Viking Sky operates a remarkable route from Bergen across the North Atlantic by way of the Faroes, Iceland, the entire Greenland west coast, Newfoundland, and on to New York — fourteen nights of genuinely ambitious mainstream cruising into properly remote waters. Reviewed in late August 2025, this is one of the most under-marketed great cruise itineraries currently sold.
The Itinerary
Bergen embarkation, two sea days northwest, Tórshavn (Faroe Islands — a half-day surprise), then Iceland (Reykjavik, Akureyri, and Heimaey), then the long crossing to Greenland for three days on the southwest coast (Prince Christian Sound scenic, Narsarsuaq, Qaqortoq), then St. John's Newfoundland for a halfway point, and a long sea-day stretch to New York for disembarkation.
Greenland is the trip-defining stretch. Prince Christian Sound is one of the most spectacular fjord systems in the world — narrow, ice-strewn, surrounded by 5,000-foot cliffs. The ship transited at 12 knots over six hours; we spent the entire day on the open decks. Narsarsuaq and Qaqortoq are small Greenlandic communities (population 1,500 and 3,000 respectively) where the cruise visit is a meaningful local economic event. Local guides took us to Erik the Red's settlement at Brattahlíð and to a traditional Greenlandic dance demonstration at Qaqortoq.
This is not casual cruising. The destinations are demanding, the seas are sometimes serious, and the weather can shift port plans without notice (we lost half a day at one Greenland port to fog). Confidence in the operator matters enormously, and Viking's competence here is the trip's quiet hero.
Cabins
We splurged on a Penthouse Veranda — Viking's mid-tier cabin product — at 338 square feet plus a 76-square-foot balcony. The Penthouse Veranda is meaningfully larger than the standard Veranda with notable upgrades in the bathroom (separate tub and shower) and storage (proper walk-in closet).
For a fourteen-night sailing with significant time on board, the Penthouse upgrade was worth it. We had real space for a bag of cold-weather gear, the writing desk became a daily working space, and the larger balcony got serious use during the Greenland fjord scenic days.
Cabin tech and bedding were the standard Viking standards — both excellent.
Food
The dining program was the consistent Viking standard. The Restaurant for daily à la carte. Manfredi's for two evenings of properly classical Italian. The Chef's Table for two themed tasting-menu evenings (the Nordic-themed menu featured during the Iceland-Greenland stretch was the meal of the trip).
The World Café buffet handled the long sea-day breakfast and lunch service competently. Mamsen's — Viking's small Norwegian deli on Deck 7 — was a daily mid-morning ritual for waffles and coffee that became a small joy of the trip.
Lecturer Program
This was the trip's intellectual highlight. Viking fielded three lecturers for the route: a Greenlandic anthropologist, an Icelandic vulcanologist, and an Atlantic exploration historian. Across fourteen nights they delivered eleven formal lectures plus daily port commentary. The Greenland lectures in particular reframed our understanding of the destination — the Norse settlement decline, the modern Greenlandic political identity, and the climate-change implications were all properly contextualized.
This level of intellectual programming on a mainstream cruise is genuinely rare. It's the underrated reason to book Viking on a destination-driven itinerary.
Value
Penthouse Veranda for two adults on the fourteen-night sailing booked eleven months ahead came in at €11,940 all in including all taxes, gratuities, beverages, included excursions at every port, Wi-Fi, all dining, and lecturer programming. There were essentially zero additional onboard charges (we added one premium excursion at Greenland — a helicopter to the ice cap — for €420 each).
Final all-in: €12,780 for the cabin — about €457/night per person on a fourteen-night Greenland sailing including a unique helicopter experience. That's premium-tier pricing properly justified by the experience.
For the standard Viking Mediterranean experience, see our Viking Star Western Mediterranean review; for Viking's far-northern expedition product, see our Viking Polaris Arctic Svalbard review.
Overall
Viking Sky on the Iceland-Greenland route is the rare cruise itinerary that genuinely earns the bucket-list label. The destinations are unique, the operational quality is uniformly excellent, the lecturer program adds real intellectual depth, and the all-inclusive pricing simplifies the value comparison.
Who It's For
Experienced cruisers seeking a destination-defining itinerary; serious geography and history enthusiasts; couples comfortable with sometimes-demanding seas and weather; Viking loyalists upgrading into more remote routes.
Who It's Not For
First-time cruisers (the demanding itinerary will overwhelm); travelers who want a warm-weather pool-deck cruise (much of this sailing is below 50°F outside); anyone uncomfortable with motion (North Atlantic in late summer can be serious).
Cabin Strategy and Iceland/Greenland Specifics
Viking Sky's standard Veranda cabin is the value sweet spot for Iceland/Greenland sailings — included excursions, all-balcony layout, and the calmer Viking shipboard rhythm make the standard cabin entirely sufficient for most travelers. Penthouse Veranda and Penthouse Junior Suite categories add modest interior space upgrades; both are worth considering for long voyages but discretionary for the typical 14-night Iceland circumnavigation. Mid-ship cabins on decks 4–5 deliver the smoothest sailing through North Atlantic conditions; bow-most lower-deck cabins feel North Atlantic swell most. Pack layers — even the warmest summer Greenland day is sweater weather. Book 11–14 months ahead for July or August departures; Iceland and Greenland sailings clear earlier than Mediterranean. For broader regional planning, see our Norwegian fjords cruise guide for the related cool-Atlantic sailing format.
Editorial Cross-References
For the broader fleet context and itinerary calendar, see our Viking cruise line page. For broader planning context, see our luxury cruise lines guide.
