Smyril Line Reviews 37

A masterclass in how to treat paying passengers like cash dispensers

Smyril Line holds a monopoly on this route, and they exploit every single second of it.

Let's start with the "hot" tub — 309 DKK to sit in lukewarm water that barely reached 38°C. A cold bath at home would have been more therapeutic and significantly cheaper. Then there's the towel situation: a 200 DKK deposit to borrow what can only be described as the cheapest, most worn-out rags they could source. WiFi? Extortionate. Every single amenity aboard is an additional shakedown disguised as a service.

But the crowning achievement of their incompetence? A 1.5-hour departure delay from Denmark — caused entirely by Smyril Line's own operational failures — which meant passengers were denied the ONE and ONLY port stop in the Faroe Islands. A stop that many people specifically planned around. Gone. No compensation. No apology worthy of the word. Just a shrug from a company that knows full well you have no alternative.

This is not a shipping company. It is a captive-audience extraction machine operating behind the comfortable shield of a monopoly.

The only highlight of the entire journey was the ocean itself — something Smyril Line had absolutely no hand in creating and somehow still failed to complement.

I will be making sure that every single person who asks me about this route hears exactly what they are signing up for. Save your money, your dignity, and your sanity. If there is ever an alternative, take it without a second thought.

It was cold inside the boat. We always had to wear outdoor jackets inside the restaurant and the cabin. The journey took three days. I booked a cabin with a window that had a restricted ocean view, but there was NO view—only a view of a lifeboat. It would be better to inform customers about what they are actually ordering so they won’t be disappointed after spending a lot of money. I was also surprised that there was no water, coffee, or other drinks included in the lunch buffet. It feels stingy. It's the first time I've experienced that. This is not a place for people who want to save money and live on a budget. There was no microwave, refrigerator, free water, or kettle. It was even not allowed to eat your own food outside your cabin.

I took Smyril Line to return to Iceland and it was a disappointment. It is the worst cruise I have ever been on. Starting with the price, expensive and poor quality in everything. If you choose a shared cabin, there are no sheets or blankets (not included, if you want them, you have to pay for them). There is not even a paper sheet or something similar like they put on planes or trains, to cover the mattress (for hygiene reasons). There are lockers to leave your suitcases, but if you open it you have to pay again. You also pay for water, it's shameful! Denmark and the Faroe Islands have free and abundant water! There is no water in glass bottles, they force you to consume plastic. Water is not even included in the food when you are paying for a buffet. There are no vegan options, and it is quite limited for those allergic to gluten and lactose. The nicest thing were the singers. Smyril Line is a company from the Faroe Islands (Denmark), where thousands of whales and dolphins (mostly babies) are killed every year for a cultural event. Smyril Line sells you the cruise and the trip to the Faroe Islands as if it were something wonderful, but it is not. On the contrary, it is the country of shame, along with Japan and Norway. The Faroe Islands smell of rotten blood, and it is known internationally. If this atrocity continues, it is because the Faroese allow it.