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Dedicated trips in search of the aurora borealis include a 13-night round-trip expedition cruise from Amsterdam on MS Maud. It features a day on Senja, one of the most ruggedly beautiful and lesser-visited Norwegian islands. Considering the cruise line is named after the atmospheric phenomenon, it should come as no surprise that it offers a northern lights itinerary.
Where do Northern Lights cruises go?
These are some of the cruises that offer you a solid chance of seeing the Northern Lights. To see the Northern Lights, travelers need to be far north, away from light pollution, and have unobstructed views of the sky. Kayakers in wild temperate regions will have a unique wildlife experience, with possible encounters with seals and basking sharks. You will have the opportunity to view some of the largest sea bird colonies in the northern hemisphere. If the weather changes during our outing we will head back to the ship and perhaps join a shore excursion.
Sea Kayaking in Canada
Hurtigruten Extends its Northern Lights Promise for 2024-25 Season - Cruise Industry News
Hurtigruten Extends its Northern Lights Promise for 2024-25 Season.
Posted: Thu, 21 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
You should be fit enough to paddle for up to three hours and climb between moving Zodiacs on the water. Regular exercise is recommended, because the fitter you are the more you will enjoy the experience. In Antarctica, keep your camera on-hand for unforgettable encounters with penguins, seals and whales, and occasionally leopard seals or orcas. In the Arctic, prepare to paddle under nesting bird colonies, past massive glaciers and around large iceberg.
Journey to the Earth’s Last Frontier on Alaska cruises
It’s never a guarantee that the Northern Lights will appear—it’s all dependent on the strength of geomagnetic storms on the sun and how clear the sky is where you are. One of the highlights is visiting the Inuit village Ittoqqortoormiit, the region’s most isolated and northernmost permanent settlement, with its gregarious locals and scores of Greenlandic sled dogs. Midsize and small cruise ship companies offer a variety of Arctic Circle sails during prime northern lights viewing months. While this list is not inclusive, lines to choose from include Hurtigruten, Viking, Cunard, Quark, P&O, Silversea, Fred. During the aurora season (September to April) our cruises travel along Norway’s dramatic coastline to the fringes of the Arctic Circle in search of the Northern Lights. As you return, you’ll stop at Alta, home to northern Europe’s largest canyon, and Haugesund, where you can walk in the footsteps of Vikings at the reconstructed 10th-century village on a tranquil forested island that was once the first royal seat of Norway.
Live the Legend of Norway: Book Now and Save!
There’s a chance of seeing the Northern Lights anywhere within the auroral zone – a 1,500-mile radius of the magnetic north pole. Based right at the heart of this zone is the Norwegian city of Tromsø, which is widely regarded as the world’s best place to see the Northern Lights when the conditions are right. And with stops at this dramatic destination on a Northern Lights holiday with P&O Cruises, you can go in search of the aurora borealis as you sail along the stunning Norwegian coastline. Create a very personal souvenir as you go in search of the northern lights with an art session on Bolette and Borealis; watercolour classes to help you capture the awe-inspiring night-time display are held aboard both ships in the Olsen Art Studio. You can book a nine-night sailing on Balmoral out of Newcastle — a shorter than typical trip due to the closer proximity of the departure point to Norway.
See the northern lights on your cruise or get a free trip - USA TODAY
See the northern lights on your cruise or get a free trip.
Posted: Fri, 22 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
On Celebrity, cruises to Alaska and Iceland just might yield sightings of Aurora Borealis. That said, even if you don’t see the Northern Lights during your cruise, there’s plenty to fall in love with in these exciting destinations, from incredible dog-sledding competitions to hiking along stunning fjords. Another major port city on Norway cruises is Hardangerfjord, where you will be blown away by majestic waterfalls, the third largest fjord in the world, and taste some of the most exclusive ciders in the world. Reykjavik, the largest city and capital of Iceland, is a top tourist destination known as a haven for natural wonders.
A Northern Lights cruise takes the stress out of planning, lodging, and even transportation to destinations like Iceland, Alaska, and more. Read on for our comprehensive guide on how to choose the best northern lights cruise for you. Many Alaskan cruises include outdoor excursions to scenic destinations representing the best of Alaska’s rugged landscape with majestic mountain ranges, glaciers, vast wilderness, and the Northern Lights. Ideally, the best conditions to see the Northern Lights are when the sky is dark and clear of any clouds. But even if it is cloudy, the wind can change at any moment and let the rays of the aurora shine through.
The North Cape Express: Full Voyage Bergen to Oslo
These ports not only introduce travelers to the rich tapestry of Russian culture but also act as starting points for voyages beneath the shimmering Arctic skies. With each port offering its unique blend of history, culture, and nature, cruisers are in for an unparalleled Alaskan experience. The vastness of Canada offers not only diverse landscapes but also multiple ports of call from which to embark on a Northern Lights cruise. Let’s venture into some of the best Iceland cruise ports for witnessing the Northern Lights from the sea.
In the Wake of The Coastal Express Winter (2024/
The next day will be in Narvik, a fishing village that can trace its history to the Stone Age but that has held township status only since the early 20th century. There travelers can ride the Ofoten Railway for a day trip to Sweden, hike to Frostisen Glacier, or ski at the Narvikfjellet ski resort. The final port town on the itinerary is Stavanger, where the most popular attractions relate to the community’s maritime history.
Sailing to and from Southampton, P&O runs dedicated northern lights cruises on its adult-only ship Aurora. During these 12-night sailings you’ll sail along the dramatic coast of Norway to the fringes of the Arctic Circle and also visit the country’s beautiful fjords, including 550m-deep Romsdalsfjord. On a shore tour in Alta you’ll meet a northern lights expert who monitors the skies and aurora borealis forecast beforehand to help pick the best location for the day. There, guests spend their days scanning the dizzying cliff sides for puffins, guillemots, and razorbills, and their nights scanning the sky for signs of the aurora. The ship then crosses the Arctic Circle as it heads to Greenland, where it spends seven days patrolling the remote northeast coast. This wild tundra is home to reindeer, arctic hares, and 40 percent of the world’s musk ox population.
Frequently, sea conditions can be even more treacherous, with 20-to-30 foot seas and Gale 7 to Gale 9 winds. It may be the same country, but the experiences you can have ashore couldn’t be more different. Get ready to celebrate the season in Sami tents in the wilderness, or by taking a snowmobile journey through the backcountry, or saddling up to a dogsled. You can camp overnight in a tent, or glamp in an ice hotel – a unique experience that has to be tried to be believed. Cruise Critic booked passage on Viking Venus to discover what makes these cold-weather cruises so special, and why passengers flock to this pseudo-expedition cruise experience again and again.
The main thing you need to consider when you pack for your Northern Lights holiday is, of course, the weather. It’ll probably come as no surprise to learn that Norway can be quite chilly in the winter months when the Northern Lights are at their peak. To make sure you’re protected from the elements, pack lots of warm layers such as fleece jackets and woolly jumpers, which will shield you from the crisp and frosty temperatures. And don't forget to bring along gloves, hats, scarves and thermal socks so you can stay warm as you search for the Northern Lights under Norway’s dark skies. Because of the late-setting and early-rising midnight sun, it's way too light during the summer to see the northern lights in the destinations mentioned, though solar activity takes place year-round. Cunard Line and Hurtigruten are among the lines that visit northern Norway in the fall.
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