh yes, the Nordic Spa – we loved it. You can get all sorts of treatments, which include a Nordic facial (mine was so relaxing that it lifted a headache I’d been having for two days), massages, and more.
Live entertainment
Every night on the cruise, there’s live entertainment (usually in the main theater). A different show with live takes place every night. We sang the songs of Abba, those of the Beatles, and to the music of the 1970s.
There was even a “dance under the midnight sun” night (well, it wasn’t night really) during which a live band played dance tunes on the top deck, which was open to let the light in, and all passengers danced the evening away. Who knew we’d have so much fun?
But it wasn’t just about the fun. On board the cruise, there were two lecturers too – one a geologist, perfect to deepen your knowledge of volcanic activities (which, as you know, is thriving in Iceland), and the other a historian with in-depth knowledge of the Viking cultures and history.
Fantastic dining
There are many restaurants on board a Viking cruise. Our Viking Iceland cruise had three restaurants: the World Café (which everyone on board called The Restaurant), Manfredi (a specialty Italian dining), and A Chef’s Table (California fusion). There’s also a buffet, plus various bars with grills and bar food.
We tried them all, and all were delicious. The buffet was outstanding, and the service at the restaurants was always spot on. However, our special mention goes to Manfredi. We had the lowest expectations because, well, you know, we are Italian. We actually dined there twice because we loved it so much.
Another plus of dining on board the Viking Iceland cruise is the view. You will be eating as the cruise crosses the sea, at times admiring dolphins jumping in and out of the water.
We also enjoyed room service for breakfast a couple of times, and not only was it very punctual, but the breakfast was delicious.
Stunning views from your stateroom
Speaking of views, not everyone knows that Iceland has beautiful fjords, and the panorama from the cruise is amazing. I spent hours sitting on my balcony contemplating the changing landscape and trying to spot whales, dolphins (I managed to see a bunch), and various types of birds.
No need to drive
We were honestly relieved we didn’t have to drive during the cruise. If driving tires you or stresses you out, and if you think vacation is the time for exploration but also for resting and recharging, then a cruise is probably right for you.
On the other hand, if you don’t mind driving, you can actually rent a car in most harbors where you dock during the cruise. You need to be sure of the docking time – the Viking Cruise is always very punctual, and your itinerary will have arrival and departure times at each harbor, so you will know well in advance.
Check if there are rental companies available and pay close attention to distances and travel times if you wish to stay within the speed limits (which you should always do).
This way, you can combine the comfort of a cruise with the independence that a car can give you.
However, it’s also worth mentioning that road tripping and the fact that many tourists opt to rent a car when visiting Iceland is having a strong impact on the delicate local environment, so it’s preferable that you opt for guided group tours and use public transportation where possible to be more eco-friendly and reduce your footprint.
No planning needed
If you don’t have much time to plan for your Iceland trip, if you aren’t a fan of planning, or if you are simply too busy or too tired to do that (I get it, it happens to me all the time), then you really should opt for a cruise. This was our first cruise ever, so we weren’t sure what to expect and if we’d love it, but it turns out we did, and we are looking forward to doing another one.
A cruise is definitely a great way to travel without having to worry too much about the logistics and all the schedules that trip planning requires. You don’t have to research attractions, day trips, and accommodation at all.
The only thing you need to do is pick the right cruise for you. Study the cruise itinerary carefully and decide which places and experiences are essential for you, then select the cruise that stops at all these places or, at least, the most! That’s how we picked our Viking Iceland cruise.
It couldn’t have been a better choice. We loved the variety of places to visit we got to visit during the cruise – from tiny local towns to glaciers and lagoons, impressive beaches, waterfalls, and more.
Lots of shore excursions
This is valid for any cruise. When choosing your cruise, check carefully the times when the ship arrives and departs from the harbor to see how much time you have for your shore excursions.
A well-organized cruise usually docks early in the morning and departs in the evening, which means you have the whole day for exploring on land. That was exactly the case for our cruise.
The Viking Iceland Cruise gives you several shore excursion options. There are included shore excursions (which are included in the price of the cruise), which are usually small-town walks with a local guide from that specific town, and last about two hours. During these, you learn a lot about life in that town, its history, interesting facts, and even some local anecdotes.
Optional shore excursions are quite expensive, but they are planned in a way that you can be sure you will be back on board in time for departure.
We had some amazing experiences during our shore excursions. For example, we went whale watching by RIB in ĺsafjördur and it was – to put it simply – amazing. We were the only boat out; we were literally surrounded by whales that kept swimming next to us, at a very close distance. We could hear them breathe!
