Why Choose a Small Ship Cruise to Iceland
A smaller ship creates a smoother, less crowded experience from start to finish. With fewer guests onboard, embarkation, disembarkation, and daily logistics feel easier, which matters in Iceland where weather, timing, and terrain can affect each day.

Windstar’s size allows for:

  • Easier embarkation and disembarkation

  • Less time waiting, more time exploring

  • A quieter onboard environment

  • Access to ports and locations that feel less crowded

This creates a smoother, more relaxed experience overall, especially in a destination known for dramatic landscapes and changing weather.


Your Windstar Iceland cruise includes:

  • Yacht accommodations

  • All meals onboard

  • Specialty dining at no extra charge

  • Port fees and taxes

  • Windstar’s attentive, small-ship service

Flights, shore excursions, and travel insurance are typically additional and can be added based on your preferences.



Cabin Options & Pricing

Windstar’s Star Pride is an all-suite yacht, so every guest enjoys a spacious ocean-view suite, larger than typical cruise cabins you’ll find on regular ships.


 (Pricing per person, based on double occupancy)


• Ocean View Suites: starting at $4,224–$4,832 per person

• Balcony Suites: starting at $5,421–$5,820 per person

• Star Balcony Suites: starting at $5,620–$6,019 per person


Prices include cruise fare, non-commissionable fees, and taxes.

Pricing is subject to change based on availability at the time of booking and until a deposit is made.


Deposit & Payment Terms


• Deposit: 15% of the reservation total is required within 3 days of booking to secure your cabin.

• Payment Plan: After the deposit, the remaining balance can be divided into four scheduled payments between now and final payment to make budgeting easier.

• Final Payment: Due 90 days prior to departure.

• Cancellation Policy: If the reservation is cancelled before final payment, a $50 per person cancellation fee applies.

Independent Travel, With Built-In Support

While this is a hosted group sailing, you are always free to experience the cruise entirely at your own pace. There is never an expectation to spend time with the group or follow a shared schedule. Many guests enjoy the benefit of group pricing and advisor support while still exploring independently and creating their own experience onboard and in port.

Traveling with the group:
Some guests enjoy connecting with fellow travelers along the way, sharing conversations, excursions, or meals when it naturally happens. Or not!

Traveling solo:
Solo travelers are always welcome. I often travel solo myself, and many guests join these trips without knowing anyone beforehand. You’ll have the comfort of built-in support while still maintaining complete independence, and most travelers find they naturally connect along the way if they choose to. 

The Windstar Experience
Who This Cruise Is Best For

This Iceland cruise is a great fit if you:

  • Prefer calm evenings over big shows and loud entertainment

  • Care about good food and relaxed dining

  • Appreciate space and comfort in your cabin

  • Want to explore Iceland without feeling rushed or herded

  • Like the idea of a small ship with a thoughtful pace

If nightly shows, casinos, and packed schedules are important to you, Windstar may not be the right fit, and that’s okay. This cruise is designed for travelers who value atmosphere over activity.

What to Expect Onboard Windstar

Windstar does not offer Broadway-style shows, comedians, or big nightly productions.

Evenings are quiet and low-key. You might find:

  • Soft live music in the lounge

  • A guest speaker or enrichment talk

  • Conversation over a glass of wine

  • Time to unwind after a full day ashore

The focus is on the destination, not entertainment. Most guests enjoy the slower pace and the chance to truly rest between port days.

Cabins Designed for Comfort and Space

This is one of the biggest surprises for first-time Windstar guests.

Your cabin is designed to be used, not just slept in.

You’ll have:

  • A comfortable seating area with a couch and two chairs

  • Enough space for 5–6 people to sit comfortably

  • A walk-in closet, which is rare on most ships

  • A spacious bathroom with double sinks

Balconies on this ship are French balconies, meaning floor-to-ceiling sliding doors that open for fresh air and views, but without outdoor chairs. Many guests love the light and openness, even without a walk-out balcony.

