We regularly receive requests for shore excursions from cruise ship passengers who want to maximize their short docking time in Reykjavik. Cruise ship passengers may have different needs, but most have three general requirements that we consider when planning our excursions:
- You must be sure to return to the cruise ship on time
- You don’t want to take part in big bus tours
- You would like to be picked up and dropped off at the pier in the port
At the same time, many travelers have enough time before entering the port to plan something extraordinary.
If your stay in Reykjavik is less than one day
Many cruise ships dock at Reykjavik for less than one full day and passengers only have 7-8 hours to explore local attractions. For example, you arrive at 8:00 am and must be back on board by 4:00 pm. It is challenging for guests to stretch their legs on the shore and explore more than downtown Reykjavik. Many passengers choose a taxi to the city center to wander through the streets. Or they end up joining a bus tour planned by the cruise ship (not much fun, in our opinion). To meet the time constraints, get a taste of Iceland and return at least 1 hour before departure; we can offer you two excursions:
Full day in Reykjavik
If you have the whole day at your disposal or there are no restrictions on the time of returning to the ship in the evening, then there are more opportunities to spend this day with maximum impact. You can choose the classic Golden Circle tour or spend more time in Reykjavik and visit some of the highlights of the Reykjanes Peninsula en route to the Blue Lagoon. Return to Reykjavik by 18:30.
For those who would like to explore more and further from Reykjavik, we can suggest a slightly more adventurous option, heading the South Coast east of Reykjavik or northwest on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. You will spend a full day on the trip and return to Reykjavik by 8:00 pm.
A couple of days off before or after the cruise
Are you planning to spend a few days in Iceland before or after your cruise? Perfect! Be sure to get outside of Reykjavik. And here you have two options. You can take one or more day trips from Reykjavik or a multi-day tour package. You can also suggest your route, which we will develop according to your wishes. We take care of everything from hotel reservations to comfortable vehicles and a qualified guide.
For a two-day trip, we recommend routes:
- Golden Circle & South Coast. 2-Day Trip
- South Coast & Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. 2-Day Trip
- Golden Circle and Landmannalaugar (July-August)
- Snaefellsnes Peninsula and Silver Circle (West Iceland)
Plan your tour and offer it to other passengers to reduce the price
It’s worth noting that joining a small group tour is a great way to keep your costs down. We love it! Many travelers prefer this option as it lets them meet new people. Don’t worry about the “big bus” effect on our tours; the maximum group size is 12 people. And your passionate guide will treat you more like friends than clients. Therefore, be sure to ask a lot of questions.
So, you’ve created the perfect trip that fits your cruise ship’s schedule. And you have friends on the cruise who may also be interested in this tour. Why not invite them to join you instead of leaving them to pay for separate but similar private trips? If your group of 4 joins up with another group of 4, it can substantially reduce your expenses as you will use one vehicle and one guide during your trip. Most importantly, it will significantly reduce the cost per person.
How do you negotiate this with us? The plan is something like this
- Choose a customized tour for your group.
- Ask us about the “price per person” change if you find someone willing to join your group.
- Recommend the tour to your friends on the boat and save money. The more people join the trip, the cheaper the trip will cost you!
