Iceland Intensive Cruise

Day 1 - Amsterdam

Arrive: Sat 22 June 2024 / Depart: Sat 22 June 2024 at 17:30

Amsterdam has a personality all its own, including a long time reputation for tolerance. You'll be thinking of tulips and wooden shoes, perhaps Heineken beer, and some of the city's past inhabitants: Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and Anne Frank, who wrote her famous diary hidden in a canal-side house. But do you know that Amsterdam has more canals than Venice (connecting a jigsaw puzzle of 90 islands), joined by some 1280 bridges (many illuminated by fairy lights at night)? Or that it boasts the oldest stock exchange in the world?

Day 2 - At Sea

Day 3 - Lerwick, Scotland

Arrive: Mon 24 June 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Mon 24 June 2024 at 17:00

An interesting mix of cultures, Shetland belonged to the Vikings until 1468, when the islands were mortgaged to Scotland as part of a marriage agreement between the future James II and Princess Margrethe of Denmark. It is a great place for wildlife experiences, with an abundance of breeding seabirds, orcas off shore, and shaggy and inquisitive Shetland ponies nosing about for a snack when you stop to take their photos. These isles are surely worth a visit; as Shetland Tourism says, “A quarter of a million puffins who come back every year can’t be wrong.”

Day 4 - Thorshaven

Arrive: Tue 25 June 2024 at 09:00 / Depart: Tue 25 June 2024 at 22:00

This remote and little known fragment of Europe is an archipelago of 18 hilly islands, and a self-governing region of Denmark. Towns and villages cluster along the shores of fjords, and brightly painted houses in a rainbow of colors stand out against the deep green of fields and hillsides. It is a fine place to be outdoors and ideal for a hike amidst the superb scenery. Viking settlers are said to have established their parliament here in 825 with Torshavn as the capital, which it has remained ever since. The collection of impressive medieval ruins of Kirkjubour is also of interest, especially the striking Magnus Cathedral.

Day 5 - Runavik (Faroe Isles)

Arrive: Wed 26 June 2024 at 07:30 / Depart: Wed 26 June 2024 at 13:00

Runavík is a comparatively urbanised village in Runavík Municipality, Faroe Islands. It lies on the south half of the isle of Eysturoy.

Day 6 - Eskifjordur

Arrive: Thu 27 June 2024 at 09:00 / Depart: Thu 27 June 2024 at 18:00

Day 7 - Husavik

Arrive: Fri 28 June 2024 at 07:30 / Depart: Fri 28 June 2024 at 13:00

Tucked away on the northern coast of Iceland along the picturesque shores of Skjálfandi Bay is Husavik—a small fishing community that has garnered a well-deserved reputation as one of the best whale-watching destinations in the world. Over 23 different species of whale have been recorded in Icelandic waters, with the most common visitors to Skjálfandi Bay being humpbacks, minke, and blue. Blue whales are especially impressive to behold. Known as the largest animal on Earth, a blue whale’s tongue alone can weigh more than an elephant.

Day 7 - Akureyri

Arrive: Fri 28 June 2024 at 19:00

Akureyri is considered a city, in fact Iceland’s second largest, even though its total population is only about 18,000. Set on the shores of one of Iceland’s most spectacular fjords, with a backdrop of countryside earth tones and greens and perennially snow-capped mountains, it is quite a sight to behold. Weather patterns here are a bit of a puzzle - only 60 miles from the Arctic Circle, summer temperatures can soar to the high 60’s. No surprise then that a main attraction is the Botanical Gardens, where over 2000 species of native and non-native plants flourish without benefit of a greenhouse.

Day 8 - Akureyri

Depart: Sat 29 June 2024 at 20:00

Akureyri is considered a city, in fact Iceland’s second largest, even though its total population is only about 18,000. Set on the shores of one of Iceland’s most spectacular fjords, with a backdrop of countryside earth tones and greens and perennially snow-capped mountains, it is quite a sight to behold. Weather patterns here are a bit of a puzzle - only 60 miles from the Arctic Circle, summer temperatures can soar to the high 60’s. No surprise then that a main attraction is the Botanical Gardens, where over 2000 species of native and non-native plants flourish without benefit of a greenhouse.

Day 9 - Skagafjordur

Arrive: Sun 30 June 2024 at 10:30 / Depart: Sun 30 June 2024 at 17:00

Day 10 - Isafjordur

Arrive: Mon 01 July 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Mon 01 July 2024 at 18:00

On a voyage with Azamara®, guests see a night-and-day difference. And when we take you on a dramatic journey across Ísafjarðardjúp Bay to Ísafjörður, Iceland, you’ll experience a lot more day, thanks to long summer days with nearly 24-hours of sunlight and longer stays in port. Nestled in the northwest region of Iceland, tucked away in the North Atlantic, the towering peaks of this unspoiled wilderness welcome you.

Day 11 - Reykjavik

Arrive: Tue 02 July 2024 at 08:00

Domain of the Norse thunder god, Thor, and shaped by fire and ice, Iceland’s volcanic landscape is a spectacular collage of lava fields, craters, waterfalls, and imposing mountain ranges. Vast geothermal springs power the spray of geysers, provide residents with the hot water that heats their homes, and fills the warm public pools where locals go to relax and catch up with friends. Visitors are encouraged to join in the fun. Reykjavik itself is a 21st century European city, with fine restaurants, cozy cafes, and intriguing museums and galleries.

Day 12 - Reykjavik

Depart: Wed 03 July 2024

Domain of the Norse thunder god, Thor, and shaped by fire and ice, Iceland’s volcanic landscape is a spectacular collage of lava fields, craters, waterfalls, and imposing mountain ranges. Vast geothermal springs power the spray of geysers, provide residents with the hot water that heats their homes, and fills the warm public pools where locals go to relax and catch up with friends. Visitors are encouraged to join in the fun. Reykjavik itself is a 21st century European city, with fine restaurants, cozy cafes, and intriguing museums and galleries.