The idea first came to us on a road map: there is a single ferry line that connects mainland Europe to the Faroe Islands and Iceland, sailing through some of the most dramatic ocean scenery on earth. The Smyril Line’s MS Norröna runs from Hirtshals in northern Denmark to Tórshavn in the Faroes, then on to Seyðisfjörður in eastern Iceland — a total crossing of roughly three days at sea.

We’d already flown to both destinations separately. Taking the ferry felt like a different kind of trip altogether — slower, more immersive, and for us, a way to bring a car. Here is everything we wish we’d known before we booked.

Understanding the North Atlantic ferry route and schedule

There is only one year-round passenger ferry route across the North Atlantic from mainland Europe to Iceland, and it is operated by Smyril Line aboard the MS Norröna. The ship departs Hirtshals in northern Denmark, calls at Tórshavn in the Faroe Islands, and continues to Seyðisfjörður on Iceland’s east coast. The return route reverses the same stops.

The full sailing schedule at a glance

• Hirtshals → Tórshavn: approximately 34–37 hours at sea, depending on weather.
• Tórshavn → Seyðisfjörður (Iceland): approximately 12–14 hours.
• Total Denmark to Iceland: roughly 48–52 hours including the Faroe Islands port call (you disembark or stay aboard).
• Frequency: once a week in each direction in winter; twice a week in peak summer (check the Smyril Line website for the exact year’s schedule, as it shifts annually).
• Season: the ship runs all year, but winter sailings are fewer and conditions at sea are harsher — October to March is for experienced sailors or the adventurous.

The Faroe Islands as a stop-off or through-sailing

• You can disembark in Tórshavn, spend 2–5 days in the Faroes, and reboard a later sailing to Iceland — this is how we structured our trip and we highly recommend it.
• Alternatively, you stay aboard in Tórshavn for the port call (roughly 8–10 hours) and continue straight to Iceland.
• The port call time in Tórshavn is usually enough for a quick city walk, but not for driving to Mykines or the remote west. If you want to see the Faroes properly, disembark.

How to book: cabins, cars, and the best timing

Booking a North Atlantic ferry crossing is more involved than a Baltic or Mediterranean crossing — it is more like booking a small cruise. The Smyril Line website (smyril-line.com) handles everything, and you’ll make several decisions at once: cabin type, vehicle, meal plan, and sailing direction.

Step 1: Choose your cabin type

• Economy/Pullman seats: the cheapest option — reclining airline-style seats. Fine for a 10-hour Baltic ferry, genuinely difficult for 36 hours on rough North Atlantic water. We do not recommend this on the full crossing.
• 2-berth inside cabin: the sweet spot for most travelers. No window, but you have a proper bed, a door, and somewhere to retreat when the swell picks up. This is what we booked.
• 2-berth outside cabin (porthole or window): adds light and a view, worthwhile if you can afford it — especially for the Faroe approach when scenery is spectacular.
• Suites and club cabins: larger rooms, sometimes with a sea-view window and a sitting area. A genuine splurge but worth considering for couples doing 3+ nights aboard.

Step 2: Add your vehicle

• Cars are priced by length — most standard passenger cars fall in the 4–5m bracket.
• Campervans, vans, and roof-tent setups are charged at a higher rate and sometimes require advance confirmation of height clearance (the car deck has overhead limits).
• Motorcycles and bicycles are accommodated — check the current rates as they change by season.

Step 3: Timing your booking

• Peak summer (June–August): book 3–6 months ahead, especially if you want a cabin or a specific sailing date. The Norröna fills up fast in high season.
• Shoulder season (May, September): 4–8 weeks ahead is usually sufficient, with more cabin availability.
• Winter (October–March): often available closer to the date, but crossings can be rough and some itinerary options are reduced.
• Sign up for Smyril Line’s email list — they sometimes run early-bird promotions in January and February for the coming summer.

North Atlantic ferry costs: what to actually budget

The crossing is not cheap, but it is competitive with a round-trip flight when you factor in that you are also moving your car, and sleeping costs nothing during the crossing itself (you’re in your cabin). Here is a realistic breakdown based on our experience.

Typical cost per person, one way (peak summer, 2-berth cabin)

• Cabin (2-berth inside, per person): €180–€260
• Car (standard passenger vehicle, one way): €220–€320 split between two travelers = €110–€160 per person
• Meals onboard: the ship has a buffet restaurant (roughly €25–€35 per meal), a café, and a grill. Budget €50–€80 per person for the full crossing if you eat all meals onboard.
• Port fees and fuel surcharges: approximately €30–€60 per person — check at time of booking as these fluctuate.
• Total per person, Denmark → Iceland (2-berth cabin + car, meals onboard): roughly €400–€550 in peak season.

Ways to reduce the cost

• Book the inside cabin instead of outside — the difference is €40–€80 per person for a room you’ll mostly sleep in.
• Bring your own food for at least one meal. The ship allows outside food in cabins; the buffet is convenient but expensive.
• Travel shoulder season: May and September prices are typically 15–25% lower than July.
• Book early: the lowest cabin tiers sell first — the same sailing can cost 30–40% more when booked last-minute.

What to pack for days at sea on the North Atlantic

Packing for this crossing is different from packing for a European city break. The North Atlantic between Denmark and Iceland is one of the rougher stretches of ocean in the world — the swell regularly reaches 3–5 metres even in summer. Even if you have never been seasick in your life, prepare accordingly.

