The ports of Húsavík and Raufarhöfn are experiencing their busiest season yet with a total of 65 cruise calls, up from 52 last year.
The port of Húsavík will welcome 58 ships this season, while Raufarhöfn has seen a steady cruise traffic for the first time, with seven calls this season. The growth reflects the increasing popularity of smaller expedition vessels that seek out authentic and less crowded ports of call.
“We are especially pleased to see strong growth among small luxury and expedition ships,” said Orly Orlyson, Director of Marketing for the Ports. “These vessels bring fewer passengers but stay longer and spend more in the community. The fact that Raufarhöfn is now receiving regular cruise calls is a milestone for our region.”
One recent highlight was the arrival of MS Star Pride, a Windstar Cruises ship carrying a select number of guests. During a plaque exchange ceremony last week, Norðurþing Mayor Katrín Sigurjónsdóttir welcomed Captain Ricardo Pinzon on behalf of the town. The Star Pride, originally built in 1988 and extensively refurbished in 2021, has already visited Húsavík twice this summer, and the port is working to get more visits from Star Pride next season.
Plaque exchanges are a long-standing maritime tradition, symbolizing friendship between ship and port. This summer, the commemorative plaques for visiting ships have been crafted in partnership with Fab Lab Húsavík.
