Northern Lights Explorer Award Winning Northern Lights Cruise
Table Of Content
However, most Northern Lights cruises visit just Norway, Iceland, and Greenland because those countries have open waterways that aren’t frozen over. As mentioned, the lights like to appear in the wee hours — particularly between 11 p.m. An advantage in Norway is that it's dark enough to see them for a longer period as you get into the fall and winter. If Norway’s primary color in summertime is green, the Norwegian winter is characterized by shades of white and grey and blue; a storybook landscape that seems better suited for fairytales than rugged polar reaches. 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.
Northern Lights Explorer
East Greenland contains some of the Arctic’s most impressive scenery. 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. Experience the true side of Greenland’s west coast with our partner Arctic Umiaq Line. Like us, they have a long history of serving local passengers and communities, and sail to places that most visitors to Greenland never see.
Traveler Advice
The 6 Best Cruises for Northern Lights Viewing - AFAR Media
The 6 Best Cruises for Northern Lights Viewing.
Posted: Fri, 05 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Since Alaska small ship cruises are among our top-selling worldwide, our offerings are continually being updated, so be sure to check back for occasional Alaska winter cruise options. Our travelers have enjoyed nights on deck watching for shooting stars and northern lights, with hot tubs on board many of the ships to ramp up the experience. Being on a ship allows you remote anchorages with dark skies that mirror a midnight-blue sea. The captain and his chosen route can be flexible to take advantage of clear-sky weather opportunities and other microclimates common to Arctic regions and fjords. And you get a full-package experience if the skies just don’t cooperate. Yes, Aurora Expeditions’ Northern Lights cruises and expeditions are designed to accommodate participants of all ages and experience levels.
Check out some of our cruises
Increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights or aurora borealis on a small ship expedition cruise that takes you deep into the Arctic, to iconic destinations such as Greenland, Iceland and Norway. A nostalgic voyage of the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago to experience a remote wilderness of fjords, glaciers, and polar wildlife. Firstly, the highlight of this cruise and for many the whole reason to come to northern Norway in January is the opportunity to see the northern lights. But no-one knows when an aurora display might start, or just as important, how long it might last when it does start to make an appearance. Some people out on excursions had more luck, especially the snowshoeing group in Alta. But for us back on the ship, we had spent three nights in the high north with very little to show for it, and after another cloudy day in Tromsø we set sail not knowing what to expect.
Why Viking
But there are also companies offering searches for the aurora borealis from the water. A Northern Lights cruise may sound too good to be true, but it's something you can experience. If you sail with us during the Northern Lights season for more than 11 days and don’t see the aurora appear at least once, we promise you a free voyage to try again. More days means more to discover, with extension packages you can add before or after your Viking cruise or cruisetour.
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. When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. “The Lights” could appear at any time, and passengers are ready to embrace them. 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. Make sure folks clearly understand how off-the techno grid the trip is.
How To Plan A Memorable Norway Northern Lights Cruise In 2024 - Forbes
How To Plan A Memorable Norway Northern Lights Cruise In 2024.
Posted: Mon, 01 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Officially certified proof of vaccination and booster will be required ahead of travel and we will require that it be emailed to Aurora no later than 15 days prior to departure. 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. Book confidently with our Northern Lights Promise – get a free trip if the lights don't appear on select voyages (Ts&Cs apply). Found well within the Arctic Circle, these Norwegian islands are home to soaring mountain peaks, charming fishing villages and exciting Viking history.
of the Best Northern Lights Cruises
If you're looking for a way to experience quaint, Norwegian fishing villages, and see the Northern Lights, this is it. Marella brings you to some of the smaller towns, away from the crowds, for a more authentic experience. To help you, we asked photography experts for their tried and trusted tips on everything from how to photograph the Northern Lights from a ship to shooting the aurora with a smartphone.
Viking River Cruises
For fjord cruises it's more about the sail-ins and sail-outs along the fjords themselves, while in the winter it's about finding clear skies for the best chance of stargazing and a northern lights display. 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. 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).
Both Hurtigruten Expeditions and the Hurtigruten’s Norwegian Coastal Express, offer a good number of itineraries that showcase the Northern Lights. The Coastal Express serves as both a passenger cruise line and a lifeline for Norwegian coastal residents and these working ships transport locals’ cars, fjord towns’ freight and up to 1,000 total passengers on any given day. 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). 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.
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. By night you will seek out the Northern Lights, but by day we will try to get you off the ship 2-3 times per day (depending on the weather and conditions) so you can get the most out of your time in the Arctic. Walking and bird-watching are popular activities as they offer a chance to witness the unique wildlife in the destinations you visit. Yes - you can view the Northern Lights on one of our Norwegian cruises, however we can't guarantee their appearance! The aurora borealis is near impossible to predict, but sightings are more likely on clear nights between October and March, and odds increase the further north you travel.
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.
Both take place in the late summer into early fall, as darkness returns to the skies in the Arctic. Rates for the eight-day itinerary start from $4,600 per person for the 2023 sailings. From there, it’s onward to Rørvik, an ancient fishing town, and then Lødingen, a village known for its place amongst the fjords.
Comments
Post a Comment