First-hand Northern Europe review
Virgin Voyages Iceland Review: Portsmouth to Reykjavik on Valiant Lady
I personally sailed this ten-night voyage from Portsmouth to Reykjavik on Valiant Lady, with an overnight in Amsterdam, calls in Scotland, an Arctic Circle crossing and two memorable Icelandic port days. This is my honest review of the route, weather, onboard experience and Sea View Cabin 5230A.
First-hand voyage review by Daniel Griese. Page reviewed 24 September 2026.
My honest verdict
Is Virgin Voyages good for Iceland?
Yes. This voyage exceeded my expectations, and I would sail a similar Virgin Voyages Iceland itinerary again. Amsterdam brought an easy overnight city break, Edinburgh and Invergordon added contrasting Scottish days, and Akureyri and Ísafjörður delivered the northern scenery I had hoped for.
The voyage was not perfect. Strong winds and North Atlantic waves caused noticeable movement. Cold weather pushed the PJ Party and Scarlet Night indoors, and indoor Scarlet Night did not match the pool-deck version I enjoy on warmer sailings. This is a cooler, more weather-dependent experience rather than a Caribbean cruise with different ports.
Voyage snapshot
My Valiant Lady Iceland cruise at a glance
Ship
Valiant Lady
Length
10 nights
Cabin
Sea View 5230A
Route
Portsmouth to Reykjavik via Amsterdam, Scotland and northern Iceland
Day by day
My Portsmouth to Iceland cruise review
Smooth embarkation and shore power
Embarkation in Portsmouth was smooth. Once onboard, we settled into Sea View Cabin 5230A, enjoyed sail away and began meeting fellow Sailors. We chose The Galley for dinner because its flexibility suited the first evening.
Valiant Lady was connected to shore power in Portsmouth. This allows a compatible ship to draw electricity from land while berthed, reducing the need to run its engines for relevant onboard power and lowering local emissions around the port.
PJ Party inside The Manor
Weather made the usual outdoor setting unsuitable, so the PJ Party was held in The Manor. It remained a lively first-night event, but an indoor venue naturally feels more enclosed than the open deck.
Easy city access and an evening ashore
Valiant Lady docked at Amsterdam Cruise Passenger Terminal, around a 15-minute walk from the canal area based on our route. We ate at Extra Virgin before going ashore and enjoying local nightlife. The following day, we still had time in the city before an all-aboard time of around 3pm ship time, which was 4pm local time during our visit.
Valiant Lady also connected to shore power in Amsterdam. The overnight berth and central location made Amsterdam one of the itinerary’s strongest calls.
Remote work and a quiet evening
I had porridge and avocado toast for breakfast, worked on bookings for a few hours and had a salad for lunch. We ate in The Galley that evening. Although there was a club night, we chose to walk around the ship, relax and watch a film in the cabin while I caught up on work.
Tendering ashore and using Uber
We had a 9am tender and arrived at On The Rocks around 15 minutes beforehand. From Hawes Pier, we chose Uber rather than rail or bus. The outward trip cost about £22 and the return about £13. These were our historic prices rather than estimates for a future sailing.
Back onboard, we had a spontaneous Extra Virgin dinner with fellow Sailors. I watched guest comedian Gareth Waugh on the Festival Stage in The Red Room and attended Festival of the Senses in The Manor, which included complimentary drinks and canapés.
A simple independent visit
We went ashore briefly, visited a local Co-op for snacks and stopped at a café for cake. That evening, Ben Price’s magic show in The Red Room was very entertaining, followed by another flexible dinner in The Galley.
Strong winds, indoor Scarlet Night and calmer water
After Invergordon, strong winds and waves caused noticeable movement. Scarlet Night was held indoors because outside was freezing. I understood the decision but missed the outdoor pool-party atmosphere.
By the second sea day, while we were off Iceland, conditions were much calmer. The Virgin Voyages app notified us that Valiant Lady would enter the Arctic Circle between roughly 20:30 and 02:00, giving the evening a clear sense of occasion.
Independent exploration without a Shore Thing
We chose not to book an excursion and explored the town centre independently. Akureyrarkirkja, colourful streets and the compact centre made this an enjoyable and relaxed port day.
