Iceland Expedition Cruise by Ship, Zodiac & Helicopter
By Franco Interian
Published August 23, 2026 · 5:36 PM ET
There is nothing wrong with driving Iceland’s Ring Road. But there is one obvious limitation.
You’re seeing an island primarily from its roads. Quark Expeditions has created a dramatically different approach: Iceland Circumnavigation: Helicopters, Glaciers and Volcanoes, a 12-day voyage aboard Ultramarine that starts and ends in Reykjavík.
Instead of driving around Iceland, travelers sail around it.
Instead of driving around Iceland, travelers sail around it—with access to the ship’s twin-engine helicopters and Zodiacs.
Why Circumnavigate?
Iceland’s most dramatic boundary isn’t the highway. It’s the coastline. That single shift in vantage point is the whole case for choosing an Iceland expedition cruise over another lap of the Ring Road.
Approaching from the sea completely changes the perspective: cliffs rise directly from the Atlantic, isolated islands become accessible and fjords unfold from the water instead of through a windshield.
Then Add Helicopters
This is the feature that moves the trip into another category.
The aircraft allow expedition teams to provide aerial perspectives over portions of Iceland that conventional travelers simply don’t get. Weather always has the final word, so no responsible operator can promise every flight or landing. That’s not a drawback. That’s expedition travel.
The Route
The published itinerary includes areas around Grímsey, Vigur, Dynjandi, Siglufjörður, Húsavík, Seyðisfjörður, Djúpivogur and the Westman Islands, while crossing the Arctic Circle by sea and incorporating national parks, waterfalls, glaciers and wildlife opportunities.
Ring Road vs. Expedition Ship
Choose the Ring Road if you want independence, a rental car and control over every stop.
Choose the expedition if you want the coastline, small-boat landings, expedition staff and aerial access to become part of the adventure. They’re almost two different destinations.
What Makes This Iceland Expedition Cruise Different
Most Iceland itineraries repeat the same handful of stops along the Ring Road because that’s what’s reachable by car. An Iceland expedition cruise removes that constraint entirely. Ultramarine’s ice-class hull and onboard Zodiac fleet mean the ship can reach fjords, black-sand coves and remote fishing villages that have no road access at all.
The helicopters extend that reach even further. On weather-permitting days, expedition staff fly small groups over glacier tongues, volcanic craters and waterfalls that would otherwise require a multi-hour hike or simply aren’t visible from any road. It’s the single feature that separates this kind of Iceland expedition cruise from a standard small-ship sailing.
Cabins and public spaces are built for genuine expedition use rather than resort-style cruising: mudrooms for boot storage, briefing rooms for each day’s landing plan, and a bridge that’s open to guests. The pace is slower and weather-dependent by design, which is exactly the trade-off that makes the access possible.
Iceland Expedition Cruise: The Dorian Destinations Take
We wouldn’t call this a replacement for an Iceland road trip. We’d call it Iceland 2.0.
Do the Ring Road first. Then return and see the island from the side most visitors rarely experience: the ocean.
Book early. Cabins on ice-class expedition ships this size sell out well over a year ahead for the more coveted itinerary dates, and departures cluster into a short summer-into-autumn window when conditions are calm enough for reliable Zodiac and helicopter operations.
Best For: Repeat Iceland visitors, expedition cruisers and photographers
Length: 12 days on the published 2026 itinerary
Signature Experience: Helicopter flightseeing + Zodiac exploration
Dorian Destinations Rating: ★★★★★ for repeat Iceland travelers
