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The extraordinary beauty of the Aurora Borealis, the natural phenomenon of the Northern Lights, has mesmerised all who witness them. Optional excursions are the perfect way to enhance your experience, from a thrilling husky dog sledge ride over frozen landscapes to a special midnight concert at the Arctic Cathedral in Tromso. Honningsvag is the starting point for excursions to the dramatic North Cape, while Andalsnes is the gateway to the picturesque Romsdal Alps and winding Troll Path Road. The highlight of winter voyages to Norway is the incredible Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis. Please note viewing of the Northern Lights is subject to local weather and atmospheric conditions.
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Paddle by kayak and explore local alpine landscapes; enjoy Tromsø’s waterways by RIB. Sail the North Sea, central to Europe’s history, from Viking voyages to oil drilling. To learn more about each port of call and our included as well as optional excursions, click on the individual days below. Elegant and thoughtfully designed, the warmth and appeal of our Cunard Queens is palpable the moment you step aboard.
Aurora Expeditions: Northern Lights Explorer
To increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights, be prepared to venture into the heart of the Arctic, to destinations such as Greenland, Iceland, Northern Canada and Northern Norway. While aurora activity happens year-round, the best time to witness the Northern Lights is during the long winter months, when the windows for viewing them each night are longer. A general rule is that the further north you go, the better your chances of seeing the Northern Lights.
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The itineraries are crafted to provide a comfortable and enriching experience, whether you are a seasoned traveller or exploring the polar regions for the first time. Expedition staff and guides offer support and guidance, ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey for everyone. Activities and excursions cater to various interests, allowing participants to customize their experience. From informative lectures to adventurous shore landings, there’s something for everyone, making these expeditions inclusive and suitable for individuals, families and groups with diverse backgrounds and preferences. We also have expert-led programs within the expedition, such as lectures or photography sessions, to enhance your understanding and capturing capabilities. Northern Canada is the best place to see the Northern Lights in Canada, in remote places with minimal light pollution.
Classic Round Voyage
The aurora borealis originates on the sun’s surface with a massive explosion of electromagnetic matter, which projects a stream of charged particles known as solar wind into space. When these particles approach Earth a few nights later, they distort our magnetic field. The excited, ionised atoms that enter our atmosphere through the poles emit light which, when emitted on a large scale, causes the phenomenon of the Southern and Northern Lights. Northern Lights experiences are best with a dark sky as the aurora is not strong enough to outshine the sunlight. Embark on a mesmerizing journey through the Northern Lights during the enchanting month of February in the year 2024. The landscape remains covered in ice and snow, offering panoramic views of the serene Arctic wilderness.
Hurtigruten Appoints the World's First 'Chief Aurora Chaser' for Northern Lights Cruises - TravelPulse
Hurtigruten Appoints the World's First 'Chief Aurora Chaser' for Northern Lights Cruises.
Posted: Mon, 25 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Surrounded by stunning arctic landscapes, get closer to magnificent Humpback and Orca Whales, listening out for their otherwordly calls echoing around you. Take an exhilarating ride through snow covered pine forests before learning how these magnificent creatures are trained. 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. Our Scandinavian tour packages offer a deeply immersive experience — the perfect Nordic adventure is waiting for you. Book confidently with our Northern Lights Promise – get a free trip if the lights don't appear on select voyages (Ts&Cs apply). Embark on a nostalgic summertime voyage along the Norwegian coast up to the Svalbard archipelago at the edge of the world.
One of our world’s most intriguing natural phenomena, colorful aurora borealis displays are caused by particles released by the Sun interacting with the Earth’s magnetic field. Either this year or next is expected to be the so-called ‘solar maximum’, when the Sun’s activity is at its strongest. You'll see wisps of green, red, yellow and violet fill the sky — it's an overwhelming experience. Electrically charged solar particles cause the lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, or dawn of the north.
