Circumnavigating Iceland & Crossing the Arctic Circle

Sprawling Reykjavík, the nation's nerve center and government seat, is home to half the island's population. On a bay overlooked by proud Mt. Esja (pronounced eh-shyuh), with its ever-changing hues, Reykjavík presents a colorful sight, its concrete houses painted in light colors and topped by vibrant red, blue, and green roofs. In contrast to the almost treeless countryside, Reykjavík has many tall, native birches, rowans, and willows, as well as imported aspen, pines, and spruces.Reykjavík's name comes from the Icelandic words for smoke, reykur, and bay, vík. In AD 874, Norseman Ingólfur Arnarson saw Iceland rising out of the misty sea and came ashore at a bay eerily shrouded with plumes of steam from nearby hot springs. Today most of the houses in Reykjavík are heated by near-boiling water from the hot springs. Natural heating avoids air pollution; there's no smoke around. You may notice, however, that the hot water brings a slight sulfur smell to the bathroom.Prices are easily on a par with other major European cities. A practical option is to purchase a Reykjavík City Card at the Tourist Information Center or at the Reykjavík Youth Hostel. This card permits unlimited bus usage and admission to any of the city's seven pools, the Family Park and Zoo, and city museums. The cards are valid for one (ISK 3,300), two (ISK 4,400), or three days (ISK 4,900), and they pay for themselves after three or four uses a day. Even lacking the City Card, paying admission (ISK 500, or ISK 250 for seniors and people with disabilities) to one of the city art museums (Hafnarhús, Kjarvalsstaðir, or Ásmundarsafn) gets you free same-day admission to the other two.

Your journey begins in the world’s northernmost city, Reykjavík, where you’ll be greeted at the airport and escorted to your 6-star ultra-luxury Discovery Yacht. If time allows, arrive a day early to allow time to visit Reykjavik’s museums and see its distinctive church and street art. Upon boarding, be warmly greeted by Scenic Eclipse’s world-class crew and raise a glass of champagne with fellow guests on the Observation Deck as you sail along the Icelandic rugged coastline.

Please book your flight to arrive into Reykjavik prior to 02:00 PM.

Feel the excitement building as the Discovery Team explains how your optional helicopter^, submarine^, Scenic Freechoice and other Discovery Excursions will work in the coming days. You’ll get to meet some of the experts who will share with you their passion and knowledge about this fascinating region.

Explore the small, flat and car-free Flatey Island by foot. Enjoy the tranquil atmosphere as you walk past colourful and meticulously maintained homes built more than a hundred years ago.

In the evening, cruise along Europe’s largest bird cliff, the towering Latrabjarg Cliffs. The midnight sun allows for easy after-dinner viewing of the cliffs that are home to up to 40% of some of the world’s cliff dwelling populations, including razorbills. Use the Swarovski telescopes on the Observation Deck to see young birds in their nests. If you have any questions, the expert Discovery Team will be on hand to help.

The village of Patreksfjörður only has around 650 people but it is still the biggest town in the southern Westfjords. Watch local fishermen bring in the day’s catch in a town that was once a pioneering force in Iceland's fishing industry before exploring local shops and coffee houses.  Delight as you watch the fjord views change as we set sail.   

Weather permitting, we will visit the jewel of the Westfjords, the Dynjandi waterfall, led by expert guides with an on shore excursion or simply stay on board and view these beautiful falls from the luxury comfort of the observation deck as Scenic Eclipse manoeuvres close by. Scenic Eclipse, the World’s First Discovery Yachts use GPS Dynamic Positioning, which allows the ship to maintain position without the use of an anchor, protecting this sensitive ecosystem.

The sun only sets at 11pm today, so take the opportunity to take in the Icelandic views from the Observation Deck before and after dinner.

Iceland is well-known for its spectacular waterfalls. The iconic Dynjandi waterfall, located in the Westfjords region, is regarded as one of Iceland’s most impressive and majestic waterfalls. At the top, the cascading water is roughly 100 feet wide and tumbles down about 330 feet into the fjord. Its name Dynjandi means, “the thundering one” and its vast size, enormous sound, and sheer force is overwhelming. It has also been nicknamed, ‘The Bridal Veil’ because of the way the water sprays and spreads over the rocks.

Vigur Island is a little more than a mile (1.6 km) in length and about 450 yards (412 m) wide. This green oasis punctuates the waters of the Ísafjarðardjúp fjord east of the town of Isafjordur. The island is home to a single farming family and has some meticulously preserved historical landmarks including Iceland’s only windmill, built in 1840 and used until 1917 for grinding imported wheat from Denmark; and a 200-year-old rowing boat, which is still in use to ferry sheep to the mainland. Summer is the best time to see large numbers of Atlantic Puffins, Arctic Terns and Black Guillemots. One of the export articles from this small island was eider down and one can see where the eider ducks nest and how the down is collected and cleaned.

