Iceland Cruises by Small Ship: Circumnavigation, the Westfjords, and When to Sail
Written by
Ati Jain
Published
22 June 2026
Written by
Ati Jain
Published
22 June 2026
An Iceland cruise by small ship gives you two real choices: a full circumnavigation that loops the island over roughly 8 to 12 nights, or a partial route that pairs one coast of Iceland with Greenland, the Faroes, or Scotland. Expedition ships with Zodiacs reach the Westfjords and remote landings, while larger ocean ships call at the main piered ports. The right pick depends on how much wilderness you want.
A circumnavigation gives you the whole island. You round Snaefellsnes, work up into the Westfjords, cross to the north coast at Akureyri and Grimsey, then come down the east fjords to the Westman Islands before returning to Reykjavik. A partial route gives up the full loop to add a second country, so you might combine western Iceland with east Greenland, or the south with the Scottish isles. One shows you Iceland in depth, the other shows you Iceland in context.
Iceland's coastline runs to roughly 4,970 km, so a complete loop is a real undertaking and needs the time to do it well (Wikipedia, accessed June 2026). If you have eight nights or fewer, a focused partial route often delivers more than a rushed circle. If you have ten or more, the circumnavigation rewards the extra days.
The Westfjords are the least-populated part of Iceland, home to only around 7,100 people across a deeply indented peninsula where many roads close in winter (Wikipedia, accessed June 2026). That isolation is exactly why a ship reaches them so well. The terrain that makes land travel slow becomes an asset when you arrive by water and tender ashore.
The standout is Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, uninhabited since the 1950s, with no roads and no infrastructure, reached mainly by boat from Isafjordur in summer (Visit Westfjords, accessed June 2026). Nearby sits Latrabjarg, the westernmost point of Iceland and one of Europe's largest seabird cliffs, where puffins, razorbills, and guillemots crowd the ledges. Inland, the tiered fan of Dynjandi falls about 100 m into Arnarfjordur (Visit Westfjords, accessed June 2026).
The Iceland cruise season runs roughly late May to early September. Operators sail then for navigable seas, open ports, and near round-the-clock daylight, with summer temperatures around 10 to 13 degrees Celsius. Around the June solstice the northern coast sees effectively 24-hour light, which extends shore time and softens the long evenings at sea.
Wildlife timing tracks the same window. Puffins nest from about mid-May to late August, and whale watching peaks from June through August, with humpback and minke whales common off the north coast. If birds are the priority, aim for June or July, when the colonies are busiest and the light is longest.
This is where ship type matters most. Shallow-draft expedition ships carry Zodiacs, so they can make tender landings where there is no large pier: Hornstrandir landing points in the Westfjords, small harbours along the coast, and remote islands. Longer expedition voyages extend the same capability to east Greenland and the Faroes. Larger ocean ships call instead at Iceland's main piered ports, such as Reykjavik, Akureyri, and Isafjordur, then run shore excursions from there.
Neither approach is better in the abstract. A luxury ocean ship gives you a refined base and easy access to the headline sights, while an expedition ship trades some polish for the ability to step ashore in places that have no dock at all. Decide which kind of day you want more often, then pick the ship class to match.
Expedition operators in the Arctic follow guidelines from the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO), an industry body whose members agree to rules covering wildlife, guest conduct, community relations, and site-specific behavior, all built around a core principle of no disturbance (AECO, accessed June 2026). It is a useful signal of how a landing will be run.
“A circumnavigation shows you Iceland in depth. A partial route shows you Iceland in context. The ship class decides how close you get.”
Iceland holds three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and cruise routes touch all of them in different ways. Thingvellir National Park, inscribed in 2004, sits within reach of Reykjavik on the classic Golden Circle land excursion. Surtsey, the volcanic island inscribed in 2008, lies near the Westman Islands and is viewed from the water as a protected research site. Vatnajokull National Park, inscribed on 5 July 2019, anchors the southeast (UNESCO inscription record via Wikipedia, Vatnajokull National Park, and Iceland Review, 5 July 2019).
Grimsey adds a fourth landmark of a different sort. The small island about 40 km off the north coast is the only inhabited part of Iceland that the Arctic Circle runs through, which makes it the natural place for a ship to stage an Arctic Circle crossing (Wikipedia, accessed June 2026).
We book seven lines in Iceland, split between ultra-luxury ocean voyages and expedition-style sailings with landings. The table below sorts them by style so you can match the operator to the kind of voyage you want, then check live routes on each line's page.
Style is the first filter. If you want to land in the Westfjords and Greenland, lean expedition (Ponant, Seabourn, Lindblad, or Poseidon). If you want a refined base and the headline sights, the ocean and ultra-luxury lines fit better.
Each fare is a starting per-person price, and live dates sit on the itinerary page.
A wider sample of bookable Iceland sailings across luxury and expedition styles. Each fare is a starting per-person price, and live dates sit on the itinerary page.
We book all of these lines and can match you to the right one, secure preferred-partner perks at the same fare, and tell you which fits your trip and budget. We are a small specialist agency that keeps its recommendations tight because we book what we know. We earn our commission from the operator, so the advice costs you nothing beyond the fare.
Booking through us, you can also join the Small Ship Travel Loyalty Program, a four-tier program (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Emerald) that pays members 2 to 5 percent back per booking, plus perks like cabin upgrades and concierge access. The credit builds across every cruise line we book. To talk through routes and dates, call us on 1-888-318-3110.
A full circumnavigation of Iceland usually runs about 8 to 12 nights, most often round-trip from Reykjavik. The island's coastline is roughly 4,970 km, so a complete loop needs the time to round Snaefellsnes, the Westfjords, the north coast, and the east fjords without rushing. Shorter voyages typically cover one or two coasts rather than the whole island.
June and July are the strongest months. They sit in the heart of the late-May-to-early-September season, with the longest daylight around the June solstice, the busiest seabird colonies, and peak whale activity off the north coast. August still works well and can be slightly quieter, while late May and early September trade some wildlife for fewer crowds.
Yes. The Westfjords are well suited to arrival by water, since the terrain that makes land travel slow is no obstacle to a ship. Larger vessels call at the piered port of Isafjordur, while shallow-draft expedition ships with Zodiacs can also land at places with no dock, including the uninhabited Hornstrandir Nature Reserve reached mainly by boat in summer.
The headline sightings are puffins and other seabirds on cliffs such as Latrabjarg, plus whales off the north coast. Puffins nest from about mid-May to late August, and whale watching peaks from June through August, when humpback and minke whales are common. Arctic foxes are also protected and visible in the Hornstrandir reserve.
It depends on the kind of day you want. Expedition ships carry Zodiacs and can step ashore at remote landings, which suits travelers who want wilderness and wildlife up close. Ultra-luxury and premium ocean ships give you a refined base and easy access to the main sights from piered ports. Many travelers choose by how often they want to land somewhere with no dock.
Often, yes. Partial routes frequently pair Iceland with a second country, combining one coast with east Greenland, the Faroes, or the Scottish isles. A circumnavigation focuses entirely on Iceland, while a partial route trades the full loop for that wider context. Which is right depends on whether you want Iceland in depth or Iceland alongside its Arctic neighbors.
Planning your next small-ship trip?
The articles cover the basics. Tell us about your trip and a specialist will say which ship and departure fit your dates and budget. It's free, with no obligation.
CEO
Ati Jain is the founder of Small Ship Travel. He has worked in travel for over thirty years, with a focus on river cruises and small-ship expeditions. He writes for the site about the parts of the industry he knows from direct experience.
consultation
Reach out to our travel concierges today to create your perfect journey.