At the intersection of both Europe and North America, Iceland has become an extremely popular tourism destination. It is not a big country, and I could have toured it fairly easily on my own, but I was looking for other options.
Because it’s a small island nation, it is also easy to sail around Iceland to experience many of its major sights, and many cruise ships do just that. As a single traveler, I liked the idea of letting someone else do the “driving” (or sailing in this case), while only having to unpack once over the course of a 9-day tour.
Join our Travel Tribe! Sign up for our newsletter now!
Iceland experts
After evaluating all the information about the various cruises around Iceland, I chose Iceland ProCruises and was not disappointed.
I learned that the parent company that owns and operates Iceland ProCruises is Icelandic owned. Cruises around Iceland and Greenland are all they do and as I experienced, they do it very well. It was no surprise then to find that our guides and expedition staff were all native Icelanders. The company even brought in an Icelandic head chef to ensure the authenticity of the dishes served on board their ship, the MS Seaventure.
Read More About Iceland Travel:
- When’s the Best Time of Year to Visit Iceland?
- Iceland Packing List: 4 Season Guide
- Experience the Land of Fire and Ice on This 7 Day Iceland Itinerary
Our multi-talented and multilingual Icelandic expedition team was a wealth of local knowledge. Besides providing commentary during each day’s excursions, they also presented lectures that brought us closer to Icelandic culture. We learned all about the local flora and fauna, the Icelandic language, and the country’s legends and myths, just to name a few of the topics they covered.
We also had some unique local experiences: I tasted fermented shark, their national delicacy; carefully sipped Brennevin which is the potent, national spirit; sampled different Icelandic brewed beers; and enjoyed listening to a selection of Iceland’s folk songs performed by one of our guides who was also a trained opera singer.
Small ship experience
With only 82 cabins, the MS Seaventure was small enough to dock in unique spots that larger ships could not get to, yet roomy enough to offer plenty of amenities. The indoor public spaces were more than ample: we had a large lounge where we gathered for cocktails or to chat; there was another large observation area at the front of the ship which was ideal for listening to the presentations or watching the scenery unfold; and we even had a small library with a good selection of books.
The dining room was also big enough to seat all the guests comfortably and was quite elegant. Meals provided another small-ship benefit: the opportunity to easily connect with others on the ship. Because this was a small group experience, I quickly got to know other travelers which meant that at meals, I could choose to sit with new friends and get to know them better.
There were also outdoor deck spaces to take in the views, and to my surprise, there was also a small, heated, saltwater pool with sun loungers on the top deck. But even though it was the end of July, we were near the Arctic Circle and air temperatures weren’t warm enough for me to be tempted by a dip in the pool.
Easy and comfortable
Boarding the ship in Reykjavik was a breeze. I could easily walk the two blocks to the dock with my luggage from the City Center Hotel where I was staying. I dropped off my bags with security, walked up the gangplank, checked in with my name and passport to receive my key, and was in my room in 10 minutes.
All the cabins on the MS Seaventure (except for two suites) are 194 square feet. There are no inside cabins, so all the rooms have outside views via portholes, windows, or balconies. Since I was cruising solo, my cabin was plenty spacious, though it would also have been roomy enough for two.
The closet was huge with more than enough hanging and drawer space. There was also a credenza with more storage along with a small fridge. Though compact, the table and chairs combo was enough for my needs. The en suite bathroom was also compact, but I’ve had smaller ones on bigger ships, and this one provided everything I needed.
Unique excursions
Each day we had a selection of three to four excursions we could choose from. The cost of these excursions was not included in the price of the cruise, which was fine with me. This way I could choose exactly what I wanted to do – or not. From long hikes to culturally focused tours, there were excursions for all ability levels and interests.
With Iceland ProCruises it was easy to see some of the most iconic sights in Iceland and each day presented a new and unique experience. I got to see Kirkjufellsfoss, Iceland’s most photographed peak and waterfall combo, and also the beautiful, multilayered, Dynjandi waterfall. There were also tours to the thermal fields around Myvatn, and the ice filled Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon.
My favorites though were the many experiences that were unique to Iceland ProCruises. Among the most memorable was our stop at the private island of Flatey to get up close and personal with a puffin colony. On the Island of Guernsey we walked across the Arctic Circle and saw more puffins. And in the quaint town of Siglufjordur, we had an entertaining living history demonstration by modern day Herring Girls who showed us how their grandmothers contributed to the booming local herring economy.
Local flavors
The meals on board also contributed to my cultural experience and were delicious. Each day the chef offered a fresh, locally caught fish option. Often there was also another entrée that was typical to the region. Breakfast and lunches were buffet style with an extensive and varied selection of hot and cold dishes. I was especially impressed by the efforts the cooking staff went through to satisfy a long list of dietary requirements.
Excursions also offered opportunities to try local dishes. In fact, my excursion to Dynjandi Waterfall included a stop at the tiny village of Pingeyri where we had a traditional, homemade fish soup for lunch.
My 9-day circumnavigation itinerary with Iceland ProCruises gave me everything I was looking for as a solo cruiser and so much more. This was my first small, expedition-style ship experience, and most definitely won’t be my last. I’ve discovered that I really like soft adventures, especially when they come with so much comfort and luxury.
Leave a Reply