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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.
If youre 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.
The Ultimate Guide To The Worlds Best Northern Lights Cruises
Norway & North Cape Magic of the Arctic Winter, Auora Over Svolvaer
Richard Choi/Hurtigruten
Few natural phenomena capture the imagination like the Northern Lights. Those multi-colored, otherworldly starry streamers are Mother Natures very own disco. One of the best ways to see the spectacle is via a cruise. Theres just something about the juxtaposition of floating on the oceanthe planets still unknowable, final frontierwhile staring upwards towards the heavens that intensifies the aurora experience.
Additionally, the chances of catching the starry show are much better out at sea than on land because youre away from a citys light pollution that can dim the display. While theres never any guarantee that the aurora will appear, the extraordinary adventure of taking a northern cruise offers ample other rewards. So, if youre yearning to combine a sea voyage with a luminous light show, here are some of the worlds best northern lights cruises.
Iceland, Greenland & East Canada cruise
Nicolas J. leclercq/Aurora Expeditions
Northeast Passage
Norway & North Cape Magic of the Arctic Winter, Aurora Over Svolvaer
Richard Choi/ Hurtigruten
12-Day Search for the Northern Lights
Princess Cruises
Arctic Cruise: Longyearbyen to Tromsø
Silversea Cruises
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Where Do Northern Lights Cruises Go
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.
However, most Northern Lights cruises visit just Norway, Iceland, and Greenland because those countries have open waterway that arent frozen over.
Alaskas cruise season only runs from May through September. While it is possible to see the Northern Lights display toward the beginning and end of the cruise season, its unlikely and no ships specifically target Alaskas aurora season. Additionally, most Alaska cruises are concentrated around the collection of islands in the states southeast region, which is a little too far south for good auroral displays.
What Is Aurora Borealis
Aurora Borealis are magical bands of neon green light that spontaneously burst and dance in the sky. And there are only a few places on the globe where it can be viewed. Specifically, it occurs within the Northern Lights zone .
The Borealis is composed of solar particles shooting into the magnetic field of the earth and appear more than 60 miles above the earthâs surface. Natives have believed the lights have a mystical force or even marked the appearance of spirits who have passed on.
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What Should You Avoid In Alaska
20 Things Everyone In Alaska Should Avoid At All Costs Farmed seafood. Flickr Judi Knight. Or buying fish in general. Even feeding your dogs farmed fish. Eating hot dogs. Camping without a view. Snacking on chips from the lower 48. Shopping at big corporate box stores. Drinking wine that isnt from Alaska.
Simply Being Within The Arctic Circle May Not Be Enough
Rule number one for viewing the northern lights is that the location must be within, or at least near, the arctic circle. To be more precise, the vantage point should be within the auroral oval, which is an irregularly shaped oval that encircles the earths magnetic pole .
It should be noted that the southern hemisphere also has a magnetic pole and auroral oval.
When viewing the northern auroral oval from space, it would include parts of:
For those who are fortunate enough to find themselves within the auroral oval, at the right time of year, and under favorable weather conditions, these are the types of northern lights that they may witness in the night sky:
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You Can Cruise Alaska Anytime Between April And October
The weather in Alaska can be unpredictable and challenging , so youll always be at the mercy of Mother Nature. Winter is a strict no-go, so the cruise season typically runs from the end of April to the beginning of October . Not only is this six-month window the safest time for cruise ships to sail, but it also means avoiding the freezing months of January and February when the earth has tilted and theres hardly any sunlight. For those lucky enough not to be restricted by school term times, one of the best times to travel is in May and early June not least for the wildflowers blooming along the Inside Passage, the migrating wildlife, and the chance to see icebergs and snowdrifts just before the breakup turns it into a melting and slushy mess. Equally standout are the peak summer months for glorious light-filled days when the sun simply refuses to set, temperatures that range from 60°F to 80°F , and rainfall that wont ruin your sightseeing . This is also when cruise-goers make the most of ship facilities such as outdoor pools, sun decks, and swim-up bars.
Best Cruises To See The Northern Lights
Native cultures tell stories of the northern lights reaching down and taking people away if they whistle at them. In Norse mythology, the lights represent the trails of gods and goddesses traversing the sky. Romans believed the aurora was the glow of mystical caves.
