If you are sailing on Norwegian Star and need a transfer in Reykjavik, the simplest option is a pre-booked private car or minibus. It meets you at the Skarfabakki cruise terminal or at Keflavík Airport (KEF) and takes you straight to your ship, hotel or flight, with no timetables to match. Public buses, taxis and cruise-line shuttles also work, and this guide explains what each one involves so you can choose before you travel.
We focus here on the three journeys cruise guests ask about most: port to city, port to the airport, and airport to port on embarkation day.
TL;DR
- Large ships, including mid-size liners like Norwegian Star, normally use the Skarfabakki terminal, about 4 km from central Reykjavík.
- Port to city is short (walk, scooter, bus 16, taxi or shuttle). Port to Keflavík Airport is a longer road trip, so plan roughly an hour on the road plus a buffer.
- Taxis at KEF run 24 hours a day, with a typical fare of around 20,000 ISK to the Reykjavík area. Ask for the price before you get in.
- A private transfer with us has a fixed price, flight tracking and free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup. Ask us for a quote for port pickups.
- Check your cruise confirmation for the current shuttle and port details, because these change by season and itinerary.
Table of Contents
- Where Norwegian Star docks in Reykjavík
- Port to city centre: your options
- Port to Keflavík Airport: distance and timing
- Airport to port: embarkation day
- What to think about before you book
- Our view: what cruise guests tell us they need
- Combining your transfer with a lagoon visit
- Book a private transfer for your Norwegian Star trip
- A simple plan for each type of traveler
- FAQ
- Sources
Where Norwegian Star docks in Reykjavík
Skarfabakki is the primary cruise ship terminal in Reykjavík, according to Visit Reykjavík's guide to arriving by cruise ship. The same page puts the pier about 4 km from the city centre. That is too far to wander over casually with luggage, but close enough that a taxi or shuttle ride is short.
Skarfabakki sits in the Sundahöfn harbour area on the east side of the city. Smaller expedition vessels sometimes use harbours nearer the centre, so your final berth is whatever your cruise documents say. For a ship the size of Norwegian Star, expect Skarfabakki unless your line tells you otherwise.
Two practical points follow from the location:
- There are few cafés or shops right at the pier, so decide before you disembark whether you want to go into town or straight to an excursion.
- Iceland's weather is changeable. A 4 km walk in wind and rain is a very different thing from the same walk on a calm day.
Port to city centre: your options
Visit Reykjavík lists walking, electric scooters (such as Hopp), a taxi and public bus route 16 as ways into town from the cruise terminal. Here is how they compare in practice.
| Option | Best for | Things to know |
|---|---|---|
| Walk | Light packers, good weather | About 4 km each way, so allow time for the return before all-aboard |
| Electric scooter | Solo travelers with a day bag | Weather dependent, not suited to luggage or young children |
| Bus route 16 (Strætó) | Budget-conscious travelers | Serves the Skarfabakki area; check the current timetable and payment method |
| Taxi | Couples, small families | Quick, but the fare is metered, so ask for an estimate |
| Private transfer | Groups, families, tours | Fixed price, meets you at the port, can continue onward to sights |
| Cruise-line shuttle | Simple town drop-off | Availability and price are set by the cruise line and can change |
A question that comes up often is whether Norwegian Cruise Line offers a free shuttle from the terminal. We cannot promise one. Whether a shuttle runs, what it costs and where it stops depend on the sailing, so look in your Norwegian Cruise Line shore excursion and port information, or ask at the guest services desk on board.
Port to Keflavík Airport: distance and timing
Keflavík Airport is on the Reykjanes peninsula, well to the southwest of the capital. The Skarfabakki terminal is on the opposite, eastern side of Reykjavík, so the drive crosses the city before it heads out on the main road to the airport.
KEF itself says that journey times from the airport to the Reykjavík area are estimated at 30 to 90 minutes, depending on where in the capital you are going and on conditions. From the cruise terminal, which is on the far side of the city, a good working figure is roughly an hour in normal traffic. That is our planning estimate rather than an official figure, so add a margin, especially in winter.