Westfjords scenery and a memorable final port
Ísafjörður was surrounded by fjords and snow-capped mountains. I enjoyed a strawberry iced cinnamon roll, while Ben chose a toffee cake. Back onboard, I had pasta in The Galley and Ben had beef Wellington with vegetables.
For scenery, this was my favourite port. Valiant Lady looked especially striking against the Westfjords landscape.
Staying onboard before sailing to New York via Greenland
Reykjavik marked the end of this ten-night itinerary, but it was not the end of our time on Valiant Lady. We were sailing back-to-back and remained onboard for the following voyage to New York via Greenland.
There were 267 Sailors continuing onto the next sailing, so Virgin Voyages completed the back-to-back process onboard in The Red Room. Being able to complete the formalities without leaving the ship made the turnaround straightforward, particularly with so many continuing Sailors.
I chose not to go ashore because I had quite a bit of work to catch up on. The turnaround provided a useful opportunity to work while much of the ship was quieter. This means I cannot provide a first-hand Reykjavik city review from this visit, but I can share direct experience of the onboard process.
For more detail about continuing between consecutive sailings, read my Virgin Voyages back-to-back cruise guide. You can also continue the journey with my first-hand Virgin Voyages Greenland review, covering the following Valiant Lady voyage from Reykjavik to New York via Prince Christian Sound, Qaqortoq, Nuuk, St John’s and Halifax.
A voyage milestone
Crossing the Arctic Circle on Valiant Lady
Crossing the Arctic Circle was memorable because it gave the voyage a precise geographical milestone. The experience was subtle rather than theatrical. There is no visible line across the water, but the app notification created anticipation and helped Sailors understand where the ship was travelling.
My reaction was one of quiet achievement. The moment connected the North Atlantic sea days with the Icelandic ports ahead and made the route feel more significant than a collection of calls.
Cabin review
Sea View Cabin 5230A
This was our first Virgin Voyages Sea View cabin, and it gave us a comfortable base for a colder Northern Europe itinerary.
Layout and storage
The cabin included the signature Seabed, wall-mounted television, vanity area, wardrobe, drawers, shelving and a safe. Unpacking and using each storage area helped keep the room organised throughout the ten-night voyage.
Window and scenery
The ocean-facing window became the defining feature. Sitting beside it and watching the world pass was one of the unexpected highlights of the cruise. In cold or windy weather, it gave us the view without requiring us to stand outside.
Noise
At times, we could hear noises from the ship that I have not noticed when staying in Sea Terrace cabins. It was not constant, but it was a difference I noticed and should be considered by particularly light sleepers.
Comfort and temperature
The cabin was a welcome indoor retreat when outside temperatures dropped. I did not experience a temperature-control problem, and the room worked well for films, remote work and quieter evenings.
Bathroom
The bathroom followed Virgin Voyages’ compact cabin layout and supported the stay without becoming a notable positive or negative in my experience.
Who should book it?
A Sea View suits Sailors who want daylight and views but expect to use private outdoor space less often on a colder itinerary. It can provide a useful middle ground between an Insider and a Sea Terrace.
Check the mattress as soon as you enter the cabin
When you first reach your cabin, lie on the bed and decide whether it feels comfortable. If it is too firm, ask your cabin host for a mattress topper immediately. Mattress toppers are limited and may run out, so do not wait until later in the voyage to request one.
We requested a mattress topper, and it made our bed feel soft and extremely comfortable for the rest of the sailing.
Why I would book it again
- Natural light and sea views
- Sheltered scenery watching
- Comfortable for films and work
- Useful storage and an in-room safe
- Good middle ground between Insider and Sea Terrace
Points to consider
- No private balcony or hammock
- Less fresh-air access than a Sea Terrace
- At times, we heard ship noises I have not noticed in Sea Terrace cabins
- Compact storage needs organisation
- Sea movement is still noticeable in rough conditions
My verdict: I would book this cabin again, particularly on a colder itinerary where a sheltered window may be used more often than a balcony. I would also request a mattress topper as soon as possible if the bed felt too firm.
Dining and entertainment
What worked best onboard
The Galley
The Galley’s flexible timing suited embarkation, sea days, changing weather and evenings built around entertainment.
Extra Virgin
We ate there before Amsterdam and later shared a spontaneous dinner with fellow Sailors after Edinburgh.
