A cruise blending Viking history and Celtic heritage has drawn travelers eager to explore their ancestral connections across the North Atlantic. For one passenger, the journey’s allure went beyond the rugged environments and isolated settlements. Family lore suggests their forebears arrived in Yorkshire from Scandinavia in Viking longships, and their surname shares a single consonant with the name of Norwegian footballer Erling Haaland.
Iceland’s Viking Past and Volcanic Wonders
The cruise’s opening leg follows the path of 9th-century Norse settlers who brought Celtic captives and wives from Ireland and Scotland. Their accounts endure in Icelandic sagas, and the languages of both regions still show traces of Old Norse. English speakers will encounter no communication barriers, as most Icelanders speak fluent English.
For many travelers, Reykjavik serves as the entry point to Iceland’s geothermal marvels. Summer activities include whale watching, puffin tours, and trekking with Icelandic horses, known for their distinctive five-gait movement. However, the itinerary shifts focus to the island’s lesser-known southern coast.
The first destination is Heimaey, the sole inhabited island in the Westman archipelago, often called the “Pompeii of the North.” In 1973, a volcanic eruption buried homes under 10 meters of lava, yet all residents survived. Today, visitors traverse 50-year-old lava fields now covered in purple lupins, climb the crater of Eldfell, or tour nearby puffin colonies and a beluga sanctuary.
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The final Icelandic port is Djupivogur, a tranquil fishing village of 500 residents. A guided nature walk offers sweeping views of sea, lakes, and mountains, followed by a stroll along the harbor road to see 34 sculptures of native bird eggs—a local curiosity.
A passenger who had visited Reykjavik twice before called the southern stops “a revelation.” The cruise docks at Runavik on Esturoy in the Faroe Islands, where a band of smiling locals in high-visibility jackets welcomes guests.
The morning allows free exploration of a nature trail from the harbor, while the guided tour winds through dramatic mountain scenery, passing Funningur, the site of the first Viking settlement. In Gjogv, brightly colored houses frame a small fishing harbor carved into a steep gorge. A guide points across the water to a cliff where James Bond met his end in No Time to Die.
After a day at sea, the Rotterdam reaches the Firth of Forth, within sight of Edinburgh’s landmarks. The ship’s tender carries passengers under the UNESCO-listed Forth Bridge to South Queensferry, where drummers and pipers provide a traditional Scottish welcome. While some head for Edinburgh Castle or the Royal Mile, others, like this traveler, opt to meet local friends for a relaxed walk and lunch by the water.
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Cabins range from standard to spacious verandah suites, featuring amenities like a sitting area, queen-sized bed, and premium toiletries. Fine dining is included, but specialty restaurants, such as Pinnacle Grill for steak, Sel de Mer for Mediterranean cuisine, and Tamarind for Pan-Asian dishes, require an upgrade.
British executive chef Darren Yardley-Salisbury oversees a team of 200, including 141 cooks. While passengers rest, a bakery crew and fruit preparation staff work overnight.
Planned departures for 2027 begin at £1,049 for an inside cabin, with sailings starting May 29. The Have It All Package, priced at $100 per person per day, covers shore excursions, specialty dining, and Wi-Fi.