Disembarkation day with an afternoon flight
Ships often arrive early in the morning and passengers are asked to leave by a set time. A flight at 4 pm or later gives you room to see something before the airport. A flight at 10 am is a different matter: you may have to clear the ship, collect luggage and leave straight away. If you are in that position, book the road transfer in advance rather than looking for a taxi on the quay.
A reasonable timeline for an international departure:
- Confirm your disembarkation group and time with the ship.
- Add about an hour for the road trip, then extra for traffic or weather.
- Plan to reach the airport comfortably ahead of check-in closing for your airline.
- Book a fixed-time pickup that matches the time you will actually be off the ship.
Airlines and airports publish their own check-in advice, so follow your carrier's guidance for how early to arrive.
Airport to port: embarkation day
If you fly into KEF to join Norwegian Star, your journey runs the other way. There are four common routes.
Flybus. The Flybus runs scheduled services between KEF and the BSÍ Bus Terminal in Reykjavík, with departures coordinated with flight schedules, according to Keflavík Airport. BSÍ is in the city, not at the cruise terminal, so you still need a second leg to Skarfabakki.
Taxi. Taxis are available at KEF around the clock. The airport quotes a typical fare of approximately 20,000 ISK between KEF and Reykjavík in a standard vehicle, and advises asking about the fare before you travel. A larger vehicle for a family with cases costs more.
Pre-booked private transfer. A driver waits for you, tracks your flight and takes you directly to the ship. This is the lowest-effort option, particularly after a transatlantic or European overnight flight.
Cruise-line transfer. Some lines sell airport transfers as part of the cruise package. If you bought one, use it, and keep your private transfer as a fallback only if the cruise line's schedule does not fit your flight.
For a full comparison of all the ways to cover the airport to Reykjavík stretch, our guide Keflavík Airport to Reykjavík: all transport options lays them out side by side. If the port is your destination, our article on getting from Keflavík Airport to the Reykjavík cruise port covers the details.
What to think about before you book
Cruise transfers fail for ordinary reasons: luggage that does not fit, a pickup time that ignores disembarkation, or a driver who does not know the flight changed. Work through this list first.
Luggage
Cruise guests tend to carry more than airline-only travelers: large cases, sometimes golf bags or camera equipment. Count your bags and tell the transfer provider the number when you book. A sedan seats a couple and their suitcases comfortably, but a family of four with four large cases needs a minivan.
Group size
Private transfers are priced very differently from per-seat shuttles. If you are traveling with friends from the same cabin block or a family group, a single larger vehicle can be better value than two taxis. Our fleet covers groups of up to 49 passengers, which is useful for tour groups and school parties from the same ship.
Flight timing
Two timings matter: when you can leave the ship, and when your flight departs. Build the plan around the later of the two. Flight tracking also helps on arrival days: if your flight lands late, the driver adjusts rather than leaving without you.
Weather and sailing changes
Itineraries can change. Cruise lines sometimes alter or cancel port calls, and weather in the North Atlantic can delay arrivals. This is why a flexible cancellation policy is worth more than a small saving. With us, you can cancel up to 24 hours before pickup for a full refund.
Our view: what cruise guests tell us they need
We run transfers across Iceland, and cruise guests have a particular set of worries. They do not want to be the last person looking for a ride when the ship empties out. They do not want to guess a taxi fare after a long trip. And they want to know that if the ship docks late, someone will still be there.
Our approach is simple. We quote a fixed price in advance, with no hidden fees. We track flights so that delays do not mean missed pickups. Our drivers are licensed and speak English, and our vehicles, from Mercedes to Tesla and Toyota, have free WiFi on board. Support is open 24 hours a day, which matters on a day when your ship and your plane have different clocks.
