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While this list is not inclusive, lines to choose from include Hurtigruten, Viking, Cunard, Quark, P&O, Silversea, Fred. With popular Norwegian fjords cruises together with midnight sun and northern lights tours to the north of Norway also available, there is a lot of diversity in Scandinavian cruises. With a bustling downtown filled with charming restaurants and shops, a unique sauna experience, and plenty of adventurous land and sea tours all available nearby, Tromsø promises ample activities to enjoy besides the aurora borealis. For an unforgettable encounter with nature, visit between November and January and book a whale-watching cruise. During that period, the region’s fjords become a haven for humpback whales, orcas, and harbor porpoises. While it’s possible to see the aurora borealis almost anywhere in Canada throughout the year, the northern regions are where the phenomenon tends to be most active.
In Search of the Northern Lights
The 6 Best Cruises for Northern Lights Viewing - AFAR Media
The 6 Best Cruises for Northern Lights Viewing.
Posted: Fri, 05 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Guests can stop by the Arctic Cathedral (which resembles a geometric glacier), visit the Polaria Arctic Center, or perhaps take a cable car to the top of Mount Storsteinen. If the lights appear during the night, the crew will play an announcement over the in-cabin TVs (meaning guests need to leave their TVs on all night to hear it). During sightings, staff circulates trays of hot beverages, like cocoa and toddies, to help guests stay warm on deck. Viking runs the itinerary multiple times from January through March in 2025 and 2026. Here are a few examples of 2022 and 2023 itineraries that offer northern lights-themed cruises.
Norwegian attractions:
Explore your destination even further with our wide range of exciting excursions. The excursion programme presented is an indication of some of the excursions that may be available during your voyage. In the afternoon, we dock at Kristiansund, a quaint harbour town spread over three islands. Meander along the cobbled streets of the old town and be sure to sample the local delicacy of klippfisk, salted cod that’s dried on the surrounding cliffs. The Auroral Oval marks the range of auroral activity around the magnetic North Pole.
Day 3 - Cruise departure
While it’s never a guarantee that the Northern Lights will be visible, one way to stack the deck in your favor is to be on a cruise ship that can move in search of the lights, typically in the Arctic. When the northern lights do appear, "more than likely the ship will turn off most of the exterior lights," Weber says. "But you can prepare as soon as you board the ship by scouting out the darkest spot outside, and up top on the ship." That may be away from the ship stairways and public rooms.
Communities with little to no light pollution are where visitors have the highest chance of catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights, which are visible in the Northwest Territories around 240 nights a year. Northern Manitoba is in the sub-Arctic Circle and here you’ll find Churchill, self-proclaimed as one of the top three places on the planet to see the lights. The Yukon, Nunavut, Newfoundland, Labrador, Ontario and Alberta also host the sight. It’s also the site of Scoresbysund, the most extensive fjord system in the world, and the glaciers here are the birthplace of many of the icebergs you see in the Arctic.
The 15-day Viking Homelands ocean voyage explores Scandinavia by sea, following ancient mariner routes. Gaze at foaming waterfalls that plunge into the fjord’s waters, visit the cosmopolitan cities of Berlin and Copenhagen, and linger longer on overnight calls in Stockholm, Oslo and Bergen. If staying on land is more your style, consider going to the top of Mount Storsteinen, which sits nearly 1,400 feet above sea level and boasts panoramic views of Tromsø and the surrounding fjords below.
Northern Lights
Both the name and the interior design of this modern ship are inspired by the spectacular Northern Lights. As we sail, keep your eyes open for the Northern Lights, but you might also spot pods of Orcas and Humpback Whales migrating to these waters to feed on herring. Welcome to the historic Arctic exploration capital of Tromsø, a hive of culture, history and Northern Lights knowledge. This neighborhood features colorful wooden wharves that stand on stilts and host some of the city’s most trendy eateries, making Bakklandet a key destination for all foodies.
In the early hours of the morning, the ship crosses the Arctic Circle and enters the Arctic. Join us out on deck to mark the moment with a traditional ceremony that will be sure to wake you up fully! Above the Arctic Circle, your chances of spotting the majestic Northern Lights increase. Layered clothing accommodates the region's variable weather, while specialized gear might be necessary for specific excursions.
While Cunard’s 2,996-passenger Queen Anne will offer oodles of nightly performances once it launches in 2024, one of the most dazzling shows could be the one Mother Nature puts on. Dr Darren Baskill has over 25 years’ experience of organising and delivering public science events. He is a lecturer and outreach officer for the Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Sussex, and typically runs 100 outreach events each year for schools, colleges, and the public. Darren is also a director of Ensonglopedia, a musical theatre company based in Lewes.
This delectable excursion is a short drive from Zürich, one of the overnight calls on the 12-day Paris To The Swiss Alps river voyage via France and Germany. The other overnight stay, in Paris, allows time to choose between trips to Monet’s Gardens, the Palace of Versailles, an evening cabaret or a city tour to see the city lit up at night. A more relaxed yet equally gratifying way to chase the aurorae is on a dinner cruise—Brim Explorer’s ships run on electric engines and therefore provide an especially peaceful experience. Float along the inky fjords while enjoying a meal of locally sourced, seasonal ingredients, and look out of the boat’s 360-degree windows or from the outdoor deck.
To see more of the area’s fjords and striking islands, hop aboard the Hermes II, a gorgeous restored wooden boat from 1917. The best time to see the Northern Lights is a clear, dark night with no cloud cover, on or around a new moon. Winter is the best time to see the aurora borealis, from December through to March in the Northern Hemisphere. The lights are often most active in 30-minute periods and can occur every two hours at peak times.
In cruising terms, that means prime viewing is in northern Alaska (which is easily accessible on cruisetours), Norway, Iceland, Arctic Canada and parts of Greenland. Get fabulously lost in its winding streets lined with whitewashed homes, shops and cafés. From a cliff 400 metres above the ocean, finish your day watching the Cyclades sun setting over the turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea. Other islands such as Rhodes and Crete offer opportunities to hike among the volcanic splendour, sample wine at hilltop wineries, and discover historic sites. The voyage also includes Kuşadasi, Turkey, for a chance to roam the ruins of Ephesus, dating back to the 10th century BC. At the Belvedere Palace, you can make your own framed mirror with gold stones at a private workshop, channelling Vienna’s renowned artist, Gustav Klimt, who used gold leaf in many of his works.
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