Seasickness essentials (non-negotiable)

• Scopolamine patches (Scopoderm): prescription in many countries, but the most effective option for multi-day crossings. Apply behind the ear 4–6 hours before sailing. Get the prescription before you leave home.
• Cinnarizine or meclizine tablets: over-the-counter alternatives; less powerful but widely available.
• Sea-Bands (acupressure wristbands): surprisingly effective for mild motion sickness and a good backup.
• Ginger capsules or ginger biscuits: not a cure, but they help settle the stomach and are worth having in your bag.

Comfort items for the cabin and deck

• A small pillow from home — cabin pillows are standard but thin.
• Earplugs and an eye mask — the ship runs 24 hours and corridors can be noisy.
• Warm layers for the deck: even in July, the open ocean between the Faroes and Iceland is cold and windy.
• A waterproof jacket — spray and rain are routine, and standing on the outer deck when the Faroe cliffs emerge is one of the best moments of the whole trip.
• Entertainment for calm stretches: books, downloaded shows, offline playlists. Ship WiFi is slow and expensive.

Life onboard: food, facilities, and surviving the swell

The MS Norröna is a large, well-equipped ship — not a cruise liner, but more comfortable than most people expect. Here is what daily life on the crossing actually looks like.

Onboard facilities

• Buffet restaurant: open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Food quality is solid — fresh seafood features regularly, which feels right for the North Atlantic. The buffet at dinner is the most expensive meal; we found the café and grill more affordable for lighter meals.
• Café and grill bar: casual seating, hot drinks, sandwiches, and snacks. Where we spent most of our onboard time.
• Duty-free shop: alcohol, perfume, and Faroese souvenirs at good prices. Stock up on Faroese wool products — they’re significantly cheaper here than in Tórshavn’s tourist shops.
• Lounge areas and bar: comfortable seating, live music on some sailings, and a surprisingly social atmosphere — solo travelers and families mix easily over long crossings.
• WiFi: available but slow and sold in packages. Use it for messaging, not streaming.

Surviving rough seas

• If swell is significant, eat lightly before it picks up — a heavy buffet dinner followed by a 4-metre swell is a bad combination.
• Stay amidships and low in the ship during rough weather — these spots move the least. The outer decks feel dramatic but worsen nausea.
• Fresh air actually helps — brief periods on the outer deck in moderate conditions can reset a queasy stomach better than lying in the cabin.
• Focus on the horizon if nausea starts. The cabin porthole or deck rail are your best tools.

Planning your itinerary: Faroes first or Iceland first?

The two most common approaches are sailing outbound to Iceland and returning via the Faroes, or stopping in the Faroes on the way out and continuing to Iceland. Both work; the choice depends on your schedule and priorities.

Option A: Faroes stopover on the way out (our approach)

• Sail Hirtshals → Tórshavn → disembark. Spend 3–5 days driving the Faroe Islands.
• Reboard a later sailing to Seyðisfjörður, Iceland. Drive the Ring Road. Return flight from Reykjavík.
• Best for: travelers who want to do both destinations thoroughly and aren’t tied to a car return. You drop the car on the outbound ferry and fly home from Iceland.

Option B: Iceland there and back, Faroes on return

• Fly to Reykjavík or drive up from Denmark, sail to Iceland via Faroes (without disembarking), do Iceland, then sail back via Faroes where you disembark for 2–3 days before the final leg to Denmark.
• Best for: travelers who want their car in Iceland for the Ring Road and want a shorter Faroes stop on the way back.

Timing notes

• The Faroes deserve at least 3 full days to see Gásadalur, Mykines, Saksun, and Eiðisvatn lake. A 10-hour port call gives you Tórshavn and nothing else.
• Iceland’s Ring Road is 1,332 km — plan 7–10 days for a proper circuit; 5 days for the south and west only.
• If combining both destinations, a minimum realistic trip is 14 days: 2 days crossing each way, 4 days Faroes, 7 days Iceland.

Mistakes we made on our first North Atlantic crossing

• Booking outside cabin tickets too late. We ended up in an inside cabin on the outbound leg because we booked 6 weeks before peak season. For the best experience, book windows or portholes as soon as dates are set.
• Underestimating seasickness risk. We are generally fine on Baltic and Mediterranean ferries. The North Atlantic is a different category. Neither of us was seriously ill, but the third night on a return sailing in September was rough. Carry medication regardless of your usual tolerance.
• Not downloading entertainment in advance. Ship WiFi is genuinely too slow for streaming. Download films, podcasts, and offline maps before you board.
• Missing the Faroe Islands approach from the deck. We were in the café when the Faroe cliffs came into view on the outbound leg. We didn’t make that mistake on the return. Set an alarm for the arrival approach — it’s one of the best views of the whole trip.
• Forgetting the duty-free window closes before docking. The duty-free shop shuts roughly 2 hours before the ship enters Faroese waters. Buy what you want the night before.
• Not checking car-deck access times. You cannot access your car during most of the crossing — the car deck is locked for safety. Make sure everything you need for the cabin is packed in a bag before you drive aboard.

Frequently asked questions

Planning a North Atlantic ferry trip takes more lead time and more patience than booking a flight, but it rewards you with something a flight never can: the feeling of having actually crossed an ocean, of watching the Faroe cliffs emerge from the mist, and of arriving in Iceland knowing exactly how far you have come.

We drove aboard in Denmark and stepped off in Iceland with a car full of camping gear, a log of everything that had worked and everything we’d do differently, and a strong desire to do it again. If you’re weighing the ferry against another return flight, we’d take the ship every time.

Questions about the crossing? Leave them in the comments or find us on Instagram — we’re always happy to help fellow travelers plan a route from Rovaniemi out into the North Atlantic.