These Cruises Provide the Ultimate Experience for Viewing the Northern Lights

The mesmerizing light display known as the aurora borealis, featuring vibrant streams of color across the night sky, is a sight many seek to witness. For the best opportunity to see this swirling phenomenon, travelers should venture to the northernmost regions on clear nights between late August and mid-April.

While there’s no guarantee of spotting the Northern Lights, being on a cruise ship that can navigate in search of them—usually in Arctic waters—can significantly improve your chances.

In addition to experiencing nature's stunning light show, guests on these cruises can enjoy daytime adventures in the polar regions, such as cross-country skiing, dog sledding across the tundra, riding Zodiac boats near calving glaciers, or engaging with Sámi reindeer herders. So even if the lights don’t show up, there will be plenty to keep you entertained.

Here are some cruises that provide a great opportunity to witness the Northern Lights.

Where Can You Find Northern Lights Cruises?

The auroral oval, a zone that encircles the northernmost latitudes with the highest auroral activity, encompasses most of Alaska and Iceland, southern Greenland, and the northern regions of Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia.

Nonetheless, most Northern Lights cruises primarily focus on Norway, Iceland, and Greenland, as these countries feature navigable waterways that remain unfrozen.

Alaska's cruise season is limited to May through September. Although there is a chance to see the Northern Lights at the beginning and end of the season, it’s rare, and no cruises specifically cater to Alaska's aurora season. Furthermore, the majority of Alaskan cruises are centered around the southeastern islands, which are generally too far south for optimal aurora sightings (though sightings do occur occasionally).

1. Aurora Expeditions’ “Northern Lights Explorer” Cruise

While there's no guarantee the Northern Lights will show, as it relies on solar geomagnetic storm activity and local sky clarity, this 19-day journey around secluded Arctic locations in Iceland, Greenland, and Norway significantly boosts your chances of experiencing the night sky illuminated by vibrant colors at least several times.

The adventure begins in Kirkenes, located on Norway's northern coast, where the first six days are spent tracing the coastline, passing by quaint fishing villages and granite mountains, with stops in the Lofoten Islands and other charming towns. Next, the cruise heads to Jan Mayen, an island just north of Iceland known for its excellent whale and dolphin watching, before venturing to Greenland’s glacier-laden eastern coast for four days of Zodiac excursions and tundra hiking. A highlight of the journey is a visit to the Inuit village of Ittoqqortoormiit, the most isolated and northernmost permanent settlement in the area, where you'll meet friendly locals and numerous Greenlandic sled dogs.

Following that, you'll explore Iceland's Westfjords region, featuring vibrant small towns, cascading waterfalls, and fjords teeming with birdlife. The final days, before concluding your trip in Bergen, Norway, will take you through the Faroe Islands, known for their iconic red-painted wooden homes with grass roofs, abundant sheep and Faroese ponies, Viking heritage, and dramatic sea cliffs.

Given the often chilly conditions in this region, especially at night, every passenger receives a waterproof polar expedition jacket upon arrival. The journeys will be conducted on the expedition vessel Greg Mortimer, which accommodates 132 guests in 79 cabins, most of which feature private balconies ideal for viewing the auroras. The cruise operates from September 8 to 26, 2024.

2. Havila Voyages’ “Round Voyage”

Havila Voyages is so certain that guests will experience stunning displays of light in the night sky that the Norwegian cruise line provides a “Northern Lights promise” for its 12-day Round Voyages, scheduled from October 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025. If the Northern Lights are not visible, guests can claim a complimentary six- or seven-day sailing in Norway during the next Northern Lights season.

The journey begins in Bergen, renowned for its picturesque UNESCO-listed Bryggen district featuring colorful buildings lining the harbor. The cruise then heads to Ålesund, famous for its art nouveau architecture, and Trondheim, which boasts one of Europe’s largest cathedrals. As the ship ventures into Arctic waters, it will navigate stunning fjords, quaint fishing villages, and northern Scandinavia’s largest glacier, before stopping in Tromsø, where guests can interact with the Sámi people and their reindeer. The ship will then travel as far north as possible, just a few kilometers from the Russian border, before returning to Tromsø and exploring the rugged beauty of the Lofoten Islands and the Trondheim fjord.

The Norwegian-owned Havila Voyages operates four newer, environmentally friendly coastal cruise ships that transport both passengers and cargo year-round between Bergen and Kirkenes. These hybrid vessels utilize liquefied natural gas and can sail emissions-free for up to four hours on 86-ton battery packs, which can be recharged at ports with clean electricity. Designed with decor inspired by Norwegian landscapes, these ships can accommodate up to 468 overnight cruise passengers.

3. HX’s “North Cape Express”

HX (formerly known as Hurtigruten Expeditions) offers a similar “Northern Lights promise” as Havila Voyages. If you embark on one of HX’s Northern Lights itineraries between September 20 and March 31 for 11 days or more and do not witness the auroras, the company will provide you with a complimentary six-day southbound or seven-day northbound Original Coastal Express Class Voyage. Besides the North Cape Express, other auroral itineraries that include the Northern Lights Promise feature the 12-day Original Coastal Express, which travels the full scenic route and stops at all 34 ports twice on both the northbound and southbound journeys.

