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Other highlights include a visit to Stockholm and Copenhagen, including an overnight stop in the latter. The aurora borealis is a natural electrical phenomenon caused by an interaction between sun particles and Earth’s upper atmosphere. The particles are drawn towards us by Earth’s magnetic field only to crash into nitrogen and oxygen atoms. The Northern Lights are regarded as a bucket list experience for many travellers and sky watchers, and the bright colours of the aurora borealis are influenced by the chemical composition of Earth’s atmosphere. And we’ve learned beyond a doubt that the best way to increase your chances of seeing a spectacular display of the aurora borealis is to take a sea voyage beneath the Auroral Oval.
ATV/Quad safari to the Norwegian border (Kirkenes)
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. Keep that in mind before you place all your cruise vacation hopes on this one experience. 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.
Admire the Norwegian fjords
So, over the decades, we’ve adapted our ships into floating observatories that are perfect for aurora chasers. After departing Southampton, the first stop on this cruise will be in Ålesund, Norway, to spend a day exploring its art nouveau architecture. After another day at sea, guests will reach Tromsø, a city 250 miles inside the Arctic Circle with famously consistent Northern Lights displays.
What Are The Best Cruise Lines That Sail Northern Lights Itineraries?
As we mentioned before, light pollution can make it harder to see the northern lights. Some cruises turn off the deck lights to help you see the aurora better, but scoping out an especially dark spot might help even more. The northern lights are impressive, but, like the stars, they can get overpowered by electric lights around you. Rural locations (like in Norway or Alaska) give you a better shot at seeing an aurora than big cities.
Cunard Line and Hurtigruten are among the lines that visit northern Norway in the fall. Cruise lines operating in Alaska, such as Holland America, Princess Cruises and UnCruise Adventures, have northern lights sign-up sheets so you don't have to stay up all night, every night, hoping to see the phenomenon. Put your name on the list, and you'll get a wake-up call or knock on your cabin door should there be aurora action. Plan to put on your clothes or bathrobe quickly — the lights may only appear for a few minutes, or they could last considerably longer.
Gamme Cabins at the Snowhotel
Hurtigruten Appoints the World's First 'Chief Aurora Chaser' for Northern Lights Cruises - TravelPulse
Hurtigruten Appoints the World's First 'Chief Aurora Chaser' for Northern Lights Cruises.
Posted: Mon, 25 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
This Baroque-style museum is home to precious art including iconic works by Klimt such as ‘The Kiss’. Stroll through the palace gardens and into the Upper Belvedere, admiring views of this exquisite city along the way. The Viking 23-day European Sojourn river voyage covers eight countries along the Rhine, Main and Danube. Enjoy a lifetime’s worth of experiences on a single journey through the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania and Bucharest.
The colorful ribbons of green and other hues look like something from outer space — and they are. Viking’s shore excursions offer an engaging way for inquisitive travellers to learn about other countries and cultures, led by expert guides who are passionate about their region and provide insights into the local way of life. After 26 years in Europe, Viking knows the most enjoyable aspects of its popular destinations, from major cities to the countryside. Every itinerary has been honed to explore the most beautiful landscapes, stunning landmarks, and unusual customs and cuisines unique to each port of call. A mesmerising view at the perfect time of day, a natural phenomenon that must be seen to be appreciated, or a heart-pumping activity in a place rarely visited.
Thematic Norway Holidays:
While we can't control the weather, we sail quickly past any cloud cover for a clearer view of the skies. Here are six reasons why a voyage with us is your best chance of seeing an unforgettable Northern Lights display. This story was originally published in October 2022 and was updated on April 5, 2024, to include current information.
An adventure cruise to Greenland and Labrador - The Boston Globe
An adventure cruise to Greenland and Labrador.
Posted: Fri, 09 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
On northern lights-themed cruises, viewing activities and excursions will abound. Announcements (even opt-in late night wake-up calls) may be issued when there’s 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. 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.
Its footprint varies depending on solar activity, but Northern Norway is reliably within it. When you see the Northern Lights from within the Auroral Oval, they can fill the sky, from horizon to horizon. Our trips are based on our goal of sustainable tourism, with eco-friendly travel that leaves as small an environmental footprint on nature as possible.
And in some ports, cruise guests may learn about and visit with some of Norway’s indigenous Sámi people who, under Norwegian law, are generally the only people in Norway who may own and herd reindeer. Another incredible experience in this region is to cruise across the Arctic Circle where sunlight shines 24 hours a day during Norway’s summer. At midnight, locals embrace the everlasting sunset by going to the beach or kayaking under a golden sky. Viking’s 15-day Into the Midnight Sun ocean voyage includes an overnight stay in Bergen and visits to Edinburgh and the Orkney and Shetland islands in Scotland.
The psychedelic light show that paints the night sky with multicolored neon streams, scientifically known as the aurora borealis, is an experience worth chasing for many. For the best chance of seeing the swirling spectacle, travelers should head to the northernmost climes on a cloudless night between late August and mid-April. Besides a down coat, warm hat, and gloves, be sure to pack wind and waterproof pants (i.e., ski pants or rain pans), thermal long underwear, wool socks, and winter boots for walking on snow and ice.
In the afternoon, we reach the port of Molde and the amazing view of 222 mountain peaks across the fjord, called the ‘Molde Panorama’. The day-by-day program will give you some ideas about what you can see during your voyage, but bear in mind that this itinerary is just an indication. One of Europe’s most scenic stretches of the Danube, known as the Iron Gate, carves through the Carpathian Mountains to the north and the Balkan Mountains to the south. On the Serbian side, Trajan’s Tablet was laid to mark the construction of a Roman military road; on the Romanian side is a giant rock sculpture of Dacian king Decebalus, embedded in white limestone cliffs draped with forest. Spot these ancient remains on Viking’s 11-day Passage To Eastern Europe river voyage between Budapest and Bucharest via Hungary, Croatia and Bulgaria.
A whole industry has sprung up around the lights, including such extravagant shore excursions as an overnight in a tent with viewing windows at a Sami dog-sledding camp. Even without the side shows of the Midnight Sun and the Northern Lights, Norway’s scenery is spectacular. Geirangerfjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is breathtaking to view up close, while Eidfjord is the gateway to Hardangervidda, Europe’s largest mountain plateau.
