Iceland Super Saver: Northern Lights Cruise plus Whale-Watching Tour from Reykjavik

Nature sets the schedule here. This package pairs a 3.5-hour whale-watching cruise with a 2.5-hour Northern Lights boat trip, giving you two very different ways to experience Faxaflói Bay from Reykjavik. I like the price, $186.74 per person, because it covers two major Iceland activities in one booking. I also like the practical extras, including thermal overalls, heated indoor seating, WiFi, sea sickness tablets, and a free return ticket if you see no wildlife.

The main catch is simple: nature may not cooperate. You might see humpback whales, dolphins, and porpoises, then find the Northern Lights trip canceled because of rough seas or cloud. Sea conditions can also make the whale cruise uncomfortable, so this is best for people who accept uncertainty as part of the deal.

Key points to know before booking

• Two cruises for one package price: You can take both trips on the same day or spread them across your Iceland visit.
• Northern Lights sailing from Reykjavik: The 2.5-hour evening cruise leaves the Old Harbour at 9pm or 10pm, depending on the season.
• Faxaflói Bay wildlife: Humpback and minke whales, harbor porpoises, white-beaked dolphins, and seals may appear.
• Useful onboard comforts: Thermal overalls, heated indoor areas, free WiFi, sea sickness tablets, and children’s sizes make the boats more manageable.
• Weather controls the plan: Rough seas can cancel a sailing, while cloud can hide the lights even when the boat operates.
• Hotel pickup costs extra: Transfers can be arranged for 1,100 ISK per person, per trip, so walking to the Old Harbour may offer better value.

What the $186.74 package really buys you

The appeal is not just the discount. It is the chance to book two popular Reykjavik outings together, then choose how to fit them into your schedule. One trip looks for creatures below the surface in daylight. The other searches the dark sky for a glow that may appear for only a short time.

At $186.74, the package makes the most sense if you already planned to do both activities. You receive two boat excursions, rather than paying separately and arranging two bookings. The included thermal clothing also matters in Iceland, where a cold day on the water can feel colder than the temperature suggests.

The value is less clear if you are interested in only one activity. You should also allow for food, drinks, and optional transfers, since those are not included. Snacks and beverages can be bought onboard, but the main price does not cover them.

A free retry helps protect the whale-watching portion of your purchase. If no wildlife appears, you receive a free ticket to try again. That is useful if you have another day in Reykjavik. It is not much help if this is your final day in Iceland or if your schedule is packed.

Starting at Reykjavik’s Old Harbour

Both trips begin at Special Tours, Geirsgata 11, at Reykjavik’s Old Harbour. The location is near public transportation, and the activity ends back at the same meeting point.

You can arrange hotel or cruise-port pickup, but it costs an extra 1,100 ISK per person for each trip. That fee can add up quickly for two excursions. If you are staying close enough to reach the harbor easily, meeting there yourself is likely the better-value choice.

If you select pickup, it begins about 60 minutes before departure. Confirm the exact cruise times with Special Tours before your outing, since the Northern Lights departure changes by season and the supplier asks you to reconfirm.

The package has a maximum group size of 198 people. That is a sizable boat capacity, so you should not expect a small private expedition. The tradeoff is a more established operation with indoor seating, multiple viewing areas, and a crew used to handling changing conditions.

The 3.5-hour whale-watching cruise

The daytime whale trip takes you from the Old Harbour into Faxaflói Bay. The bay is home to several species, including humpback whales, minke whales, harbor porpoises, and white-beaked dolphins. Seals can also appear.

This is a proper search rather than a guaranteed show. You may spend time scanning the water, following a distant splash, or waiting for a whale to surface again. That patience is part of the experience, but it can test you if the bay is quiet.

The strongest wildlife sightings can be memorable. Humpback whales have been seen playing near the boat, and one successful outing included three humpbacks. Another produced five minke whales. Dolphins and porpoises can also keep the boat busy as they move around the bay.

The guide has an important job here. A good spotter helps you find the animal before it disappears, while clear explanations make the waiting worthwhile. Iga received especially warm praise for her ability to locate whales, and the crew is generally described as friendly, professional, and easy to hear from different parts of the boat.

Still, you may see nothing larger than a few seals or dolphins. You may see no whales at all. The operator offers a free ticket to try again, which is a fair response to the uncertainty, but you should check whether you have enough time in Reykjavik to use it.

Rough water and seasickness concerns

Faxaflói Bay can be uncomfortable when the wind rises. One particularly difficult outing left an entire party feeling sick after no whales appeared. Thermal overalls will keep you warm, but they cannot calm a rolling stomach.

The company provides complimentary sea sickness tablets if needed. Take the possibility seriously, especially if you already know you react badly to boats. Ask the crew for help rather than waiting until you feel unwell.

The operation may sail in conditions that some people find unpleasant. In rough weather, the better decision can be postponement, but a sailing is not always canceled simply because the water feels lively. If comfort matters more than completing the schedule, keep your plans flexible and avoid placing this cruise immediately before an important evening activity.

The boat does offer heated indoor seating, so you can step inside between sightings. Still, wildlife viewing works best outdoors, and the most exciting moment may happen while you are moving between decks.

The 2.5-hour Northern Lights cruise

The evening cruise leaves from the Old Harbour at either 9pm or 10pm, depending on the time of year. The boat heads out onto Faxaflói Bay, away from some of Reykjavik’s city light, while the guide explains the science behind the aurora and shares Icelandic myths connected with it.