On Hurtigruten’s North Cape Express expedition cruise, the 822-passenger MS Trollfjord departs from Bergen, Norway, making its first stop in Molde, where guests can hike to the Varden viewpoint for breathtaking views of 222 surrounding peaks or explore the Romsdal Museum, a folk museum. The journey continues to Rørvik, an ancient fishing town, and Lødingen, a village nestled among fjords. The ship then ventures north into the Arctic Circle and up to Alta, where guests can visit a Sámi village to learn about the Indigenous semi-nomadic reindeer herders. The cruise returns to Tromsø, offering opportunities to visit the Polar Museum, go snowshoeing, or sample brews at Mack Bryggeri, one of the world’s northernmost breweries. Next, guests explore the stunning Lofoten Islands before visiting Hardangerfjord, the country’s second-longest fjord, to delve into Viking history. The final stop is Oslo, Norway’s capital.

Each voyage features a professional photographer onboard to assist guests in capturing the auroras with their cameras. Additionally, every room is equipped with an alarm that notifies guests when the northern lights are visible.

4. Quark Expeditions’ “Under the Northern Lights: Exploring Iceland & East Greenland” cruise

Cruising to witness the Northern Lights is not considered a mainstream itinerary—options are sparse—but among those available, Quark’s aurora-centric voyage is distinguished by its remarkable destinations.

In Iceland, travelers will enjoy time in Reykjavík before sailing along the Westfjords, a rugged peninsula in the northwest of the island. Here, they can spend their days watching the dramatic cliffs for puffins, guillemots, and razorbills, while the nights are dedicated to searching the skies for the aurora. The ship then crosses the Arctic Circle heading to Greenland, where it will spend seven days exploring the wild northeast coast, home to reindeer, arctic hares, and 40% of the world's musk ox population.

This area is also home to Scoresbysund, the largest fjord system globally, with glaciers that create many of the icebergs visible in the Arctic. As an expedition voyage, guests typically disembark two to three times daily for activities like Zodiac excursions among floating ice, hiking with reindeer, kayaking in fjords, or even taking a polar plunge.

Travelers also have the option to extend their journey with additional days in Reykjavík, where winter often brings spectacular Northern Lights displays. Quark is offering this itinerary once in 2024, from September 20 to October 1.

5. Viking’s “In Search of the Northern Lights” cruise

Want to explore multiple countries while witnessing the Northern Lights? Viking’s 13-day voyage includes stops in England, the Netherlands, and Norway.

Upon leaving London, guests enjoy a day in Amsterdam, where they can wander along the canals, appreciating the architecture and savoring outdoor coffee and stroopwafel moments. After crossing the North Sea, the ship navigates the picturesque Norwegian Inside Passage, a safeguarded shipping route stretching from southern Norway to Russia (though Viking guests will only venture as far north as Tromsø).

The first location where the Northern Lights may grace the sky is Narvik, a quaint port city nestled within the Arctic Circle. Here, cruisers can partake in a Sámi Northern Lights ceremony, enjoy snowshoeing in the mountains, or take a ride on the cable car at Narvikfjellet. Next, it’s on to Tromsø, Norway’s northernmost city, for two days filled with Arctic adventures, followed by a visit to Atla, renowned for its clear bluebird days (perfect for later Northern Lights sightings) and ancient rock carvings, where they will stay for another two days.

In various cities, Viking offers late-night excursions that transport passengers into the countryside to darker locations with clearer skies, enhancing the chances of spotting the elusive aurora. The subsequent two days are spent at sea, marveling at the breathtaking beauty of the Norwegian coast as the ship heads towards its disembarkation city, Bergen.

If the lights make an appearance during the night, the crew will announce it over the in-cabin TVs (so guests will need to keep their TVs on throughout the night). During sightings, staff circulate with trays of hot beverages, like cocoa and toddies, to keep guests warm on deck. Viking operates this itinerary multiple times from January through March in 2025 and 2026.

6. Cunard’s “Norway and Northern Lights” cruise

As Cunard’s 2,996-passenger Queen Anne prepares to debut in 2024, it promises a variety of nightly performances, but one of the most spectacular might just be the show put on by Mother Nature herself.

After leaving Southampton, the cruise’s first destination is Ålesund, Norway, where guests can immerse themselves in the town’s stunning art nouveau architecture for a day. Following another day at sea, travelers will arrive in Tromsø, located 250 miles inside the Arctic Circle, renowned for its reliable Northern Lights displays. Highlights include a visit to the Arctic Cathedral, which resembles a geometric glacier, the Polaria Arctic Center, or taking a cable car up to Mount Storsteinen.

The following day will be spent in Narvik, a fishing village with roots tracing back to the Stone Age, officially recognized as a township only in the early 20th century. Here, visitors can ride the Ofoten Railway to Sweden, hike to Frostisen Glacier, or hit the slopes at the Narvikfjellet ski resort. The final port of call is Stavanger, where attractions largely celebrate the community’s maritime heritage.

Cunard is known for bringing onboard experts, including astronomers and night-sky photographers, who enrich the experience of witnessing the Northern Lights. There will be plenty of quiet areas on the 1,085-foot, 13-deck ship for guests to enjoy the nighttime spectacle. In 2025, Cunard will offer a sailing from September 26 to October 8, as well as a voyage on the 956-foot, 12-deck Queen Victoria from November 22 to December 4, which will stop in Haugesund, Norway, to see the impressive 2,000-foot-tall Langfoss Waterfall and hike to the Instagram-famous Pulpit Rock instead of Stavanger.

Reported by Fran Golden. This article was first published in October 2022 and revised on April 5, 2024, to provide the most up-to-date information.