Bright blue skies and a flat calm sea greeted the morning as MS Spitsbergen sailed along the Snæfellsnes Peninsula — conditions that gave the Expedition Team every reason to be on deck early. It did not take long for the first sightings of the day to arrive. Blows and dorsal fins were spotted in the distance, and the ship moved to investigate. The whales held their position: sperm whales, scattered across the horizon, their distinctive near-90-degree blows making them unmistakable. They appeared to be resting at the surface, basking in the morning light before the deep dives that would follow. Orca were close behind, cruising past the ship in a group that included several large males and a young calf. The calf was seen playing with a piece of seaweed, a reminder that even the ocean's apex predators have their quieter moments.

As the ship made its way towards Grundarfjörður, guests still on deck were rewarded with a sighting of white-beaked dolphins just as she entered the harbour. Inside, the morning's wildlife giving way to a very different kind of performance: local Icelandic artist Andri Ívarsson took the stage with a set that wove traditional and contemporary music together, threaded through with dry comedy. It was a genuinely entertaining introduction to Icelandic musical culture.

The afternoon was remarkable for its weather as much as its activity. Guests who chose to hike around the base of Kirkjufell mountain or walk to Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall were treated to conditions rarely so generous in the region. Expedition Team members Charlotte, Julia, and Holly led a relaxed nature walk, with harlequin ducks providing the standout wildlife moment. Scenic coach tours also ran across the peninsula, making the most of skies and visibility that gave everyone — whatever they chose to do — the best possible afternoon ashore.

Back on board in time for dinner, guests reflected on the day as the ship eased away from Grundarfjörður. Plans for Tomorrow followed in the usual fashion, before Marine Scientist Holly gave a final talk — this time not on whales, but on the centuries-long relationship between the Atlantic cod and Iceland's people. Full of the day's encounters and the evening's learning, the ship settled into the night, ready for one final day of exploration in Iceland.