Reykjavik: Whale Watching & Northern Lights Combo Cruise

Two Iceland highlights share one day. This combo pairs a 2.5 to 3-hour whale-watching cruise with a separate evening search for the Northern Lights, giving you two very different views of Faxaflói Bay. I like the chance to see minke whales, humpbacks, dolphins, and harbor porpoises in open water, and I like that a missed Northern Lights outing can usually be rebooked or refunded when weather cancels it. The main drawback is the long day and the uncertain wildlife: nature does not take reservations.

I also like the practical setup. Heated cabins, toilets, WiFi, warm flotation overalls, and complimentary seasickness tablets make the boats easier to handle in Icelandic weather. Still, at $205 per person, this is a costly outing, and you need to treat the whale sightings and aurora as possibilities, not promises.

Key points to know before booking

• Two cruises, two moods: Look for whales in daylight, then return after dark to search for the Northern Lights.
• Wildlife can be excellent: Humpback whales, minke whales, dolphins, seals, and harbor porpoises have all been seen on recent trips.
• Weather controls the schedule: Choppy seas can lead to a postponement, while bad weather can cancel the aurora cruise.
• A five-hour break splits the day: You return to Reykjavik between outings, so plan your meals and evening carefully.
• Warm gear is supplied: Heated indoor cabins and flotation overalls help, but you should still wear weather-ready clothing.
• The guides add real value: Rebekka, Lucas, Daniel, and other crew members have been praised for clear explanations and friendly help.

A full day on Faxaflói Bay

The tour starts at Geirsgata 11, at the Special Tours office on the corner. You should arrive 30 minutes early for check-in. This is an easy central meeting point, and one report notes that it was a straightforward walk from Center Hotels Plaza, near bus stop number 4.

The first cruise heads into Faxaflói Bay, the broad body of water outside Reykjavik. The bay gives you views toward nearby mountains and islands while the crew watches for marine life and seabirds. The boat stays in the natural environment of the animals, which is more rewarding than seeing wildlife in a controlled setting, but it also means sightings depend on luck, season, sea conditions, and the animals’ behavior.

The whale-watching portion lasts about 2.5 to 3 hours. The stated targets include minke whales, humpback whales, harbor porpoises, and white-beaked dolphins. Seals have also appeared during the outing, and one particularly successful trip included four whales and a seal.

You will likely spend a good part of the cruise looking across the water, waiting for a blow, a dorsal fin, or a sudden movement. That can feel slow if you expect constant action. When a whale surfaces close to the boat, though, the waiting makes the moment feel earned.

What the whale cruise can deliver

The strongest reports describe humpback whales appearing within minutes, playful dolphins, and whales feeding near the boat. One trip recorded two humpbacks and dolphins, while another included both humpback and minke whales. These are the sightings that make the cost easier to accept.

Names such as Apple and Banana also appear in the trip experience, apparently referring to familiar individual whales known by the crew. That small detail adds character. Instead of treating every sighting as a generic whale over there, guides may give the animals names and help you understand what you are seeing.

The guides are an important part of the outing. Rebekka was praised for her excitement and warm manner after dolphins and humpbacks appeared. Lucas was described as entertaining and helpful, while Daniel received special praise on another trip. The commentary is in English and covers the wildlife and surroundings.

You should keep your expectations sensible. Even enthusiastic accounts include trips where the Northern Lights were canceled or whale sightings were less dramatic. The free ticket to join again in case of no sightings offers useful protection, but you still need enough time in Reykjavik to use it.

The five-hour break in Reykjavik

After the daytime cruise, the schedule allows a five-hour break before the evening departure. This is not a minor pause. It gives you time to return to your hotel, eat, warm up, charge your phone, and prepare for the second outing.

The break also changes how you should plan the day. This is not a single six-hour cruise with one continuous program. The listed activity duration is six hours, but the schedule includes a daytime cruise, a five-hour break, and a two-hour evening cruise. Check the exact departure times before booking other plans.

Food and drinks are not included, though purchases are available onboard. With several hours between cruises, I would plan a proper meal in Reykjavik rather than rely only on boat purchases. The break is useful, but it can feel awkward if you have booked a hotel far from the center or have a tightly packed sightseeing schedule.

Use this pause well. Icelandic weather can leave you wet, cold, or tired even when the sea trip goes smoothly. Warm layers, a charged phone, and a short rest can make the evening outing far more comfortable.

Searching for the Northern Lights at sea

The second cruise lasts about two hours and heads out after dark. Its purpose is to get away from Reykjavik’s city lights and find a better viewing position across Faxaflói Bay. The crew guides you toward areas with the best possible conditions, but cloud cover and aurora activity remain outside anyone’s control.

You can stay inside the heated bar and cabins, where toilets are available, or put on the supplied warm flotation overalls and watch from the outdoor deck. The overalls are a welcome touch, especially because you may spend time outside waiting for a clear view of the sky.

The Northern Lights may appear soon after leaving the dock, or they may not appear at all. One successful outing saw the lights almost immediately. Another had to be canceled because of bad weather, and the booking could then be refunded or moved to another night.

That flexibility matters. A Northern Lights cruise is never a guaranteed show. Even a strong aurora forecast does not solve heavy cloud or rough conditions. If seeing the lights is one of your main reasons for visiting Iceland, book early enough in your stay to leave room for a second attempt.

