Northern Lights Cruises

The dreamy glow of the Aurora Borealis is something we all long to see with our own eyes at least once in our lifetime. Pencilling a Northern Lights cruise into your holiday to-do list is one sure way of making this dream come true. The best time to see these lights is when winter is at its chilliest and unfortunately, that is far from the ideal time for undertaking a voyage to the Arctic. However, experts say that winter is not the only time this mesmerising phenomenon can be seen. But winter cruises are not a bad idea, not only because of the prospect of viewing the wavy light of the northern lights, but also for the numerous fun activities voyagers can take part in in these far-flung destinations.

Several companies offer Northern Lights Cruises wrapped in different packages to suit the unique needs of different travellers. Among the more renowned of these liners are Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Regent Seven Seas and Holland America.

They travel to several destinations from which these dazzling lights are visible including Alaska, Finland and Norway.

What should you expect in terms of comfort and entertainment while on board? Spacious, immaculately decorated rooms or cabins, for starters, mostly on the mainstream liners which have bigger ships among their fleet. Expect double and king size beds draped in crisp linen and lounges adorned with tasteful furniture on these vessels. Well stocked bars, and sumptuous meals from a variety of restaurants is par for the course in these ships. However, while you will be cradled in the lap of luxury for the duration of your cruise and have an embarrassment of options as regards onboard activities, your chances of actually seeing the lights are better in smaller ships. Cruises such as Cruise West might not offer the extravagant luxury of the more established names, but they promise interested travellers that they will be awakened by vigilant crew whenever they spot the lights. Whichever Northern Lights Cruise you settle for, one thing is for sure; you will get to meet and interact with many fellow nature lovers or people who are equally intrigued by this unique natural phenomenon.

Other than catching a glimpse of those rare red, green and blue lights floating in the night sky, those who settle for this winter cruise will have the opportunity to indulge in activities such as watching arctic wildlife. They will have the rare chance of spotting species such as polar bears, seals, penguins, bald eagles and whales frolicking about in their natural habitats. As literal icing on the cake they will have the spectacular views of the glaciers and icebergs floating on the frigid waters at their disposal.

Among the places to spot the lights from is the Kilpisjarvi area in Lapland, Finland. To get there it is best to arrange a short cruise from the Gulf of Bothnia so that you arrive in Lapland between 9 and 11pm. Alaska is probably the location that first comes to mind whenever the northern lights are mentioned and so most Aurora chasers will book a cruise there.