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We think the best Northern Lights cruises offer so much more than an exciting search for the magical aurora borealis. That’s why, on a P&O Cruises Northern Lights holiday, you’ll have the chance to explore a host of breathtaking destinations, dive into adventures ashore and soak up a huge range of entertainment, dining and relaxation on board. One moment you might find yourself kayaking on a glistening fjord or gazing up at a thundering waterfall, and the next you could be watching a spectacular stage show or sinking into a soothing spa treatment. From there, it’s onward to Rørvik, an ancient fishing town, and then Lødingen, a village known for its place amongst the fjords. There, guests can take an excursion to visit a Sámi village and learn about the Indigenous and semi-nomadic reindeer herders.
Alta, Norway
Once you’ve gone outside and frozen yourself stiff, there’s nothing like returning to the warm lights (and warmer service) of your ship. Crew put out electric lights to illuminate a path to the ship, creating what Scandinavians call “hygge” – a feeling of coziness – before passengers even step back aboard. On cloudy nights, it may be tempting to bemoan the cost of the tours or the lack of “The Lights”. But the experience of being out in the remote reaches of Arctic Norway, in the middle of a snowstorm, is one that we discovered to be equally appealing. You can also see the lights in Canada's Yukon, including in the gold rush town of Dawson City, which is visited on some Holland America cruisetours.
From Ship Mates to Kindred Spirits
You’re not just banking on a single night; you’re giving yourself multiple chances to see the spectacle. The absence of urban light pollution ensures that the colors of the Northern Lights appear more vibrant and clearer than they would in most terrestrial settings. But why, amidst all the options available, is a cruise the premier choice to witness this astral dance? Imagine a night where the sky transforms into a canvas painted with swirling hues of green, pink, and purple.
What do I pack for a Northern Lights cruise?
It is most frequently visible in high-latitude regions in the Arctic and Antarctica, but most accessible between 10° and 20° of the North Pole in a band called the ‘auroral zone’. It’s important to understand that this oval-shaped halo can shift slightly, and there are many factors at play that affect how bright the lights appear or if it’s possible to see them at all. The Aurora Borealis originates on the sun’s surface with a massive explosion of electromagnetic matter, which projects a stream of charged particles known as solar wind into space. While seeing the Northern Lights isn’t guaranteed, cruises to Alaska and Iceland make for unforgettable vacations.
The Aurora Borealis is often visible – powerfully so – during the winter months when temperatures drop and skies are clear. And that electric frisson of anticipation ran powerfully through passengers at every step of the voyage. Cunard Line and Hurtigruten are among the lines that visit northern Norway in the fall. Cruise lines operating in Alaska, such as Holland America, Princess Cruises and UnCruise Adventures, have northern lights sign-up sheets so you don't have to stay up all night, every night, hoping to see the phenomenon.
Ports
During sightings, staff circulates trays of hot beverages, like cocoa and toddies, to help guests stay warm on deck. Viking runs the itinerary multiple times from January through March in 2025 and 2026. After departing London, guests spend a day in Amsterdam, where they can stroll along the canals, admiring the architecture and indulging in alfresco coffee and stroopwafel breaks. Then, after crossing the North Sea, the ship cruises the scenic Norwegian Inside Passage, a protected shipping lane that runs from the southern tip of Norway to Russia (though Viking guests will only go as far north as Tromsø). Quark Expeditions’ Northern Lights–themed sailings begin and end in Iceland, where sightings of the dancing aurora borealis are common in winter.
Cruise & Travel is the UK’s highest-selling newsstand travel magazine dedicated to cruise holidays. Cruising in Northern Europe offers a fantastic variety of excursions and experiences, from historical city tours to adrenaline-filled outdoor adventures. Following the recent rise in popularity of the region as a cruising destination, the fjords season has extended, with trips available as early as April and as late as September. Whether you prefer the action-packed ships of Royal Caribbean or MSC, or the smaller ships that can sail along narrower fjords, there will be a Norwegian fjords itinerary for you.