Another tour we truly enjoyed was the Valley of the Waterfalls tour we did from Djúpivogur, during which we explored the Fossárdalur Valley, known to be one of the hidden treasures of Iceland. And sure enough, we were the only ones there.
Of course, you are free to explore independently during the cruise if you wish. If what you would like to see isn’t available among the shore excursions’ options, there may be other local operators where you are docking that may have a wider choice. Iceland thrives on tourism, so in most places there are companies that sell activities to suit your cruise schedule.
For example, we decided to go kayaking in ĺsafjördur, and joined a tour offered by a local company, and went on a spontaneous and completely independent hike in Seydisfjördur after our included shore excursion.
You always have a local guide
Speaking of excursions and activities, one thing we really appreciated during our cruise is that literally all the activities were managed by local companies, and we always had local guides.
This doesn’t necessarily go without saying in Iceland, where the demand for guides is actually much higher than the offer, and you often end up having guides on tours who are from other European countries.
Having a local guide meant we would always learn about a place from a local perspective. It also gave us a chance to interact with locals. Icelanders have a reputation for being reserved, or even cold at times. But thanks to the many local guides, we can say we disagree. We met nothing but kind and welcoming people.
Best if you have mobility and even health issues
A cruise is definitely very convenient if you have mobility issues or disabilities. Everything you need is nearby: restaurants, bars, spas, live music, and shows. Even the excursions are organized in such a way that you can easily check the physical rating.
There’s also a clinic and a doctor on board, and they are equipped to treat small emergencies (and will immediately call shore for help for more important ones).
Perfect for people of all ages
One aspect of cruises that really struck me is that they are suitable for people of all ages. There are cruises for adults only, and others for families.
Our Viking Iceland Cruise was adults only, which was perfect for us. But even then, there were several generations on board, and we could see that there were many families traveling together. We often spotted grandparents, parents, and their adult kids dining together.
What we appreciated is how much freedom a Viking cruise gives to people of all generations: you can pick a different activity from that of your traveling partners, and still meet during meals to chat and have fun.
Almost all expenses are included
I must say Iceland is not a cheap destination: museums, attractions, guided tours, car rental, parking, restaurants, and hotels are expensive.
If you go on a road trip, you can probably save a little money by booking apartments with a kitchen, so that you can cook and eat at home in the evening, and by limiting the number of guided tours you take. You will also want to share a room, as having a single one is too costly.
A cruise may be slightly more expensive, but it includes all meals, accommodation, many shore excursions, drinks, and entertainment. You can easily see the price of optional shore excursions, which means it’s easier to factor in the final overall cost of the trip.
Cons of Taking a Viking Iceland Cruise
I had to think long and hard before coming up with some cons for taking the Viking Iceland Cruise, because there really aren’t many I can think of. Anyhow, I found two (yes, just that) you may wish to consider.
The sea can be rough
And if you are prone to sea sickness, this can be an issue. Even though cruise ships are enormous, sometimes you can still feel the ship rocking, so weigh up your tolerance for seasickness.
The sea was quite rough the night on our first night of cruising as we left Reykjavik, and I thought I’d get seasick (I still had the terrible memories of sailing around the San Blas Islands in Panama, when seasickness got the best of me). I was quite fortunate; I didn’t feel bad at all, though I could feel the ship rocking. But I saw some people being sick.
Of course, there are remedies for seasickness. You can use compressing bracelets, take ginger tablets (they help settle the stomach), and even Dramamine, which, however, may make you drowsy.
Either way, keep this in mind if you are prone to seasickness.
You are less independent
If you are more of an independent traveler and you like to travel at your own pace, choosing how long to stop and where, perhaps a cruise may not be the right choice for you. In this case, you are probably better off going on a road trip, with everything that implies.
However, my experience as a long-term independent traveler still says you should give an Iceland cruise a try.
We got on board, thinking this may not have been a good choice, but we changed our minds as soon as we realized how much fun the cruise would be. We found it is a great compromise between our eagerness to explore as much as possible and our need to relax and take it easy.
Conclusions on Visiting Iceland on a Viking Cruise
I think it is pretty clear from what I wrote that I truly enjoyed my cruise around Iceland, and in fact, I am looking forward to going on another cruise. Of course, I am not a cruise expert, and not all cruises are the same – some may be even more luxurious, others may be more budget-friendly, etc.
But in all honesty, I can say my Iceland cruise went above and beyond my expectations. I turned 50 during the cruise, and the staff on board and on shore made sure my day was memorable.
Have you ever been on a cruise, or would you consider one?
Legal Disclaimer: I was a guest of Viking during my Viking Iceland Cruise, and I wish to thank them for the incredible experience. Needless to say, the opinions expressed in this post remain my own.
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