Our range of exciting short breaks, longer cruises and themed winter voyages along the Norway coast and across the Arctic Circle to the land of the Northern Lights, have been designed to experience the best of Arctic Norway in winter. As well as seeing the Northern Lights from the deck, most aurora-themed cruises offer instruction on photography—which you can do with just your smartphone—as well as lectures and other astronomical activities. Taking a cruise to the Northern Lights is a special experience, offering the chance to see the colourful Aurora Borealis in the skies above your smaller ship. As we explore your cruise itinerary together, you'll be able to sample various treats of the region in our on board restaurants - trying out local delicacies, with options for both lunch and dinner.
The Food on a Hurtigruten Cruise Through Norway - Food & Wine
The Food on a Hurtigruten Cruise Through Norway.
Posted: Mon, 20 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Embark on an illuminating once-in-a-lifetime voyage in search of the elusive aurora borealis, or northern lights. Immerse yourself in the beauty of Arctic landscapes and rich traditions of the indigenous Sami people, who have a deep connection with the land. Enrichment is an important component of our expeditions – we hope that you will leave changed and become lifelong ambassadors for the natural world and the wild, important destinations we visit. 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. By night you will seek out the Northern Lights, but by day we will try to get you off the ship 2-3 times per day (depending on the weather and conditions) so you can get the most out of your time in the Arctic. Walking and bird-watching are popular activities as they offer a chance to witness the unique wildlife in the destinations you visit.
Learn more about the selection of Northern Lights cruises in 2024 from major cruise lines such as AIDA Cruises, Cunard Cruises, MSC Cruises, P&O Cruises, and Silversea Cruises, as well as other ocean cruise lines. If you’re traveling outside of the optimum time—such as a Christmas cruise—pick a longer itinerary. It will cost more, but if your reason for cruising is to see the aurora, it will be money well spent. Cruise ship passengers trying to photograph an aurora borealis display in Northern Norway. The Norwegian coastline is a delight and each day we were treated to amazing scenery, viewed alternately through snow storms, then brilliant blue arctic sunlight. From your Hurtigruten ship you will see houses on the shore glowing in the dark, becoming tiny harbours as you call to pick up passengers.
You’ll need to remove them when going indoors or on the ship, but they will keep you steady on the snow and ice. Days are filled with excursions to quaint Arctic towns, wildlife sightings, and cultural encounters that enrich your understanding of the delicate Arctic region. Nights are predominantly devoted to aurora hunting, but there’s also wonderful opportunities for stargazing. Yet the longer you spend watching a display unfold, the more you will appreciate the movement, and the pulsing colors. After a few minutes, you’ll begin to understand all the myths and legends that are linked to the aurora from various cultures around the world. Although cameras with a long exposure pick out the vibrant colors, many people complain that an aurora sighting looks milky, or in the cases of some weaker displays, like a cloud.
It’s spread across a series of islands, best seen from the city’s famous Fjellstua viewpoint. Alternatively, consider a trip from Bergen to Kirkenes with either Hurtigruten or Havila Voyages. Both lines operate services on the Norwegian coastal ferry route, which is available as a roundtrip cruise-like experience. The fact is, the UK has an expansive range of no-fly Northern Lights-inspired cruise trips, offered by many stand-out cruise lines such as P&O Cruises, Saga Cruises, Cunard Line, and prominent newcomer Ambassador Cruise Line. For the best chance to see this beautiful light show, experts recommend spending as much time as possible above the Arctic Circle, far away from towns and other sources of artificial light.
To explore Greenland’s breathtaking Scoresby Sund fjord, the colossal ice columns of Viking Bay and the remote settlement of Ittoqqortoormiit, Secret Atlas has an impressive East Greenland cruise. Groups of just 12 intrepid travellers can board MV Vikingfjord to reach Greenland’s mammoth fjord, from €9,900 (£8,579) for eight days of lectures, zodiac shore landings with polar bear protection guides, and full-board dining. Forget shivering on city-side snowscapes you were ferried to by coach and float far from light pollution, gliding past giant ice cubes on luxury vessels beneath the dramatic backdrop of the aurora borealis.
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