Iceland is one of the most unique and fulfilling cruise experiences you can have. This land just south of the Arctic Circle contains active volcanoes, hot springs, majestic waterfalls, and uninhabitable highlands where plant and animal life thrive without the interference of man. The seas and fjords that cruise ships travel through here are clean, clear, and absolutely magnificent to behold. If you’re looking for something different there are some fairly cheap cruises available to Iceland.

Most of the human population of Iceland, just over 250,000, lives in the capital of Reykjavik and the surrounding villages, but there are scattered Viking and Nordic settlements along the coast where life is exactly as it has been for centuries. These hardy folks are welcoming to all travellers and happy to share their culture and traditions, some of which go back thousands of years to when humans first walked this earth.

Reykjavik is surrounded by fertile farmland. Day trips that depart from the cruise ships go through towns like Hveragerdi with its glacial rivers and Skogas which contains the Skogafoss waterfall. Another big draw for tourists is Dyrholaey which contains a nature reserve where thousands of puffins can be observed in their natural habitat. Check on the availability of this before you go, though. The reserve is closed to tourists during puffin mating season.

Another fabulous sight to see in Iceland is the Skaftafell National Park and the Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon. The park contains Europe’s largest glacier, named Vatnajokull by the locals, and the lagoon is home to other glaciers that you can observe as they grind together in the cold deep waters. You’ll find yourself fascinated by the raw power of these massive mountains of floating ice that helped form this land.

Further inland, if you have the time, you’ll come across Fjardarargljufur Gorge and the mountainous region of Landmannalaugar where you can bathe in a natural pool of water warmed by geothermic activity. Iceland has many such spots and active volcanoes. If you’ve made it to this point you’re not far from Mount Hekla, an Icelandic volcano that has been described in native legends passed down through the generations.

The coast of Iceland needs to be seen from a cruise ship. It’s the only way to truly appreciate its beauty. Cheap cruises depart from Reykjavik and from Oslo and Bergen in Norway. Some of these sail to Greenland too, and others penetrate the Arctic Circle and carry travellers to the polar ice cap, a trip that is available only during summer months. These arctic cruises come in two varieties, large ice breakers and smaller scientific expedition ships converted for passengers.