Pizza Place
Pizza was a useful quick dinner before an evening party when the ship had become slightly rough.
Entertainment
Ben Price’s magic show was my favourite conventional performance. Gareth Waugh and Festival of the Senses added variety, while indoor Scarlet Night was the main disappointment.
FAQs
Virgin Voyages Iceland review FAQs
Is Virgin Voyages good for Iceland?
Yes. I found the combination of flexible dining, adult-focused entertainment, sea days and northern ports worked very well, provided Sailors are comfortable with cooler weather and the possibility of rougher seas.
How rough is the crossing to Iceland?
Our sailing had slight movement after Amsterdam and stronger winds and waves after Invergordon. Conditions were much calmer by the second sea day off Iceland, so the experience varied across the voyage.
Is a Sea View cabin worth it for Iceland?
Yes. Sea View Cabin 5230A gave us natural light and a sheltered place to watch the scenery when it was cold or windy outside.
Would you choose a Sea View or Sea Terrace?
A Sea Terrace is best if private outdoor space and the hammock matter to you. A Sea View can offer better value on a colder itinerary while still providing daylight and sea views.
Can you walk into Amsterdam from the cruise terminal?
Yes. We walked from Amsterdam Cruise Passenger Terminal to the canal area in around 15 minutes, although times vary by pace and destination.
Did Valiant Lady use shore power?
Valiant Lady connected to shore power in Portsmouth and Amsterdam during our voyage, reducing the need to run its engines for relevant onboard power while berthed.
What happens during an Arctic Circle crossing?
There is no visible line in the sea. The Virgin Voyages app notified us of the approximate crossing window, which created a genuine sense of occasion onboard.
Is Akureyri walkable from the port?
Yes for a town-centre visit. We walked around the centre and towards Akureyrarkirkja, although the incline and church steps may not suit everyone.
Do you need an excursion in Iceland?
Not for every port. We enjoyed independent visits in Akureyri and Ísafjörður, but an excursion may be worthwhile if you want to explore farther beyond the towns.
Was Scarlet Night indoors?
Yes. Strong winds, waves and cold temperatures meant Scarlet Night was held indoors. I understood why, but I preferred the outdoor pool-party version.
How did the back-to-back process work in Reykjavik?
We stayed onboard because we were continuing to New York via Greenland. With 267 Sailors remaining for the next voyage, the back-to-back process was completed onboard in The Red Room.
Did you go ashore in Reykjavik?
No. I stayed onboard to complete the back-to-back process and catch up on work before the next sailing to New York via Greenland.
Would you book this sailing again?
Yes. The route exceeded my expectations, every port added something different and the ten nights passed surprisingly quickly.
What was the best port?
Ísafjörður was my favourite for scenery, Akureyri suited relaxed independent exploration and Amsterdam had the best city-centre access.
What was the best entertainment?
Ben Price’s magic show was my favourite conventional performance, while Festival of the Senses was the most unusual event.
Can you work remotely onboard?
I caught up on bookings and other work during sea days and our Reykjavik turnaround. Connectivity can vary, so important work still needs contingency planning.
How do you reach Edinburgh from South Queensferry?
We used Uber from the Hawes Pier area. Our outward trip cost about £22 and the return about £13, but those are historic prices from our visit.
Was the PJ Party held outside?
No. Weather moved the PJ Party into The Manor. It remained enjoyable, but the atmosphere differed from an outdoor event.
What should I pack?
Pack layers, a waterproof outer layer, comfortable footwear and warm accessories. Weather and wind can change quickly on a northern itinerary.
Can you request a mattress topper on Virgin Voyages?
Yes. If the bed feels too firm, ask your cabin host for a mattress topper as soon as you enter the cabin. Supplies are limited and may run out. We had a topper, and it made our bed feel soft and extremely comfortable.
Was Sea View Cabin 5230A noisy?
At times, we could hear ship noises that I have not noticed in Sea Terrace cabins. It was not constant, but particularly light sleepers should consider this difference.
First-hand booking support
Plan with someone who has sailed the route
I am an award-winning Gold Virgin Voyages First Mate and have completed more than 17 Virgin Voyages sailings, including this Portsmouth to Reykjavik itinerary and the following voyage to New York via Greenland.
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