Iceland by Sea: A Summer of Fire, Ice & Roman Beginnings

This summer’s travels took us on a journey I’ll never forget — sailing around Iceland, with a short but memorable pre-cruise stay in Rome. I typically shy away from cruises because I much prefer to set my own schedule and go at my own pace, but there are certain destinations that are much more accessible by cruise when also looking to balance a set number of travel days available. Our cruise with stops in Norway (which will have its own post), and Iceland checks that category, at least in my book. Not to mention that traveling by cruise ship provides a unique vantage point on some of the world’s most dramatic landscapes, with breathtaking views.

Planner that I am, I searched for the right itinerary with the right port stops. After booking it, I transferred the cruise to my friend and travel agent extraordinaire, Ana Rosado, with Vacations by Fairytale. Why do that, you may ask? Because inevitably, one or two calls to the cruise line are always necessary, and I don’t like dealing with it. But more on her and her services on a different post!

Making The Most Out Of It

Being that this was a trip to celebrate my son’s high school graduation, I wanted to pack in as much as possible. We had the flexibility of doing something somewhere in Europe before boarding and we quickly settled for Rome. My son had visited Italy before, but never Rome! I took it upon myself to craft a quick but efficient itinerary based on my previous visits to Rome. Our quick jaunt to Rome looked like this:

• Day 1 – After an overnight flight and minimal sleep, we powered through the jetlag and made the most of our first day! We explored the awe-inspiring Pantheon, wandered through Castel Sant’Angelo, and took a quick stroll through the Vatican. We wrapped up the day with a delicious dinner at Tonarello and gelato from Il Gelato di Santa Maria, both located in the lively neighborhood of Trastevere.

• Day 2 – After a good night’s sleep and doing our best to stay cool and hydrated in the relentless 98° heat, we packed in some unforgettable sights: the awe-inspiring Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Circus Maximus. We also visited San Pietro in Vincoli, home to the chains that once bound Saint Peter. On the walk home took a quick obligatory stroll past the Trevi Fountain which was busy as always. Capped the day with our best meal yet — complete with my beloved fried zucchini flowers at Osteria da Fortunata near Largo Argentina

Iceland Stops

Our cruise itinerary included stops in Akureyri, Isafjordur, and Reykjavik. We then extended our time in Iceland post cruise by a few days staying at an AirBnB in Reykjakik and driving the Golden Circle and taking day trip to Vik. I would categorize our Icelandic adventures in three buckets

• Waterfalls & Wonders: Every stop seemed to reveal another thundering waterfall — some famous, others hidden gems.
• Volcanic Landscapes: Walking on hardened lava fields and gazing into steaming vents felt like stepping onto another planet. Yet, so many patches of green when you least expected, complimented by icelandic horses, sheep, and lamb grazing the pastures.
• The Icing on the Cake: My son dove into Silfra, the fissure between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Watching him enter the dive point and explore the fissure between continents in the clearest water on earth was an unforgettable highlight.

Akureyri, Iceland: Waterfalls & Turf Houses – After a rocky crossing (the North Sea can be merciless!) and docking, we took a quick walk around town before meeting our tour group and heading to Goðafoss — and wow, it was absolutely stunning. The drive from the port was about 45 minutes which gave our tour guide just the right amount of time to tell us more about the city and it’s history. Next up was Laufás, where we saw the traditional turf-roofed houses, and then the very quirky Christmas House, which honestly felt a little like an Icelandic version of Cracker Barrel… but festive nonetheless! We booked this tour through Viator and it was perfect; also about half the cost of what the cruise line charged for it. The town of Akureyki is small, and with nothing tempting us food-wise in town, and the tempting having zero seating, we headed back to the ship for a solid “linner” and some Wimbledon watching for me.

