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Kosher Iceland Tours: Scotland and Iceland Cruise, July 2027
Rotterdam round tripWhere
July 11–25, 2027Dates
$6,990 per personFrom
The cruise
Fourteen nights to Iceland and Scotland, from Rotterdam and back
Our kosher Iceland tour for 2027 goes by sea. The Scotland and Iceland Explorer is a kosher cruise to Iceland of fourteen nights aboard Holland America's Rotterdam, from Rotterdam on Sunday, July 11, 2027 and back to Rotterdam on Sunday, July 25. The ship calls at Inverness for the Scottish Highlands, then sails to Iceland: Seyðisfjörður, Akureyri, Ísafjörður, a full day in Reykjavík and the volcanic Westman Islands. It returns by way of Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands, with two days in Edinburgh. Our own group is on board: Glatt Kosher Mehadrin meals cooked for the group, a minyan every day, and Shabbat kept together.
- 14 nights on board
- Board in Rotterdam on Sunday, July 11; the ship sails at 3:00 pm. Leave the ship in Rotterdam after breakfast on Sunday, July 25.
- Five Icelandic stops
- Seyðisfjörður, Akureyri, Ísafjörður, Reykjavík and Heimaey, with scenic cruising in three fjords.
- Two days in Edinburgh
- The ship stays overnight in Edinburgh, from 9:00 am on Thursday until 11:00 pm on Friday.
- Meals
- Glatt Kosher Mehadrin, freshly prepared for the group and served in its own dining area, with lunches for days ashore.
What the cruise includes
- Fourteen nights aboard the Rotterdam, with taxes and port charges
- Glatt Kosher Mehadrin meals, freshly prepared for the group, Chalav Yisrael, Pat Yisrael and Bishul Yisrael
- An executive kosher chef on board, with mashgichim responsible for the kosher kitchen
- A dining area of our own for the group
- Lunch options for the days ashore, or on board
- Our own weekday program and Shabbat program
- A daily minyan, with a Sefer Torah on board
Your flights to Rotterdam and home, shore excursions and travel insurance are not in this list.
Kashrut
A kosher kitchen for the group, on a Holland America ship
The ship is Holland America's, with its own guests on board; our group eats apart from them. Every meal is Glatt Kosher Mehadrin, freshly prepared for the group alone by an executive kosher chef, under mashgichim who are responsible for the kosher kitchen, and served in a dining area that is ours.
Everything is Chalav Yisrael, Pat Yisrael and Bishul Yisrael. We choose a ship for its willingness to meet our kashrut needs, and our own cook and mashgiach sail with the group. There is a lunch option every day, on board or to take ashore.
The ship
Your cabin on the Rotterdam
There are three kinds of cabin on this sailing: an interior cabin, an oceanview cabin and a club balcony cabin. Prices are per person, two to a cabin.
- Interior Cabin
- An inside cabin for two, and the most affordable way to sail.
- Oceanview Cabin
- A cabin for two with a window onto the sea.
- Club Balcony Cabin
- A cabin for two with a private balcony looking out over the sea.
Port by port
The Scotland and Iceland Explorer itinerary, day by day
Times are the ship's arrival and departure at each port as the sailing is scheduled, and may change.
- Day 1 · Sun, Jul 11Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Board the ship and settle in before it sails for Scotland and Iceland.Departs 3:00 pm
- Day 2 · Mon, Jul 12A day at sea, with lectures, tefillot and time to unwind.At sea
- Day 3 · Tue, Jul 13Inverness, Scotland, the gateway to the Scottish Highlands: Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle and whisky distilleries are within reach.7:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Day 4 · Wed, Jul 14A day at sea, on the way to Iceland.At sea
- Day 5 · Thu, Jul 15Seyðisfjörður, Iceland. One of Iceland's most picturesque fjord villages, with scenic cruising through the fjord between towering mountains and waterfalls.8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Day 6 · Fri, Jul 16Akureyri, Iceland. The northern capital, with scenic cruising through the Eyjafjörður, one of the country's longest fjords.8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Day 7 · Sat, Jul 17Ísafjörður, Iceland, in the Westfjords, with scenic cruising through the Ísafjarðardjúp and its cliffs.8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Day 8 · Sun, Jul 18Reykjavík, Iceland. A full day in the capital, with its geothermal pools, museums and shops, and the Blue Lagoon as an optional excursion.7:00 am – 10:00 pm
- Day 9 · Mon, Jul 19Heimaey, in the Westman Islands. A volcanic island of lava fields and birdlife.9:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Day 10 · Tue, Jul 20A day at sea, on the way back to Scotland.At sea
- Day 11 · Wed, Jul 21Kirkwall, in the Orkney Islands, Scotland. Viking heritage, ancient stone circles and the St Magnus Cathedral.8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Day 12 · Thu, Jul 22Edinburgh, Scotland. The ship stays overnight, so there is time for Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile and the city's history.Arrives 9:00 am
- Day 13 · Fri, Jul 23Edinburgh. A full second day in the city, before the ship sails late in the evening.Departs 11:00 pm
- Day 14 · Sat, Jul 24Shabbat at sea: tefillot, shiurim and the Shabbat meals together, on the way back to the Netherlands.At sea
- Day 15 · Sun, Jul 25Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Leave the ship after breakfast, for your flight home or a stay in the city.Arrives 7:00 am
Shabbat and Torah
Shabbat on board, and a minyan every day
A Sefer Torah sails with the group and there is a minyan every day of the cruise. There are three days at sea, with lectures and time together alongside our own weekday program.