For thousands of years, humans have been fascinated by the northern lights and created myths and legends to explain its purpose and power. The earliest known record of the lights is from a Babylonian clay tablet dating back to about 568 B.C. Today, science mostly explains the northern lights, but some mystery remains. For example, scientists are still baffled by the lights highly organized structure. And, its spellbinding beauty continues to lure travelers to its glowing arms.
Travelers can view the northern lights in different places around the world by various means, including by cruise ship. If you love to cruise and want to add the northern lights to your next itinerary, there are ways to make it happen.
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Norwegian Cruise Line Denali/valdez Explorer
Alaska is the only U.S. state from which the northern lights can be regularly seen. Although the absolute best time of year is the dead of winter, the tail end of summer and the beginning of fall affords visitors ample opportunities to view the aurora borealis. This voyage consists of a 7-day cruise and a 7-day land tour of Alaskas interior.
The cruise begins in Vancouver, Canada, and winds its way through Alaskas Inside Passage, where passengers are treated to stunning views of the Alaskan coastline. A full day is spent at Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, where 3.3 million acres of glaciers and mountains provide breathtaking scenery by day and an incredible backdrop for viewing the northern lights at night.
The land tour departs from Seward, Alaska, and treks inland to Fairbanks, which is widely considered to be Alaskas prime location for seeing the northern lights. Just venturing a few miles outside of Fairbanks city limits immerses visitors in complete darkness, which, if combined with clear skies, all but guarantees an aurora borealis sighting.
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Scientists Are Getting Better At Predicting Northern Lights
It was not long ago that experiencing the northern lights in person was a hit-or-miss proposition where a successful excursion was more the result of happenstance than employing anything remotely resembling the scientific method.
Today, however, scientists have made great strides in:
- Understanding the causes of the northern lights
- Predicting when and where they will occur
- Predicting the intensity of those occurrences
For instance, the Space Weather Prediction Center, managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, provides 30-minute aurora forecasts for both the northern and southern hemispheres, along with percentage probabilities of viewability and predicted intensity.
Based largely on measuring waves of solar energy as they track toward the earths magnetic poles, the scientific community has effectively taken the guesswork out of venturing to the auroral oval to catch a glimpse of the northern lights .
As with so many things in the modern world, when it comes to predicting the visibility of northern lights in the auroral oval, the best advice is to keep a smartphone handy because a real-time northern lights forecast is just a few clicks away.
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The Best Months For An Alaska Cruise For Good Weather
The weather in Alaska can, and will, change multiple times per day, but you will find the warmest months to be June, July and August.
The median months will see higher temperatures and longer days for touring, and it represents the limited summer that Alaska enjoys. However, July and August tend to also have higher levels of precipitation.
If you do book a cruise during summer, be sure to plan your shore excursions well in advance to avoid tours selling out.
If you are willing to trade warmth for less precipitation, then go for May. In fact, the end of May and the beginning of June offers some of the best weather in the region throughout the year.
If you want to see snow on the ground, May is the best month for that.
Cunard Norway And Northern Lights
Departing Southern England and crossing the North Sea, Cunards Queen Victoria sails along the Norwegian coastline and travels as far north as Tromsø, which lies approximately 250 miles inside the Arctic Circle. With its late autumn/early winter timing, this cruise falls well within the recommended window of opportunity for viewing the northern lights.
The Queen Victoria is one of the larger vessels making the Northern Europe excursion, measuring almost 1,000 feet in length and accommodating over 2,000 passengers and nearly 1,000 crew members. As far as taking in the aurora borealis, this voyage not only puts guests in the right place at the right time, it also does so on a grand scale and with a level of comfort matched by only a few others.
While viewing the northern lights would certainly qualify as one of the highlights of this cruise, operators and travel sites do caution that the appearance of the aurora borealis during the voyage, however likely it may be, is not guaranteed. Fortunately, if ever there was a surefire way to get over the disappointment of missing the northern lights, it would be a week and a half aboard Cunards Queen Victoria.
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What Kind Of Things Do You Do On A Northern Lights Cruise
The best northern lights cruises provide plenty of opportunities for passengers to learn about, celebrate and, of course, see the northern lights. But there will also be activities geared to exploring parts of the world filled with many other natural, cultural, and man-made wonders.
