Ribbons of brilliance, dazzling displays and ethereal stargazing – the Northern Lights are a lifetime highlight for those lucky enough to witness the intriguing spectacle.
Famously, orchestrating a glimpse of the elusive celestial ballet requires that a lot of factors fall into place. Clear viewing conditions, a great vantage point and a lot of patience are a must to watch the lights dance at their most visible between September and March.
To maximise your chances of a rare Northern Lights sighting, you’ll need to head for locations with the latitude to host nature’s best performance, and chances of a successful sighting soar on the remote Arctic Ocean.
Forget shivering on city-side snowscapes you were ferried to by coach and float far from light pollution, gliding past giant ice cubes on luxury vessels beneath the dramatic backdrop of the aurora borealis.
With cruises bound for Norway, Iceland, Canada and Greenland chasing the cosmic whisps of purple and green, here’s our guide to the sailings primed for illuminated skies.
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Best for: Aurora guarantee
The North Cape Express, Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten promises an additional Norway voyage free of charge if the Northern Lights don’t put on a show
(Hurtigruten Group )
Departs: Oslo, Norway
Arrives: Bergen, Norway
Hunting the aurora borealis with Hurtigruten entails a journey from capital Oslo to North Cape, on the Arctic Norwegian coast, in the hopes of watching the ultimate light performance. Think frost-tipped mountains, icy fjords and some serious snow with stops at Tromsø, aurora hotspot, Alta, and Honningsvåg, Norway’s northernmost city, along the way.
A voyage on the 14-day The North Cape Express itinerary costs from £1,827pp, with multi-course dining, flights, port transfers and on-board activities – such as photography workshops – on MS Trollfjord included in the price. The cherry on top of the cake? Hurtigruten promises an additional six- or seven-day Norway voyage free of charge if the Northern Lights don’t put on a show while you sail.
Departures until April 2024.
Best for: Illuminating science
Greenland and Iceland, Celebrity Cruises
At Reykjavik’s Northern Lights Center, you’ll learn the science behind the spectacle
(Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Departs: Reykjavik, Iceland
Arrives: Boston, Massachusetts
For a surreal sea voyage across the…
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