That blend of fact and folklore suits the setting. You are not simply waiting in the dark. You are learning why the lights appear and how Icelanders have interpreted them over time.

The Northern Lights are never guaranteed. Clear skies and enough solar activity are both needed, and even then the display may be faint. One outing was rewarded with a visible aurora, while other trips ran into cloud or rough seas. On some nights, the cruise is canceled because conditions are too choppy. If that happens, the weather policy offers a different date or a full refund.

A boat is not always the best choice for every aurora forecast. The advantage is the open water and the chance to watch from a different angle than a coach tour. The disadvantage is motion, cold, and the fact that cloud cover can ruin the view no matter how far you sail.

Some trips include onboard entertainment, though it may feel a little corny. Guide quality can also vary. Strong guides make the wait interesting with clear explanations and stories. A less engaging guide can leave you standing on deck wondering if the sky is going to do all the work.

Bring warm layers even though thermal overalls are supplied. Wear clothing that lets you adjust easily, since you may move between heated indoor areas and the open deck. Keep your camera ready, but remember that photographs can make a faint aurora look more dramatic than it appears to your eyes.

Same day or separate days?

You can take both cruises on the same day or use different days during your Iceland visit. Splitting them is usually the smarter plan if your schedule allows.

The whale trip lasts 3.5 hours, and the Northern Lights cruise lasts 2.5 hours. Add the optional pickup windows and time spent getting ready, and both on one day can feel demanding. You also risk losing both activities if weather affects the day’s departures.

Taking them separately gives you a second chance if one trip is canceled. It also lets you place the whale cruise during daylight and keep the evening free for the aurora. The downside is that you need enough days in Reykjavik and must coordinate the reconfirmed sailing times.

Same-day scheduling can work if you have a short visit and want to maximize your time. Just leave room between outings rather than treating the listed durations as the total time commitment.

What is included onboard

The included gear makes this package easier to use in Iceland’s changeable weather. You can borrow thermal overalls, including children’s sizes, and retreat to heated indoor seating when the deck gets cold.

Free WiFi is included, and the operator supplies sea sickness tablets at no charge. Food and drinks are not included, but you can buy them onboard.

The Special Tours app is available in English, German, French, Spanish, and Chinese. It may help you follow information during the outings, especially if you prefer reading along or need language support.

The crew has also earned praise for clear announcements and a professional approach. That matters on a large boat, where poor sound quality can turn a good explanation into background noise. Some outings have had weaker speaker systems, so staying within hearing range of the guide is sensible.

Who will enjoy this package most?

This works best for you if you want two classic Iceland experiences without booking them separately. It suits couples, families, and first-time Iceland visitors who are comfortable with a little waiting and a lot of weather watching.

Families may appreciate the children’s thermal overalls and indoor seating. Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The large boat and organized harbor departure also make the outing fairly straightforward.

You should think twice if you dislike boats, suffer badly from motion sickness, or have only one free day. A quiet sea does not guarantee whales, and a clear sailing does not guarantee Northern Lights. The free retry is useful only if you can return.

This is also not the right choice if you need a private or quiet experience. With capacity for up to 198 people, the atmosphere can feel social and busy rather than personal.

Booking, weather, and cancellation details

Confirmation is provided at booking, but you still need to reconfirm cruise times with Special Tours. Hotel and cruise-port transfers are optional and cost 1,100 ISK per person for each trip.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside 24 hours are not accepted and are not refunded. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you are offered another date or a full refund.

That policy is especially important for the Northern Lights cruise. Weather may change quickly in Iceland, so avoid booking the package on the final hours of your trip if seeing the aurora is your main goal.

Should you book the Iceland Super Saver?

I would book this package if you want both whale watching and a Northern Lights cruise, have at least a little flexibility, and accept that nature makes the final decision. The combination offers solid value, and the free retry, warm overalls, indoor seating, and helpful crew make the cost easier to justify.

I would skip it if you only want one activity, get seasick easily, or need guaranteed results. For the best chance of a satisfying experience, schedule the two trips on separate days, meet at the Old Harbour if practical, reconfirm your times, and keep your expectations realistic. You may see three humpbacks beside the boat or only a few dolphins. You may watch green light spread across the sky or spend the evening under cloud. That uncertainty is the price of seeing Iceland’s wild side.

FAQ

Where does the Iceland Super Saver begin?

Both cruises begin at Special Tours, Geirsgata 11, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland, at the Old Harbour.

Where does the experience end?

Each activity ends back at the meeting point at the Old Harbour.

How long is the whale-watching tour?

The whale-watching cruise lasts approximately 3.5 hours.

How long is the Northern Lights cruise?

The Northern Lights cruise lasts approximately 2.5 hours.

What time does the Northern Lights cruise leave?

The departure is at either 9pm or 10pm, depending on the time of year. You need to reconfirm the exact time with the supplier.

Can I take both tours on different days?

Yes. You can take the tours on the same day or on separate days during your Iceland visit.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel and cruise-port pickup can be arranged for an extra 1,100 ISK per person, per trip.

What happens if I see no whales?

You receive a free ticket to try the whale-watching tour again if nothing is seen.

Are warm clothes provided?

Thermal overalls are available for use, including children’s sizes. Warm clothing is still recommended.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You will be offered another date or a full refund if the experience is canceled because of poor weather.