Table Of Content
To learn more about each port of call and our included as well as optional excursions, click on the individual days below. These strange green, red, and purple lights dancing across the night skies have inspired some of the most captivating stories on Earth. Our ship’s bridge officers are always scanning the skies and horizon, and are usually the first to spot the aurora, making an announcement to our guests on board. Guests also have the option to extend their trip with a few days in Reykjavík, where Northern Lights displays are common in the winter. You’ll have a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights while sailing Aurora Expeditions’ 132-passenger Greg Mortimer through Norway, Iceland, and Greenland.
Enhance your experience
Starting in North Cape, in the very north of the country, we make our way south, stopping in the Lofoten Islands and visiting mesmerising Mount Torghatten, famous for the hole through its centre. Experience the true side of Greenland’s west coast with our partner Arctic Umiaq Line. Like us, they have a long history of serving local passengers and communities, and sail to places that most visitors to Greenland never see. A nostalgic voyage of the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago to experience a remote wilderness of fjords, glaciers, and polar wildlife.
S&T's 2024 Norwegian Aurora Cruise - Sky & Telescope - Sky & Telescope
S&T's 2024 Norwegian Aurora Cruise - Sky & Telescope.
Posted: Sun, 17 Mar 2024 11:56:39 GMT [source]
Explore Northern Lights Shore Experiences
If you have a goal of seeing the aurora borealis in any of the destinations mentioned here, you are best off booking as far into the fall as you can find a cruise. Svalbard Found roughly halfway between the top of Norway and the North Pole, the Svalbard islands are a spectacular place to visit. The geographical setting means that you might even see the Northern Lights in the daytime here during the “polar night” period in winter months, when there’s little or no daylight. There are boat trips to spot walruses and whales, ice caves to explore and even the world’s two most northern breweries to visit, where you can enjoy a well-deserved craft beer or two.
The Original Coastal Express
There you’ll find traditional red-painted timber homes with grass roofs, lots of sheep and Faroese ponies, Viking history, and imposing sea cliffs. 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. In Antarctica, we have many opportunities to encounter penguins, seals and whales, and occasionally we may even spot leopard seals or orcas. In the Arctic, we’ll paddle under nesting bird colonies, past massive glaciers and around large icebergs, however we maintain a safe distance from polar bears and walruses. Our guides carry rifles and flare guns in the Arctic to ensure your safety against polar bears.
Viking Resident Historian
We will see ring seals, perhaps catch a glimpse of the elusive narwhal, and maybe even a polar bear hunting on pack ice. Enjoy a Zodiac cruise through spectacular Trollfjord, a gorge flanked by steep mountains and so narrow that it can only be accessed by small ships. In the Lofoten Islands, voted by National Geographic as one the of the most beautiful destinations in the world, we stroll through picturesque villages dotted with red and white fishers’ huts, surrounded by soaring granite peaks. Visit the Lofoten Seafood Center and learn about the impressive cod fisheries and perhaps sample some local seafood.
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]
Northern Lights Cruise Activities
Norway, with its jagged coastlines, deep fjords, and proximity to the Arctic, is often hailed as one of the best places to witness the Northern Lights. You’re not just banking on a single night; you’re giving yourself multiple chances to see the spectacle. The absence of urban light pollution ensures that the colors of the Northern Lights appear more vibrant and clearer than they would in most terrestrial settings. But why, amidst all the options available, is a cruise the premier choice to witness this astral dance? Imagine a night where the sky transforms into a canvas painted with swirling hues of green, pink, and purple.
The North Cape Express: Full Voyage Bergen to Oslo
Our cruises are strategically timed to coincide with periods of high auroral activity. 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. By night you will seek out the Northern Lights, but by day we will try to get you off the ship 2-3 times per day (depending on the weather and conditions) so you can get the most out of your time in the Arctic. Walking and bird-watching are popular activities as they offer a chance to witness the unique wildlife in the destinations you visit.
With mountains and fjords, as far as the eye can see, a trip on Narvik’s cable car offers stunning views, 650 metres above sea level. The ‘auroral zone’ starts in Northern Norway just above the Lofoten Islands and extends up the coast to the North Cape (Nordkapp) and beyond. You will observe the same light display from anywhere in this region, but from a different angle. Some of our favourite places in Northern Norway to witness the Northern Lights include Tromsø, Kirkenes, the Lofoten Islands, Bodø and the North Cape. Our Northern Lights cruise sticks to the aurora zone in the Arctic Circle, but seeing the lights dance is only one part of your Northern Lights adventure. It is most frequently visible in high-latitude regions in the Arctic and Antarctica, but most accessible between 10° and 20° of the North Pole in a band called the ‘auroral zone’.