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Onshore activities for cruisers might range from museum and science center visits to dogsledding with huskies, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, ice-fishing, and scenic helicopter rides. Some cruises offer guests opportunities to spend a night in a snow-ice hotel and visit wildlife sanctuaries where wolves, wolverines, musk oxen, elk, reindeer, and other Arctic mammals might be spotted. And in some ports, cruise guests may learn about and visit with some of Norways indigenous Sámi people who, under Norwegian law, are generally the only people in Norway who may own and herd reindeer.
On northern lights-themed cruises, viewing activities and excursions will abound. Announcements may be issued when theres an opportunity to view the northern lights from your ship. Excursions may give you the opportunity to be transported to northern lights viewing spots by everything from buses and minivans to small boats and dogsleds.
Quark Expeditions Under The Northern Lights: Exploring Iceland & East Greenland Cruise
- Cost: Starts at $10,256 per person
Northern Lights cruising isnt what you would consider to be a mainstream cruise itinerarythere arent lots of optionsbut even within the limited field, Quarks aurora-viewing sailing stands out for its unique destinations.In Iceland, guests spend time in Reykjavík before motoring along the Westfjords, the rugged peninsula that makes up the northwest corner of the island nation. There guests spend their days scanning the dizzying cliff sides for puffins, guillemots, and razorbills, and their nights scanning the sky for signs of the aurora. The ship then crosses the Arctic Circle as it heads to Greenland, where it spends eight days patrolling the remote northeast coast. This wild tundra is home to reindeer, arctic hares, and 40 percent of the worlds musk ox population.
Its 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. Because its an expedition sailing, guests typically get off the boat two or three times per day for excursions, be that for Zodiac rides between bobbing bits of icebergs, hiking among reindeer, kayaking in the fjords, or perhaps even doing a polar plunge.
Guests also have the option to extend their trip with a few days in Reykjavík, where Northern Lights displays are common in the winter. Quark is running this itinerary twice in September 2023.
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Quark Expeditions Under The Northern Lights
This two-week voyage that begins in Reykjavik, Iceland, not only provides prime northern lights viewing opportunities but does so among some of the most stunning vistas on the planet. Eight of the 14 days are spent exploring Greenlands eastern coast, which is home to the most extensive and arguably the most beautiful fjord systems in the world.
The Ocean Adventurer is a 1A polar-class vessel that operates with a crew of 87 and can accommodate 128 passengers. Cabins are fairly straightforward in their amenities. This voyage is certainly not one for those seeking to lounge around in the lap of luxury if youre one who puts more stock in the adventure that awaits at the destination than the comfort of the journey to get there, this is right up your alley.
Speaking of adventure, this may be the only cruise line operating in the Arctic that has a polar bear plunge scheduled on each of its northern voyages . Other activities include Zodiac excursions for close-up views of icebergs, whale watching, and guided Arctic hikes across the frozen tundra.
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Vacations To The Northern Lights In Alaska
Alaska is a seasonal cruise destination, with major cruise ships passing through the state between early May and late September. The Northern Lights are brilliant colors that flash across the dark night sky, invoking a sense of wonderment in any spectator who has ever seen them. Even though the best chance to see the lights is the dead of winter, scientists and cruise passengers say its possible to spot the phenomenon any time of year.
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Northern Lights Cruise Offers 2023
These exciting voyages to Norway, will venture high into the Arctic Circle in search of the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights. This atmospheric display of green and pink light dancing across the inky dark sky, is one of natures most extraordinary and spectacular wonders and, if atmospheric conditions are right, youll have the chance to witness this amazing phenomenon. Tick this off your bucket list and book now!
Under The Glow Of The Northern Lights With Saga
Cruise to Norway with Saga when the night sky hosts a mesmerising display of lights and enjoy an extended stay in Alta, where this natural phenomena can often be seen at its best.
Youll also visit Bergen, with its UNESCO-listed Bryggen, Tromsø, Honningsvåg, Narvik and Kristiansund on board Sagas boutique, luxury ship Spirit of Adventure, and enjoy talks from Musical Director, pianist and composer, Dr Simon Fricker, performances from the Syd Lawrence Orchestra and talks from explorer and adventurer, Sue Stockdale.
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What Is The Best Time To Go On A Northern Lights Cruise
Seeing the northern lights on a cruise isnt guaranteed . 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.
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.
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