Reykjavik: Whale Watching & Northern Lights Combo Cruise

The best part of this Reykjavik combo cruise is the contrast: whales in the daylight, then a dark sea and hopefully green light overhead. I like that you get two very different chances to experience Icelandic nature in one booking, and I like the practical setup, with heated cabins, toilets, WiFi, warm flotation overalls, and seasickness tablets available.

The main catch is simple: wildlife and the aurora follow their own schedule. Rough water can delay or shift the whale trip, and bad weather can cancel the Northern Lights cruise. At $205 per person, this is not a cheap outing, so you should book it because you value the chance and the full day, not because either sight is guaranteed.

Key points to know before you book

• Two separate cruises in one day: Spend roughly three hours whale watching, take a break in Reykjavik, then return for a two to three hour aurora search.
• Faxaflói Bay brings variety: Look for minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, harbor porpoises, seals, seabirds, mountains, and offshore islands.
• The whale sightings can be excellent: Recent trips have included playful dolphins, two humpbacks, several whales, and sightings within minutes of leaving the harbor.
• The Northern Lights depend on weather: The cruise may be canceled, refunded, or moved to another night if conditions are poor.
• Comfort is better than on a bare-bones boat: Heated indoor cabins, toilets, WiFi, warm overalls, and seasickness tablets are included.
• Plan for a long day: Check in at Geirsgata 11 thirty minutes early, and keep your phone fully charged for photos.

Two Iceland experiences, one useful pairing

This tour works because the two outings fill different parts of the day. The whale cruise uses daylight to search Faxaflói Bay, the wide body of water outside Reykjavik. Later, the Northern Lights cruise heads out after dark, away from some of the city glow.

I like this pairing for a first Reykjavik visit. You do not need to arrange separate transport to two different parts of town, and the harbor meeting point is central. The Special Tours office is at Geirsgata 11, at the corner, and you should arrive thirty minutes before departure for check-in.

The day is not six continuous hours on the boat. You take the whale cruise first, return to Reykjavik, and have a break of roughly five hours before heading out again at night. That pause is useful. You can eat, warm up, charge your phone, and rest instead of spending the entire day at sea.

The schedule can vary with weather and availability, so check your exact start time. The supplied timing describes about 2.5 to 3 hours for whale watching and about 2 to 3 hours for the Northern Lights cruise.

Setting out across Faxaflói Bay

The whale cruise heads into Faxaflói Bay, where the views broaden quickly from Reykjavik’s harbor. You can look back toward the city and out toward surrounding mountains and islands while the crew scans the water.

The target species include minke whales, humpback whales, harbor porpoises, and white-beaked dolphins. Seals and seabirds may also appear. This is a search in a living marine environment, not a show with scheduled performances, so patience matters.

The guides provide live commentary in English. That information adds real value because the crew can explain what you are looking for and help direct your attention when an animal surfaces. The best moments may be brief: a back, a blow, a fin, or a pod of dolphins moving across the water.

Past outings have produced especially strong sightings. Some have included two humpback whales and playful dolphins. Another trip saw four whales and a seal after the boat was moved to a calmer day. One outing reported humpbacks within five minutes of leaving the harbor. Those moments are possible, but they should be treated as good fortune rather than a promise.

Whale watching works best when you dress for the sea

You receive warm flotation overalls, and the boat has heated indoor cabins and toilets. Those features matter more than they might sound on a calm afternoon. Once the boat is moving, wind can make the open deck feel much colder than Reykjavik’s streets.

Bring weather-appropriate clothing underneath the overalls. I would also use layers, gloves, and a hat if you have them, since you may move between the heated cabin and outdoor viewing areas.

The boat offers free WiFi, and complimentary seasickness tablets are available. Food and drinks are not included, but you can buy them onboard. If you are prone to motion sickness, consider using the available tablets and staying aware of the sea conditions before you set out.

Rough water is a genuine consideration. One January trip was moved by a day because the sea was very choppy, and the change led to a better outing. That is a sensible approach: a flexible schedule can improve comfort and safety, even if it requires rearranging your plans.

The Reykjavik break is part of the plan

After whale watching, you return to Reykjavik for a long pause before the night cruise. The break is not wasted time. It gives you a chance to get warm, eat, charge your camera, and prepare for another spell outdoors.

Do not assume the break means you can wander far from the harbor unless your schedule allows it. The total day is organized around two departures, so keep an eye on the return time. You need to be ready to check in again for the evening sailing.

This split schedule also makes the combo more manageable for families and for anyone who does not want to spend six hours continuously on a boat. At the same time, it becomes a long day when you add the early check-in, travel to the harbor, and evening return. If you have only one free day in Reykjavik, this tour uses a large part of it.

Chasing the Northern Lights from the water

After dark, the boat leaves again for a two to three hour Northern Lights search. The goal is to get away from city lights and find a darker section of water with a better view of the sky.