The Northern Lights, or the aurora Borealis, are caused by eruptions on the sun and can only be seen when it is dark. This means that cruises in May - July, when it is light almost all day, have little chance of seeing the Aurora, but in September and October, and even into November, you can witness the amazing natural phenomenon. Chasing the Northern Lights by cruising through Iceland, Alaska, and Norway on Peace Boat or Norweigan Cruise Line is more than just the scenic route to get a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis and visit some of the world’s best destinations in Northern Europe. Known for its diverse natural phenomena like polar nights and the midnight sun, Norway forms the perfect backdrop for capturing the Aurora Borealis with long hours of darkness in the northern region.
Northern Lights experiences are best with a dark sky as the aurora is not strong enough to outshine the sunlight. In 2021, our cruises to Alaska will be sailing later than usual, kicking off the season in late July and ending in early October. These exciting seven-night itineraries stop in stunning Alaskan ports, such as Ketchikan and Juneau, and spend a day sailing close to the majestic Dawes Glacier, a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many travelers. Some venture to the Svalbard Archipelago, where the Gulf Stream flows prevent the seas from freezing in winter. 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.
You’re also more likely to see them if you visit in colder months, as the most brilliant displays occur both in dark and cold environments. Because it’s a scientific phenomenon beyond the comprehension of modern science, you can only truly predict occurrences of the Northern Lights roughly two hours before they happen. Under the Northern Light Promise, if the Northern Lights do not appear on a traveler's applicable Norway Expedition cruise, the expedition group will give travelers another Norway cruise free of charge. Glimpsing the Northern Lights in all their mystical and sky-transforming glory is one of those bucket-list life experiences that many world travelers often wait years to see.
Rebuilt after a fire in 1904, Alesund is uniquely art nouveau in style (something of a rarity in Norway). It’s spread across a series of islands, best seen from the city’s famous Fjellstua viewpoint. Aside from volcanoes, glaciers and geysers, one of the main reasons people have Iceland on their travel bucket list is because they dream of seeing the Northern Lights on display. Iceland is a sparsely populated country, so you don’t have to go far to get away from light pollution.
Thanks to the fertile volcanic soil and the surrounding mountains offering protection from strong winds, the area is rich in wildlife. You may spot everything from musk oxen and arctic foxes to mountain hares, and even reindeer, near the fjord. Look skyward and you could catch a glimpse of birds, including the glaucous gull, black-legged kittiwake, northern fulmar, common raven and common eider. In true expedition style we encourage exploration and adventure, offering flexibility in challenging environments in a way that puts you among the action to see and do as much as possible. This itinerary is only a guide and subject to change due to ice and weather conditions. Dreaming about seeing the Northern Lights is easy; figuring out the logistics of viewing those shimmering colors in the nighttime sky aren’t so simple.
"Cruising is a nice way to see a lot of places, but in particular the Northern Lights," says Stephanie Goldberg-Glazer, owner of Live Well, Travel Often, a boutique travel agency. "Cruise ships are able to be out at sea where it is dark for optimal viewing," she says, and when in port, they can create opportunities for guests to access optimal viewing sites outside of cities and their lights. The top spot on Alaskan cruises is Fairbanks, the best location in the world for tourists to catch this surreal phenomenon. Located in the geomagnetic North Pole known as Auroral Oval, many successful sightings of the Aurora Borealis have occurred in Fairbanks over the years. There’s even an igloo-like hotel in the area known as the Borealis Basecamp with a wide ceiling for a clear view of the Northern Lights while you snuggle in bed at night gazing at the starry Arctic skies.
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. During the early morning, we cruise into Reykjavik and disembark at approximately 8.00 am. Farewell your expedition team and fellow passengers as you continue your onward journey. We stretch our legs on hikes across tundra in search of ancient graveyards and summer villages occupied 3,000 years ago by Inuit. The maze of calm, interconnecting waterways in this area provides excellent opportunities for sea kayaking.
No comments:
Post a Comment