Double as many cruise ships year on year
Nearly 12,000 passengers and crew members arrived in Hafnarfjörður on cruise ships this summer.. They were almost twice as many as the year before.
The cruise ships adorn our harbour.
In total, came 32 passenger ships to the Port of Hafnarfjörður in the summer of 2026, compared with 18 the previous year. On board were a total of 7,488 passengers and 4,466 crew members, or 11,954 people. That is almost double the number of passengers and crew compared to the summer of 2025, when they totalled 6,131. This is stated in a report on the reception of cruise ships in Hafnarfjörður for the summer of 2026.
„This is our biggest summer to date and it is pleasing how we have managed to make Hafnarfjörður a sought-after destination and home port for these medium-sized cruise ships, most of which are on round-island tours.,“ says Ludvik Geirsson, the harbour master.
One of Ponant's home ports
Most of the arrivals were by the French shipping company Ponant. The company has had its home port in Hafnarfjörður for several years. Three ships sailed for the company this summer, and on eight occasions two of them were in port together, and on one occasion all three were in port at the same time.
„“We have had a very good collaboration with Ponant and are keen to strengthen it even further. These are the first ships in Iceland to be connected to the country's high-voltage grid," says Ludvík, adding that the company wants to increase cooperation with the local tourism industry.
As previously mentioned, the Port of Hafnarfjörður is the home port for most of these ships. They are usually in port for two 24-hour periods at a time. „“Passengers fly into the country and passenger transfers take place in the port area, with baggage handling, passport control and customs services. Maintenance and the replenishment of supplies on board the ships is also carried out," says Ludvik.
Use services in Hafnarfjörður
According to the report, passengers and crew members made use of, among other things, restaurants, shops, a pharmacy and museums in Hafnarfjörður. „The harbour's new service building on the South Quay was put to very good use for welcoming the ships and provided facilities for guests and staff while the ships were at the pier.“
The report also mentions opportunities to improve the walkway between the harbour and the town centre, facilities for accommodating larger groups, and electrical connections for the ships.
Already, around 20 ship arrivals have been booked for summer 2027. „There has been a decline in ship arrivals across the country this past summer due to uncertainty over public charges and customs and tax matters. It has taken the whole summer to get a final decision from the tax authorities and the government on these matters, which has affected bookings for the next few years,“ says Ludvik.
„But hopefully, we will manage to further strengthen and enhance these sailings here in the coming years.“
Yes, it's quite clear that the cruise ships make the beautiful fjord even more exciting.
Highlights of the summer of 2026
- Three ships simultaneously From 18th to 21st July, three ships from Ponant were in port. Nearly 2,000 passengers and crew were in the area, and passenger changes took place on all the ships on the same day.
- Luxury ship at Hvaleyrarbakka The luxury cruise ship Envirma docked there twice in August. Reception tents and other specialised services were set up in close cooperation between the port and its agents.