Weather, rough seas, and the practical side

Iceland’s weather is the deciding factor for both parts of this outing. On one January booking, the operator advised moving the cruise because the water was very choppy. The change led to a calmer day with four whales and a seal, so postponing was clearly the better choice in that case.

You should be ready to adjust your schedule. The operator may deliver the trip on a shared boat with a partner during certain periods for environmental reasons. This reduces the number of boats on the water and supports the effort to keep the bay in good condition, but the boat arrangement may not be exactly what you pictured when booking.

Warm flotation overalls are included, and the cabins are heated. You should still bring weather-appropriate clothing, including warm layers and something that protects you from wind and spray. The deck is where you will want to be when a whale surfaces or the sky brightens, so relying only on the indoor cabin would limit the experience.

Complimentary seasickness tablets are available onboard. That is helpful, but it is sensible to think about motion sickness before departure, particularly if you know you are sensitive to rough water. A choppy sea can turn a wildlife outing into a test of endurance.

The cruise is wheelchair accessible, though the supplied information does not explain every boarding detail. If you use a wheelchair, confirm the current access arrangements before departure so there are no surprises at the dock.

Is $205 a fair price?

At $205 per person, this is not a cheap way to fill a day in Reykjavik. Iceland is expensive in general, and one review directly called the tour costly. The value depends on how much you want the convenience of combining two major Iceland activities without arranging separate bookings.

You are paying for roughly five hours of active cruising, experienced English-speaking guides, warm flotation gear, heated indoor areas, toilets, WiFi, and the chance to join again if sightings fail. You also avoid arranging separate transport between a whale tour and an aurora outing because both begin and end at the same central location.

The value is strongest for a first visit with limited time. You get one daytime trip and one nighttime attempt, with wildlife, mountains, islands, seabirds, and the possibility of the aurora in a single booking. The value is weaker if you have several nights in Reykjavik and can book a cheaper whale cruise and aurora tour separately.

There is also the emotional value of a successful day. Seeing a humpback breach or dolphins play, then watching green light appear over the bay, is the kind of pairing that can define an Iceland visit. But the price does not buy certainty, and you should not book it if you would feel cheated by a whale trip with few sightings or a canceled aurora cruise.

Who will enjoy this combo most?

I would recommend it to first-time visitors who want two classic Iceland activities and can spare most of a day. It suits couples, families, and anyone who prefers a guided outing with facilities onboard rather than a bare-bones boat ride.

It is also a good fit for people who enjoy natural events without needing a guaranteed result. The guides can explain what you are seeing, and the time on the water gives you a real sense of Faxaflói Bay rather than a quick photo stop from shore.

Photography-minded visitors should prepare carefully. Bring a fully charged phone or camera, because cold weather drains batteries quickly. One successful aurora outing ended with a phone battery dying after only a few Northern Lights photographs.

I would hesitate to recommend it to anyone with a rigid schedule. The five-hour break, possible weather changes, and uncertain rebooking needs require flexibility. It may also be a poor choice if you strongly dislike boats or are prone to seasickness.

What the guides add to the trip

The crew is not just there to point at fins. The experience includes live English commentary, and the strongest accounts repeatedly praise the guides for being friendly, informative, and attentive.

Rebekka’s enthusiasm is a good example of what makes a wildlife cruise work. A guide who is excited by the same dolphins and whales you are watching can turn a routine sighting into a shared moment. Lucas was praised for helping and entertaining the group, while Daniel made a strong impression during a whale and seal outing.

That human element matters because wildlife watching involves quiet stretches. Good commentary fills those gaps without making the trip feel like a lecture. You learn what to watch for, where to look, and why a brief surface appearance still matters.

Booking advice and final verdict

Arrive at Geirsgata 11 at least 30 minutes before departure. Wear warm, weather-ready clothing, charge your phone fully, and leave room in your schedule for a five-hour break and possible weather changes. Pets and smoking are not allowed.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option helps if your plans are still moving. The free return ticket for no sightings is another reason to book early in your Reykjavik stay rather than on your final day.

You should book this combo if you want a convenient, well-supported attempt at both whales and the Northern Lights, and if $205 fits your Iceland budget. You should skip it if you need guaranteed wildlife, guaranteed aurora, or a short and tightly timed excursion.

My call: worth considering for a flexible first visit, especially in winter when you can combine daylight whale watching with a dark-sky cruise. Go in expecting nature to set the timetable, and this can be a memorable day. Go in expecting a guaranteed show, and the price will feel much harder to justify.

FAQ

Where does the whale watching and Northern Lights tour start?

The tour starts at Geirsgata 11 in Reykjavik. Check in at the Special Tours office on the corner.

How early should I arrive?

You should arrive 30 minutes before departure for check-in.

How long is the whale-watching cruise?

The whale-watching portion lasts about 2.5 to 3 hours.

How long is the Northern Lights cruise?

The evening Northern Lights cruise lasts about two hours.

What animals might I see?

Possible sightings include minke whales, humpback whales, harbor porpoises, white-beaked dolphins, seals, and seabirds.

Is there a break between the two cruises?

Yes. The schedule includes a five-hour break in Reykjavik between the daytime whale cruise and the evening Northern Lights cruise.

What happens if I do not see whales or the Northern Lights?

You receive a free ticket to join again in case of no sightings. If the Northern Lights trip is canceled because of bad weather, you can request a refund or reschedule for another night.

Are warm clothes provided?

Warm flotation overalls are provided. You should still bring weather-appropriate clothing.

Is food included?

No. Food and drinks are not included, but they can be purchased onboard.