For port pickups and drop-offs, our advice is to book early, put the ship name and your disembarkation time in the notes, and keep your confirmation handy. If you want to go somewhere other than the airport on the same day, such as a lagoon or a short sightseeing stop, tell us when you book so we can build in the time.
— Sergiu
Combining your transfer with a lagoon visit
Many guests with a late flight use the gap to relax before flying. Our private transfers to the Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon are each from 36 USD per traveler, one way, and the Blue Lagoon sits close to the road between Reykjavík and the airport, so it can fit into the journey. Book your lagoon entry separately, and check opening times and arrival slots with the lagoon before you plan the day.
If you have a full day in port and prefer to see the country rather than the city, we offer private tours with a driver for the group. Prices are per group:
| Private tour | From |
|---|---|
| Golden Circle Classic with Kerið Crater | 1550 USD |
| South Coast with Vík and Black Sand Beach | 1800 USD |
| Snæfellsnes Peninsula | 1950 USD |
| Northern Lights Evening Tour | 950 USD |
Check how long each tour takes against your all-aboard time before you book a long day trip from a cruise stop. The South Coast and Snæfellsnes are better suited to guests who are staying in Iceland before or after the cruise than to a short port call.
Book a private transfer for your Norwegian Star trip
Our private transfer between Keflavík Airport and Reykjavík starts from 45 USD per traveler, one way, for any group size. You can see the details and book on the Keflavík Airport to Reykjavík private transfer page, or browse all private transfers.
If you need a pickup at the cruise terminal, we cover the whole of Iceland: request a quote, enter your pickup and drop-off locations, and a sales agent replies within 24 hours. Include the ship name, the date, your number of passengers and bags, and your flight number.
Traveling with Irish or other European friends and family on the same sailing? One booking for the whole party is simpler than splitting taxis, and our minibus transfer guide explains when a larger vehicle makes sense. If you are staying in a hotel after the cruise, see our page on Reykjavík hotel to airport transfers.
A simple plan for each type of traveler
- Couple with carry-on bags, afternoon flight: take the ship's shuttle or a taxi into town, enjoy lunch, then a pre-booked car to KEF.
- Family of four with large cases, morning flight: book a minivan transfer from the terminal to the airport, with the pickup time set after your disembarkation slot.
- Group of ten or more from the same excursion party: one larger vehicle or minibus, booked in advance, with a named contact for the group.
- Embarking after a flight from Ireland or elsewhere in Europe: a driver at arrivals who watches your flight, then takes you directly to Skarfabakki.
- Guests extending their trip: combine the port pickup with a hotel drop-off and a private tour on a later day.
FAQ
How far is the Reykjavík cruise port from the airport?
The cruise terminal at Skarfabakki is on the east side of Reykjavík, while Keflavík Airport is on the Reykjanes peninsula to the southwest. KEF estimates journeys to the Reykjavík area at 30 to 90 minutes. For a port to airport drive, plan on about an hour and add a buffer for traffic or weather.
Does Norwegian Cruise Line run a shuttle from the terminal?
Cruise lines often offer paid shuttles into the city, but this depends on the sailing and can change from season to season. Check your shore excursion information or ask guest services on board for the current arrangement. If you prefer certainty, a pre-booked private transfer has a fixed price and time.
How much is a taxi from Keflavík Airport to Reykjavík?
Keflavík Airport gives a typical fare of approximately 20,000 ISK for a standard vehicle between the airport and Reykjavík. Taxis are available 24 hours a day, and the airport advises asking about the fare before you travel. Larger vehicles and luggage can raise the price.
Can I cancel a private transfer if my cruise changes?
With us, you can cancel up to 24 hours before pickup for a full refund. If your itinerary changes closer than that, contact our 24/7 support and we will look at the options with you.
Is there a public bus from the cruise terminal?
Yes. Strætó bus route 16 serves the Skarfabakki cruise terminal area and connects to the city, according to Visit Reykjavík. Check the current timetable and how to pay before you rely on it, particularly if you have luggage.