Northern Lights Cruise

Topics that are specific to cruising
User avatar

Topic author
cruisingtoski
Cadet
Cadet
Posts: 30
Joined: March 2014

Northern Lights Cruise

#1

Post by cruisingtoski »

I wonder if anybody on here can help.
I am considering a Northern Lights cruise and don’t really fancy Hurtigruten as my friends and I would like a little more luxury whist waiting for the lights to appear. :lol:
I’ve seen a cruise in November on Arcadia from Southampton to Trømso and back
Has anyone here done this with P and O especially on Arcadia and if so what was it like ?
Also would be good to hear about any experience of the sea state and weather in November and the chances of seeing the lights .
I’ve been on Arcadia when we had pretty rough seas between Sydney and Milford Sound and she handled it fairly well but ...

Thanks
Denise

User avatar

david63
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 9392
Joined: January 2012
Location: Lancashire

Re: Northern Lights Cruise

#2

Post by david63 »

Cannot help much in that we did the Northern Lights this year in March on Aurora.
cruisingtoski wrote: 07 Oct 2019, 07:49
any experience of the sea state and weather in November
In March the sea was OK when we were sailing but a few days later another ship got into trouble so it really is "pot luck". As for weather - there was no problem apart from being cold and snowy (which you would expect)
cruisingtoski wrote: 07 Oct 2019, 07:49
the chances of seeing the lights
50-50. Nobody will give any guarantees. I believe that there is slightly more chance in March than November but having said that we saw nothing even though we were standing around at one in the morning at minus 15C!!

Sorry cannot be more help.

User avatar

Gill W
Senior First Officer
Senior First Officer
Posts: 4897
Joined: January 2013
Location: Kent

Re: Northern Lights Cruise

#3

Post by Gill W »

We were on a Northern Lights cruise in the March of 2018, but on Fred Olsen’s Balmoral.

The first half of the cruise was bright sunshine and clear nights. We sailed close to the Norwegian coast and the scenery was spectacular. The second week was dull, with some snow. But sea states were fairly calm most of the time. The weather is the luck of the draw, really.

As the weather was so clear, we had good sightings of the Aurora from the ship on the night before Tromso, and the night we were in Tromso. The people who did an excursion from Tromso had a very good display of the Lights.

Whereas the next night further north in Alta, when we did our excursion, it had clouded over, and we saw the Lights for about a minute through a gap in the clouds.

They say that sighting are more likely close to the equinoxes - but on the other hand days are shorter in November, so you’d have more dark nights.

We spent at least £500 kitting ourselves out for winter weather, including snow boots, a merino wool under layer and socks, thermal lined trousers and gloves, and a good coat. There’s a lot of advice online about clothing.

I’ve only been seasick three times and one of those times was Arcadia, but the sea was very rough.

However, I like Arcadia very much, and there’s no reason why I wouldn’t sail on her again.

Even if you don’t see the lights, you’ll get the opportunity to see Norway in the winter, so it’d be a different experience anyway.

I’d be more than happy to do the cruise you’ve mentioned
Gill

User avatar

Topic author
cruisingtoski
Cadet
Cadet
Posts: 30
Joined: March 2014

Re: Northern Lights Cruise

#4

Post by cruisingtoski »

Thanks both for your comments and advice much appreciated. We all have a busy time next year and November is the only time we can get together but as you say Gill we will have longer hours of darkness so hopefully more chance of seeing the lights. The weather as you say is unpredictable so I guess pot luck whenever we go.
Thanks also for your tips regarding clothing
Denise

User avatar

david63
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 9392
Joined: January 2012
Location: Lancashire

Re: Northern Lights Cruise

#5

Post by david63 »

One tip re clothing. Look out for bargains in the end of season sales where you can pick up items at half price or less - we bought all our stuff almost 12 months before we sailed. Mountain Warehouse and Sports Direct are two to keep an eye on.

User avatar

Topic author
cruisingtoski
Cadet
Cadet
Posts: 30
Joined: March 2014

Re: Northern Lights Cruise

#6

Post by cruisingtoski »

Thanks David - I’ll keep an eye on bargains at the ‘January’ sales
Denise

User avatar

david63
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 9392
Joined: January 2012
Location: Lancashire

Re: Northern Lights Cruise

#7

Post by david63 »

cruisingtoski wrote: 07 Oct 2019, 22:04
Thanks David - I’ll keep an eye on bargains at the ‘January’ sales
You will probably need to wait a bit later until the end of the ski season - around March/April


Ranchi
Senior Second Officer
Senior Second Officer
Posts: 808
Joined: September 2014

Re: Northern Lights Cruise

#8

Post by Ranchi »

Maybe look on one of the Aurora watch sites. I know there is a UK site and whilst that isn’t strictly relevant there is also a FB page which you may get more specialised advice. As I mentioned there is an AuroraWatch UK, there are also Canadian ones so there may bë sømë Nørwëgìån ones out there. & I’m sure there will be some way of translating. ( rather than sticking a few umlauts etc about the page & adopting the accent of the Muppets’ Finnish chef!)


Quizzical Bob
Senior First Officer
Senior First Officer
Posts: 3951
Joined: January 2013

Re: Northern Lights Cruise

#9

Post by Quizzical Bob »

The lights are very faint and you need a really dark environment if you are to experience them. The top deck of a ship in port is not going to be ideal so going out on an excursion is probably a better bet. Even then there is no guarantee.

User avatar

Gill W
Senior First Officer
Senior First Officer
Posts: 4897
Joined: January 2013
Location: Kent

Re: Northern Lights Cruise

#10

Post by Gill W »

The captain of Balmoral turned off a lot of the outside lights to help with Aurora spotting. As it turned out for us, we got a better view of the lights from the ship than we did from our excursion. It’s just down to luck
Gill

User avatar

Topic author
cruisingtoski
Cadet
Cadet
Posts: 30
Joined: March 2014

Re: Northern Lights Cruise

#11

Post by cruisingtoski »

Thank you all for your comments and advice.
Rather than ‘squash’ our Northern Lights trip in at the end of a very busy year(two cruises booked and a possible trip to South Africa - it’s hard work being retired 🤣) we have decided to defer it until March 2021.
It seems that the chances of seeing the lights are pot luck whenever you go but at least in March we will have a few more hours of daylight to admire the wonderful scenery as we sail up the coast of Norway 😉
Now to look for a good deal 😀
Denise

User avatar

Manoverboard
Ex Team Member
Posts: 13014
Joined: January 2013
Location: Dorset

Re: Northern Lights Cruise

#12

Post by Manoverboard »

Perhaps you should ' slum it ' and cruise with Hurtigruten as they will ( used to ) provide a free replacement cruise if there are no visible lights.
Keep smiling, it's good for your well being

Return to “Cruise Specific Discussion”