Cruise Around Iceland | MS Sea Spirit

Day 1 | Arrival in Reykjavík

The expedition begins in Iceland's capital. After landing, a shuttle will take you to your hotel (included in the package). The rest of the day is yours to spend as you wish.

Reykjavík is the world’s northernmost capital and also one of the smallest, with a population of around 140,000 who live in their city with a mix of pride and serenity. Hallgrímskirkja towers over the cityscape, Laugavegur is lined with design shops, cafés, and galleries, and locals gather for their daily swim in the city’s geothermal pools. If you have time, visit the National Museum or the Harpa concert hall at the old harbor.

Day 3 | Snæfellsnes Peninsula

The Snæfellsnes Peninsula is often described as Iceland in miniature: everything that defines the island is condensed into a 90-kilometer stretch. Dramatic cliffs plunge into the sea, black lava beaches alternate with green moss fields, and at the western end towers Snæfellsjökull, a glacier atop a 700,000-year-old volcano. Jules Verne chose it in 1864 as the entrance to the center of the Earth.

On the north coast of the peninsula stands Kirkjufell, the cone-shaped mountain known to *Game of Thrones* viewers as “Arrowhead Mountain.” As you approach the coast by Zodiac, you’ll see basalt columns, seabird colonies, and, with a little luck, seals on the rocks.

Day 5 | Siglufjörður and Grímsey

In its heyday, Siglufjörður was the herring capital of the world. Thousands of Norwegian and Icelandic fishermen crowded into the small fjord town, which at times had more residents than Reykjavík. The award-winning Herring Era Museum tells this story through original boats, salting houses, and film footage. Afterward, sample pickled herring with Brennivín, the Icelandic caraway schnapps, and visit Frida’s chocolate shop and the local brewery.

In the afternoon, the Zodiacs will take you to Grímsey, 40 kilometers north of the main island. The Arctic Circle runs directly across the island here. Steep cliffs are home to thousands of puffins, guillemots, and kittiwakes. About 70 people live on Grímsey, along with a small 19th-century driftwood church that defies the storms of the North Atlantic.

Day 7 | Seyðisfjörður

The MS Sea Spirit follows the east coast of Iceland and turns into a narrow fjord, at the end of which lies Seyðisfjörður. In the 19th century, Norwegian merchants built colorful wooden houses here, which are now reflected in the calm waters of the fjord. The town is considered one of the most beautiful in Iceland.

Waterfalls cascade down the steep mountains directly into the village. A rainbow-colored road leads to the blue church in the village center. In the afternoon, you’ll drive to Lake Urriðavatn, where a natural geothermal pool lies nestled among the mountains. Warm thermal water, cool mountain air, and views of the lake and the surrounding peaks.

Day 9 | Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands)

The Westman Islands are among the youngest landmasses on Earth. The island of Surtsey emerged from the sea in 1963 and has since been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an open-air laboratory for biologists. On Heimaey, the only inhabited island, the Eldfell volcano erupted without warning on January 23, 1973. Within a few hours, all 5,300 residents had to be evacuated by fishing boat.

The Eldheimar Museum displays houses that were preserved under a layer of ash and tells the story of that night through interactive exhibits. Take a Zodiac boat to circle the island, passing bird cliffs, sea caves, and the lava flows that nearly blocked Heimaey’s harbor. From the summit of Eldfell, which remains warm to this day, you can overlook the entire archipelago.

PHOTO TOUR (FREE) Iceland’s landscapes offer world-class photo opportunities: the cone-shaped Kirkjufell against a black beach, the basalt steps of Dynjandi, puffin colonies on Grímsey, and the steaming solfataras at Mývatn. An experienced wildlife photographer on board will offer practical tips on composition, lighting, and long-exposure photography at waterfalls during lectures and shore excursions. Whether it’s a close-up of a puffin on the cliffs or a panorama of Dettifoss, he knows the best vantage points at every landing site and will help you make the most of every situation.

BIRD WATCHING WITH ORNITHOLOGISTS Iceland’s cliffs and islands are home to some of the largest seabird colonies in the North Atlantic. On Grímsey, located on the Arctic Circle, thousands of puffins, guillemots, and kittiwakes nest in the steep cliffs. Near Djúpivogur, you can observe eider ducks and Arctic terns up close, and on the Westman Islands, you’ll circumnavigate bird cliffs by Zodiac, home to tens of thousands of breeding seabirds. Ornithologists on the expedition team accompany the shore excursions, assist with identification, and explain the animals’ behavior.

GUIDED HIKES At each landing site, the expedition team leads moderate hikes through Iceland’s diverse landscapes. Walk across black lava beaches near Djúpivogur, hike to the basalt steps of Dynjandi Waterfall in the Westfjords, and explore the steaming solfataras at Lake Mývatn. On Heimaey, the trail leads to the still-warm summit of Eldfell, offering views across the entire archipelago. The hikes are suitable for all fitness levels; sturdy footwear is sufficient.

ZODIAC EXCURSIONS The sturdy Zodiac inflatable boats are the heart of every expedition cruise. They take you to stretches of coastline that no port or road can reach: along the basalt columns of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, through the tranquil fjords of the Westfjords, past the bird cliffs of the Westman Islands, and to the sea caves of the east coast. The expedition team safely navigates the boats through narrow passages and keeps an eye out for seals, seabirds, and occasional whale sightings.