Best time to cruise · No regular sailings
Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic cruises in December
No cruises. Icelandic children await the 13 Yule Lads, mischievous folklore figures who visit on the nights before Christmas, and New Year’s Eve brings community bonfires and fireworks across Reykjavík. Daylight is down to about four hours at the solstice.
- No regular sailings
- Avg high 30°F
- 3 hrs daylight
Photo: Hedwig Storch, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic in December: No regular sailings
No cruises. Icelandic children await the 13 Yule Lads, mischievous folklore figures who visit on the nights before Christmas, and New Year’s Eve brings community bonfires and fireworks across Reykjavík. Daylight is down to about four hours at the solstice.
Across Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic cruise ports, December brings average highs around 30°F (-1°C) and lows near 24°F, with about 4.1 inches of rain over the month and roughly 3 hours of daylight.
- Verdict
- No regular sailings
- Season
- Late May to September; Greenland and Svalbard mainly June to August
- Average high / low
- 30°F / 24°F
- Rainfall (month)
- 4.1 in
- Daylight
- About 3 hours
- Typical cruise length
- 7–10 nights around Iceland; 12–16 nights from Europe; 10–14-night Arctic expeditions
How December compares with the rest of the year
- Jan: No regular sailings
- Feb: Shoulder season
- Mar: Shoulder season
- Apr: No regular sailings
- May: Shoulder season
- Jun: Best time to go
- Jul: Best time to go
- Aug: Best time to go
- Sep: Good time to go
- Oct: Shoulder season
- Nov: No regular sailings
- Dec: No regular sailings
- No regular sailings
- Shoulder season
- Good time to go
- Best time to go
Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic weather in December
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F (°C) | 28-2 | 28-2 | 29-1 | 352 | 415 | 499 | 5312 | 5211 | 478 | 394 | 341 | 30-1 |
| Low °F (°C) | 21-6 | 20-7 | 21-6 | 27-3 | 341 | 415 | 468 | 457 | 405 | 331 | 28-2 | 24-5 |
| Rain in (mm) | 3.998 | 3.794 | 3.588 | 2.973 | 3.076 | 3.281 | 3.385 | 3.794 | 4.5113 | 4.2107 | 3.896 | 4.1105 |
| Daylight (hrs) | 4 | 7 | 11 | 16 | 20 | 23 | 21 | 18 | 13 | 9 | 5 | 3 |
December weather port by port
| Port | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reykjavík | 35°F | 29°F | 5.6 in | 4 h |
| Akureyri | 30°F | 21°F | 4.9 in | 3 h |
| Ísafjörður | 33°F | 27°F | 5.0 in | 3 h |
| Seyðisfjörður | 35°F | 29°F | 5.3 in | 4 h |
| Tórshavn, Faroe Islands | 44°F | 41°F | 5.8 in | 5 h |
| Ilulissat | 19°F | 11°F | 1.0 in | 0 h |
| Nuuk | 26°F | 21°F | 2.4 in | 4 h |
| Longyearbyen, Svalbard | 20°F | 13°F | 2.6 in | 0 h |
| Tromsø | 28°F | 19°F | 4.7 in | 0 h |
Average daily highs and lows, 2015–2024, from NASA POWER, adjusted to sea level. Rain is the average monthly total.
Other great cruise destinations in December
- Caribbean in December
- Eastern Caribbean in December
- Western Caribbean in December
- Southern Caribbean in December
- Mexican Riviera & Baja in December
- Panama Canal & Central America in December
- South America in December
- Galápagos Islands in December
- Canary Islands & Atlantic Isles in December
- Antarctica in December
See every destination for December, with a port weather map →
Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic in December: FAQs
Is December a good time to cruise Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic?
Generally not: there are few or no regular sailings. No cruises. Icelandic children await the 13 Yule Lads, mischievous folklore figures who visit on the nights before Christmas, and New Year’s Eve brings community bonfires and fireworks across Reykjavík. Daylight is down to about four hours at the solstice.
What is the weather like on a Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic cruise in December?
Across Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic cruise ports, December brings average highs around 30°F (-1°C) and lows near 24°F, with about 4.1 inches of rain over the month and roughly 3 hours of daylight. Conditions vary from port to port and day to day.
When is the best time to cruise Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic?
Late May to September; Greenland and Svalbard mainly June to August. The best months are usually June, July, August.
Where else can I cruise in December?
December is also a top month for Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean, Southern Caribbean, Mexican Riviera & Baja.
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: NASA POWER climate data.