Iceland, with its dramatic landscapes, cascading waterfalls, rugged nature, volcanoes and Northern Lights, is a destination that always interested me and was on my bucket list for ages.
This unique island, born from volcanic eruptions around 18 million years ago, is still constantly growing and changing, which makes it a remarkable place to visit!
However, exploring Iceland in 1 week can be a challenge, with its vast and varied landscapes, including glaciers, volcanoes, and remote areas spread across the country.
Why explore Iceland by cruise?
The distances between attractions like the Golden Circle, South Coast, and the East and Westfjords, can be considerable. And Iceland's unpredictable weather can further complicate travel plans, limiting road access and driving conditions.
When we finally decided to visit Iceland, we wanted to do it in a more convenient way, that combines luxury with adventure, relaxation, gastronomy and culture.
A cruise makes it possible to explore more in a relatively short time, giving access to multiple and lesser-known destinations, without the hassle of transfers and having to search for multiple accommodations.
While you sleep, the ship sails to the next port, maximizing your exploration time. And you can enjoy Iceland from a whole different perspective due to the scenic coastal route.
Onboard amenities and organized excursions eliminate the stress of planning everything yourself, enabling a more relaxed experience, while still being able to see much of the island’s highlights and natural wonders.
Unique approach to luxury travel
Before this trip, I was not a fan of cruises in general, because of the mass-tourism aspect. But for my first-ever cruise I found a company whose cruises are more small-scale, personal and luxurious, all trades that do appeal to me!
Unlike the large ships with thousands of passengers, Windstar Cruises offers an intimate and refined experience with personal attention, top-notch service, and a tailored itinerary.
Windstar has a fleet of boutique-style ships, which are designed to accommodate between 148 and 342 guests.
This smaller size makes a more personalized cruising experience possible, with a staff-to-guest ratio of about 1:1.5. This allows the crew to offer individualized attention. They even memorize your name and our cabin steward left us a small gift every night!
Yacht-style luxury cruise
Windstar Cruises is renowned for its luxury cruising on yacht-like ships, distinguishing itself through its intimate scale and exceptional culinary experiences.
The smaller ship size also means that Windstar can access less-visited ports, offering unique itineraries that larger ships cannot reach. I loved the off-the-beaten-path stops on our route, which made this cruise feel extra special!
With less than 200 guests on board, it felt more like a private club than a cruise ship, creating a unique sense of community that is refreshing.
Our Icelandic adventure began in the vibrant capital of Reykjavik, where we boarded the Star Pride, one of Windstar’s all-suite yachts.
I really adored our spacious suite with its sophisticated design and contemporary feel. Each suite has large windows offering unobstructed views of the Icelandic landscape gliding by. One of the highlights was the walk-in closet, a rare luxury on cruise ships!
The stylish bathroom with L’Occitane amenities, the excellent bed, and ample storage space made us feel truly at home throughout the journey. Get a glimpse in this gallery:
But before I share our Iceland route and sightseeing recommendations in my next Iceland blog, I will tell you more about what made Windstar Cruises so exceptional to me, including many of my own pictures!
Culinary excellence
One of my other favourite things on this trip was the cruise's gastronomic offering. Windstar’s partnership with the James Beard Foundation, using renowned chefs and culinary expertise, made all culinary experiences a true feast!
This foundation is known for its dedication to culinary excellence, and its influence is evident in the specially curated menus and events that Windstar offers.
Several restaurant’s menus included unique dishes curated by James Beard Foundation chefs.
Gastronomic offering & restaurants
Also exceptional is that Windstar gives you the option to have private dining experiences at smaller tables for couples or small groups, without having to share with other guests.
Our ship had no less than 5 restaurants to choose from and several other gastronomic options aboard, such as:
1. AmphorA
Windstar’s main dining venue, offering a sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere on the 3rd floor, often with live music. Here you can enjoy a wide range of international dishes, with à la carte menus that change regularly to feature fresh and seasonal ingredients for lunch and dinner.
