When someone contacts me to book an Alaska cruise, one of the standard questions I ask them is, “why Alaska”? This helps me make sure I’m putting them on the right ship at the right time to see everything they want to see there.
Where I’ve run into problems is when people want to take an Alaskan cruise to see the Northern Lights.
While nothing is impossible, it is very unlikely to see the Aurora Borealis on an Alaskan cruise. This is mostly a contradiction of timing – the Alaska cruise run is May through September, and the best time to see the Northern Lights is October through March. This kind of makes sense – in the summer months, it doesn’t get dark much in Alaska, so even seeing stars can be a challenge.
There are now two options available for those who want to see the Northern Lights from the deck of a cruise ship.
Both options are in Norway, and both cruises will put you north of the Arctic Circle in months when it is dark enough to see the Northern Lights. For those collecting geography points, it’s also worth noting that your Alaskan Cruise doesn’t get anywhere near the Arctic Circle (Anchorage is about 400 miles South of there).
The first option is on Hurtigruten cruise line, and is round-trip from Bergen, Norway. Hurtigruten has gone so far as to guarantee you will see the Northern Lights, or they’ll offer you another cruise for free. The ships that do this run also act as ferries to some of the many communities they visit on the 12-night journey from Bergen, up past the Arctic Circle and back. You won’t find Broadway shows on this cruise line, but if you’re looking for an authentic expedition experience that visits small villages in a remote part of the world, this could be for you. Prices for this cruise start at about $1700 USD per person.
The other option is on Viking Ocean. Starting in 2019, the Viking Sky will take a 12-night Northern Lights cruise starting in London, and finishing in Bergen. If you want to see the Northern Lights, and also want a first-class cruise experience, this is the better option for you. Viking is best known as the largest river cruising company in Europe, but they are quickly making a name for themselves on the oceans as well. Travel and Leisure Magazine named Viking Ocean the Best Ocean Cruise Line in 2016, and Cruise Critic awarded Best New Ship to the Viking Star in 2015. It will cost you about $5800 per person to get on this ship.
Until now, my standard response to people who want to see the Northern Lights has been to send them to Churchill, Manitoba (in Canada) during the winter months. While this is still a viable option, it is not near as comfortable as travelling the Norwegian Coast by cruise ship. The two options above offer two completely different experiences – perhaps one of them is right for you if the Northern Lights are on your bucket list.
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Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
