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

The best reason to book this package is simple: you get two very different ways to experience Iceland from the water. By day, you search Faxaflói Bay for humpback and minke whales, dolphins, and harbor porpoises. At night, you sail away from Reykjavik’s lights in search of the Northern Lights.

I like the discounted pairing and the practical onboard comforts, especially thermal overalls, heated indoor seating, WiFi, and free seasickness tablets. I also like the free return ticket if nothing is seen. The main drawback is that nature calls the shots: rough seas can cancel the Aurora cruise, clouds can hide the lights, and a whale trip can produce nothing but empty water.

Key points to know before you book

• Two separate cruises: A 3.5-hour whale-watching trip and a 2.5-hour Northern Lights cruise can be taken on the same day or on separate days.
• The wildlife is never guaranteed: Humpback whales, minke whales, dolphins, and harbor porpoises are possible, but sightings depend on conditions and animal behavior.
• The Northern Lights cruise leaves late: Departure is generally at 9pm or 10pm, depending on the time of year.
• Thermal overalls are provided: Children’s sizes are available, though you should still bring warm layers, a hat, and gloves.
• Hotel pickup costs extra: Pickup and return can be added for 1,100 ISK per person, per trip.
• A free retry protects the value: If nothing is seen, you receive a ticket to try again, subject to your schedule and the operator’s availability.

Two Iceland highlights in one package

This is not one long cruise with both activities squeezed together. It is a package of two separate excursions from Special Tours Iceland, both leaving from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour at Geirsgata 11.

That distinction matters. You can take both trips on the same day, which is useful if your Iceland schedule is tight, or split them across your visit. I would usually separate them if your itinerary allows. Whale watching is best treated as a daytime outing, while the Northern Lights cruise begins late and can leave you tired if you have an early morning tour the next day.

The advertised price is $186.74 per person. That is a reasonable price for two boat trips, especially with thermal gear and a free retry included. It becomes less of a bargain once you add hotel transfers for both outings, since pickup costs 1,100 ISK per person for each trip. Food and drinks are also extra, though you can buy them onboard.

The package works best if you genuinely want both experiences. If your priority is only the Northern Lights, a standalone Aurora outing may suit you better. If you are keen on seeing whales and also want a second chance at the lights, this combined booking makes practical sense.

Setting out from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour

The meeting point is Special Tours at Geirsgata 11, a central location in Reykjavik’s Old Harbour. The activity ends back at this same meeting point, so you do not need to arrange a separate return from the dock unless you add hotel transportation.

If you select pickup, the vehicle comes about 60 minutes before departure. That sounds generous, but it is useful in Reykjavik, where pickup schedules can involve several stops. Check the exact pickup and cruise times carefully, then reconfirm them with the operator as requested. One serious scheduling problem was reported when a hotel pickup failed and the boat departed, so I would not treat transport details casually.

The maximum group size is listed as 198 people. That is a sizable boat outing rather than a small private voyage. You should have room to move between viewing areas, but the experience will not feel intimate when the boat is full. The heated indoor seating gives you a place to warm up, while the outdoor decks are where you will want to be when wildlife or lights appear.

The 3.5-hour whale-watching trip

The whale tour takes you from the Old Harbour into Faxaflói Bay. The bay is home to several species, and the possible sightings include humpback whales, minke whales, harbor porpoises, and white-beaked dolphins.

A good whale trip is partly about patience. You may spend long stretches scanning the water before a blow, fin, or back breaks the surface. When activity does appear, it can arrive quickly. One outing produced three playful humpbacks close to the boat, while another saw five minke whales. Other trips produced dolphins, porpoises, and seals but no whales at all.

That range tells you how to set expectations. You are buying a well-equipped search rather than a guaranteed animal show. The free return ticket is important here. If the boat sees no wildlife, you can try again without paying for another ticket, although the practical value depends on how long you are staying in Iceland.

Guide quality can shape the trip. Iga has been praised for sharp spotting skills, which matter because whale watching often depends on finding small signs before the rest of the boat notices them. The guides also explain the species you might see and help you understand what is happening on the water.

Bring a camera, but keep your eyes up. Wildlife sightings can last only seconds, and a phone screen is a poor substitute for seeing a humpback surface nearby. The boat has WiFi, but this is one outing where you should spend more time scanning the bay than checking messages.

The 2.5-hour Northern Lights cruise

The Aurora trip leaves from the same harbor at either 9pm or 10pm, depending on the season. You head into Faxaflói Bay, where the darker surroundings can make faint Northern Lights activity easier to see than it is in central Reykjavik.

The guide explains both the science behind the lights and the Icelandic myths connected to them. That combination suits the experience. You get useful context without reducing the evening to a technical lecture, and the stories give the waiting time a sense of place.

Still, the Northern Lights are never guaranteed. Clouds can block the sky, solar activity can be low, and rough water can make the cruise uncomfortable or force cancellation. Several outings had clear enough conditions for sightings, while others saw no lights because of cloud or sea conditions. One cruise was canceled because the water was too choppy, and another was a rough ride that left everyone in one party seasick.

The lights can also appear less dramatic in person than in photographs. Cameras often capture colors and detail that the human eye does not see clearly. You may witness a pale green arc or a faint glow rather than the bright, dancing ribbons shown in promotional images. That does not make the sight worthless, but it is worth knowing before you board.

Some equipment matters here. Heated indoor seating helps if the wind turns cold, and thermal overalls are available in adult and children’s sizes. You should still wear warm clothes. The boat provides complimentary seasickness tablets, but take the possibility of rough water seriously, especially if you are sensitive to motion.

What happens when nature does not cooperate

This package has a sensible safety net, but it cannot remove the risk of disappointment. If no wildlife is seen on the whale trip, or if no lights appear on the Northern Lights outing, you receive a free ticket to try again.

