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On many cruises, when passengers or crew spot northern lights, they make ship-wide announcements. Because the northern lights often appear late at night or very early in the morning, some ships offer opt-in wake up calls for this purpose. The conditions must be just right, but it's highly likely to see this magical and sometimes elusive scientific phenomenon on a Northern Lights cruise sailing the Arctic Circle during the long, dark winter nights. Then it’s on to Tromsø, Norway’s northernmost city, for two days of Arctic adventures, before sailing to Atla, a town known for its bluebird days (ideal for Northern Lights viewing later) and ancient rock carvings for two days. In that case, the company will give you a free six-day southbound or seven-day northbound Original Coastal Express Class Voyage. Beyond the North Cape Express, the other auroral sailings (with the Northern Lights Promise) include the 12-day Original Coastal Express (the full scenic route that stops at all 34 ports twice, on the northbound and southbound route).
Time & Daylight
Guests will especially enjoy a visit to Alta, Norway, which is known as the "City of the Northern Lights." Be sure not to miss the UNESCO-protected rock carvings at the Alta Museum. Other high points include slipping through the fjords of the Stavanger region to see the iconic Lysefjorden. In the city of Stavanger, muse over the magic of the unlikely tropical landscape at Flor og Fjære Gardens and at Jernaldergarden, step back in time at a reconstructed farm from the Iron Age. Yes, Aurora Expeditions’ Northern Lights cruises and expeditions are designed to accommodate participants of all ages and experience levels.
Northern Lights Cruise: How to See the Stunning Natural Phenomenon
Our trips are based on our goal of sustainable tourism, with eco-friendly travel that leaves as small an environmental footprint on nature as possible. Charming and postcard pretty, Stavanger is an idyllic coastal town, famous for its perfectly preserved wooden buildings (some dating back to the 18th century) and miles of pristine white sand. Multicultural Tromsø is one of the best places to see the Northern Lights. Home to over 100 nationalities, the city offers a wealth of eateries serving some of the best native cuisine in the Arctic. Rebuilt after a fire in 1904, Alesund is uniquely art nouveau in style (something of a rarity in Norway).
Aurora Expeditions: Northern Lights Explorer
Note that the kayaks have separate compartments with bulkheads, which means they will float after a capsize. Aurora Expeditions does not require passengers to undergo tests for COVID-19 prior to embarkation or during the voyage. We do not conduct routine COVID-19 testing unless required by the relevant authorities. However, passengers who report symptoms of COVID-19 to the medical team during a voyage will be tested. We acknowledge the First Nations people of Australia as traditional custodians of the lands and waters on which we work and travel, and we pay our respects to elders past and present. Includes, Snow mobile safari, 3 course dinner, overnight in warm sleeping bags in the Snow hotel, sauna in the morning & breakfast.
Northern Lights Adventure cruise
One of the benefits of sailing to Alaska later in the year is that it increases the chance of seeing the breathtaking Northern Lights, as these are much more likely to be witnessed during the fall and winter months. If you’re sailing on a 2021 cruise to Alaska, you might even have the chance to admire this natural phenomenon from the comfort of your private Veranda Stateroom or from one of the open-air decks on board. Particularly if you’re spending a lot of time outdoors waiting for the lights to appear. For example, day time temperatures in Iceland during Iceland’s Northern Lights season rarely go above 0°C.
The Best Places to See the Northern Lights from Around the World - Observer
The Best Places to See the Northern Lights from Around the World.
Posted: Fri, 15 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Northern Lights Cruise Trip
Our series of onboard lectures continue as sail towards the wild coast of East Greenland. You will learn about sea ice, glaciers, the unique geology found in East Greenland and daring tales of European exploration. We are also in the prime zone to view the northern lights, so glance up to the skies and you might just see more than shimmering stars.
Explore the Arctic Circle
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. You will be picked up at the pier for the exciting excursion to Tromso Wilderness centre, located in the beautiful Arctic scenery outside the city. Arrival to the Arctic town of Bodo at noon, with time to explore the town before the ship sails across the Vest Fjord towards the Lofoten Islands. The 12-Night Great National Parks Expedition Cruisetour (6A Northbound) is perfect for adventure seekers and nature enthusiasts, and offers even more time in Alaska’s breathtaking national parks like Denali and Kenai Fjords. Get up close to beautiful, picturesque landscapes on an Iceland and Ireland cruise from Southampton, England, which offers 14 nights of pure bliss on Celebrity Silhouette.
Enhance your experience
Enjoy informative talks from our team of experts, get to know your fellow expeditioners, stay active in the gym or treat yourself to a massage in the wellness centre. Remember to look to the skies at night and hope for sightings of the northern lights. Enjoy a Zodiac cruise through spectacular Trollfjord, a gorge flanked by steep mountains and so narrow that it can only be accessed by small ships. In the Lofoten Islands, voted by National Geographic as one the of the most beautiful destinations in the world, we stroll through picturesque villages dotted with red and white fishers’ huts, surrounded by soaring granite peaks. Visit the Lofoten Seafood Center and learn about the impressive cod fisheries and perhaps sample some local seafood. In true expedition style we encourage exploration and adventure, offering flexibility in challenging environments in a way that puts you among the action to see and do as much as possible.
7 Best Northern Lights Cruises - Travel + Leisure
7 Best Northern Lights Cruises.
Posted: Sat, 04 Mar 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
With longer hours with dark skies and clear night skies, the Westfjords and North Iceland are the best regions to head to if you want to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights. There are many fantastic remote locations in South Iceland where you can witness the aurora, including the popular Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. The Seltjarnarnes peninsula is a prime viewing area as there is minimal light pollution.
Paddling is one of the best ways to access and intimately explore the beautiful coastlines we visit and therefore make the most of your time in the wild and remote destinations we visit. Northern Canada is the best place to see the Northern Lights in Canada, in remote places with minimal light pollution. Nunavut in the heart of Canada’s High Arctic is a prime aurora borealis viewing country, with its close proximity to the North Pole and vast expanses of tundra.
Aurora Expeditions carefully schedules these voyages to coincide with peak Northern Lights activity, ensuring passengers have the best chances of experiencing this celestial spectacle in its full splendour. Hurtigruten is something of an outlier in this group because it doesn't offer specific northern lights itineraries. But the routes of this coastal ferry company in Norway just happen to traverse the perfect latitudes to see the aurora. For the best odds of seeing the northern lights, we suggest the 12-day round-trip itinerary from Bergen up the coast of Norway and back. Hurtigruten’s spectacular 12-day voyage sets sail to hunt for the magical aurora, which tends to be plentiful in Norway during the winter. Even aside from the lights, this rugged coastline has much to offer intrepid travelers.
Fear not, while you’re transfixed by the sites, the highly experienced staff and crew are always on aurora alert and notify passengers of a sighting. Optional hiking, kayaking and walking excursions fill-out the itinerary. 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.
Seeing the northern lights on a cruise isn’t guaranteed (although at least one cruise line, Hurtigruten, does issue a guarantee for certain cruises. See below). But you will increase your odds of seeing the northern lights by being in the right place in the Arctic Circle at the right time. Read on for our comprehensive guide on how to choose the best northern lights cruise for you.
