Northern Ireland Cruise from Belfast to Reykjavík — 15 Days

Belfast

Belfast pairs a proud maritime past with a lively, walkable centre. At Titanic Belfast, the story of the famous liner unfolds beside the shipyard where she was built. Nearby, grand City Hall and the Cathedral Quarter reveal different sides of the city, from civic confidence to café-lined lanes. Across west Belfast, political murals offer a vivid perspective on its recent history. With the Giant’s Causeway within reach, Belfast also makes a compelling starting point for Northern Ireland’s dramatic coast.

At Sea (At Sea)

Kirkwall

Kirkwall is Orkney’s compact capital, where Norse history remains part of everyday life. Begin at St Magnus Cathedral, a striking red-sandstone landmark founded in 1137. Nearby, the ruins of the Earl’s and Bishop’s palaces reveal the power once held here. Beyond town, prehistoric sites such as Skara Brae and the Ring of Brodgar make a compelling excursion. Leave time for the harbor, local shops, and a dram of island whisky.

Fair Isle

Set between Orkney and Shetland, Fair Isle rewards the detour with a rare sense of quiet and distance. Sea cliffs rise above the Atlantic, where puffins and other seabirds gather in season. On land, stone crofts and green pasture frame a close-knit community famed for its distinctive Fair Isle knitting. Its appeal lies in remoteness as much as scenery; allow time to explore, since weather shapes island life.

Lerwick

Lerwick feels more like a North Atlantic outpost than a Scottish port, with stone-fronted streets facing a working harbour. Shetland’s capital rewards a stroll along the waterfront and through narrow lanes. The Lodberrie, an eighteenth-century merchant’s house built partly over the sea, is one of its most distinctive landmarks. Visit Shetland Museum and Archives for the islands’ Norse heritage and contemporary life. Beyond town, open moorland, sea cliffs and wildlife offer a striking change of scale.

• Mousa Island Scotland (Scenic Stop)

Isle of Noss

Just east of Bressay, Noss’s cliffs rise nearly 600 feet above the North Sea, a striking approach by boat. This uninhabited Shetland island is a National Nature Reserve, famed for its seabird colonies. Thousands of gannets crowd the ledges, while fulmars and guillemots wheel above the water. A seasonal boat from Bressay provides access, weather permitting; paths lead to close views of the cliffs.

Suduroy Island Faroes (Scenic Stop)

Torshavn

Tórshavn is one of the world’s smallest capitals, yet it offers a revealing introduction to the Faroe Islands. Begin at Tinganes, where red-painted timber buildings cluster on a narrow headland beside the harbor. The Løgting, the Faroese parliament, meets nearby, continuing a political tradition rooted in the islands’ Norse past. In the compact center, cafés, shops and museums offer an easy pause before the Atlantic’s open horizons reclaim your attention.

Klaksvik

Klaksvík is the Faroe Islands’ second-largest town, set between steep mountains on Borðoy’s sheltered east coast. Fishing remains central to its life, yet the town rewards a slower look. Visit Christianskirkjan, whose timber roof recalls traditional Faroese building. From the harbor, ferries cross to Kalsoy, while roads and subsea tunnels connect Klaksvík with the wider islands. Come for the sea air, mountain views, and an unvarnished sense of Faroese life.

Eysturoy Island (Scenic Stop)

Djupivogur, Iceland

Djúpivogur sits beside Berufjörður in East Iceland, where a compact harbour meets a broad sweep of mountains and sea. Across the water, the sharply formed Búlandstindur rises as the town’s unmistakable landmark. At the harbour, Eggin í Gleðivík displays 34 granite eggs, representing local nesting bird species. Langabúð, an 18th-century trading house, now houses a heritage museum and café. From here, follow the fjord road deeper into the Eastfjords.

• Papey Island Iceland (Scenic Stop)

Grimsey Island Iceland (Scenic Stop)

Siglufjordur, Iceland

Set beneath steep mountains at the head of a narrow fjord, Siglufjörður feels close to Iceland’s northern edge. Once the center of Iceland’s herring boom, this compact harbor town preserves its story at the Herring Era Museum. Walk the waterfront, then explore restored herring buildings and exhibits tracing the industry’s rise and fall. Beyond town, mountain roads and hiking routes open onto the dramatic Tröllaskagi Peninsula. Its fjord setting and steep peaks make the town as memorable as its past.

Patreksfjordur, Iceland

From Patreksfjörður’s sheltered Westfjords harbour to Höfn beneath Vatnajökull, Iceland’s western and southeastern edges reveal strikingly different landscapes. Patreksfjörður is a quiet base for exploring dramatic sea cliffs and Látrabjarg, where puffins nest in summer. Höfn is celebrated for langoustine and views of Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier. Farther west along the south coast, glacier lagoons bring icebergs close to shore.

• Fjord Cruising (Fjord Cruising)

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.