Northern Lights - Norway? Tromso? Hurtugruten?

[MildredK]

Hi All, Has anyone taken Hurtigruten (or any other cruise line) to see the Northern Lights? We are considering this trip in late Dec/early January?

 

Where is the best place/time to maximize our chances of seeing the Northern lights?

 

What was your experience with the ship?

What was itinerary?

Did you see/how often did you see the Northern Lights?

 

Other tips????

 

Thanks a million!

[traveling grandma]

Hi All, Has anyone taken Hurtigruten (or any other cruise line) to see the Northern Lights? We are considering this trip in late Dec/early January?

 

Where is the best place/time to maximize our chances of seeing the Northern lights?

 

What was your experience with the ship?

What was itinerary?

Did you see/how often did you see the Northern Lights?

 

Other tips????

 

Thanks a million!

 

We did the round-trip Norwegian coastal cruise on one of the newer Hurtigruten ships in August 2006. Of course, the Northern lights were not visible at that time; but I do want to tell you that we loved the cruise. As you probably know, there is not much in the way of entertainment on board, but we enjoyed the spectacular scenery, the picturesque villages, and the relaxing pace. Our favorite thing was to sit in the library by a floor-to-ceiling window and read a book while glancing up every few minutes to look at the beautiful views.

[sidari]

Hi MildredK .... we have been looking at Hurtigruten and have their latest brochure and CD ... it may be worth going to their website and requesting a copy .... ours arrived within 3 days.

 

According to their brochure the best time is between March and end of April and also September and October and they are clear to point out that they cannot Guarantee that you will see the Northern lights though in that period you are more likely to.

[engineer38]

There is quite a lot of information on Hurtigruten in the "other cruise lines" section so it might be worth a look. Can confirm that provided the weather is OK (which is by no means guaranteed!) then, in the winter, the northern lights are visible from the ships, there is a wake up service so that you don't have to sit around in the cold waiting for something to happen.

[Granny DI]

If you are prone to sea sickness don't try the Hurtugruten....I even get sick on the "fast boats" aka hydrofoils along the coast of Norway. However no problems on the large cruise ships even in a force 3 hurricane!!!

[MildredK]

We're going for it on the Dec 31 cruise (12 day on the 2 for 1 special)! Oddly enough this cruise isn't listed on the web site only in brochure. Apparently New Year's Eve complete with fireworks and then cruising after midnight.

 

Sadly we're limited on when we can vacation - I'm a professor so the Spring and Fall dates are out

 

This will be an adventure and we are prepared to have fun and not see the Northern Lights but we will hope. I'm glad that they will wake us - otherwise we would have to sleep in shifts (kidding!). I will definitely wear my seasick patch!

 

The adventure begins!!!

[Giantfan13]

The Northern Lights are a tricky thing. Yes, they are more previlent ceretain times of the year, but even at that, the atmospheric conditions have to be right, and that doesn't happen every day.

 

We were lucky, when we flew back from Alaska, at the end of August. We had a midnight flight out of Anchorage, and some one on the Alaska page of CC said to sit on the left side of the plane, so if the Northern Lights were visible, that is the only side you would be able to see them. At the airport, we had our seats changed to the left side, and we were rewarded with a display that even the Captain of the plane commented, were magnificent. We did an Alaska crusie, time in Seattle and Anchorage, but seeing that display of the Northern Lights, was the highlight of our trip.

[MildredK]

The Northern Lights are a tricky thing. Yes, they are more previlent ceretain times of the year, but even at that, the atmospheric conditions have to be right, and that doesn't happen every day.

 

We were lucky, when we flew back from Alaska, at the end of August. We had a midnight flight out of Anchorage, and some one on the Alaska page of CC said to sit on the left side of the plane, so if the Northern Lights were visible, that is the only side you would be able to see them. At the airport, we had our seats changed to the left side, and we were rewarded with a display that even the Captain of the plane commented, were magnificent. We did an Alaska crusie, time in Seattle and Anchorage, but seeing that display of the Northern Lights, was the highlight of our trip.

 

Very cool! I heard of people seeing them in planes especially going over the polar route. Apparently we are in a historic sun spot low which is related to Northern light activity so we shall see! Keeping our fingers crossed.