Northern Lights Vacations: Unparalleled Aurora Borealis Viewing

Table Of Content

• of the Best Northern Lights Cruises
• Guide to Alaska Northern Lights Cruises: See Nature's Magic
• DAY 8 Juneau Disembarkation
• Best Time of Year to See the Lights in Alaska
• Contact Us - Northern Lights Cruises
• Northern Lights & Winter Sports

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. 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.

of the Best Northern Lights Cruises

Observe a sea lion haulout (when they gather on the banks to rest) and puffin rookery in the Marble Islands, or go whale watching in Fredericks Sound, Stephens Passage, or Chatham. No matter your itinerary, UnCruise helps guests witness incredible creatures in their natural habitats, creating memories that will last a lifetime. Set sail on these itineraries to try to spot the aurora borealis.

Guide to Alaska Northern Lights Cruises: See Nature's Magic

The lights typically appear in curtains, arcs, or spirals, dancing across the sky in a mesmerizing display that can last from minutes to hours. Before embarking on your Northern Lights adventure, it’s important to understand the optimal times to catch this elusive spectacle. The next section will guide you through the best time of year to see the Northern Lights in Alaska. Join an adventure of a lifetime aboard the Aleutian Ballad, as seen on Discovery Channel’s - The Deadliest Catch. For enthusiasts with limited time looking to discover Alaska’s historic and extreme ways of life.

DAY 8 Juneau Disembarkation

If you’re planning an Alaskan cruise specifically to see the Northern Lights, it’s important to choose the right time of year. The prime months for Northern Lights viewing in Alaska are from September to April, with the peak season occurring in the winter months. After departing London, guests spend a day in Amsterdam, where they can stroll along the canals, admiring the architecture and indulging in alfresco coffee and stroopwafel breaks. Then, after crossing the North Sea, the ship cruises the scenic Norwegian Inside Passage, a protected shipping lane that runs from the southern tip of Norway to Russia (though Viking guests will only go as far north as Tromsø). From there, it’s onward to Rørvik, an ancient fishing town, and then Lødingen, a village known for its place amongst the fjords.

As the ethereal dance of the Northern Lights illuminates the night sky, it’s clear why this natural spectacle has captivated the human imagination for centuries. Whether you’re nestled amid Alaska’s vast wilderness or sailing through Norway’s dramatic fjords, the experience of witnessing the aurora borealis from the deck of a cruise ship is nothing short of magical. It’s never a guarantee that the Northern Lights will appear—it’s all dependent on the strength of geomagnetic storms on the sun and how clear the sky is where you are. One of the highlights is visiting the Inuit village Ittoqqortoormiit, the region’s most isolated and northernmost permanent settlement, with its gregarious locals and scores of Greenlandic sled dogs.

And cruise ships can get you to destinations where your chances of catching Mother Nature's special light show are improved. Following a day packed with adventure, guests can relax with hot toddies on deck or join nighttime expeditions to remote vantage points, ensuring the best chances of witnessing the astonishing aurora. Alaska cruises from Princess can transport you to enchanting and intimate ports of call that boast culinary and cultural experiences for all. Whether or not you’re lucky enough to witness the aurora borealis, your adventure to the Great Land will be just as enlightening and colorful as Alaska’s iconic skies.

Northern Lights & Winter Sports

Join Alas­ka Wildlife Guide in explor­ing one of Alaska’s most desired attrac­tions, Chena Hot Springs Resort. From vis­it­ing the most north­ern Ice Muse­um, soak­ing in the all-nat­ur­al hot springs to view­ing the breath­tak­ing North­ern Lights dance across the sky, this tour will be a high­light of your Alaskan experience. This fam­i­ly-owned, fly-in lux­u­ry wilder­ness lodge is 200 miles north of Fair­banks and 60 miles above the Arc­tic Cir­cle. Stays are all-inclu­sive and exclu­sive — they only accept one group at a time. Go dogsled­ding, snow­shoe­ing, or scan the skies for the north­ern lights.

Why This Cruise Is the Best Way to See the Northern Lights in Alaska - AFAR Media

Why This Cruise Is the Best Way to See the Northern Lights in Alaska.

Posted: Tue, 09 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

What Are The Best Cruise Lines That Sail Northern Lights Itineraries?

An Alaskan cruise with the opportunity to witness the Northern Lights is an extraordinary adventure that combines the rugged beauty of Alaska’s wilderness with the ethereal display of the Aurora Borealis. By choosing the right time of year, monitoring solar activity, and selecting an optimal cruise route, you can maximize your chances of experiencing this magical natural phenomenon. 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. The northern lights occur because of solar activity, so during the early part of the solar cycle, known as solar minimum, there is a smaller chance of experiencing a full-on auroral storm. As we move toward solar maximum, which returns in 2025, the odds of seeing the northern lights will increase. Midsize and small cruise ship companies offer a variety of Arctic Circle sails during prime northern lights viewing months.

In late January, there's a northern lights arts festival featuring top artists in various musical genres. For many travelers, catching a glimpse of the spectacular aurora borealis is the dream of a lifetime. Don’t miss out on the chance to see them this year as the sun’s cycle reaches solar maximum, ensuring the best viewing opportunities for the next 11 years, especially during the spring and fall.

Done up in decor inspired by Norwegian landscapes, the vessels carry up to 468 overnight cruise passengers. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has a Space Weather Prediction Center, which is a great resource for a short-term forecast of northern lights activity. Fairbanks also happens to be the headquarters of the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska, which issues a nightly forecast on Aurora viewing alongside a 27-day forecast. Spanning 13.2 million acres, this national park is the largest protected reserve in the United States.

Today, UnCruise’s Alaska expeditions are renowned for non-stop action, adventure, and exploration. We have the answers so your first time will be nothing but smooth sailing. To capture the true essence of the Northern Lights magic, consider packing a high-quality camera. Many guests also bring a tripod, a remote control and replacement batteries for a seamless photography opportunity.

Because of the late-setting and early-rising midnight sun, it's way too light during the summer to see the northern lights in the destinations mentioned, though solar activity takes place year-round. Yes, several cruise lines offer itineraries specifically tailored for aurora viewing, often incorporating experts, lectures, and workshops related to the phenomenon. Find out the best time to see the northern lights on your Alaska cruise and what Alaska locations offer the best viewing.

Engaging with these stories enriches the experience, providing a cultural context to the natural marvel. Many ships offer heated outdoor areas, loungers, and even blankets for comfort. Onboard experts, aurora alert systems, and photography workshops can further enhance the experience. The prime season for Northern Lights viewing in Alaska is between late September and early April.

Com­bine your auro­ra view­ing trip with a few oth­er high­lights planned out by Salmon Berry Tours, and you’ll expe­ri­ence the best of win­ter in Alaska. From mid-November through March, you can check into a lodge or look for the lights each night as you try a different activity, like ice fishing or dogsledding. And if you’re on an aurora quest from mid-August to mid-September, (Fall) there’s still time to enjoy summer activities, like visiting Denali National Park or taking a glacier cruise. Another bonus is that ships are mobile, and able to reach the northernmost latitudes of the Earth. The aurora borealis phenomenon typically occurs between 60 and 75 degrees latitude, which covers the northern parts of Alaska, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia; all of Iceland; and the southern part of Greenland. But the auroral oval constantly shifts, so small ships can sometimes vary their route to take advantage of optimum conditions.