Sunday, March 31, 2024

12 best northern lights cruises for a spectacular adventure

best cruise to see northern lights

Keep in mind that places close to auroral latitudes also experience the midnight sun during the summer, so the lights can’t be seen during warmer months. Eastern Greenland is one of the wildest places on Earth and Dutch company Oceanwide will be sending its brand new Hondius expedition ship there on an eight-night Scoresbysund and Aurora Borealis voyage. As well as good chances of viewing the Northern Lights, there will be icebergs and glaciers galore along with possible sightings of polar bears and narwhales. Hurtigruten apart, Cruise & Maritime has the biggest range of aurora voyages including sailings to Iceland as well as Norway.

Aurora announcements

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. However, those in interior cabins can always run up on deck — which you should do anyway to witness the full grandeur of the atmospheric phenomenon. There are also numerous cruises specifically built around offering northern lights viewing experiences, like Viking’s In Search of the Northern Lights cruise, which visits seven different destinations in Norway.

I witnessed a polar bear kill – but that’s not what I will remember most about my Arctic cruise

This extraordinary adventure combines celestial spectacle with Arctic landscapes, creating an unforgettable and magical journey. 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. There are also plenty of places near Reykjavík you can head to if you’re short on time, including Thingvellir National Park.

best cruise to see northern lights

The North Cape Express: Full Voyage Oslo to Bergen

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. 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. 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. "Cruising is a nice way to see a lot of places, but in particular the Northern Lights," says Stephanie Goldberg-Glazer, owner of Live Well, Travel Often, a boutique travel agency.

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. Remember that seeing these lights doesn't involve a cruise director flipping on a switch. Witnessing the northern lights in their prime requires clear and dark skies, sometimes late-night viewing hours, enough solar activity for the colors to appear and a big dose of luck. Keep that in mind before you place all your cruise vacation hopes on this one experience.

The best time to see the Northern Lights? Now!

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. 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. Guests will discover an Arctic landscape rich with majestic mountains, breathtaking fjords and quaint coastal towns.

Northern Lights Explorer

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. 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.

The Chief Aurora Chaser: Tom Kerss

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). From there, you’ll visit the Westfjords region of Iceland (the northwestern peninsula), with its colorful small towns, turbulent waterfalls, and fjords rich in bird-viewing opportunities. The final days before disembarkation in Bergen, Norway, will be spent in the Faroe Islands. There you’ll find traditional red-painted timber homes with grass roofs, lots of sheep and Faroese ponies, Viking history, and imposing sea cliffs.

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]

Subscribe to our emails to be the first to know about special offers & new itineraries

As night falls, we look skywards hoping to catch the magic of the northern lights. This spectacular natural phenomenon offers a surreal light display as vibrant hues of blue, green, pink and violet dance across the night sky. 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. Considering the cruise line is named after the atmospheric phenomenon, it should come as no surprise that it offers a northern lights itinerary. At 19 to 22 days long, depending on the departure, there is plenty of time to hope for a northern lights appearance — or two, or three, or more. The longer itinerary continues with a visit to the Faroe Islands and disembarkation in Bergen, Norway.

We generally attempt up to two landings or Zodiac excursions per day, including cruising along spectacular ice cliffs, following whales feeding near the surface. It’s also the site of Scoresbysund, the most extensive fjord system in the world, and the glaciers here are the birthplace of many of the icebergs you see in the Arctic. The Norwegian-owned Havila Voyages operates four newer environmentally friendlier coastal cruise ships that carry both people and cargo between Bergen and Kirkenes, year-round. The hybrid ships run on liquified natural gas and, for up to four hours, on 86-ton battery packs, for emissions-free sailing (the packs can be charged in ports with clean electricity). Done up in decor inspired by Norwegian landscapes, the vessels carry up to 468 overnight cruise passengers.

best cruise to see northern lights

During summer the air temperature in the Antarctic Peninsula, Greenland and Spitsbergen are generally above freezing but can range from -4°C to +5°C / 24.8°F to 41°F. The water temperature in the polar regions is close to freezing and winds sweep off the glaciers, making paddling a chilling experience. Scotland, Iceland, Norwegian coasts are warmer with water temperatures of around 12 °C/ 53.6°F. Sea kayaking holidays in the humbling wilderness of Antarctica, the Arctic, and some of the world’s most biodiverse regions, are guaranteed to stir your soul. Paddle between brash ice and icebergs of all shapes and sizes, absorbing the majestic scenery as it unfolds before you. Cunard is known for bringing aboard subject experts, astronomers, and night-sky photographers who add extra color and insights to the sky-transforming glory of the Northern Lights.

Over the next 18 months, the northern lights will be more intense, so now is an especially great time to see them. Solar activity is expected to increase—as are your chances of viewing the northern lights—until the fall of 2024, so the aurora borealis will be more viewable, more intense and more frequent from more places around the world. If you’re searching for northern lights cruises of 2020, or want to start planning a future adventure, browse our destinations or contact a Vacation Planner to learn more. Since Greenland does not have many roads, it’s also a great place to explore and see the aurora borealis by cruise ship.

