The 10 best Northern Lights cruises
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.
North Norway remains the most popular place to hunt for the shimmering patterns of coloured light across the night sky, technically known as the aurora borealis, but there are a few options to Iceland and Greenland too.
Here are 10 ways to see one of nature’s most spectacular phenomena on a cruise...
Stargaze along the Norwegian coast
Advice and lectures from a Northern Lights expert form the basis of special Hurtigruten astronomy voyages – along with an included tour of the planetarium in Troms?. The ships of Hurtigruten continually sail up and down the Norwegian coast, giving a great choice over departure dates.
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.
From ￡1,517pp, various astronomy departures this winter and next (02035 536194; hurtigruten.co.uk).
Sail to the skies from Southampton
A traditional Norwegian fjords cruise combined with an aurora hunt is an enticing prospect from Marella. Its 14-night Seeking the Northern Lights cruise on Explorer from Southampton is an autumn sailing, visiting the likes of Fl?m, Geiranger and Olden as well as going all the way to Honningsv?g, gateway to the North Cape. The 1,800-passenger ship boasts 10 places to eat and 10 bars.
From ￡1,501pp, departing on September 26, 2019 (0203 451 2682; tui.co.uk).
Admire the Arctic’s winter splendour
Both of Fred Olsen’s Northern Lights cruises for this winter have sold out, so book ahead for the next available sailings. The 800-passenger Black Watch will embark from Southampton on a 14-night Northern Norway trip that also ties in with Samí National Day, celebrating the indigenous people of northern Scandinavia. ?lesund, Trondheim, Troms?, Alta and Kristiansund are on the route. Fred Olsen also has north Norway sailings in September 2019 and March 2020.
From ￡1,899pp, departing January 31, 2020 (0800 084 6630; fredolsencruises.com).
Join a shore excursion at every port
The five cruises in Viking’s inaugural Northern Lights season early next year are selling quickly – but there will be six departures in 2020. The 12-night London Tilbury to Bergen (or reverse) voyage on the all-balcony, 930-passenger Viking Sky calls at Stavanger, Bod?, Troms? and Alta (both overnights), and Narvik. There’s a free excursion in every port plus a range of options.
From ￡3,790pp, departures January to March 2019 and 2020, including flights (0800 298 9700; vikingcruises.co.uk).
Become an expert photographer
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 Troms? and two nights in Alta, along Bergen, Narvik, Bod?, Stavanger and a maiden call at Sortland in Vester?len. It is one of the last cruises on the 720-passenger Sapphire before it is retired.
From ￡2,768pp, departing February 12, 2019 (0800 505030; travel.saga.co.uk).
Try Iceland and the Orkney Islands
Hurtigruten apart, Cruise & Maritime has the biggest range of aurora voyages including sailings to Iceland as well as Norway. A good-value, 11-night trip from Hull on the 550-passenger Astoria calls at the small fishing port of Kollafj?rδur in the Faroe Islands before proceeding to Reykjavik and Akureyri in Iceland. Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands is visited on the return journey.
From ￡889pp, departing October 25, 2019 (0844 998 3807; cruiseandmaritime.com).
Learn from an aurora expert
An optional aurora hunt with a local expert is one of the activities on P&O Cruises’ 12-night Norway and Northern Lights voyage. The mid-March timing means there will be several hours of daylight to admire the scenery. It is a round-trip from Southampton on the 1,800-passenger Aurora, which offers plenty of activities on sea days. An overnight in Troms?, two nights in Alta and calls at ?ndalsnes and Stavanger are on the itinerary.
From ￡1,099pp, departing March 11, 2020 (0843 373 0111; pocruises.com).
Get active with longer in port
A trip to the formidable ‘Troll Wall’ inland cliff, a kayak safari and a hike up a mini-mountain are among the optional activities on Cunard’s 12-night Norway and Northern Lights voyage from Southampton on the deluxe, 2,000-passenger Queen Elizabeth. Overnight stays in both Troms? and Narvik are on the itinerary, as well as days in ?lesund and Stavanger.
From ￡1,479pp, departing October 8, 2019 (0344 338 8650; cunard.co.uk).
Glimpse polar bears and narwhales in Greenland
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. It’s a round-trip from Akureyri in Iceland.
From ￡3,232pp, departing September 17, 2019 (0031 118 410 410; oceanwide-expeditions.com).
Patrol the fjords on a traditional schooner
Spying whales in the water and dancing lights in the sky from the deck of a traditional schooner is what Wildfoot’s seven-night North Norway Sailing Ship Whale Safari with Northern Lights is all about. A round-trip from Troms?, the itinerary concentrates on narrow channels and fjords patrolled by orcas and humpbacks, with shore hikes in remote spots. The SV Noorderlicht has 10 cabins sharing four bathrooms.
From ￡1,676pp, departures until March 2019 (0800 195 3385; wildfoottravel.com).