For 1 night they had a themed dinner, with an extensive buffet spread out over the galley. A unique opportunity to look inside the ship's kitchen:
2. Veranda
The ship's other main restaurant for casual food, mostly buffet-style. Veranda offers a wide variety of options, including international cuisine and fresh, healthy choices with indoor and outdoor seating available for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
3. Candles
Located at the back of the top deck, right next to Veranda, Candles offers scenic à la carte dining experiences in a spacious in-or outdoor setting, upon reservation.
They specialize in grilled dishes, with excellent steaks and seafood. We enjoyed it so much that we even dined here twice, with whale-sightings both times, truly a memorable experience!
Get at taste through this gallery:
Perfect for a relaxed dinner with unspoiled sunset- and sea views!
4. Cuadro44
This small Spanish-themed restaurant is bookable upon reservation, offering authentic and excellent tapas created by a Michelin-star chef.
Cuadro44 features a menu inspired by traditional Spanish cuisine, including a variety of small plates, along with a selection of Spanish wines.
5. Star grill & cocktail bar
This is Windstar's outdoor dining venue, so only opens for lunch and dinner when weather permits. Located at the top deck with an extensive grill buffet, featuring a variety of meats, seafood, and vegetables.
The relaxed atmosphere is complemented by panoramic views of the ocean and the various destinations passing by. The Cocktail Bar opens in the evening, right next to the Star Grill. A sophisticated setting for enjoying a wide variety of classic and signature cocktails, fine wines, and premium spirits.
6. The yacht club
This versatile venue at the top deck’s front side, serves as a cozy lounge and gathering spot to have a coffee, play games, read a book or just relax and enjoy the views from the bow of the ship. Here you can have a light meal, snacks and refreshments throughout the day.
The breakfast and lunch offering include a selection of pastries, sandwiches and quality coffees.
7. All day roomservice
If you prefer a more private breakfast, lunch or dinner experience, Windstar provides all day in-room catering. You can order a selection of dishes from the restaurant’s main menu in the comfort of the seating area of your spacious suite, as we did every morning!
A very relaxing option in complete privacy, without having to leave your suite. To us this made the cruise extra exclusive and convenient, and it's all included in the cruise package!
Spa & wellness
Aboard the ship there are several options for wellness with Windstar's Spa, yoga, and fitness facilities. The Spa offers treatments like massages, facials and body scrubs for an extra charge.
There are 2 Jacuzzis, 1 on the bow and 1 on the main deck, featuring a small pool as well. And some ships even have a thermal suite with a sauna, steam room, and hot tub.
Yoga classes are available free of charge on set times and the fitness center is equipped with modern cardio machines and weights, with scenic ocean views.
Exploring Iceland: 5 stops in 7 days
Our cruise around Iceland enabled us to explore some of the country’s most iconic sights and lesser-known spots, as we saw and did a lot in just 7 days.
In below map you can see the exact route of our Windstar cruise with 5 stops all around the island:
Shore excursions
Although some destinations are quite easy to explore on foot from the harbor, Windstar also offers a diverse range of excursions with unique activities.
These include guided hikes, historical site visits, and smaller boat tours, among others, often led by expert local guides, making every port an opportunity for a new adventure.
These tours are not included with the cruise, but can be booked in advance or while on the ship for an extra charge. We experienced 2 of Windstar’s shore excursions in small groups.
In my next blog I will happily tell you all about these tours and our exact destinations, with some of Iceland's highlights and all our sightseeing recommendations.
And in my previous blog you can find 10 sightseeing tips for your stay in Reykjavik, as I highly recommend to arrive at least 1 day in advance to avoid delays. You would not want to miss the embarkation of your cruise, right?!
My first-ever cruise was nothing less than exceptional, or as Windstar Cruises put it: 180° from ordinary 😊 and I can’t wait to set sail with them again on another journey.
See all cruises and more on the Windstar Cruises website for the best offers and your ultimate route.
The combination of luxury, personalized service, comfort, unique itineraries and exceptional gastronomy makes Windstar the perfect cruise line for me and all this made our Iceland cruise extra memorable.
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