Northern Lights Cruises 2024 & 2025
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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. 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.
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However, the equinox months of September and March are the peak months for catching the aurora borealis as the magnetic fields of the Earth and the Sun’s solar wind are in sync then. And, luckily for you, we have a number of Northern Lights cruise holidays during these months to maximise your chances of spotting this mesmerising light show in all its glory. Embark on an epic sailing in 2024 aboard the 132-passenger Greg Mortimer, the first expedition cruise vessel to feature a striking inverted bow design for smoother sailing. Aurora Expedition’s 19-night Northern Lights Explorer sailing from Kirkenes to Reykjavik will hug coastlines in the Arctic Circle and explore far-flung islands and villages. Highlights include a visit to Unesco-listed Vega Island, a centre for the production of duck eiderdown, and a planned landing at Jan Mayen where the Beerenberg volcano is the world’s northernmost active volcano, last erupting in 1985.
Can You See The Northern Lights From A Cruise Ship? The Best Cruises for Viewing the Northern Lights
Done up in decor inspired by Norwegian landscapes, the vessels carry up to 468 overnight cruise passengers. In the coming days, a host of choices are available to us, and depending on ice and weather conditions, the east coast of Greenland is ours to explore. The members of our experienced Expedition Team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to tailor our voyage to suit the day-to-day conditions. This allows us to make best use of the prevailing weather, ice conditions and any opportunities for wildlife encounters.
Explore Northern Lights Shore Experiences
All the cabins and suites on our ships have an ‘Northern Lights alert’ which will tell you whenever we spot sightings of the aurora, so you can rush to your window or outside to catch them. Where we sail on the Norwegian coast is directly beneath the Auroral Zone, an area of consistent and heightened Northern Lights activity. That means Viking will alert you at any hour of the day – including the middle of the night – if the Aurora Borealis makes an appearance. A Northern Lights cruise, however, is different, in that it heads directly into the harsh cold of northern Norway, trading warm beaches and pool drinks for heavy parkas and hot toddies. Enjoy sweeping views as you sail along Norway’s coast, one of the world’s longest shorelines.
Cruise holidays Reasons to visit Ports
Activities and excursions cater to various interests, allowing participants to customize their experience. From informative lectures to adventurous shore landings, there’s something for everyone, making these expeditions inclusive and suitable for individuals, families and groups with diverse backgrounds and preferences. Northern Lights cruises and expeditions with Aurora Expeditions offer a range of captivating activities. Passengers can enjoy nightly Aurora photography sessions, guided by expert photographers, to capture the ethereal displays.
Ask about the aurora
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. 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.
Live the Legend of Norway: Book Now and Save!
Guests can stop by the Arctic Cathedral (which resembles a geometric glacier), visit the Polaria Arctic Center, or perhaps take a cable car to the top of Mount Storsteinen. 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. While it’s never a guarantee that the Northern Lights will be visible, one way to stack the deck in your favor is to be on a cruise ship that can move in search of the lights, typically in the Arctic. In genuine expeditionary style, we keep our itinerary flexible to allow for spontaneity.
Do Yourself A Favor And Book A Small Ship Cruise To Norway ASAP - Men's Journal
Do Yourself A Favor And Book A Small Ship Cruise To Norway ASAP.
Posted: Fri, 09 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Tromsø , Norway
On nearby Torget Island, we plan to land and hike to Torghatten, a fascinating rock formation with an equally interesting legend describing the hole in the mountain as having been created by a troll’s arrow. 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. After a leisurely breakfast, check-out of your room before commencing an excursion of Kirkenes and surrounds. Transfer to the pier for embarkation in the late afternoon, when you will have time to settle into your cabin before attending our mandatory safety briefings, and enjoy the thrill of departure as we ‘throw the lines’ and set sail.
Sea Kayaking
Ticking off a life-changing experience like chasing the Northern Lights requires careful planning. No doubt, cruising is the best way to stand a better chance of witnessing this phenomenon over a lengthy stay on board a ship. Unlike much of central Europe, where you can travel through many countries and only have to use the euro as currency, the Scandinavian countries within the Northern Lights region use their own version of the krone. If you’re travelling on a cruise holiday to see the Northern Lights in Norway, be sure to bring enough krone for the amount of time you’ll be there. Alta Amazingly clear skies and a location underneath the auroral oval mean that Alta has long been known as one of the best places to see the Northern Lights in Norway.
But to ensure you get the most out of your aurora cruise experience, here are some handy cruise tips and tricks. Alaska’s cruise ports serve as more than just boarding points; they’re the threshold to the state’s raw beauty and the magical allure of the Northern Lights. These cruise ports beckon travelers with both their regional charms and the celestial displays they promise. Alaska, known as the Last Frontier, boasts a range of cruise ports that are gateways to pristine wilderness, glacial wonders, and, of course, the mesmerizing Alaska Northern Lights. These Canadian ports serve as gateways to prime aurora-viewing territories, combining local charm with the promise of celestial wonders. Whether you’re sailing past the charming villages of Lofoten or standing on the precipice of the North Cape, the auroras are sure to etch a memory that remains vivid for years to come.
The adult-only line, which has its roots in Norway, has a reputation for creating curated and insightful tours. On the 12-night northern lights itinerary aboard Viking Venus from London Tilbury to Bergen, or in reverse, these include Polar Park, the world’s northernmost wildlife park. Other activities include a snowshoe hike above Bergen and learning the winter sport of curling.
We will then head south along the coast of Liverpool Land, with our passage dependent on ice conditions. Book confidently with our Northern Lights Promise – get a free trip if the lights don't appear on select voyages (Ts&Cs apply). Embark on a nostalgic summertime voyage along the Norwegian coast up to the Svalbard archipelago at the edge of the world. For the first time, we sail to or from the capital Oslo, journeying between Norway’s southernmost point and its northernmost. Elegant and thoughtfully designed, the warmth and appeal of our Cunard Queens is palpable the moment you step aboard.
There will be ample space on the 1,085-foot, 13-deck ship to find quiet areas to see the nighttime show. While it is possible to see the Northern Lights display toward the beginning and end of the cruise season, it’s unlikely and no ships specifically target Alaska’s aurora season. Additionally, most Alaska cruises are concentrated around the collection of islands in the state’s southeast region, which is a little too far south for good auroral displays (though they do happen occasionally). Our series of onboard lectures continue as sail towards the wild coast of East Greenland.
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. 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.
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