Best Iceland Small Ship Cruises

Best Iceland Small Ship Cruises
From volcanoes to waterfalls to fjords to wildlife, the adventures promised by an Iceland cruise are boundless, and we’re here to help you choose the best Iceland cruise for your next trip. 

Cruises to Iceland are limited to the sunny months, from May through September, when you’re likely to have the best opportunities to see whales and puffins. At Iceland’s northern latitudes, you’ll have the unique experience of 24-hour sunlight - earning this the nickname “land of the midnight sun.”

Plus, Iceland cruises often couple other Arctic destinations into these itineraries, including Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and longer voyages to Norway, Scandinavia, the Baltic, and even the United Kingdom. 

Choosing the best Iceland cruise

Silversea Cruises
Join one of the leaders in Icelandic exploration aboard a Silversea cruise - featuring both classic cruising experiences and unique expedition options. Departing directly from Reykjavik, the cruises immerse you deep in the Arctic, but you can also pair it with a cruise that departs from London to have a more holistic cruise experience. These unique UK-Iceland itineraries allow travelers to visit lesser-frequented coasts and islands of Scotland and Ireland, where you will have closer encounters with wildlife and culture.

Lindblad Expeditions
Leaders in both ecotourism and expedition cruising, Lindblad has partnered with National Geographic to offer travelers excellent cruising itineraries available in the Arctic, including Iceland, Greenland, and Norway. Fully equipped with exploration equipment, you’ll join expert guides as you participate in exciting and immersive daily excursions. 

Ponant
A name synonymous with the luxury and elegance of its French origins, Ponant features new Explorer yachts that offer week-long Iceland adventures, departing from Reykjavik on round-trip cruises. Aboard these state-of-the-art vessels are eco-friendly technology and a distinct Scandinavian-inspired style. Their Iceland cruises go as far as the remote island of Grímsey, where countless thousands of seabirds flock. 

Iceland Pro Cruises
Explicitly established for Iceland and Greenland exploration cruises, Iceland Pro Cruises gives you a choice to either circumnavigate Iceland or follow in the footsteps of the Vikings and sail from the Denmark Strait to Greenland. On all of their cruise itineraries, you can anticipate ample opportunities to interact with locals, learn about Viking history, participate in indigenous ways of life that are still preserved today, and enjoy their trademark brand of authentic, personalized soft adventure activities. 

Scenic
Setting a new standard in luxury ocean cruising, the Scenic Eclipse is the Scenic fleet’s first ocean cruise ship, featuring tours to Iceland and the Arctic. Spacious suites, onboard wellness zones, and elegant appointments help redefine luxury in what many consider a 6-star cruising experience. Part of their “discovery fleet” includes complete adventure equipment such as Zodiacs, kayaks, e-bikes, a helicopter, and a submarine, designed to take you on ultimate adventures. 

Poseidon Expeditions
Poseidon Expeditions specializes in Icelandic expedition cruises and trips to Norway’s Svalbard, Greenland, and Franz Josef Land. Wildlife and culture are at the center of their itineraries, all on the dramatic backdrop of the fjords, volcanoes, and majestic landscapes that Iceland is known for. With occupancy for less than 200 passengers aboard their ships, all travelers will enjoy an intimate onboard atmosphere.

Oceanwide Expeditions
Join Oceanwide Expeditions for a great Iceland expedition cruise that forms a part of their Arctic explorations. Their fleet of small ice-strengthened ships gives travelers a chance to get up close and personal with wildlife and unique natural landscapes and seascapes as you cruise the northern waters. 

Quark Expeditions
This arctic expedition leader has guided travelers to Iceland's most remote Arctic region for three decades, combining expeditions with Greenland, Spitsbergen, and Jan Mayen. They are always looking for innovative ways for exploration, unveiling the 199-guest Ultramarine in 2021, designed with an ice rating of 1A+, PC6, making it one of the most capable polar exploration vessels on the planet. Equipped with twin-engine helicopters, twenty quick-deploy Zodiacs, the industry's most extensive range of immersive off-ship activities, and modern sustainability systems, not to mention sumptuous onboard amenities, guarantee guests an unmatched Arctic experience.

Albatross Expedition
A Scandinavian travel firm with a global reach dedicated to high-quality, responsible travel and customer satisfaction. Features an epic journey combining the four islands of Svalbard, Jan Mayen, Greenland, and Iceland, showcasing the uniqueness and splendor of Arctic nature. Enjoy the immense beauty of the Arctic on this adventure cruise among whales, walruses, polar bears, and millions of sea birds. Experience high summer in the Arctic with the newly built Ocean Albatros - one of the few ice-class expedition ships built to withstand the North Pole’s pack ice.

Contact an Adventure Life Trip Planner to start preparing your next Iceland journey brimming with Nordic customs, vast views of glaciers, fjords, and raging volcanoes.