Dining Options on Your Windstar Iceland Cruise

All dining is included with your cruise fare and offers a variety of venues from relaxed outdoor grills to more refined specialty restaurants. Reservations are recommended for specialty venues once you are onboard

Meals onboard Windstar are an experience! As the Official Cruise Line of the James Beard Foundation featuring locally inspired cuisine, developed by a list of culinary all-stars using new flavors and fresh ingredients.

Windstar offers an open seating program allowing guests to dine when and with whom they like. Light and plant-based cuisine available on request.

Amphora: Amphora presents a contemporary, international menu and fresh local dishes. The room features mirror panels with Murano glass, soft lighting, and wall coverings. Dishes by James Beard Foundation affiliated chefs are served nightly.

Candles: A romantic setting offers alfresco dining with fine steaks and grilled skewers on the menu, where guests can dine under the stars. No charge reservations required once on board.

Cuadro 44 by Anthony Sasso: An eclectic Spanish restaurant designed in partnership with James Beard Foundation-recognized chef, Anthony Sasso, a 13-year veteran of the Michelin-starred restaurant Casa Mono.

With this new Windstar Cruises venture, Sasso is creating a menu of inventive, modern Spanish cuisine inspired by his travels all over Spain. Reservations required once on board.

Star Grill by Steven Raichlen: Discover classic barbecue and grilling with a new twist in a casual, outdoor atmosphere at the new Star Grill by Steven Raichlen, the global grilling authority.

Veranda: An inviting breakfast and lunch buffet with outdoor seating offers a variety of options including many local ingredients.

Complimentary in-room: 24-hour room service menu for in-room dining features a coursed menu from the main Amphora dining room during dining hours.

Yacht Club Café: A chic lounge and all-day snack bar, the perfect place to relax, features new flooring, and an open layout that embraces the view.

Dining is included with your cruise fare, but reservations are strongly recommended at the specialty restaurants.

Dress Code for Evening Meals:

Windstar’s dress code is best described as casual elegance in the evenings. For men, slacks or neat pants with a collared shirt or polo are typical. Women often wear slacks, skirts, or casual dresses. Designer denim (without holes or heavy distressing) can work too. There are no formal nights and no requirement for jackets or ties.

Room Service is available 24/7, even for snacks like popcorn or chips and guacamole—perfect for a cozy movie night.

What Evenings and Activities Are Like Onboard

Windstar’s onboard experience is intentionally low-key, especially on Iceland sailings. You will not find big stage shows, casinos, or nonstop entertainment schedules. Instead, the focus is on the destination, meaningful moments, and a relaxed pace that complements full days ashore.

Here’s what you can expect onboard:

Live music and relaxed social time
Evenings often include soft live music in the lounge and casual gatherings where conversation comes naturally. Many guests enjoy unwinding with a drink, chatting with fellow travelers, or simply taking in the views as the ship sails along Iceland’s coastline.

Public Areas: Entertainment lounge, Compass Rose bar, Star Bar, Yacht Club Cafe, screening room, fitness center and motion studio, WorldSpa by Windstar, infinity pool, two whirlpools, generous open deck space, Star Boutique.

Destination enrichment talks
Onboard lectures and informal talks offer insight into Iceland’s history, geology, culture, and wildlife. These are designed to add context to what you are seeing, not overwhelm your schedule.

Open Bridge visits
Guests are often invited to visit the ship’s bridge when conditions allow. This gives you a behind-the-scenes look at how the yacht is navigated and a chance to ask questions of the officers, something rarely offered on larger ships.

World Spa by Windstar: Full-service salon, spa and barber shop featuring treatments based on the ship’s destination. Offerings include massages, body treatments, facials, manicures, pedicures, aromatherapy, acupuncture, Complimentary access to the fitness center, motion studio, relaxation studio, rainfall shower, sauna, steam room.

Quiet moments that feel unplanned
Many guests say some of their favorite moments happen between activities. A conversation over coffee, watching the scenery change from the deck, or relaxing after a full day of exploring often become highlights of the trip.

This style of onboard life is a great fit for travelers who value atmosphere over activity and prefer a calm, thoughtful experience that lets Iceland remain the focus.