Best Iceland Cruises for 2025 & 2026
Seabourn
Seabourn have some fantastic Iceland cruises on their luxury expedition ships Seabourn Venture and Pursuit departing between May and September in 2025 and 2026, many departing from modern Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland and gateway to this extraordinary volcanic island, home to an impressive collection of interesting attractions and places of historic significance. We particularly like Seabourn's Northern Isles: Iceland, Faroe Islands & Scotland voyage which includes stops at the spectacular Dynjandi waterfall and picturesque Húsavík, as well as the green-topped houses of the Faroe Islands and the remote Scottish isles.
Or, Seabourn also have Iceland cruises from the UK for an easy Edinburgh departure, or you could opt to pair your voyage with the incredible landscapes of Svalbard and fjords and icebergs of Greenland. For a true bucket-list Iceland expedition, Seabourn's 26-day Spectacular Svalbard, North Iceland & Scottish Isles voyage in June 2026, sailing Edinburhg, promises an unforgettable, all-encompassing exploration of the region.
Silversea Expeditions
Silversea have a fantastic range of cruises around Iceland including from the UK and Ireland, for example on their Dublin two-week round-trips in July, August and through to September 2025, from when it's possible to see the Northern Lights, on lovely small ship Silver Wind. Voyages include stops at lesser-visited Iceland destinations such as Djúpivogur, the gateway to Papey island, where you'll find thousands of seabirds, Iceland's oldest wooden church; the majestic Veidileysufjörður, home to humpback whales and seals; Scotland's wild and remote Lunga, home to puffins and seals; and the Isle of Mull where white-tailed eagles, otters and whales reside.
There's also the option to explore Iceland from other Northern European gateways such as Copenhagen and of course Reykjavik on the beautiful Silver Endeavour, as well as combining an Iceland and norway cruise to or from Longyearbyen, the largest settlement in Svalbard, remotely located in the high Norwegian Arctic where it's possible to spot polar bears. You'll explore Svalbard before cruising Iceland's west coast including including Vigur, where thousands of Atlantic puffins, Arctic terns and black guillemots gather, and Akureyri at the head of Iceland's largest fjord, a cute and quirky place that also serves as a base from which to explore the bubbling mud pools and lunar landscapes around Lake Mývatn.
Ponant
The luxurious small ships of Ponant make for the perfect base from which to explore Iceland on a luxury expedition cruise and Ponant offer a lovely cruise from the UK to Iceland, sailing on 11 July 2025 from Glasgow to Reykjavík on board Ponant explorer, the 184-guest Le Bellot.
Call in to the beautiful Loch Linnhe and fascinating Stornoway in Scotland before exploring the Faroe Islands and their brightly coloured facades and storybook streets, as well as stunning Djúpivogur near the mouth of the Berufjörður fjord and Heimaey, the only inhabited island in the Vestmann islands archipelago among smouldering volcanoes, bright green pastures, black-sand beaches and dramatic bird-dotted cliffs.
AE Expeditions
Voyaging with expedition experts AE is a fantastic way to explore Iceland on a cruise, with their experienced expedition teams and fabulous excursions. Explore Iceland from Reykjavik on a nine-day cruise on 28th July 2025 on board Sylvia Earle, with highlights including the remote and pristine Westfjords for hikes, whale watching and bird watching among thundering waterfalls and lava fields, and the Snaefellsnes Peninsula's vast array of birdlife looked over by the dormant, ice-capped Snæfellsjökull volcano, or even extend your voyage for a three-week adventure to mix in stops in Greenland, from the spectacular Prince Christian Sound to the ancient Norse settlements, icy fjords and wildflower-speckled meadows of Narsarsuaq.
Alternatively, embark on a full circumnavigation around Iceland for a true bucket-list Iceland holiday. Departing on 1st June 2025 you'll sail around the island under the Midnight Sun including visiting Grimsey above the Arctic Circle, whose cliffs teem with nesting seabirds including iconic Icelandic puffins; Europe's largest bird cliff, Latrabjarg, home to millions of seabirds; Skálanes nature reserve home to seals, whales and reindeer; and picturesque Seyðisfjörður and its charming colourful, wooden buildings.
Scenic
The superyachts Scenic Eclipse I and sister ship Scenic Eclipse II provide a wonderfully luxurious base from which to cruise around Iceland. Circumnavigate Iceland and cross the Arctic Circle for the ultimate Iceland holiday on a 10-day round trip from Reykjavik - where you can visit the impressive Hallgrímskirkja church, relax in a thermal pool and potter around the old harbour - with departures in June and July 2025 and 2026. Explore the Westfjords region and their tiny fishing villages among bright wooden houses, walk across the Arctic Circle on Grimsey Island and spot millions of seabirds on the Latrabjard cliffs.
Alternatively, for a UK departure, we like the Whiskey, Fire & Ice sailing from Edinburgh on 3rd June 2026, voyaging from the wild coastlines of Scotland to the remote Faroe Islands and the glaciers of Iceland, or sail from Reykjavik to Bergen in July 2026 to explore Icelandic icons alongside discovering the Norwegian Fjords, including cruising through the largest in Norway, Sognefjord.
HX Hurtigruten Expeditions
Hurtigruten's expedition fleet offers excellent value for an Iceland cruise on some of the most technologically advanced expedition ships at sea. Their seven-night voyages departing in May 2025 are the perfect way to explore Iceland from Reykjavík and include calls at Ísafjörður, gateway to the spectacular Hornstrandir Peninsula, and Bakkagerði for hiking or birdwatching.
For a longer option, opt for the two-week September 2025 sailing from Reykjavik to Hamburg on the 335-guest MS Spitsbergen - where you may even, with luck be able to spot the aurora borealis - to combine Iceland exploration with the windswept British Isles including Fair Isle, the UK's most remote inhabited island renowned for its traditional knitwear and as being a birdwatching hotspot, and the flat, windswept Orkney Islands, home to the fascinating Neolithic stone circle the Ring of Brodgar.