The second largest island in Ísafjörður Bay, Vigur Island has only one family living on the island year-round. Learn how farmers live off the land and collect eiderdown and eggs for their primary income. Visit Iceland’s only surviving windmill, which is owned by the National Museum of Iceland. See puffins, black guillemot and eider birds nesting on the island and send a post card from the smallest post office in Europe.

As we sail out in the afternoon enjoy a drink before dinner in one of your Discovery Yacht’s nine all-inclusive bars. Sip French Champagne in Lumière’s Champagne Bar, an aged whiskey at the Scenic Lounge Bar or a cocktail in your cabana beside the Sky Bar. Your in-suite mini-bar is re-stocked daily with premium beverages, so you can also relax in your own private oasis with your favourite drink in hand.

On the southwestern shore of Skagafjörður Fjord, the town of Sauðárkrókur was officially settled in 1871, but its history dates back to the ancient Grettis Saga. Discover some of Sauðárkrókur’s Nordic myths and legends in its well-preserved old town where you will find museums and interactive exhibitions along with local artisans and restaurants.

On board unwind after a day of exploring on your Discovery Yacht by indulging in a massage, body treatment or facial in the Senses Spa. Enjoy the Scandinavian inspired plunge pools, infrared saunas and the KLAFS custom Salt Therapy lounge, where you can relax on heated beds while aromatherapy scents work their magic.

Akureyri, called the Capital of the North is the second largest urban area in Iceland, and a lively one at that. Hemmed by the 60-km (37-mile) long Eyjafjörður, Akureyri is sheltered from the ocean winds and embraced by mountains on three sides. Late 19th-century wooden houses impart a sense of history, and the twin spires of a modern Lutheran church rising on a green hill near the waterfront, provide a focal point. To the south of Akureyri is the pyramid-shape rhyolite mountain Súlur. Beyond it is Kerling, the highest peak in Eyjafjörður District.

Iceland’s ‘capital of the North’ is the second largest settlement outside of Reykjavik but with only around 20,000 residents it still feels like a friendly town. Akureyri is a photogenic spot with colourful homes set on green hills at the base of a volcanic mountain chain. See the striking Akureyri Church, and stroll through one of the world’s most northerly botanic gardens.

Go kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding in one of the longest fjords in Iceland or explore the fjord's stunning landscpae from above in one of our two helicopters^. Some of the quietest in the sky, the Airbus H130-T2 helicopters feature wrap around windscreens and wide windows as well as Bose® noise cancelling headphones. Conditions allowing, you may also delve below the surface in our custom-built Scenic Neptune submarine^.

Today you can walk across the official Arctic Circle on Grimsey Island, about 40km off the north coast of Iceland. This small island only has around 100 people living in a village by the harbour and is a highlight for bird watchers with around a million seabirds nesting in the island’s cliffs. Use the Swarovski telescopes on the Observation Lounge to take a closer look at the puffins, razorbills, black guillemot and other cliff nesting birds.

Celebrate crossing the Arctic Circle with expertly made cocktails at the Sky Bar or share a champagne toast in Lumière's Champagne Bar before a seven-course French fine dining experience paired with world-class wines.

Join the Captain on the bridge as we sail through the large fjord of Vopnafjörður to the village of the same name. The open bridge policy provides an unrivalled opportunity to learn about the technical abilities of your Scenic Eclipse while enjoying one of the best viewing areas on the ship.

Vopnafjörður means ‘bay of weapons’ and was created by a massive glacier in the last Ice Age before it was first settled by Vikings in the late 9th century. Today, you may be able to join a hiking excursion or a Zodiac cruise with expert naturalists, or attend in-depth lectures about the geology and history of the fjord in your ultra-luxury yacht’s state-of-the-art theatre.

In the evening we will sail into Seyðisfjörður, where the fjord and the town at its innermost corner share the same name, for your overnight stay.

Seyðisfjörður, a beautiful 19th-century Norwegian village on the east coast of Iceland, is regarded by many as one of Iceland's most picturesque towns, not only due to its impressive environment, but also because nowhere in Iceland has a community of old wooden buildings been preserved so well as here. Poet Matthías Johannessen called Seyðisfjörður a 'pearl enclosed in a shell'. The community owes its origins to foreign merchants, mainly Danes, who started trading in the fjord in the mid-19th century. But the crucial factor in the evolution of the village was the establishment of the Icelandic herring fishery by Norwegians in 1870-1900. The Norwegians built up a number of herring-fishing facilities, and in a matter of years the little community grew into a boom town. Today, about 800 people live in Seyðisfjörður. The local economy has long been based on the fisheries, while light industry also flourishes. Tourism is playing a growing role, as the picturesque town in its spectacular surroundings attracts more and more visitors. The car/passenger ferry Norrøna, which plies between continental Europe and Iceland every summer, docks at Seyðisfjörður every Thursday. Seyðisfjörður has been a cosmopolitan community from its foundation, and the ferry service has contributed to ensuring that it remains so.

