Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic Cruise in March (2027)

Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic in March: Shoulder season

Limited sailings, mostly aurora-focused voyages from the UK. Longyearbyen celebrates the first sunlight reaching the town with its Sun Festival week, and Svalbard’s snowmobile and dog-sled season is at its best on land. Iceland’s days lengthen quickly, though snow and ice still cover the north.

Across Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic cruise ports, March brings average highs around 29°F (-1°C) and lows near 21°F, with about 3.5 inches of rain over the month and roughly 11 hours of daylight.

Verdict: Shoulder season
Season: Late May to September; Greenland and Svalbard mainly June to August
Average high / low: 29°F / 21°F
Rainfall (month): 3.5 in
Daylight: About 11 hours
Typical cruise length: 7–10 nights around Iceland; 12–16 nights from Europe; 10–14-night Arctic expeditions

What to pack: proper cold-weather layers: thermal base layers, a warm insulated waterproof jacket, hat, gloves and waterproof footwear.

How March compares with the rest of the year

No regular sailings
Shoulder season
Good time to go
Best time to go

Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic in February Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic in April

Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic weather in March

Average monthly weather in Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic cruise ports
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

Average daily highs and lows and monthly rainfall for 2015–2024 from NASA POWER for the area around Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic cruise ports, adjusted to sea level; daylight is calculated for mid-month. Real weather on any given day varies.

March weather port by port

Port	Avg high	Avg low	Rain	Daylight
Reykjavík	37°F	30°F	5.7 in	12 h
Akureyri	33°F	22°F	3.8 in	11 h
Ísafjörður	33°F	26°F	4.7 in	11 h
Seyðisfjörður	35°F	29°F	3.9 in	11 h
Tórshavn, Faroe Islands	43°F	40°F	3.8 in	12 h
Ilulissat	14°F	4°F	0.6 in	11 h
Nuuk	23°F	17°F	1.7 in	12 h
Longyearbyen, Svalbard	14°F	5°F	2.1 in	11 h
Tromsø	31°F	21°F	4.8 in	11 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 March

See every destination for March, with a port weather map →

Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic in March: FAQs

Is March a good time to cruise Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic?

It can be, as a shoulder-season month. Limited sailings, mostly aurora-focused voyages from the UK. Longyearbyen celebrates the first sunlight reaching the town with its Sun Festival week, and Svalbard’s snowmobile and dog-sled season is at its best on land. Iceland’s days lengthen quickly, though snow and ice still cover the north.

What is the weather like on a Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic cruise in March?

Across Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic cruise ports, March brings average highs around 29°F (-1°C) and lows near 21°F, with about 3.5 inches of rain over the month and roughly 11 hours of daylight. Conditions vary from port to port and day to day.

What should I pack for a Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic cruise in March?

Pack proper cold-weather layers: thermal base layers, a warm insulated waterproof jacket, hat, gloves and waterproof footwear. Check your cruise line's dress code for evenings.

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 March?

March is also a top month for Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean, Southern Caribbean, Bahamas.