Mysticalmother Posted September 7, 2016 #1 Share Posted September 7, 2016 Wonder if any of you have a view on the advantages /disadvantages in choosing between February or March for a northern lights cruise. We are contemplating 2017 and 2018, and have 3 choices of date for 2018 - 25 Feb, 9 March or 21 March. I realise that whether we see the lights or not is down to mother nature, but are wondering about any other aspects to think about. Eg ....how much snow is about, hours of light and darkness ....or anything else I havent thought of! Even the weather in the North sea....? Many thanks in advance.....winter cruising is something we havent contemplated before! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sussexboy Posted September 7, 2016 #2 Share Posted September 7, 2016 We were on Oriana last year in March and saw the lights a couple of times. Not been in February so I don't know how that compares. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R**T Posted September 8, 2016 #3 Share Posted September 8, 2016 Consult a lunar calendar and avoid a Full Moon. Several years ago we were in Iceland during a November New Moon. Not only did we see the Northern Lights, but also the most amazing Milky Way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete14 Posted September 8, 2016 #4 Share Posted September 8, 2016 Consult a lunar calendar and avoid a Full Moon. Several years ago we were in Iceland during a November New Moon. Not only did we see the Northern Lights, but also the most amazing Milky Way. In that respect, the cruise on Aurora leaves on March 9 2018 which means that there will be virtually no moonlight when in Tromso and Alta. The Oriana cruise which leaves on March 21 will have an almost full moon. In addition, if you want a balcony cabin, those on Aurora are cheaper than those on Oriana because there are more of them. Doesn't guarantee you will see the Northern Lights but there is a better chance that they will be visible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver surfer 2010 Posted September 8, 2016 #5 Share Posted September 8, 2016 We are on the 9th March Aurora as we feel that the 21st is maybe a little late. Did this cruise a couple of years ago on the Oriana and had a fantastic time, hence the repeat trip in 2018. It is a totally different kind of snow - very dry and not slushy and although cold (minus 26 at 2-30am when out searching for the lights) it did feel too bad, Quite an experience, there is a webcam that you can watch portalta.borealiswebcam360.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver surfer 2010 Posted September 8, 2016 #6 Share Posted September 8, 2016 sorry should have read 'did NOT feel too bad' Don't know why it is not linking to the webcam which I enjoy watching now and again. Alta is the only port where the Captain needs permission from air traffic control to dock as he is so close to the end of the runway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weylady Posted September 8, 2016 #7 Share Posted September 8, 2016 Sounds like a experience but I would have to take thermals instead of the usual suncream Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mysticalmother Posted September 8, 2016 Author #8 Share Posted September 8, 2016 Thanks for your replies...still undecided! Although we currently have pre - registered for the March Oriana one, I did wonder if this might be a bit late. Havent been on Aurora yet...is she as nice as Oriana?? We still have time to cancel the ore registration without losing any money on the March one..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majortom10 Posted September 9, 2016 #9 Share Posted September 9, 2016 Having done Northern Lights on Oriana if I was to do it again I would choose Aurora. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mysticalmother Posted September 9, 2016 Author #10 Share Posted September 9, 2016 Having done Northern Lights on Oriana if I was to do it again I would choose Aurora. ...dare I ask why? Or was it you that had a bad experience on Oriana? I have a vague feeling you did....... We had a fabulous time on her earlier this year, and that was without the refit. By March 2018, would Aurora be starting to look a bit tired too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver surfer 2010 Posted September 9, 2016 #11 Share Posted September 9, 2016 More balcony's on the Aurora I think. Both ships are about the same size, my favourite is the Oriana but as I said before it could be a little late. If you look at the Bolsover cruise forum and then in their picture gallery you will find a number of photos that I posted there. Sharon posted 'things she wished she'd known before she went' which is attached "The last couple of weeks on Oriana were possibly the most amazing experience I have ever had but I do wish we had been briefed beforehand on certain things - such as how to photograph the lights if they appear, so I thought I would list the major points that we were told (or learned the hard way!). It didn't help either that the on-board photographers told us one thing and the local specialist another! First it will be COLD with a capital C! OK, we knew this and were dressed appropriately! Some were not!! Hazel has already posted somewhere on how to dress - in layers - so I won't repeat that bit except to say the silk liner gloves were essential kit! What none said before hand is that point and shoot cameras are very unlikely to work. I use an DSLR so that did not affect me but a huge majority of passengers only had a simple camera that could not be set to manual. You really need to be able to do this, or have another way of doing long exposures of not less that 15 seconds and often up to 10 minutes. For this reason video cameras will NOT work either! The settings we were told we needed were Use a tripod Use as wide an angle lens as possible. Switch to manual setting Take off all filters including UV and Skylight - they reduce the light hitting the lens Switch off vibration/shake reduction if available Use an ISO of 400 (according to the onboard photographers) or 500 + (according to the local experts) Set camera to as large an aperture as available Set to bulb and experiment but you need exposures of at least 15 secs up to around to 10 mins Set to daylight setting NOT fluorescent or artificial light or the colours won't be true Use lens hood to keep frost/snow/ice off lens Pre-focus to infinity or on a tree etc Take spare batteries and keep in thermal sock close to body And lastly - DON'T PANIC if/when the digital screen stops working! This happened to me and I thought the camera was broken but kept taking anyway. The screen came back on when it warmed up. Also - acclimatise the equipment. One of the onboard photographers cracked a £600 lens And finally - enjoy the Lights - don't watch all of them through a camera." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majortom10 Posted September 9, 2016 #12 Share Posted September 9, 2016 ...dare I ask why? Or was it you that had a bad experience on Oriana? I have a vague feeling you did....... We had a fabulous time on her earlier this year, and that was without the refit. By March 2018, would Aurora be starting to look a bit tired too? Yes we had a bad experience on our Northern Lights cruise onboard Oriana and will never cruise on her again but having said that comparing the 2 ships I think Aurora is a much nicer ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slugsta Posted September 9, 2016 #13 Share Posted September 9, 2016 We are on Oriana this coming February (doesn't sound so far away when I say it like that :) ). Of course, I won't be able to compare with the later trip but I will be very happy to come back and tell you what we think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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