Seyðisfjörður, a beautiful 19th-century Norwegian village on the east coast of Iceland, is regarded by many as one of Iceland's most picturesque towns, not only due to its impressive environment, but also because nowhere in Iceland has a community of old wooden buildings been preserved so well as here. Poet Matthías Johannessen called Seyðisfjörður a 'pearl enclosed in a shell'. The community owes its origins to foreign merchants, mainly Danes, who started trading in the fjord in the mid-19th century. But the crucial factor in the evolution of the village was the establishment of the Icelandic herring fishery by Norwegians in 1870-1900. The Norwegians built up a number of herring-fishing facilities, and in a matter of years the little community grew into a boom town. Today, about 800 people live in Seyðisfjörður. The local economy has long been based on the fisheries, while light industry also flourishes. Tourism is playing a growing role, as the picturesque town in its spectacular surroundings attracts more and more visitors. The car/passenger ferry Norrøna, which plies between continental Europe and Iceland every summer, docks at Seyðisfjörður every Thursday. Seyðisfjörður has been a cosmopolitan community from its foundation, and the ferry service has contributed to ensuring that it remains so.

Considered the heart of culture, heritage and hospitality in East Iceland, Seyðisfjörður features colourful 19th century timber houses perched on the side of the lagoon and is home to a flourishing art scene. Keep an eye out for wandering reindeer along with seals and porpoises following the shore.

Seyðisfjörður could be another outstanding opportunity to go kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding and to soar above the horizon in one of your Discovery Yacht’s helicopters^ or dive below in a luxury submarine^ built for up to six guests.

This evening, savour new flavours and culinary experiences. With up to ten dining venues, including contemporary French fine dining at Lumière, steak and seafood at Elements, and sushi or Asian fusion at Koko’s, you can enjoy a new culinary journey every night.

It’s hard to imagine, as you stroll Heimaey’s idyllic streets of white wooden houses, that this island was literally torn apart by a spectacular volcanic eruption, just over 40 years ago. The fact that you can visit incredible Heimaey at all is something of a miracle – because the oozing lava of the Eldfell volcano threatened to seal the harbour off completely. Fortunately, its advance was halted by gallons of seawater, pumped onto it by the plucky islanders, who saved their fishing industry in the process. Iceland's famous for its scenery, and the huge castles of volcanic rock that rise out of the sea's waves here are some of the country's most dramatic.

In 1973, Heimaey’s volcano Eldfell, meaning “Hill of Fire”, erupted for 157 days, leading to the temporary evacuation of the island. The island’s history is best explored on an excursion led by local experts.

The Westman Islands are one of the best places in Iceland to see orcas and beluga whales. Look for them on a Zodiac tour or spot them through one of the Swarovski telescopes on the Observation Deck and Lounge.

Then sail around the World Heritage-listed site of Surtsey, a volcanic island created by an underwater volcano in the 1960s.

Sprawling Reykjavík, the nation's nerve center and government seat, is home to half the island's population. On a bay overlooked by proud Mt. Esja (pronounced eh-shyuh), with its ever-changing hues, Reykjavík presents a colorful sight, its concrete houses painted in light colors and topped by vibrant red, blue, and green roofs. In contrast to the almost treeless countryside, Reykjavík has many tall, native birches, rowans, and willows, as well as imported aspen, pines, and spruces.Reykjavík's name comes from the Icelandic words for smoke, reykur, and bay, vík. In AD 874, Norseman Ingólfur Arnarson saw Iceland rising out of the misty sea and came ashore at a bay eerily shrouded with plumes of steam from nearby hot springs. Today most of the houses in Reykjavík are heated by near-boiling water from the hot springs. Natural heating avoids air pollution; there's no smoke around. You may notice, however, that the hot water brings a slight sulfur smell to the bathroom.Prices are easily on a par with other major European cities. A practical option is to purchase a Reykjavík City Card at the Tourist Information Center or at the Reykjavík Youth Hostel. This card permits unlimited bus usage and admission to any of the city's seven pools, the Family Park and Zoo, and city museums. The cards are valid for one (ISK 3,300), two (ISK 4,400), or three days (ISK 4,900), and they pay for themselves after three or four uses a day. Even lacking the City Card, paying admission (ISK 500, or ISK 250 for seniors and people with disabilities) to one of the city art museums (Hafnarhús, Kjarvalsstaðir, or Ásmundarsafn) gets you free same-day admission to the other two.

Your journey ends this morning back in Reykjavík, where the city may be the same, but you may feel forever changed by everything you have seen and experienced in the past days. Savour one last breakfast in your suite or in the Yacht Club before saying goodbye to your new friends and the crew who shared your voyage. Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport where magical memories of Iceland and the Arctic will keep you company for your flight and many years to come.

Please book your flight to depart out of Reykjavik after 12:00 PM.

#Scenic Eclipse spa treatments at additional cost. +All drinks on board Scenic Eclipse, including those stocked in your mini bar, are included, except for a very small number of rare, fine and vintage wines, Champagnes and spirits. ^Flights on board our two helicopters and submersible experiences are at additional cost, subject to regulatory approval, availability, weight restrictions, medical approval and weather, ice and tidal conditions.  

The itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons. As such Scenic cannot guarantee the cruise will operate unaltered from the itinerary stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information.