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Cruises to Akureyri

82 Reviews
Akureyri (Photo:Bildagentur Zoonar GmbH/Shutterstock)

About Akureyri

The second-largest city in Iceland (yet still small, with fewer than 18,000 residents), Akureyri has become a regular stop for cruise ships visiting the island on a Norwegian fjords cruise, as well as those on transatlantic repositionings.

Located on Iceland's longest fjord, Eyjafjordur, Akureyri has been settled since Vikings arrived in the 9th century and has long been dominant in fishing, thanks to an ice-free port. Although cruise ships only visit during the summer, the town has a healthy winter tourism scene, with several ski resorts close by. Thus, you'll find many outdoor clothing stores, as well as restaurants, cafes and bars, in the city's downtown.

A call in Akureyri provides cruisers with a cute town to explore and makes a perfect gateway to northern Iceland's geothermal phenomena. Lake Myvatn, home to bubbling hotpots, thermal baths, craters and lava formations, is less than two hours away. For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, consider a flightseeing trip over this geothermal wonderland; if an eruption is going on, you might even see lava spurting into the air (as tourists did in fall 2014, when a fissure developed in nearby Holuhraun).

Akureyri is also a good place to hire an independent tour operator for outdoor pursuits, such as whale watching, horseback riding, hiking and Jeep adventures. Or you can rent a car and explore the country's Ring Road. Make sure you wear layers and bring a raincoat; Iceland's weather is notoriously fickle even though Akureyri generally has warmer temperatures than other parts of the island.

  • More about Akureyri

  • Why go to Akureyri?

  • Akureyri Cruise Port Facilities?

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Norwegian Star
Norwegian Star

11 Night
Europe - Other

2,515 Reviews
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Norwegian Prima
Norwegian Prima (Image: Norwegian Cruise Line)

11 Night
Europe - Iceland

147 Reviews
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Norwegian Star
Norwegian Star

14 Night
Europe - Other

2,515 Reviews
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Norwegian Prima
Norwegian Prima (Image: Norwegian Cruise Line)

10 Night
Europe - Iceland

147 Reviews
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12 Night
Greenland & Iceland Cruise

1,892 Reviews
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10 Night
Europe - Iceland

2,515 Reviews
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17 Night
Transatlantic Cruise

1,190 Reviews
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12 Night
Greenland & Iceland Cruise

1,892 Reviews
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10 Night
Europe - Iceland

1,991 Reviews
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11 Night
Europe - Iceland

2,515 Reviews
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24 Night
Baltic Jewels & Northern Isles

225 Reviews
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23 Night
World Cruise

254 Reviews
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11 Night
Iceland & Ireland Cruise

2,027 Reviews
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7 Night
Around Iceland 7d Rey-rey

119 Reviews
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12 Night
Europe - Iceland

2,515 Reviews
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More about Akureyri

Why go to Akureyri?

Cons:

Although Akureyri has its charms, it's better to book a tour of the wilds of Iceland than to spend all of your time hanging around town

Bottom Line:

Akureyri is a fantastic port from which to embark on geothermal adventures in Iceland. Walk into town, book a tour and go

Akureyri Cruise Port Facilities?

The dock area has a visitor's center with a souvenir shop, free Wi-Fi and restrooms. The terminal is an easy, 10-minute walk from downtown Akureyri, and buses, taxis and tours are able to pick up passengers right outside the dock.

Good to Know?

It's not called Iceland for nothing; bring lots of layers, as well as a hat and scarf, because the wind can make the air feel much chillier than the temperature reads.

Getting Around?

On Foot: Akureyri is extremely walkable. The town center is less than 10 minutes from the cruise port.

By Taxi: Taxis, located on the street across from the cruise terminal parking lot, are available for two- to six-hour private tours. Prices are displayed on a street placard and include gratuity; Iceland is not a tipping culture.

By Car: The Lake Myvatn area has many sites you can visit on your own if you have a car. Europcar has a rental office within the cruise terminal, and familiar brands such as Dollar, Thrifty, Budget and Avis are a short walk away (as well as the Icelandic company Icelandcar). Reservations are recommended in the prime summer months (June, July and August).

Currency & Best Way to Get Money?

Currency is the Icelandic krona; prices are given in ISK (if you're from the U.S., you'll find them startlingly high, particularly for food). For updated currency-conversion figures, visit www.oanda.com or www.xe.com. Several banks, including Landsbankinn (1 Strandgotu) and Islandbanki (14 Skipagotu), have ATMs. Almost all shops and restaurants take credit cards.

Language?

Icelandic is considered one of the most difficult languages to learn. But don't worry: Everyone in the tourist trade speaks English.

Where You're Docked?

Akureyri's cruise terminal is sheltered within Iceland's longest fjord, Eyjafjordur. The dock can handle up to three ships at a time.


Akureyri Cruise Reviews
Took the Akureyri Whale Watching tour and really enjoyed it. We did see 2 humpback whales though at a little distance; I guess it's only in movies or very rare occasions that whale actually come right up to the boatRead More
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grammyandahhpoo
We arrived on a Sunday. The biggest church in town was closed. The main street had a couple of open stores. We did a tour of a dairy farm (friendliest cows I've ever met), had really fresh ice cream (outstanding) Read More
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SoCalTraveler
Nice, small and walkable city. We took plenty of photos, went to the public library and ate lunch at Sushi Corner.Read More
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papadave
Nice port with plenty of activities. Visit the round building visitor center for a lot of information on this and other areas of Iceland. Here, I discovered a public bus to Godafoss that cost $12 round trip, as opposRead More
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penguinscott

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