NCL Cruise to Iceland

Hello! After a lot of hesitation between different cruise lines (Explora, Oceania, YC, HAL, NCL) and several destinations like Norway, Ireland, and Iceland,

I finally chose NCL’s Star for Iceland. I had already looked at this itinerary when I went to Scotland in April with CFC, but it was really expensive. You should know that CFC often offers last-minute deals 45 days before departure (the point when you can no longer cancel or modify). So, I got a great opportunity and grabbed it. Departure is on August 23rd.

Hi Nathalie, We’ve just returned from a Scotland-Iceland cruise with MSC on the Preziosa, with the family (5 adults and 3 teens aged 16, 16, and 17). We set off from Hamburg with the three shared stops in Iceland: In Reykjavik, we did the Blue Lagoon with GYG (not great for info on how to get there, but hey, the site is a must-see we couldn’t skip 😄) and on the second day, the Golden Circle with a fantastic little company called "Icelandic Frenchies" (a French couple who fell in love with the country and started this business). Since there were 8 of us, we opted for a private tour in French, and our guide Silja was simply amazing. Half Icelandic, half French, she was a real wealth of knowledge, and all her explanations in French made things so much easier for us! In Isafjordur, we wandered around the town—free time for everyone—and in Akureyri, we booked the GYG excursion to (maybe) see whales... mostly for the teens. A few spouts, backs, and tails... better than nothing, but the boat ride was pleasant, and the loan of thermal suits was a lifesaver when you spend 2 hours on deck admiring the scenery. On the other hand, for Scotland, your itinerary map shows Invergordon, but the text mentions Kirkwall 🤔 We did both stops: Invergordon on the way out, where the kids and grandkids took the excursion to Inverness, Cawdor Castle, the Culloden site, etc., with WOW—a great company, nothing to complain about, and the guide in full Scottish attire. And in Kirkwall, we took the excursion offered by MSC, which seemed fairly comprehensive and left us time to explore the town on foot and do some shopping before heading back to France. A really lovely family cruise and the joy of discovering Iceland, which we didn’t know at all. Wishing you a wonderful trip, Nadine

Hi there, Thanks so much!

Yeah, it’s Kirkwall—I have no idea why the map says something else... We were there in April when we did the cruise with CFC, so we’ll try to find something else to do... maybe near the Italian Chapel.

For Iceland, I’ve planned to rent a car for 3 days in Reykjavik, so we’ll do it on our own. Same in Akureyri.

We really like doing things solo.

Hi Nathalie,

If you rent a car in Reykjavik, that’s awesome—it’s the best solution. In 2023, we rented a car in Reykjavik for 24 hours over two days. We’d already seen the most famous sites (Golden Circle, etc.). On the first day, we explored the Reykjanes Peninsula and Grindavik (now covered in lava), where we had the best fish and chips of our lives. We drove around the whole peninsula—there’s so much to see.





The next morning, we left the ship at 5 AM for the Reykjadalur Valley. We hiked to the river super early, and the best part was that there was almost no one there at that hour—it’s a magical memory. Just be careful: even that early, you still have to pay for parking at the machines.

Hi, No luck with the whales—when we were in Ísafjörður in June 2025, there was a festival and they were leaping completely out of the water all around us. An unforgettable memory! Best regards.