Jane Wilson shares the beauty of an Iceland cruise
It was a mighty vehicle, a high, indestructible red monster truck with eight chunky wheels, each with its own suspension. The steps were steep, but the view was more than rewarding as we bumped and trudged our way across expanses of one of Iceland’s great glaciers. All around us was a landscape that seemed almost otherworldly. Lava rocks were coated with woolly moss, geysers erupted like giant pressure cookers and imposing mountains were draped in linear patterns, their summits wrapped in cuffs of clouds. It was quite a way from our everyday world and exactly why we had come as a sister act on Ambassador Cruise Line
I was travelling with my sister on Ambassador Cruise Line’s 12-day cruise to Iceland, and we quickly discovered that we made a rather good sister act. Our holiday developed its own dual routine. We selected activities we both wanted to enjoy, joined excursions that interested us individually and squeezed in time alone.
We were certainly not the only sisters to have worked out this particular holiday balancing act. We met other sister teams and multigenerational families doing much the same. It seems Ambassador Cruise Line is particularly well suited to this kind of shared yet independent holiday.
Iceland and the Joy of Shared Discovery
We paired up for our tour of the Faroe Islands, where dramatic landscapes competed with sheep, which famously outnumber the islands’ human population. I later took a second trip to explore more of the coastal villages, including Runavík, set beside the deep Skálafjørður fjord. The Faroe Islands are a triumph of nature and engineering, with mountain roads, tunnels and bridges connecting scattered communities across this remarkable archipelago.
Sea days were woven between our excursions and gave us the opportunity to try things separately. My sister was tempted by a wine-tasting class while I opted for ballet, attempting to maintain my balance over gently agitated swells. Line dancing proved slightly easier!
I was the more enthusiastic spa visitor, enjoying a relaxing massage while my sister played Bingo with a fellow guest. Sadly, she didn’t win. She did, however, take a liking to some jewellery and waited for my opinion before signing the cruise card, which is what most sisters do.
We both attended a craft session, mastering the art of wire sculpture, and proudly transported our creations home as souvenirs. When we fancied some ‘me time’, the ship’s various lounges provided quiet corners for reading, while also giving us opportunities to chat with other passengers and form new friendships.
Learning, Laughter and a Little Me Time
The onboard lectures reflected the itinerary and provided an educational dimension that proved popular, with audiences filling the theatre. We learned about tectonic plates, volcanic activity and the geological forces responsible for Iceland’s extraordinary landscape. There were also presentations about orca whales and how to identify them, with the lessons continuing out on deck as passengers put the information into practice. The wildlife sightings were recorded on a whiteboard, with a remarkable total of 105 animals, including seven fin whales, four humpback whales, three long-finned pilot whales, 15 minke whales, 15 unidentified whales and 50 harbour porpoises.As our individual routines dictated, we either met for breakfast in the Buckingham Restaurant, when a morning stretch class allowed, or at Borough Market, which opened early to accommodate passengers heading out on excursions.
Sharing a love of Indian cuisine, we planned a dinner at Saffron, the ship’s Indian speciality restaurant, which offers a handcrafted menu for a £19.95 per person supplement. Delicious!We were fortunate to share a table with like-minded guests during the cruise. Our table of six included two other sisters and a couple who had enjoyed the ship so much that they had already booked another trip for April the following year. Conversations were never dull as we exchanged opinions, discoveries and stories of our days ashore.This was enhanced by our two waiters, Made and Soojay, who seemed to memorise our personal preferences and were never far away when glasses needed refilling. There is something particularly comforting about being remembered, especially when you are away from home.
Music, Memories and Evenings at Sea
Music also runs through our family, so the cruise suited us perfectly. Live entertainment ranged from Stevie Wonder hits and Beatles medleys to ABBA renditions, performed by the onboard musicians. We particularly enjoyed the soulful voices of the trio Triage.We went to the theatre together, too, and on a couple of occasions joined the late-night disco, just as we had done when we were younger. It was a reminder that some things never change, even when the setting is rather different.
From Iceland’s Glaciers to the Orkney Islands
From Tilbury in Essex, we sailed first to the Faroe Islands and then clockwise around Iceland before heading south to the Orkney Islands. Over 12 days, we covered 2,846 nautical miles and visited seven ports, while a team of 585 crew members ensured a professional and considerate cruise experience.
From the comfort of our ship, with expertly organised excursions and no queues for tenders, we gathered vivid memories that will stay with us long after we docked.Ashore, these included the thermal immersion of the Blue Lagoon, a Viking history lesson, the eerie Neolithic henge and stone circle in Orkney, one of Britain’s most remarkable prehistoric sites, and the grass-roofed cottages clinging to the mountainsides in the Faroe Islands.And then there was the laughter we shared, the new friendships forged and the live music that accompanied our evenings.
But the memory that stays with us both is witnessing the sheer joy of two fellow passengers who achieved their lifelong ambition of walking on an Icelandic glacier without their walking aids.Thanks to the care and attention of Ambassador Cruise Line, they were able to fulfil a dream that had clearly meant so much to them.
For my sister and I, the cruise was a reminder that travel is not simply about the places we visit. It is about the people we meet, the experiences we share and the memories we bring home.And sometimes, the greatest pleasure is discovering that a sister act can be every bit as rewarding as the destination itself.
Ambassador Cruise Line’s Glaciers, Geysers & Waterfalls of Iceland departing from London Tilbury on 13 June 2027 for 12 nights on Ambience. To find out more, visit ambassadorcruiseline.com.
Q&A: Planning Your Iceland Cruise with Ambassador
Is an Iceland cruise suitable for travelling with family or friends?
Absolutely. One of the pleasures of cruising is that you can enjoy experiences together while still having the freedom to do your own thing. My sister and I found plenty of activities to share, alongside opportunities to follow our individual interests. It also seemed particularly popular with sisters and multigenerational families.
What can you expect to see on an Iceland cruise?
Iceland offers an extraordinary variety of landscapes and experiences, from glaciers, volcanoes and geysers to spectacular mountains and coastal scenery. Depending on the itinerary, you can also explore the Faroe Islands and Orkney, with their distinctive landscapes, history and wildlife.
Is there plenty to do on board during sea days?
Yes. There is a varied programme of activities, including lectures, craft sessions, dance classes, wine tasting, spa treatments, quizzes and live entertainment. There are also quieter lounges where you can simply relax with a book or enjoy a little time to yourself.
Can you see whales and other wildlife on an Iceland cruise?
Wildlife sightings can be a real highlight. During our sailing, passengers recorded 105 sightings, including fin, humpback and minke whales, long-finned pilot whales and harbour porpoises. Onboard talks also helped us understand what to look out for when scanning the sea from the deck.
What makes Ambassador Cruise Line a good choice for this type of holiday?
For us, it was the combination of organised excursions, a friendly onboard atmosphere, varied entertainment and attentive service. We particularly appreciated being able to balance time together with our own interests, while enjoying the convenience of having our accommodation, dining and entertainment all in one place.
Jane Wilson is the Founder & Editor of The Wellness Traveller, covering destinations, experiences and escapes that encourage wellbeing, discovery and a slower approach to travel. Her travels explore the many ways that taking time away can enrich our lives, whether through nature, culture, relaxation or simply sharing an adventure with someone special.