That policy is helpful if you have several nights in Reykjavik. It is much less useful if you are leaving the next morning. One visitor could not use the replacement trip because the excursion took place on the final day. I recommend booking this package early in your Iceland stay when possible, leaving room for a second attempt.

Poor weather is handled differently. If the operator cancels the activity because conditions are unsafe or unsuitable, you are offered another date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations made within 24 hours are not refunded, and changes inside that period are not accepted.

The most important point is that a free retry is not the same as a guaranteed refund after a disappointing but completed trip. If the boat sails and the animals or lights do not appear, the replacement ticket is the remedy.

Comfort, clothing, and motion on the water

The boat setup is practical rather than luxurious. You have indoor heated seating, outdoor viewing areas, thermal overalls, WiFi, and food and drinks available for purchase. Children’s thermal sizes make the outing easier for families, while service animals are allowed.

I would dress as if the temperature were several degrees colder than it feels on shore. Wear warm layers, waterproof outer clothing if you have it, and shoes with good grip. Even if the weather looks mild at the harbor, open water can feel colder and windier.

Motion sickness is the main comfort issue. The whale trip lasts 3.5 hours, which is a long time if the sea turns rough. Tablets are available onboard, but if you know you are prone to seasickness, plan ahead and eat lightly before sailing. The Northern Lights cruise is shorter at 2.5 hours, but it can still be uncomfortable in poor conditions.

The sound system has not been perfect on every outing. Most of the time, the guides are described as clear and informative, but one account found the whale-watching speaker system weak. Moving closer to the guide or asking staff for help may improve things, though a full boat can make this harder.

How the guides affect the experience

The best part of these trips is not only what appears in the water or sky. It is also the explanation between sightings.

On the whale trip, a good guide helps you notice behavior, identify species, and understand why the boat is slowing or changing direction. Iga has been singled out for spotting three humpback whales playing near the boat, a reminder that sharp eyes make a real difference.

On the Northern Lights cruise, guide quality can vary more from one departure to another. Some guides have been praised for clear explanations and strong storytelling, while one outing was judged dull and light on useful information. The content matters because there can be plenty of waiting, especially when clouds drift across the sky.

The Special Tours app is available in English, German, French, Spanish, and Chinese. That gives you another way to follow information, though the tour itself is offered in English. The app may be especially useful if you want background details without relying entirely on the live commentary.

Same day or separate days?

Taking both cruises on one day saves time, but it creates a long day. The whale trip lasts 3.5 hours, and the evening Aurora cruise adds another 2.5 hours, not counting pickup, waiting, and the gap between departures.

A same-day plan suits you if your stay is short and you want to pack in major activities. You may also enjoy the contrast between daylight wildlife watching and a dark-water search for the lights.

Separate days are better if you want flexibility. If one outing is canceled, you will not lose both experiences at once. You also have more room to recover from rough water and to use a free retry. Since the Northern Lights depend heavily on the forecast, spreading the trips across different nights gives you more chances to find clear skies.

I would choose separate days for a stay of four nights or more. For a short visit, same-day scheduling is reasonable, but avoid placing both trips on the last day of your trip.

Who should book this Reykjavik package?

You should consider this experience if you want classic Iceland sights without arranging two separate operators. It suits families, couples, and first-time visitors who like the idea of wildlife and the Northern Lights but understand that neither can be promised.

It is also a good fit if you value practical extras. Thermal overalls, indoor seating, seasickness tablets, onboard food, WiFi, and the free retry reduce some of the usual discomforts of boat excursions.

I would hesitate if you get severe motion sickness, have only one free evening, or need guaranteed wildlife sightings. The 198-person maximum can also feel too large if you prefer a small, quiet boat. In that case, compare the group size and vessel type before booking another cruise.

Is the $186.74 price good value?

For two outings totaling about six hours on the water, the base price is fair. You are also paying for equipment, guides, heated seating, and a fallback ticket when sightings fail. Those extras make the package more than a simple boat ride.

The value depends on your schedule. If you can use a free retry, the package becomes stronger. If you have no spare day, the retry is mostly theoretical. Add hotel pickup for both trips and the final cost rises by 2,200 ISK per person, before food and drinks.

The package is strongest for visitors who want both experiences and can accept uncertainty. It is not the best choice if you only care about one of the two activities.

Should you book it?

Book this package if you want two chances at Icelandic magic and you have enough time to handle bad weather. The whale cruise can produce excellent encounters with humpbacks, minke whales, dolphins, or porpoises, while the Northern Lights trip gives you a memorable night on Faxaflói Bay when the sky cooperates.

I would book early in the trip, reconfirm both departure times, and add hotel pickup only if the convenience is worth the extra charge. Keep your expectations honest: you may see five minke whales, three humpbacks, and a glowing sky, or you may see seals, dolphins, clouds, and rough water. The free retry and weather policy make the risk easier to accept, but nature still gets the final word.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

The tour begins at Special Tours, Geirsgata 11, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland, at the Old Harbour.

Where does the activity end?

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

How long are the two cruises?

The Northern Lights cruise lasts about 2.5 hours. The whale-watching cruise lasts about 3.5 hours.

Can I take both tours on the same day?

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

What time does the Northern Lights cruise leave?

The Northern Lights cruise departs at either 9pm or 10pm, depending on the time of year.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel and cruise port pickup can be added for 1,100 ISK per person, per trip.

What animals might I see?

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

Are Northern Lights sightings guaranteed?

No. Northern Lights sightings depend on conditions and cannot be guaranteed.

What happens if I see no wildlife or Northern Lights?

You receive a free ticket to try again if nothing is seen on your tour. The replacement outing is most useful if you have enough time left in Iceland.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you are offered another date or a full refund.