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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. Crossing south of the Arctic Circle, we visit the Vega archipelago, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014.
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Aurora Borealis, as it’s officially known, can only be seen above the magnetic pole of the Northern Hemisphere. Your chances of seeing them increase the farther north you are, which in turn makes Iceland an ideal place to try your luck at Northern Lights gazing. Layered clothing accommodates the region's variable weather, while specialized gear might be necessary for specific excursions. If you have a UK passport, you don’t need a visa to go on a cruise to see the Northern Lights in Norway (or anywhere else in Scandinavia). But please remember you must have a passport that’s valid for at least three months longer than the date you plan to leave this region.
Where can I see the northern lights on a cruise?
Then it’s back down to Tromsø, where guests can visit the Polar Museum, go snowshoeing, or try one of the world’s northernmost breweries, Mack Bryggeri. Next, guests will visit the Lofoten islands, considered one of the most visually stunning parts of Norway, before visiting Hardangerfjord, the second longest fjord in the country, to learn more about Viking history. The most affordable option on this list, British cruise line P&O operates 12-day sailings to Norway year-round, but during the auroral season, there's a strong chance you'll see the northern lights while onboard. Guests embark in Southampton, England, before sailing north to Norway, traveling as far north as Tromsø, well north of the Arctic Circle. We recommend splurging on a room with windows for the best northern lights viewing options.
What do I pack for a Northern Lights cruise?
In genuine expeditionary style, we keep our itinerary flexible to allow for spontaneity. We plan to visit Hornstrandir peninsula, one of Iceland’s remotest and most pristine regions, which is filled with deep and dramatic fjords, towering bird cliffs, stunning natural beauty and opportunities for wildlife encounters. Enjoy the bountiful silence and magnificent landscapes seen by the few adventurers that make their way here. In Húsavik, we hope to have magical encounters with the many whales that visit this part of Iceland, known as the country’s whale-watching capital. The huge Beerenberg volcano is the world’s northernmost active volcano, last erupting in 1985.
How do I photograph the Northern Lights?
I had spent several weeks in STP years earlier on business, bit if this has been my first - or only time in STP... It's well worth the $$$ in to use the private tours with the small vans or mini busses... We engaged them for a two-day individual tour (just 2 of us, a knowledgeable guide and a driver). With this arrangement we were able to plan an extensive itinerary as the guide was always with us while the driver was able to drop us at the entrance of all attractions and, by communicating with the guide, pick us up when ready to leave. The few of us that went all complained about the route the pilot took and the brevity of the flight. Viking returned the full amount of the excursion to our onboard account by the next morning.
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. We paddle between 5 to 15 kilometres (2 to 4 hours) per outing, often taking a snack and a flask of hot chocolate to enjoy on our excursion.
The Food on a Hurtigruten Cruise Through Norway - Food & Wine
The Food on a Hurtigruten Cruise Through Norway.
Posted: Mon, 20 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
This evening, get to know your fellow expeditioners, friendly expedition team and crew at the Welcome Dinner to celebrate the start of a thrilling adventure. Having made your way to Kirkenes, you will be met by a representative of Aurora Expeditions and transferred to our group hotel. 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.
Such itineraries tend to be shorter, and are a great introduction to both cruising and Scandinavia, with limited sea days and plenty to see and do while in port. If you're interested in where to see the northern lights outside Alaska, the Arctic city of Alta, Norway, calls itself "The City of Northern Lights." You’ll have a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights while sailing Aurora Expeditions’ 132-passenger Greg Mortimer through Norway, Iceland, and Greenland. The auroral oval, a band that hugs the northernmost latitudes where auroral activity has the highest concentration, covers most of Alaska and Iceland, southern Greenland, and the northernmost parts of Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. To see the Northern Lights, travelers need to be far north, away from light pollution, and have unobstructed views of the sky.
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]
Enhance your experience
Passengers are unable to share a kayaking place as we customise the kayaks and dry suits for each individual kayaker at the beginning of each voyage. In the unlikely event of a capsize, your experienced guide will assist by righting the kayak, stabilising it then pumping it out. With drysuits and warm clothing underneath you will be comfortable in cold water for up to half an hour. Note that the kayaks have separate compartments with bulkheads, which means they will float after a capsize.
Yes, you can witness the Northern Lights from a cruise ship during dedicated Northern Lights cruises with Aurora Expeditions. These cruises navigate to prime viewing locations near the Arctic Circle, offering passengers a unique vantage point to experience the dazzling spectacle of the Aurora Borealis. The expedition vessels are strategically positioned in areas with minimal light pollution, maximizing the chances of observing the vibrant colours and dancing lights of the Northern Lights against the Arctic night sky. Passengers will enjoy the magical display from the comfort of the ship, creating a truly extraordinary and unforgettable experience.
In the Arctic, prepare to paddle under nesting bird colonies, past massive glaciers and around large iceberg. See ancient rock carvings at the Alta Museum; learn about the science of the northern lights. To learn more about each port of call and our included as well as optional excursions, click on the individual days below. Found well within the Arctic Circle, these Norwegian islands are home to soaring mountain peaks, charming fishing villages and exciting Viking history. Rebuilt after a fire in 1904, Alesund is uniquely art nouveau in style (something of a rarity in Norway). It’s spread across a series of islands, best seen from the city’s famous Fjellstua viewpoint.
Each fall, one or two of the ships in Cunard's legendary fleet head north for Norway, where guests are treated to scenic cruising along the coast. The 12-day itineraries depart from Southampton, England, before traveling to Alesund, Tromsø, Narvik, and Haugesund, sailing through majestic fjords along the way. Since the ships sail this itinerary from October to November, the skies will be dark enough to see the northern lights, should they decide to appear.
In return, they told us all about solar activity and magnetic fields, and explained the different types of auroras, and why they come in different colors. Want to book flights and accommodation with us or simply want some additional information? Click the button below and fill out the form, our expedition experts are more than happy to help.
Cruisetours in Alaska can improve your odds of seeing the aurora because they get you to Fairbanks and other inland destinations in Alaska that tend to have more cloud-free skies than in the Inside Passage, where cruise ships sail. Iceland, Greenland and Arctic Canada are visited by some expedition ships during northern lights season (but mostly early in the season in August and September) by such brands as Quark Expeditions, Aurora Expeditions and Lindblad Expeditions. Because it’s often chilly in this part of the world (especially at night), each passenger is given a waterproof polar expedition jacket upon arrival. The sailings will take place on the expedition vessel Greg Mortimer, which can hold 132 passengers in 79 cabins (most have private balconies for auroral viewing). While aurora borealis activity happens year-round, the best time for a Northern Lights adventure is during the long winter months, when the windows for viewing them each night are longer and the skies darker. The season in the Northern Hemisphere is generally from September through April.
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. The Northern Lights are most frequently visible in high-latitude regions in the Arctic, but most accessible between 10° and 20° of the North Pole in a band called the ‘auroral zone’.
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