HIGHLIGHTS
- Be
awestruck by spectacular volcanic landscape from thermal pools and
geysers in the west to lava flows and bubbling mud in the east
- Keep
your eye out for breaching orca and humpback whales in far-flung icy
waters
- Listen
to the thunderous roar of Dynjandi waterfall and cruise along remote
fjords
- Spot
Atlantic puffins on Heimaey Island, the puffin-watching capital of the
world
- Learn
about the island's unique geology and history from our team of on-board
experts
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | Oceanview D4 | Oceanview M4 | Balcony D5 | Balcony M5 | Balcony D6 | Suite | Premium Suite |
|---|
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | (Starting from)
Oceanview D4 | (Mid-range)
Balcony M5 | (High-end)
Premium Suite |
|---|
ITINERARY
Reykjavik
Day 1
Despite
its small size, you won’t be short of things to see and do in
this diminutive but dramatic city. To get your bearings, take the
elevator to the top of Hallgrímskirkja. This church,
designed by famed Icelandic architect Gudjón Samuelsson is
one of the most distinctive buildings in town. When you return to
earth, visit the city’s other renowned building Harpa Concert
Hall, located at the heart of Reykjavík's regenerated
harbour – also the home of the Maritime Museum. Speaking of
cultural spaces, tour the National Museum to learn the story of Iceland
from past to present. The Reykjavík Art Museum houses an
impressive contemporary collection including eye-catching pieces by
Erró. And, of course, just 50 kilometres outside the city
lies Thingvellir National Park, the site of Iceland’s
original Viking parliament.
Dynjandi
Waterfall Day 2
Considered
one of Iceland’s most impressive, this thunderous waterfall
in the Westfjords region gives the impression of a bridal veil as it
spreads its tumbling waters down a series of ever- growing cascades.
Dynjandi is one of the most photographed sights in Iceland. Walking up
to it takes 15 minutes passing five smaller waterfalls. Nearby,
Hrafnseyri is the birthplace of Jón Sigurdsson, 19th-century
leader of the Icelandic Independence movement. The museum includes an
Icelandic turf house.
Isafjordur
& Vigur Island Day 3
Arrive
today in the charming, tiny fishing harbour of
Ísafjördur. The village’s touristic
highlights include the Westfjord Heritage Museum and The Museum House
(Old Hospital). Located at the heart of the Westfjords peninsula,
it’s a great jumping-off point for exploration so journey by
Zodiac to the island of Vigur – the pearl of the Western
Fjords. The second-largest island in the fjord, measuring two
kilometres by 400 metres, it’s a significant seabird colony,
which is home to arctic terns, puffins, black guillemots and eider
ducks. As one of only two inhabited islands in the fjord, Vigur is also
the site of a single farm, which has been in the same family for
generations. During your time on the island, you might see
Iceland’s only windmill, the country’s smallest
post office and oldest boat, which was built more than 200 years ago
and in regular use until relatively recently.
Grimsey
Island Day 4
Grímsey
is a remote island located 40km off Iceland’s north coast.
Many people travel here for the purpose of setting foot in the Arctic
Circle, the only place in Iceland where you can do so. The island is
also home to fewer than 100 people, but over one million seabirds.
Birdlife thrives here thanks to the lack of egg predation (there are no
rats or mice on the island) and the rich, well-stocked surrounding
seas. Grímsey has one of Iceland’s largest tern
nesting sites and largest puffin colonies.
Akureyri
Day 5
In
northern Iceland on Eyjafjördur, Akureyri is known for its
colourful old town, heart-shaped traffic lights and woodlands. Nearby
tours of Lake Mývatn, the most geologically active area in
Iceland, include lava formations, hot springs, caves and rifts, boiling
mud pools, volcanic craters, the roaring Godafoss waterfall and Game of
Thrones locations. Puffins nest on the inhabited island of Grimsey that
crosses the Arctic Circle, while Hrísey island is said to
have powerful healing energies.
