Mein Schiff 2
Times not published
Itinerary: 12 nights - Iceland's Natural Wonders - from/to Hamburg (12 nights)
Find shore excursions for this day →
Cruise Embarkation Port
Reykjavik Cruise Port Guide: Embarkation, Getting There & Pre-Cruise Tips
Iceland
Ships dock at the Sundahöfn cruise terminal (also known as Reykjavik Harbour), located approximately 3 km east of the city centre.
Pre-Cruise Quick Take
| Best arrival plan | Fly in at least one day before sailing — Keflavik is not close enough for careless same-day arrival planning, especially with long-haul or connecting flights. |
| Main airport | Keflavik International Airport (KEF) |
| Best hotel area | Miðborg (downtown Reykjavik) is the best all-round base for a pre-cruise night: walkable, plenty of restaurants, and easy taxi access to the terminal. The Old Harbour area is also smart if you want a calmer waterfront feel and quick access to both central sights and the cruise port by car. |
| Terminal type | Pier |
| Port to city centre | About 3-5 km to central Reykjavik from main cruise piers; short taxi ride, limited walking practicality with luggage |
| Best time to cruise | May - September |
| Cruise lines | Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Cunard, Silversea, Regent Seven Seas, Viking Ocean Cruises, Hurtigruten, Ponant, Lindblad Expeditions, Seabourn, Uniworld, Azamara, Saga Cruises, Aurora Expeditions, Quark Expeditions |
Where to Stay Before Your Cruise
Same-day flights are one of the most common ways cruise trips go wrong. A delay or missed connection can leave you watching the ship sail without you. Arriving the night before removes that risk entirely.
Miðborg (downtown Reykjavik) is the best all-round base for a pre-cruise night: walkable, plenty of restaurants, and easy taxi access to the terminal. The Old Harbour area is also smart if you want a calmer waterfront feel and quick access to both central sights and the cruise port by car.
We may earn a commission when you book through our links, at no extra cost to you — it’s how we keep these guides free.
Getting from the Airport to the Port
Reykjavik is served by Keflavik International Airport (KEF). Here are your transfer options with typical costs and travel times:
-
Taxi
~45-55 minDirect but expensive; easiest option if you have luggage and are heading straight from Keflavik to a hotel or terminal.
Book a transfer 5% off with code TPO5 at checkout -
Shuttle
~45-60 minAirport shuttle coaches are a common choice into Reykjavik, often with hotel-area drop-offs or transfer hubs.
Book a transfer 5% off with code TPO5 at checkout -
Bus
~70-100 minPublic bus options exist but are slower and less convenient with cruise luggage; better for budget travelers with time.
Book bus tickets
Details last checked May 2026
Reykjavik Cruise Terminal
Reykjavik uses pier facilities in the harbour area, with Skarfabakki handling many larger cruise turnarounds. Expect a straightforward terminal setup with luggage drop, check-in lines that move in waves, and clear port signage rather than a giant airport-style complex. Outside the gate, the area is mainly port infrastructure, roads, and transfer pickup points, not shops or sightseeing.
Ships dock at the Sundahöfn cruise terminal (also known as Reykjavik Harbour), located approximately 3 km east of the city centre.
Details last checked May 2026
Cruises from Reykjavik
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
10 Nights Northern Europe Cruise
Next: Jul 2026
Norwegian Cruise Line
10 Nights Norway Cruise
Next: Jul 2026
Oceania Cruises
10 Nights Northern Europe Cruise
Next: Jul 2026
Oceania Cruises
10 Nights Greenland Cruise
Next: Jul 2026
Celebrity Cruises
7 Nights Iceland Cruise
Next: Jul 2026
Seabourn
12 Nights Iceland Cruise
Next: Jul 2026
PONANT
Icelandic mosaic
Next: Jul 2026
Viking Ocean Cruises
7 Nights Northern Europe Cruise
Next: Jul 2026
Planning a Northern Europe or Iceland cruise with a stop in Reykjavik, one of the world's most unique and dramatic port cities?
Compare sailings and book with no fees — best price guaranteed.
We may earn a commission when you book through our links, at no extra cost to you — it’s how we keep these guides free.
Check The Port Traffic
See Which Ships Are in Port
If you are sailing from here, use the schedule to gauge how busy the terminal area may feel on your date, plus the ships, lines, and published call windows.
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Quiet (1–2)
Busy (3–4)
Packed (5+)
2 scheduled calls
July 29, 2026
Wednesday, July 29, 2026
2 ships
Zuiderdam
Arrive 08:00 AM
Itinerary: 35 Nights Canada / New England Cruise (35 nights)
Tours that fit this port day →Things to Do Before or After Your Cruise
Have a few hours before embarkation or time after disembarkation? These activities work well when you don't need to rush back aboard.