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. While Cunard’s 2,996-passenger Queen Anne will offer oodles of nightly performances once it launches in 2024, one of the most dazzling shows could be the one Mother Nature puts on. Havila Voyages and HX both offer a Northern Lights promise on cruises that depart from the scenic town of Bergen, Norway.

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. Passengers can opt-in for overnight wake-up calls, so they can get some sleep without worrying about missing a Northern Lights sighting. Here are a few examples of 2022 and 2023 itineraries that offer northern lights-themed cruises. 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. One such trip is this 12-night itinerary from Celebrity Cruises, which includes a visit to both Visby and Tallinn.

The journey starts in Bergen’s where guests may see Bryggen, a UNESCO-Heritage Site with wooden buildings more than 300 years old. Other highlights of the trip include Atlanterhavsparken, which is among Europe’s most fascinating aquariums, the Lofoten Wall and Tromsø, home to Ølhallen pub, where you can have a pint at the world’s northernmost brewery. Popular regions for Northern Lights cruises and expeditions with Aurora Expeditions include Arctic destinations like Norway, Iceland and the Canadian Arctic. These Arctic regions, located near the magnetic poles, offer optimal conditions for observing the Northern Lights. Aurora Expeditions carefully plans itineraries to position their vessels in prime locations, away from light pollution, providing passengers with the best chances of witnessing the spectacular light display. 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.

With cruises bound for Norway, Iceland, Canada and Greenland chasing the cosmic whisps of purple and green, here’s our guide to the sailings primed for illuminated skies. Not only will you learn about the Northern Lights from the expert on board Saga Sapphire but you will be taught how to photograph them. The 15-night Arctic Norway and the Northern Lights round-trip from Dover features an overnight in Tromsø and two nights in Alta, along Bergen, Narvik, Bodø, Stavanger and a maiden call at Sortland in Vesterålen. It is one of the last cruises on the 720-passenger Sapphire before it is retired. The 11-night Classic Round Voyage from Bergen visits 34 ports, from cities to tiny villages, and spends plenty of time in the prime aurora zone.

at No comments:

Where to See Northern Lights: 8 Best Spots for Aurora Borealis Viewing

best cruise to see northern lights

Each destination has its own northern-lights-viewing schedule, which takes into account the region’s geography and weather patterns, both of which influence when the skies will be darkest and clearest. Watching the aurora borealis is a bucket list item for many travelers and the perfect excuse to get away and explore faraway places. At Windstar Cruises, we take our guests to some of the best regions in the world to view the northern lights, including Alaska, Greenland, Iceland and others. 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. Depending on where you live, there are also convenient sailings with longer voyages from Southampton, Portsmouth and Newcastle.

Oceanwide Expeditions: East Greenland Scoresby Sund - Aurora Borealis

Explore Scoresbysund, the world’s largest fjord system and a favourite hunting ground of the local Inuit. Massive glaciers flow into this fjord, the birthplace of hundreds of majestic Greenland icebergs. North of Scoresbysund lie Kong Oskar and Kaiser Franz Josef fjords, two of the most significant fjord systems in Greenland, each one encompassing several smaller fjords and sounds.

Alaska Cruises to See The Northern Lights

To maximise your chances of a rare Northern Lights sighting, you’ll need to head for locations with the latitude to host nature’s best performance, and chances of a successful sighting soar on the remote Arctic Ocean. The Northern Lights but may unpredictable but the demand to see them is not – cruises to the "prime zone" in the Arctic are selling fast, but there’s more choice this winter – and the following two winters, than ever before. The advantage of being at sea is that we can quickly sail clear of cloud cover that might be blocking your view of a Northern Lights display.

Unveiling Iceland’s Secret Treasures – Beyond the Golden Circle

An on-deck sauna, comfortable cabins and an open-plan observation lounge primed for photographing the Northern Lights complete the intimate adventure. Float to the northern wilderness in September, when there is little light pollution and the best chance of being mesmerised by the vivid aurora. It’s £1,478pp for an interior cabin including daring dining from sushi rolls to plates of steak and glasses of fine wine. Entertainment-wise, musical performances, rock climbing walls and mini golf fill days anticipating nature’s displays after dark.

In French Polynesia, Every Day is Earth Day with Coral Gardeners

There will be ample space on the 1,085-foot, 13-deck ship to find quiet areas to see the nighttime show. 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. After departing Southampton, the first stop on this cruise will be in Ålesund, Norway, to spend a day exploring its art nouveau architecture.

Best Time to See Polar Bears in Svalbard – Wildlife Guide

This Cruise Line Just Appointed Its First-ever 'Chief Aurora Chaser' — and Has a Northern Lights Guarantee - Travel + Leisure

This Cruise Line Just Appointed Its First-ever 'Chief Aurora Chaser' — and Has a Northern Lights Guarantee.

