Best time to cruise · Shoulder season
Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic cruises in May
The season begins late in the month with the first Iceland calls. Puffins settle into their burrows, snow still blankets the highlands and many mountain roads stay closed. Daylight stretches to 18 or more hours by month’s end, and highs reach around 50°F (10°C).
- Shoulder season
- Avg high 41°F
- 20 hrs daylight
Photo: Hedwig Storch, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic in May: Shoulder season
The season begins late in the month with the first Iceland calls. Puffins settle into their burrows, snow still blankets the highlands and many mountain roads stay closed. Daylight stretches to 18 or more hours by month’s end, and highs reach around 50°F (10°C).
Across Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic cruise ports, May brings average highs around 41°F (5°C) and lows near 34°F, with about 3 inches of rain over the month and roughly 20 hours of daylight.
- Verdict
- Shoulder season
- Season
- Late May to September; Greenland and Svalbard mainly June to August
- Average high / low
- 41°F / 34°F
- Rainfall (month)
- 3 in
- Daylight
- About 20 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 May 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 May
| 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 |
May weather port by port
| Port | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reykjavík | 47°F | 40°F | 4.6 in | 18 h |
| Akureyri | 42°F | 33°F | 3.0 in | 19 h |
| Ísafjörður | 43°F | 35°F | 4.2 in | 19 h |
| Seyðisfjörður | 43°F | 36°F | 2.7 in | 19 h |
| Tórshavn, Faroe Islands | 47°F | 44°F | 2.7 in | 18 h |
| Ilulissat | 37°F | 28°F | 1.4 in | 21 h |
| Nuuk | 36°F | 31°F | 2.3 in | 18 h |
| Longyearbyen, Svalbard | 30°F | 24°F | 2.0 in | 24 h |
| Tromsø | 46°F | 35°F | 4.1 in | 22 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 May
Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic in May: FAQs
Is May a good time to cruise Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic?
It can be, as a shoulder-season month. The season begins late in the month with the first Iceland calls. Puffins settle into their burrows, snow still blankets the highlands and many mountain roads stay closed. Daylight stretches to 18 or more hours by month’s end, and highs reach around 50°F (10°C).
What is the weather like on a Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic cruise in May?
Across Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic cruise ports, May brings average highs around 41°F (5°C) and lows near 34°F, with about 3 inches of rain over the month and roughly 20 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 May?
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 May?
May is also a top month for Bahamas, Bermuda, Hawaii, Pacific Coastal, Galápagos Islands.
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: NASA POWER climate data.