1
Reykjavik Food Walk - Local Foodie Adventure in Iceland
Local food, city & history tour of Reykjavik. In the tastiest sight seeing tour in Iceland, we explore down town Reykjavik through delicious local cuisines that…
Book on Viator2
Iceland South Coast Full Day Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik
Visit the natural wonders of Iceland on this 10-hour tour from Reykjavik. Travel in a minibus to the black sand beaches of Reynisfjara, Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss…
Book on Viator3
Small-Group Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon with Ticket & Kerid Crater
The Golden Circle and the Blue Lagoon are the two most popular sights to visit in Iceland. Book this small group day tour and enjoy visiting…
Book on Viator4
Silfra: Snorkeling Between Tectonic Plates - Meet on Location
Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience with a snorkeling tour of Silfra fissure! Float between two tectonic plates, between the continents, in the clearest water in the world…
Book on Viator5
Lava Show Reykjavik Admission Ticket - Optional Premium Upgrade
The only live LAVA SHOW in the world! A unique experience where you can safely get up close to real molten lava in a controlled environment.…
Book on ViatorNear the Cruise Port
Check which pier your ship uses
Reykjavik embarkations often use Skarfabakki or another harbour berth, not a downtown promenade. Verify the exact terminal with your cruise line before ordering a transfer.
Book dinner if arriving on a busy summer evening
Reykjavik is small and popular in peak season. If your flight lands late, a reservation saves you wandering hungry with luggage and bad weather.
Safety, Accessibility & Practical Details
Arrive the day before
This is the big one. Long-haul flights, weather, and the airport distance make same-day arrival an unnecessary gamble.
Do not plan long walks with bags
Even if the map looks manageable, wind, rain, and uneven distances make luggage hauling a bad idea here. Use a taxi or arranged transfer on embarkation day.
Treat downtown and the port as separate zones
Stay where the restaurants and sights are, then transfer to the terminal when it is time. Hanging around the port area early does not improve the experience.
Cards beat cash
Iceland is extremely card-friendly. You generally do not need much local cash for a short pre-cruise stay.
Keep cruise documents easy to reach
Airport-to-hotel-to-port days involve repeated checks of passports, boarding documents, and luggage tags. Keep them organized and not buried in a suitcase.
Use vehicles strategically
Central sightseeing is compact, but hills and weather can wear people out fast. Save your energy for the city and use taxis for airport and terminal transfers.
Weather & Best Time to Cruise
Peak cruise months are cool rather than warm, with fast-changing wind, drizzle, and bright long days in summer. Conditions are usually easiest from late spring into summer. Winter is far rougher for flight and road reliability, and even in peak season you should pack layers and rain protection.
Best season: May - September
Frequently Asked Questions
Keflavik International Airport (KEF) is the main airport for cruise passengers. It is about 50 km from Reykjavik, so plan roughly 45-55 minutes by car in normal conditions.
Yes, and this is one port where that advice matters. The airport is not right by the port, flight disruptions are possible, and Iceland weather can turn quickly.
Downtown Reykjavik (Miðborg) is the easiest all-round choice for restaurants, walkability, and sightseeing. The Old Harbour area is also a good pick if you want a quieter waterfront base with easy taxi access to the terminal.
Taxi is the simplest direct option, while airport shuttles are common for getting into central Reykjavik first. If you are staying overnight, it usually makes more sense to go to your hotel, then take a taxi to the terminal on embarkation day.
Reykjavik is used by mainstream and premium lines like Celebrity, Holland America, Princess, Cunard, Viking, Silversea, Regent, and Azamara, plus expedition operators such as Hurtigruten, Ponant, Lindblad, Aurora and Quark. Exact schedules vary by season.
Yes, but keep it compact unless you have a full extra day. Central Reykjavik, the old harbour, Hallgrimskirkja, Harpa, Perlan, and a geothermal spa are the easiest worthwhile options.
Downtown Reykjavik is walkable, but the main cruise berths are not always in the middle of the sights. With luggage, most passengers should use a taxi rather than try to walk between hotel and terminal.
Reykjavik is generally very safe for visitors, with weather and logistics being the bigger problems than crime. If you need parking or luggage storage, check current arrangements with your cruise line, terminal operator, or hotel because policies and availability can vary.
✉ Sailing to Reykjavik? Get your port-day plan
Tell us your sail date and we’ll email you a short Reykjavik plan about 60 days out — when the good excursions start selling out — plus a final checklist 2 weeks before. Two emails, then done. Unsubscribe anytime.
Same itinerary network
View All
Ports Often Paired With Reykjavik
Northern Europe
Northern Europe
Northern Europe
Northern Europe