Posted: Thu, 28 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

These 14-day itineraries cruise from Iceland to Greenland and back from September into early October. As the majority of the voyage takes place above the Arctic Circle, the odds of seeing the northern lights are high, especially as solar activity tends to peak around the autumnal and vernal equinoxes in September and March, respectively. And if they don't show, well, you still get to explore Iceland's Westfjords and Greenland's eastern shores — and that's a worthwhile journey in itself. Search for the northern lights in style aboard Cunard’s stylish Queen Anne, the line’s first new ship in 12 years. The 12-night, round-trip Southampton sailing includes several days at sea to explore the 3,000-passenger vessel and indulge in the signature afternoon tea served by white-gloved waiters. You’ll visit Narvik, one of the world’s most northerly towns, where a ride on the cable car is the best way to experience breathtaking views over the fjords and Arctic landscape.

best cruise to see northern lights

Aurora Expeditions’ “Northern Lights Explorer” cruise

Head to the very top of the world to set sail into one of the most unexplored regions on the planet with Silversea. Cruise from the isolated Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard to Tromsø, the north-most tip of mainland Norway (and a popular aurora site), via Bear Island. Gaze on alien landscapes of towering mountains, fjords and snow-filled wonderlands. The abundance of wildlife—like birds, polar bears, walrus and more—won’t fail to astonish. Throughout the journey, guests will learn about the land, wildlife, botany, culture and history of this unparalleled region thanks to special lecture presentations by knowledgeable onboard Expedition Team members. Depending on weather, walking excursions, Zodiac cruises and even kayaking may be possible.

Sea Kayaking in Norway

Another option might be to stay in Alaska after your cruise, at which point you can follow the instructions above and drive as far north as you can. To explore Greenland’s breathtaking Scoresby Sund fjord, the colossal ice columns of Viking Bay and the remote settlement of Ittoqqortoormiit, Secret Atlas has an impressive East Greenland cruise. Groups of just 12 intrepid travellers can board MV Vikingfjord to reach Greenland’s mammoth fjord, from €9,900 (£8,579) for eight days of lectures, zodiac shore landings with polar bear protection guides, and full-board dining. Hunting the aurora borealis with Hurtigruten entails a journey from capital Oslo to North Cape, on the Arctic Norwegian coast, in the hopes of watching the ultimate light performance. Think frost-tipped mountains, icy fjords and some serious snow with stops at Tromsø, aurora hotspot, Alta, and Honningsvåg, Norway’s northernmost city, along the way. A traditional Norwegian fjords cruise combined with an aurora hunt is an enticing prospect from Marella.

If the weather is friendly, we will try to land at Kvalrossbukta, a relatively sheltered bay on the island’s west coast. This is one of the landings used to supply the Norwegian weather station at Olonkinbyen, a settlement situated on the eastern side of the island. Hurtigruten is so sure you will see the lights on the October-through-March sailings of its year-round 11- and 12-day Norwegian Coastal Express itineraries that the company has a guarantee called the Northern Lights Promise. If the deck's officers don't announce to all on board that the northern lights are happening, you can get a six- or seven-day Norwegian Coastal cruise for free. If you have a goal of seeing the aurora borealis in any of the destinations mentioned here, you are best off booking as far into the fall as you can find a cruise.

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. Each small group of kayakers (up to 10 per guide) will have their own intimate exploration of the small hidden bays and coasts that are inaccessible to Zodiacs. Of course, we also make time for your own shore excursions and wildlife encounters.

Hurtigruten Northern Lights cruise: A bucket list experience - Good Housekeeping uk

Hurtigruten Northern Lights cruise: A bucket list experience.

Posted: Fri, 26 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

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. The archipelago reflects a traditional way of life that has not changed for more than 1,500 years.

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. 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. 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.

There’s just something about the juxtaposition of floating on the ocean—the planet’s still unknowable, final frontier—while staring upwards towards the heavens that intensifies the aurora experience. 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. In Iceland, you’ll stop in Akureyri and overnight in the capital city, Reykjavik.

Late December and early January are best because they're the darkest times of the year, but the northern lights can appear as early as September or as late as March. Onboard Seabourn’s Venture ship, a 23-day journey across the Northwest Passage floats from Iceland to Greenland, Canada and Alaska and the kaleidoscope of colourful houses typical of Scandinavian towns extends above to the night skies. There’s even a constellation lounge with floor-to-ceiling glass walls, which offer views of penguins and killer whales by day and the light’s wonders by night. For a surreal sea voyage across the Northern Hemisphere’s wild terrain, Celebrity Cruises provides a slice of volcanic Iceland with six ports, including Greenland and Nova Scotia.

The alternative viewing spot is a longer trip to a camp site to look for Mother Nature’s marvel. In other cities, Viking offers late-night excursions that take passengers deeper into the countryside to darker spots with clearer skies to help increase the likelihood of spotting the elusive aurora. The following two days are at sea, taking in the beauty of the Norwegian coast as the vessel makes for its disembarkation city, Bergen. Seeing the ethereal display, also known as the aurora borealis, is a bucket list experience for many travelers.

at No comments:
Subscribe to: Comments (Atom)

How to Grow Hair Fast Naturally with Pictures

Table Of Content How long does it take to speed up hair growth? What to Avoid to Promote Hair Growth Avoid excessive heat styling. Mielle Ro...