Iceland Cruise from Reykjavík to Portland — 27 Days

Reykjavik, Iceland

Reykjavík is a capital with one foot in the wild. The Atlantic frames the city, volcanic mountains rise on the horizon, and geothermal water warms its pools. Start at Hallgrímskirkja, whose tower commands broad views, then walk down to the harbor and Harpa concert hall. Cafés, design shops, and museums make the compact center easy to explore on foot. Beyond town, geysers and waterfalls make a striking day trip; return for a soak in a neighborhood pool.

Grundarfjordur, Iceland

Grundarfjörður sits on the north shore of Iceland's Snæfellsnes peninsula, a fishing village beneath steep mountains. Its signature sight is Kirkjufell, a 463-metre peak shaped like an arrowhead. Walk or drive to Kirkjufellsfoss, where cascades frame the mountain. Further west, Snæfellsjökull glacier crowns a volcano and the national park around it. Weather changes quickly here, so bring warm, waterproof layers. Come for scale, silence and light.

Fjord Cruising (Fjord Cruising)

At Sea (At Sea)

Coastal Cruising (Coastal Cruising)

Skjoldungen Island Greenland

Skjoldungen Island rises from southeast Greenland’s remote coast, where steep mountains meet deep fjords. There is no road access or permanent settlement; visitors arrive by expedition vessel, weather permitting. On shore, look for traces of former Inuit life and watch the changing light on dark rock, ice and water. This is Greenland at its most elemental: a place to explore slowly, with expert guides and sturdy footwear.

Prince Christian Sound Greenland (Scenic Area)

Narsarmijit (Ask Travel Agent)

Narsaq, Greenland

Narsaq sits on Greenland’s southern coast, where steep mountains rise above a fjord often scattered with ice. Its compact streets lead past bright houses to a harbor shaped by fishing and sheep farming. Visit the local museum for insight into Greenlandic life, or look for rare minerals in the surrounding hills. Across the fjord, the Norse settlement at Qassiarsuk brings Erik the Red’s story into view.

Nuuk, Greenland

Nuuk is Greenland’s capital, where Arctic scale meets the pace of a working town. Set beside the vast Nuuk Fjord, it pairs brightly painted houses with modern architecture and a lively harbor. Visit the Greenland National Museum to see the 500-year-old Qilakitsoq mummies and objects tracing Inuit life. Then look toward Sermitsiaq, the landmark mountain rising beyond the water. Nuuk rewards travelers seeking Greenlandic culture alongside its dramatic landscapes.

Kangerlussuaq, Greenland

Kangerlussuaq is Greenland’s unlikely gateway: a small settlement set 190 kilometres inland at the head of a long fjord. Once a U.S. air base, it offers access to the ice sheet and guided excursions onto its immense white surface. Beyond town, tundra supports musk oxen and reindeer; nearby Russell Glacier reveals Greenland’s moving ice. Weather and distance shape every outing, so plan for conditions.

• Coastal Cruising (Coastal Cruising)
• At Sea (At Sea)

At Sea (At Sea)

Coastal Cruising (Coastal Cruising)

Qeqertarsuaq, Disko Island Greenland

Qeqertarsuaq, once called Godhavn, occupies Disko Island on Greenland’s west coast, beyond the usual reach of road travel. Founded in 1773, it grew around a sheltered harbour and the whaling trade. Today, its small, colourful settlement contrasts sharply with dark basalt cliffs and broad Arctic skies. Walk the waterfront, visit the historic church, or take a guided outing toward waterfalls and the Lyngmark Glacier. In summer, watch for whales offshore.

Sisimiut, Greenland

Set just north of the Arctic Circle, Sisimiut is Greenland’s second-largest town and a working fishing port. Brightly painted homes rise above the harbor. Boats and fishing vessels keep the waterfront firmly connected to daily life. At Sisimiut Museum, historic buildings and collections reveal Inuit heritage and the town’s colonial past. From town, trails open onto Arctic landscapes of mountains, lakes and broad tundra.

Kangerlussuaq, Greenland

Kangerlussuaq is Greenland’s unlikely gateway: a small settlement set 190 kilometres inland at the head of a long fjord. Once a U.S. air base, it offers access to the ice sheet and guided excursions onto its immense white surface. Beyond town, tundra supports musk oxen and reindeer; nearby Russell Glacier reveals Greenland’s moving ice. Weather and distance shape every outing, so plan for conditions.

At Sea (At Sea)

L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland-Labrador Canada

At Newfoundland’s northern tip, L’Anse aux Meadows offers a rare encounter with the Viking age in North America. Archaeologists uncovered evidence of a Norse settlement here dating to about 1,000 years ago. UNESCO recognizes L’Anse aux Meadows as the only confirmed Norse site in North America. Walk among reconstructed turf-walled buildings, then explore the visitor centre’s artefacts and archaeological evidence. Beyond the site, the wind-shaped coastline rewards a slower look.

Woody Point NL, Gros Morne NP, Newfoundland-Labrador Canada

Woody Point sits beside Bonne Bay, within Newfoundland’s Gros Morne National Park. From its harbour, roads lead to the Tablelands, where exposed mantle rock sets the landscape apart. Visit the Gros Morne Discovery Centre, stroll the waterfront, and look across the bay to its steep-sided shores. Historic buildings and local cafés make a welcome pause between outdoor excursions.

Louisbourg NS, Cape Breton Island Canada

Louisbourg faces the Atlantic on Cape Breton Island, where fishing boats still work a harbour once prized by France. At the Fortress of Louisbourg, costumed interpreters bring the 18th-century French stronghold vividly back to life. Walk its ramparts, enter restored homes and follow the story of two sieges that reshaped North America. Beyond the walls, coastal views and fresh seafood make this small port well worth lingering over.

Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada

Halifax rewards visitors who begin on foot, where the harbourfront’s historic warehouses, boardwalk and seafood restaurants meet. Climb to the star-shaped Halifax Citadel for broad harbour views. At the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, exhibits trace Nova Scotia’s seafaring past and Halifax’s connection to the Titanic. Beyond downtown, Peggy’s Cove pairs a working fishing village with a lighthouse set on wave-worn granite.

Lunenburg NS, Nova Scotia Canada

Few Canadian ports preserve their character as clearly as Lunenburg, a UNESCO-listed town on Nova Scotia’s South Shore. Painted wooden buildings climb steep streets above a working harbour, where fishing boats and schooners share the water. Visit the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, then look for Bluenose II, the celebrated schooner whose home port is Lunenburg. Explore the waterfront and its 18th- and 19th-century architecture on foot; the town rewards a slower pace.

Boston, Massachusetts

Boston rewards visitors who like their history close at hand and their cities easy to explore. From the waterfront, follow the Freedom Trail to landmarks of the American Revolution, including Faneuil Hall. Beacon Hill’s brick streets, the Public Garden and North End cafés reveal distinct sides of the city. Make time for harbor views and New England seafood; Boston’s pleasures are as tangible as its past. Its museums and universities give the compact city a lively, modern edge.

Portland OR, Oregon

Portland follows the Willamette River, with the Columbia to its north and Mount Hood on the eastern horizon. Begin downtown at Powell’s City of Books, a landmark independent bookstore spanning an entire city block. Visit the Japanese American Historical Plaza beside the waterfront, or head to Washington Park’s International Rose Test Garden. Food carts, craft breweries and seasonal produce give the city its distinctive taste. Allow time for the Columbia River Gorge, whose waterfalls and trails lie east of town.