Related Itineraries
The good news is that, once you’re there, you can see the Northern Lights from almost anywhere in the country – even in the heart of its capital city, Nuuk! This is because Greenland’s population is tiny and scattered across small, remote communities, so it has minimal light pollution. Not many Northern Lights tours go to Greenland but Aurora Expeditions Northern Lights cruises explore using a small expedition ship which makes it easy to visit the prime locations in Greenland to see the Northern Lights. There is no best place to witness an aurora which, in our opinion, only adds to the mystery and appeal surrounding them. This is why Aurora Expeditions’ Northern Lights tours don’t focus on one spot or location.
Aurora Expeditions’ “Northern Lights Explorer” cruise
12 best northern lights cruises for a spectacular adventure - The Times
12 best northern lights cruises for a spectacular adventure.
Posted: Wed, 01 Nov 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
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. Deep fjords and narrow channels, flanked by sharp ice-clad peaks soaring up to 2,000 metres (6,562 feet), and glaciers birthing gigantic icebergs that drift throughout the fjord system, combine to create breathtaking scenes. Crossing south of the Arctic Circle, we visit the Vega archipelago, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014. Vega Island is fantastic for birdwatching and here eider ducks are the main attraction, where they are raised for their down, which at one point accounted for one third of the islanders’ income. The islanders still make houses for the birds to nest in and in return, the ducks provide valuable down when they and their chicks leave the nests to continue their lives at sea.
Hurtigruten Northern Lights Promise Extended to Benefit Cruisers - Matador Network
Hurtigruten Northern Lights Promise Extended to Benefit Cruisers.
Posted: Wed, 20 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Paddle between brash ice and icebergs of all shapes and sizes, absorbing the majestic scenery as it unfolds before you. During the early morning, we cruise into Reykjavik and disembark at approximately 8.00 am. Farewell your expedition team and fellow passengers as you continue your onward journey. We stretch our legs on hikes across tundra in search of ancient graveyards and summer villages occupied 3,000 years ago by Inuit. The maze of calm, interconnecting waterways in this area provides excellent opportunities for sea kayaking. We will see ring seals, perhaps catch a glimpse of the elusive narwhal, and maybe even a polar bear hunting on pack ice.
We also have expert-led programs within the expedition, such as lectures or photography sessions, to enhance your understanding and capturing capabilities. Enrichment is an important component of our expeditions – we hope that you will leave changed and become lifelong ambassadors for the natural world and the wild, important destinations we visit. Your world-class Expedition Team will be on hand to answer your questions about the aurora borealis and how it comes to appear in the night sky, Arctic wildlife, geological formations and the history of the places we visit. Experience a land where dawn and twilight merge on the edges of the long Arctic night. Sailing far north during Norway’s winter, witness snow-covered landscapes dotted with rugged mountains and steep fjords, and seek out the brilliant aurora borealis dancing in the night sky.
If cloud cover threatens your viewing experience, the ship can navigate to clearer skies. In Antarctica, we have many opportunities to encounter penguins, seals and whales, and occasionally we may even spot leopard seals or orcas. In the Arctic, we’ll paddle under nesting bird colonies, past massive glaciers and around large icebergs, however we maintain a safe distance from polar bears and walruses. Our guides carry rifles and flare guns in the Arctic to ensure your safety against polar bears.
From witnessing wildlife like polar bears and seals to visiting quaint Arctic towns, a Northern Lights cruise often transcends the lights themselves. Being on a Northern Lights cruise often means several days at sea, and with each night comes a new opportunity to witness the lights. In the cold, clear nights of the polar regions, the sky often erupts in a spectral ballet of lights, dancing and weaving their magic. Weather permitting, the sea kayaking activity is normally available anytime the other expeditioners go out. Rather than travelling large distances, our aim is to ensure you see as much as possible.
Places located near the Arctic Circle such as northern Norway, Iceland and Greenland, are some of the best places in the world to witness this stunning light show. The arctic viewing season for northern lights cruises is from late September to late March/early April, though the best months are December through March, when there are the longest hours of darkness and many clear night skies. Generally, skies are clearest near the spring and fall equinoxes in later September and March. Some late September/early October Alaska cruises can include northern lights sightings as well. Specializing in polar voyages, Quark Expeditions knows a thing or two about the northern lights, which is why the company offers aurora sailings each fall. These 14-day itineraries cruise from Iceland to Greenland and back from September into early October.
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