You can watch from the outdoor deck in the provided warm overalls or stay in the heated indoor bar. The indoor space is a welcome option when wind or cold makes standing outside unpleasant. Still, you will likely need patience. The aurora can appear quickly, fade, or stay hidden behind cloud.

The tour has produced memorable pairings of whales by day and Northern Lights by night. One outing saw the aurora soon after leaving the dock, while another had to cancel the evening cruise because of bad weather. In that case, the Northern Lights trip could be refunded or moved to another night.

That flexible follow-up matters. A failed first attempt does not always mean the aurora portion is lost. If your schedule allows another evening, rebooking gives you a second chance. If you are leaving Reykjavik immediately, the option has less practical value.

What $205 buys you

At $205 per person, this is a major activity expense, especially in a country where tours and meals can quickly add up. The price makes the most sense if you want both a whale search and a Northern Lights cruise and prefer the convenience of arranging them together.

You are paying for two boat outings, professional English-speaking guides, warm flotation overalls, heated indoor areas, toilets, WiFi, and a free chance to join again if you do not get sightings. Food and drinks cost extra, and hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

The free retry improves the value, but only if you have enough time in Reykjavik to use it. It is also worth noting that the retry addresses sightings, while weather cancellations may involve a refund or rescheduling for the Northern Lights portion. Ask about the current arrangement when you check in if conditions look poor.

For a person who would book both activities separately, the combo is a practical choice. For someone mainly hoping for one dramatic photo, it is a gamble. You may see several whales and the aurora, or you may spend hours searching in difficult conditions.

Guides can shape the whole day

The crew’s commentary is an important part of the experience. A good guide keeps you alert without turning the trip into a lecture, explains what the crew is watching for, and helps you understand why the boat may slow down or change direction.

Specific guides praised for making trips memorable include Rebekka, Lucas, and Daniel. Rebekka was especially excited while following dolphins and humpback whales, and Lucas was described as entertaining and helpful during a day that included both a whale and the Northern Lights.

You should not book on the assumption that a particular guide will be onboard. Staff assignments change. The useful point is that the experience depends on more than simply putting you on the water. Clear commentary and an engaged crew make quiet stretches easier to enjoy.

The tour language is English. The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible, though you may want to confirm the exact boarding arrangements if you have specific mobility needs.

Bring a fully charged phone and manage your expectations

You will want a phone or camera for the whale sightings and the sky. One person lost most of a Northern Lights photo opportunity when a phone battery died, so charge everything before leaving and carry a backup battery if you have one.

Night photography can be difficult even when the aurora is visible. The boat moves, the deck is dark, and cold weather drains batteries. Put the phone in an inside pocket when you are not using it.

Your expectations should be realistic. The strongest days have included humpbacks, minke whales, dolphins, seals, and Northern Lights in one outing. Other days can bring poor sea conditions or a canceled aurora cruise. That uncertainty is not a flaw in the tour itself, but it is central to the decision.

The boat operates in a shared arrangement with one of the supplier’s partners at certain times of year for environmental reasons. Fewer boats on the water help reduce pressure on the bay. The exact boat or onboard setup may therefore differ, but the stated services remain the practical points to look for.

Who should choose this combo cruise

I would choose this tour if you want a full nature day from Reykjavik and are comfortable with uncertainty. It suits first-time visitors who want to try two of Iceland’s best-known wildlife experiences without arranging separate bookings.

It is also a good match for photographers, couples, and families who can handle a long day, cold air, and a pause between outings. The indoor cabin and supplied overalls make it easier for people who do not own serious cold-weather gear.

I would be more cautious if you have only one tightly scheduled day and cannot return for a canceled evening cruise. I would also think twice if rough water is a serious concern or if $205 would feel excessive for an experience with no guaranteed sightings.

The meeting point is central, and one recent booking found it an easy walk from Center Hotels Plaza and bus stop number 4. That convenience helps, but there is no hotel pickup, so you must make your own way to Geirsgata 11.

Should you book the whale watching and Northern Lights cruise?

Book it if you want two chances at memorable Icelandic nature and can give the day room to breathe. The strongest value comes from the combination: a daylight search for whales and dolphins, followed by a heated evening cruise beneath the northern sky.

Do not book it expecting certainty. Weather may move or cancel a sailing, the sea may be rough, and the aurora may stay hidden. At $205, I would call this a worthwhile splurge for a flexible Reykjavik schedule, especially if seeing whales and the Northern Lights are both high on your list.

The practical choice is to charge your phone, dress in layers, arrive thirty minutes early, and leave enough room in your itinerary for a rescheduled evening. If you can do that, this combo gives you two well-organized attempts at experiences that are genuinely shaped by nature.

FAQ

Where does the 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 thirty 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 Northern Lights portion lasts about 2 to 3 hours.

Which animals might I see?

You might see minke whales, humpback whales, harbor porpoises, white-beaked dolphins, seals, and seabirds.

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 bad weather cancels the Northern Lights cruise, 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.

Are food, drinks, and hotel transport included?

Food and drinks are not included, but they can be purchased onboard. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.