There are two Shabbatot on the sailing. Saturday, July 17 falls in port at Ísafjörður (8:00 am to 5:00 pm), and Saturday, July 24 is a day at sea on the way back to Rotterdam. Shabbat is kept with the group, with the Shabbat meals on board.
Who it suits
Who the cruise suits, and what the ports ask of you
Fourteen nights is a long cruise: you unpack once, and the ship carries you from the Highlands to the fjords of Iceland and back. The fjords themselves are seen from the deck, so the scenery does not depend on how far you walk.
- Our guests are mostly English speakers from the USA, Europe and Israel
- The cruise starts and ends in Rotterdam, so you book a return flight to the same airport
- Three of the ports are sailed into at the head of a fjord, with scenic cruising on the way
- Edinburgh is a two-day stop, with the ship in port overnight
- The reservation form asks for a short health declaration
Price
What the cruise costs, cabin by cabin
| Cabin | 14 nightsJuly 11 to 25, 2027 |
|---|---|
| Interior Cabin | $6,990 |
| Oceanview Cabin | $7,790 |
| Club Balcony Cabin | $8,490 |
The cabins
-
Interior Cabin
An inside cabin with no window: stylish, comfortable and the most affordable way to sail.
-
Oceanview Cabin
A comfortable cabin with a window onto the sea.
-
Club Balcony Cabin
Your own private, unobstructed balcony looking out over the sea.
Cabin sizes and features are the cruise line’s, and can vary by deck and position on the ship.
The price covers the fourteen nights on board, every kosher meal and our own program. Flights, shore excursions and travel insurance are extra.
Deposit and terms
What you pay, and when
Payment
- On booking$1,000 per person
- Balance120 days before departure
All prices and payments are in US dollars.
If you need to cancel
- 120 days or more before$500 per person
- 45 to 120 days before50% of the invoice
- Within 45 daysNo refund
We strongly recommend travel insurance covering cancellation, medical care and luggage.
What happens after you inquire
- You send a short inquiry
A few questions, with this cruise already filled in.
- We reply within one working day
The person for your region will be in touch with the cabins still open and the reservation form.
- We answer every question
Kashrut, cabins, Shabbat, the ports, flights and payment. We are happy to answer all of your questions so you can make an informed decision.
- Cabins are confirmed in order of booking
The group has a fixed number of cabins. Your reservation form and deposit confirm yours.
Your hosts
Who is looking after you
David Walles
Cruises and tours
David looks after our cruises and tours with Chana. Who from our team sails with the group is confirmed with your booking.
Our guests all share a commitment to Shabbat and kosher observance, but there are no specific religious requirements to join. We won't ask about your personal religious practices. For anything before you travel, the simplest route is an email or a call to the line for your region; every missed call and message is returned.
What our guests have to say
What guests said
“The organization, catering and religious atmosphere are amazing!”
“we sailed on a cruise operated by Kosher Travelers, with gourmet kosher cuisine, alongside daily prayer minyanim and shiurim, a proper Shabbat atmosphere, and excursions on shore with outstanding Jewish content.”
“Menachem and I truly enjoyed our cruise and all that went along with it and will be sure to recommend you to our friends.”
Questions
Asked before booking the Scotland and Iceland Explorer
When is the kosher Scotland and Iceland cruise?
Sunday, July 11 to Sunday, July 25, 2027: fourteen nights aboard Holland America's Rotterdam, from Rotterdam and back.
Where does the cruise start and finish?
You board in Rotterdam on July 11; the ship sails at 3:00 pm. It arrives back in Rotterdam at 7:00 am on July 25, where you leave the ship after breakfast. You book your own flights.
Which ports does the cruise visit?
Inverness in Scotland, then in Iceland Seyðisfjörður, Akureyri, Ísafjörður, Reykjavík and Heimaey in the Westman Islands, then Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands and two days in Edinburgh, with three days at sea. There is scenic cruising in the Seyðisfjörður, the Eyjafjörður and the Ísafjarðardjúp.
How long are we in Reykjavík?
A full day: the ship arrives at 7:00 am on Sunday, July 18 and sails at 10:00 pm.
Is every meal kosher on the ship?
Yes. Every meal for the group is Glatt Kosher Mehadrin, Chalav Yisrael, Pat Yisrael and Bishul Yisrael, freshly prepared for the group by an executive kosher chef under mashgichim, and served in a dining area of our own. There is a lunch option every day, on board or to take ashore.
How is Shabbat kept on the cruise?
With the group, on board. A Sefer Torah sails with us and there is a minyan every day. Shabbat on July 17 falls in port at Ísafjörður, and Shabbat on July 24 is a day at sea.
Are shore excursions included?
No. Shore excursions are optional in every port and booked separately. Ask us which ones suit a day in port.
Do I need travel insurance?
We strongly recommend insurance covering cancellation, medical care and luggage, bought as soon as you book so the cover is complete.
Also in 2027
Our other cruises
- Hidden Gems of the Fjords: Kosher Fjords Cruise, August 2027
- Kosher Baltic Heritage Cruise, August 2027
- Kosher Mediterranean Cruise: Four Sailings in 2027
Every cruise we run, with its dates, is on the kosher cruises page.
Connect
Friendships that outlast the trip.
Enrich
Memories that touch the soul.
Inquire
Speak to someone about your trip
Call the line for your region, or send an inquiry and we will come back to you.
- Israel+972 2 992 9801
- USA / Canada+1 646 240 4118
- Europe+44 207 048 6168
- Australia+61 39 999 7496
- South Africa+27 83 377 1908
Speak to Shelley in reservations. Every missed call and message is returned.
Since 1991 · Glatt Mehadrin