Isafjordur, Iceland: A Quiet Port with Surprises – While it’s undeniably beautiful, we were a little surprised it’s a cruise port — it’s a very small, quiet town with limited things to do unless you’re up for outdoor adventures. We walked into town and wandered a bit, stumbling upon a tiny museum right off the ship, and just beyond that, what looked like a local swim club’s practice — in freezing water!  No thank you! We also saw quite a few people kayaking throughout the day — brave souls! After about 90 minutes of exploring, we made our way back with a stop at a cozy brewery, where I enjoyed a beer flight at Dokkan Bruggus, my son enjoyed a soda, and we shared some snacks before heading back to the ship.

Reykjavik & the Golden Circle: Geysers, Waterfalls & Puffins 

Day 1 – Our first full day exploring Reykjavík and beyond was a gorgeous one! We hit the road to tackle part of the Golden Circle and made it all the way to Gullfoss — every bit as breathtaking as Goðafoss earlier in the trip. Along the way, we stopped at the Geysir geothermal area, where the earth literally breathes beneath your feet, and also at Brúarfoss, where the stunning blue waters from Langjökull Glacier absolutely stole the show. No filters needed — the color really is that unreal! The drive itself was a treat — endless views of open landscapes, with Icelandic horses and so many sheep casually roaming the fields. I lost count of the sheep crossing signs — they’re serious about their right-of-way!

Day 2 – This one was one for the books! My son had the incredible opportunity to dive into one of the most unique bodies of water in the world — the Silfra fissure in Þingvellir National Park. Silfra is a crack in the Earth where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are slowly pulling apart. The water here, filtered for decades through lava rock, is some of the clearest on the planet, with visibility often reaching over 100 meters. Having earned his open water certification a few years ago, and after learning about this place from a friend who snorkeled there, we did a bit of research and he became dry suit certified — a must for diving in glacial waters.

At my friend’s recommendation, we contacted dive.is and set up the booking. They were amazing to work with in all aspects! From the booking, to the few emails prior to his reservation, to the onsite safety briefing. They have a 1:3 dive master to diver ratio, which made me feel better.

After that and a tasty lunch of pizza at Olverk Pizza & Brewery, we headed out to the Raufarhólshellir lava tunnel, where we joined a group and learned how these fascinating formations came to be. It was definitely a cool (no pun intended) experience. There are over 500 of these tunnels in Iceland, and the one we explored today is one of the largest.

Day 3 – We set off early with some amazing pastries from the bakery down the street from our AirBnB — fuel for our final day of exploring! I had read very positive reviews about Braud & Co, but those didn’t do it justice! This was, without a doubt, the best cinnamon roll I’ve ever had! My son also raved about this chocolate croissant.

Now on to our goal for the day: to catch a glimpse of puffins near the cliffs at Dyrhólaey. Sadly, the little guys were nowhere to be found. We knew it was a long shot — and while a ferry to the Westman Islands would have been a better bet, it just didn’t fit our schedule this time. Next trip, maybe!

We continued on to Vík to check out the stunning black sand beaches, then grabbed lunch of very tasty burgers at Smidjan Brugghus before making our way back toward Reykjavík. Along the way, we made one last scenic stop at Seljalandsfoss, the waterfall you can walk behind. We opted to admire it from a distance since… let’s just say we forgot the rain pants and jackets. Oops! 

Back in Reykjavík, we packed up and finally checked a must-try off our list: the famous Icelandic hot dog. After reading several articles and reviews, we settled on Vikinga Pylsur and it did not dissapoint! My son — who insists he doesn’t eat lamb — declared it the best hot dog he’s ever had. High praise from a tough critic!

Reflections

What struck me most about this trip was how seamlessly it blended adventure and ease. Iceland’s raw beauty paired with the convenience of cruising was the perfect combination. And adding Rome into the mix proved that sometimes the best journeys aren’t just about where you’re going, but how the pieces of the itinerary connect.

Now my question to you – “Would you ever try diving between tectonic plates — or stick to admiring from the surface?”