Best time to cruise · No regular sailings
Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic cruises in January
No cruising. Iceland becomes a winter land trip, with roughly four to five hours of daylight in Reykjavík, ice caves open in Vatnajökull and the northern lights overhead on clear nights. The traditional Þorrablót feasts, with fermented shark and sour ram’s testicles, begin late in the month. Svalbard and Greenland remain dark and frozen.
- No regular sailings
- Avg high 28°F
- 4 hrs daylight
Photo: Hedwig Storch, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic in January: No regular sailings
No cruising. Iceland becomes a winter land trip, with roughly four to five hours of daylight in Reykjavík, ice caves open in Vatnajökull and the northern lights overhead on clear nights. The traditional Þorrablót feasts, with fermented shark and sour ram’s testicles, begin late in the month. Svalbard and Greenland remain dark and frozen.
Across Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic cruise ports, January brings average highs around 28°F (-2°C) and lows near 21°F, with about 3.9 inches of rain over the month and roughly 4 hours of daylight.
- Verdict
- No regular sailings
- Season
- Late May to September; Greenland and Svalbard mainly June to August
- Average high / low
- 28°F / 21°F
- Rainfall (month)
- 3.9 in
- Daylight
- About 4 hours
- Typical cruise length
- 7–10 nights around Iceland; 12–16 nights from Europe; 10–14-night Arctic expeditions
How January 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 January
| 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 |
January weather port by port
| Port | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reykjavík | 35°F | 28°F | 6.5 in | 5 h |
| Akureyri | 30°F | 20°F | 4.1 in | 5 h |
| Ísafjörður | 32°F | 25°F | 5.5 in | 4 h |
| Seyðisfjörður | 35°F | 27°F | 3.9 in | 5 h |
| Tórshavn, Faroe Islands | 43°F | 39°F | 5.0 in | 6 h |
| Ilulissat | 13°F | 4°F | 0.8 in | 2 h |
| Nuuk | 23°F | 17°F | 2.6 in | 5 h |
| Longyearbyen, Svalbard | 17°F | 10°F | 2.0 in | 0 h |
| Tromsø | 25°F | 15°F | 4.5 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 January
- Caribbean in January
- Eastern Caribbean in January
- Western Caribbean in January
- Southern Caribbean in January
- Hawaii in January
- Mexican Riviera & Baja in January
- Panama Canal & Central America in January
- South America in January
- Galápagos Islands in January
- Canary Islands & Atlantic Isles in January
See every destination for January, with a port weather map →
Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic in January: FAQs
Is January a good time to cruise Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic?
Generally not: there are few or no regular sailings. No cruising. Iceland becomes a winter land trip, with roughly four to five hours of daylight in Reykjavík, ice caves open in Vatnajökull and the northern lights overhead on clear nights. The traditional Þorrablót feasts, with fermented shark and sour ram’s testicles, begin late in the month. Svalbard and Greenland remain dark and frozen.
What is the weather like on a Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic cruise in January?
Across Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic cruise ports, January brings average highs around 28°F (-2°C) and lows near 21°F, with about 3.9 inches of rain over the month and roughly 4 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 January?
January is also a top month for Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean, Southern Caribbean, Hawaii.
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: NASA POWER climate data.