Seydisfjordur
Day 6
Regarded
as east Island’s cultural hub, brightly painted wooden houses
line Seyðisfjörður’s port. With a
lively arts scene disproportionate to its small size,
Seyðisfjörður has attracted many writers and
artists over the years and also hosts an annual summer arts festival.
Surrounded by incredible nature, the Skálanes nature reserve
is a short distance from the town. The area covered by the reserve is
known for its diverse wildlife with over 47 species of bird and over
150 plant species. Reindeer are also seen here, with seals and
porpoises frequently spotted along the shores.
Djupivorgur
Day 7
Home
to fewer than 500 residents, the quiet fishing village of Djupivogur
dates back to the Viking era. Despite its formidable origins, the
village is better known these days for its unhurried pace of life.
Djupivogur’s most famous artistic offering may be the first
thing you notice as you disembark. The 34 large granite eggs that line
the road along the bay are not easy to miss. The art installation,
named ‘The Eggs at Merry Bay’ (Eggin í
Gleðivík in Icelandic) represents the 34 species of
birds that nest locally. Immerse yourself further into the wild on a
trip to nearby Vatnajökull National Park. Covering 14% of
Iceland’s land mass, this vast area is home to giant ice
caps, thundering glacial rivers, grumbling active volcanoes and a host
of other geological wonders. Take a guided tour out onto
Vatnajökull Glacier, Europe’s largest ice cap, and
experience the glory of true Icelandic wilderness for yourself.
Heimaey
Day 8
A
small 13-kilometre square island off the south coast of Iceland,
Heimaey’s history has been surprisingly eventful. From the
escapee 16th century Irish slaves to the reaches of the Ottoman Empire
and subsequent pirate invasion, the island was a place of danger and
terror until the mid 18th century. Once these events subsided, for 300
years the people of Heimaey assumed that their days of action were a
thing of the past. That was until 1973 when residents awoke to a
devastating volcanic eruption. Fissures over a kilometre wide snaked
through the town, the lava engulfing over 400 homes. Remarkably, only
one person is thought to have died as a result of the eruption, with a
quick rescue response ensuring that the 5,300 residents were swiftly
evacuated to the safety of the mainland. Evidence of this recent
geological activity can be seen just about everywhere on Heimaey and is
the focus of the fascinating Eldheimar museum.
Reykjavík
Day 9
Your
cruise ends in Reykjavík. Make sure there is sufficient time
before you begin your journey home to explore this diminutive but
dramatic capital city. Despite its small size, you won’t be
short of things to see and do. To get your bearings, take the elevator
to the top of Hallgrímskirkja. This church, designed by
famed Icelandic architect Gudjón Samuelsson is one of the
most distinctive buildings in town. When you return to earth, visit the
city’s other renowned building Harpa Concert Hall, located at
the heart of Reykjavík's regenerated harbour –
also the home of the Maritime Museum. Speaking of cultural spaces, tour
the National Museum to learn the story of Iceland from past to present.
The Reykjavík Art Museum houses an impressive contemporary
collection including eye-catching pieces by Erró. And, of
course, just 50 kilometres outside the city lies Thingvellir National
Park, the site of Iceland’s original Viking parliament.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Return
regional flights to the port of embarkation and/or disembarkation
(where specified)
- Group
return transfers from the airport to the cruise port (via our included
accommodation where applicable)
- One
night pre-cruise accommodation with breakfast in a 4/5-star hotel or
onboard
- All
meals onboard
- Onboard
accommodation in a stateroom selected category
- 24-hour
room service
- Coffee,
tea, soft drinks and selected alcoholic beverages available 24-hours
per day
- Lecture
programmes by our experienced expedition team and guest speakers
- One
selected shore excursion/expedition activities per port of call
- Branded
Swan Hellenic expedition parka and use of rubber boots in Polar Regions
- Standard
WiFi
- Onboard
gratuities & port taxes
