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We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. To help you, we asked photography experts for their tried and trusted tips on everything from how to photograph the Northern Lights from a ship to shooting the aurora with a smartphone. When you see the Northern Lights, it’s only natural to want to capture the spectacle. Long before we understood the science behind the aurora, the Northern Lights were wrapped up in myths and legends that still fuel our imaginations today. Being at sea avoids the air pollution and the ambient light on land, both of which can dull the colors and vibrancy of a Northern Lights spectacle. This is a difficult question to answer, as sightings are more dependent on cloud cover and luck than anything else, and the weather is so varied around the Norwegian coast.
Itinerary
The 12-day itineraries depart from Southampton, England, before traveling to Alesund, Tromsø, Narvik, and Haugesund, sailing through majestic fjords along the way. Since the ships sail this itinerary from October to November, the skies will be dark enough to see the northern lights, should they decide to appear. In 2023, the voyage will be undertaken by Queen Victoria, while next season, the Queen Mary 2 and the upcoming Queen Anne will take the reins. Specializing in polar voyages, Quark Expeditions knows a thing or two about the northern lights, which is why the company offers aurora sailings each fall.
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Discover the wonders of Iceland’s nature by hiking along snow-capped mountains, marveling at enormous waterfalls, and exploring gurgling fields of Icelandic lava. Layered clothing accommodates the region's variable weather, while specialized gear might be necessary for specific excursions. If you’ve ever wanted to dive into the culture of the Vikings or explore what makes people in the Nordic region the so-called happiest on earth, you could do a lot worse than book a Scandinavian cruise. Right now, the sun is approaching the peak of its 11-year solar cycle, meaning magnetic activity is very high. As a bonus, auroral activity tends to increase around solar maximum and intensify in the few years after.
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Your world-class Expedition Team will be on hand to answer your questions about the aurora borealis and how it comes to appear in the night sky, Arctic wildlife, geological formations and the history of the places we visit. On many cruises, when passengers or crew spot northern lights, they make ship-wide announcements. Because the northern lights often appear late at night or very early in the morning, some ships offer opt-in wake up calls for this purpose. Beyond the rewards of seeing the northern lights, the bonuses of winter season Northern Lights cruises are the stunning contrasts of scenery and the variety of onshore activities. Ports vary greatly from industrial centers and fjord villages to picturesque coastal towns and remote outposts on barren, frozen coasts.
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Havila Voyages is so confident guests will see the Northern Lights on Nordic sailings between October and March, it offers a guarantee. 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. To see the Northern Lights, travelers need to be far north, away from light pollution, and have unobstructed views of the sky. While you may see the lights from Denali National Park and Preserve during the viewing season, Fairbanks and points farther north are where you can increase your odds. Witnessing the elusive northern lights flickering across the sky may cause you to gasp because it's actually that cool. The colorful ribbons of green and other hues look like something from outer space — and they are.
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. The best northern lights cruises provide plenty of opportunities for passengers to learn about, celebrate and, of course, see the northern lights. But there will also be activities geared to exploring parts of the world filled with many other natural, cultural, and man-made wonders. Midsize and small cruise ship companies offer a variety of Arctic Circle sails during prime northern lights viewing months. While this list is not inclusive, lines to choose from include Hurtigruten, Viking, Cunard, Quark, P&O, Silversea, Fred. The conditions must be just right, but it's highly likely to see this magical and sometimes elusive scientific phenomenon on a Northern Lights cruise sailing the Arctic Circle during the long, dark winter nights.
The voyage also features full days in numerous popular ports like Juneau, Ketchikan and Icy Strait Point. Guests will also have the unique opportunity to visit the UNESCO World Heritage site Glacier Bay National Park, while members of the National Park Service come onboard to offer commentary on this stunning refuge. The optimal time to witness the Northern Lights during Aurora Expeditions’ cruises and expeditions is typically during the winter months when the polar night prevails.
Here, you can watch the “mirrie dancers” from Wideford Hill, the coast at Birsay or the beach at Dingieshowe. While you’re in Orkney, make sure to visit the Heart of Neolithic Orkney, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cruise in style on the ship complete with a European shopping piazza, yoga studio and a martini bar that boasts a whole portfolio of vodkas. Ribbons of brilliance, dazzling displays and ethereal stargazing – the Northern Lights are a lifetime highlight for those lucky enough to witness the intriguing spectacle. Receive special offers, exciting new itineraries and fascinating articles delivered straight to your inbox.
A general rule is that the further north you go, the better your chances of seeing the Northern Lights. Norway is perhaps the most popular country for a Northern Lights cruise, though Iceland is also a good choice. Cunard offers cruises within the Arctic Circle visiting the Norwegian city of Tromsø, which is a known place to view the aurora borealis. 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.
The cruise is less focused on adventure and the outdoors, and it includes more opportunities to tour small cities and join unique activities, like cable car rides and reindeer-drawn sled tours. Besides having some of Europe’s largest expanses of dark sky, Scotland also boasts Europe’s second Dark Sky Park and many Dark Sky Discovery Sites that are virtually free of light pollution. Considering the country also offers a seemingly endless list of winter activities—from hiking and stargazing to huge winter festivals and markets—you’ll have no difficulty filling up your daytime itinerary either.
Hurtigruten Extends Northern Lights Guarantee - TravelPulse
Hurtigruten Extends Northern Lights Guarantee.
Posted: Wed, 20 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
An optional aurora hunt with a local expert is one of the activities on P&O Cruises’ 12-night Norway and Northern Lights voyage. The mid-March timing means there will be several hours of daylight to admire the scenery. It is a round-trip from Southampton on the 1,800-passenger Aurora, which offers plenty of activities on sea days. An overnight in Tromsø, two nights in Alta and calls at Åndalsnes and Stavanger are on the itinerary.
Here is some advice on planning your trip — and a whole lot of inspiration to catch these lights dancing through the sky. One of the latest cruise lines to launch sailings to seek out the aurora is Ambassador. It’s the first British cruise line to do so in more than a decade and has convenient, value-for-money, round-trip voyages from Tilbury, Bristol, Newcastle and Dundee. These include a 14-night sailing on its recently launched second ship, the 1,200-passenger Ambition. Highlights include visits to former Viking strongholds Haugesund and Trondheim, and Arctic Circle calls in Alta, Narvik and Bodo. Choose how you hunt for the northern lights this 13-night trip to and from Southampton on the 3,140-passenger Caribbean Princess.
This wild tundra is home to reindeer, arctic hares, and 40 percent of the world’s musk ox population. This 14-day northern lights odyssey offered by Quark Expeditions is a deep-dive into some of the world’s most hard-to-access and secluded regions. Glide alongside Iceland’s mountainous Vestfjords and Greenland’s untamed northeast coast, home to the largest fjord system on the planet. Witness Inuit culture firsthand at Ittoqqortoormiit, wander ancient Thule sites and gape at polar bears, muskoxen and whales at every turn.
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