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Passengers will embark on comfortable expedition vessels, equipped with expert guides, to explore remote and dark-sky locations. This extraordinary adventure combines celestial spectacle with Arctic landscapes, creating an unforgettable and magical journey. Hurtigruten is something of an outlier in this group because it doesn't offer specific northern lights itineraries. But the routes of this coastal ferry company in Norway just happen to traverse the perfect latitudes to see the aurora. For the best odds of seeing the northern lights, we suggest the 12-day round-trip itinerary from Bergen up the coast of Norway and back. Over the course of 13 days, a luxurious Viking ocean ship transports guests from London to Amsterdam, then all the way up the coast of Norway and north of the Arctic Circle, before returning back south to the Norwegian city of Bergen.
The Auroral Oval
On a typical Fred Olsen cruise, you would expect an elderly crowd who favour a traditional approach to cruising with a British onboard experience. This luxurious and eco-friendly catamaran whisks you away to the best spots for Aurora viewing. The comfortable spacious cabin is equipped with panoramic windows, allowing a perfect view of the mesmerising Aurora dance. Looking to check multiple countries off your list and see the Northern Lights? Viking’s 13-day sailing has stops in England, the Netherlands, and Norway. Havila Voyages and HX both offer a Northern Lights promise on cruises that depart from the scenic town of Bergen, Norway.
Northern Lights Cruises FAQs
The quality of food at these Wildlands lodges far exceeded our expectations. This is one of the more luxurious options when it comes to cruising around the Arctic, especially given the number of activities offered to guests. Where we sail on the Norwegian coast is directly beneath the Auroral Zone, an area of consistent and heightened Northern Lights activity. We asked scientists and astronomers to explain the Northern Lights in a way we could understand. 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. For KrisTina Kramer, few things in life give her as much of a thrill as sailing with us along the Norwegian coast, chasing the Northern Lights.
Norwegian Coastal Express
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]
The cruises in Tromso usually start up in November and end in April. It’s not easy to say exactly when the best month to see the lights are, but hopefully the overview below will give you some pointers. Tromsø Owing to its position in the middle of an area known as the auroral oval (where your chances of seeing the lights are much higher), Tromsø is widely regarded as one of Norway’s best Northern Lights locations. But, as its unofficial title of the ‘Arctic capital’ suggests, it’s also a vibrant and atmospheric hub of culture and cuisine, with tons of exemplary restaurants and cafés to sample. Whether you catch the lights or not, be sure to make the most of Tromsø’s other big draws, such as the architectural marvel that is the Arctic Cathedral, which is easy to visit on a Princess excursion. If the lights appear during the night, the crew will play an announcement over the in-cabin TVs (meaning guests need to leave their TVs on all night to hear it).
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Passengers will enjoy the magical display from the comfort of the ship, creating a truly extraordinary and unforgettable experience. If you don't have two or three weeks to take off work to go northern lights watching, consider Oceanwide Expeditions' eight-day aurora borealis sailings from Iceland to Greenland and back. The adventure begins in Akureyri, the unofficial capital of north Iceland, before heading for Greenland's breathtaking Scoresby Sund, the largest fjord system in the world. If you do have a little more time, you can opt for the 13-day Spitsbergen - Northeast Greenland - Aurora Borealis itinerary, which embarks in the Svalbard archipelago before sailing to Greenland and down to Iceland.
HX Expeditions
Done up in decor inspired by Norwegian landscapes, the vessels carry up to 468 overnight cruise passengers. Seeing the ethereal display, also known as the aurora borealis, is a bucket list experience for many travelers. And cruise ships can get you to destinations where your chances of catching Mother Nature's special light show are improved. Though it may not technically constitute an expedition experience, our sailing along the Norwegian coast in early February attracted the hearty adventure set. Passengers sported expedition jackets from the likes of Viking, Silversea, Seabourn and Lindblad Expeditions, adorned with patches and logos from voyages to Antarctica and the Far Arctic. They came with hiking boots and Nordic walking sticks and crampons and the heavy winter gear of experienced modern-day polar explorers.
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Visit the Lofoten Seafood Center and learn about the impressive cod fisheries and perhaps sample some local seafood. See The Northern Lights with Aurora Expeditions and our Expedition Team will take you on excursions unique to the High Arctic, fully included in the cost of your expedition. For those interested in a little extra excitement, there are optional activities designed to get you closer to the action.
Roundtrip Voyage from Bergen Explore Norway’s Coastline
Northern Lights cruises are a fabulous counterpoint to cruising Norway in the summer. It may be the same country, but the experiences you can have ashore couldn’t be more different. Get ready to celebrate the season in Sami tents in the wilderness, or by taking a snowmobile journey through the backcountry, or saddling up to a dogsled. You can camp overnight in a tent, or glamp in an ice hotel – a unique experience that has to be tried to be believed.
Itinerary
Long before we understood the science behind the aurora, the Northern Lights were wrapped up in myths and legends that still fuel our imaginations today. Being at sea avoids the air pollution and the ambient light on land, both of which can dull the colors and vibrancy of a Northern Lights spectacle. Paddle by kayak and explore local alpine landscapes; enjoy Tromsø’s waterways by RIB. Take a journey along Amsterdam’s network of canals or browse one of the city’s museums.
In cruising terms, that means prime viewing is in northern Alaska (which is easily accessible on cruisetours), Norway, Iceland, Arctic Canada and parts of Greenland. A sense of adventure is required for these sailings, which is exactly why these pseudo-expedition cruises are so popular. Most excursions are weighted into the late evening hours, which results in passengers waking up late and enjoying late breakfasts and lazy afternoons before setting out all over again once the sun goes down.
‘Getting out amongst it’ is our philosophy, and that is exactly what we do. 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. Led by experienced guides, you and your small group of like-minded adventurers will paddle between ice floes, brash ice and icebergs of all shapes and sizes. Paddling is one of the best ways to access and intimately explore the beautiful coastlines we visit and therefore make the most of your time in the wild and remote destinations we visit.
For the first time, we sail to or from the capital Oslo, journeying between Norway’s southernmost point and its northernmost. To marvel at the ethereal beauty of the aurora borealis is, for many, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Discover how it feels to experience this natural wonder with Cunard. The two speciality restaurants do come at an additional charge but this is incredibly reasonable when compared to many other cruise lines.
Zodiac cruises allow you to get closer to some of the wildlife and landscapes you’ll see throughout your Northern Lights tour. If you have the necessary experience you should also consider adding sea kayaking to your Northern Lights itinerary. Your chances of a sighting are high, but there is no guarantee of seeing the northern lights in northern Norway. That brings me on to the most important thing to know before you take a northern lights cruise to northern Norway.
Hurtigruten Northern Lights Promise Extended to Benefit Cruisers - Matador Network
Hurtigruten Northern Lights Promise Extended to Benefit Cruisers.
Posted: Wed, 20 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
This is because Greenland’s population is tiny and scattered across small, remote communities, so it has minimal light pollution. Not many Northern Lights tours go to Greenland but Aurora Expeditions Northern Lights cruises explore using a small expedition ship which makes it easy to visit the prime locations in Greenland to see the Northern Lights. An aurora is a natural light display that can appear as brilliant green, yellow, red, blue and purple light patterns, spirals or dynamic flickers covering the night sky. 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. When these particles approach Earth a few nights later, they distort our magnetic field.
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