If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Cruises 10 Best Northern Lights Cruises What's more epic than seeing the aurora borealis in person? Viewing it from a cruise ship. By Stefanie Waldek Stefanie Waldek Stefanie Waldek is a space, travel, and design journalist with expertise in aviation, meteorology, and polar regions. She was a former editor at Architectural Digest, TripAdvisor, and ArtNews. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Updated on September 10, 2024 Photo: Courtesy of Hurtigruten If seeing the northern lights is on your to-do list, you've likely already looked into the best places to catch a glimpse of them: northern destinations like Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, and Scandinavia, among others. But have you ever considered seeing them by sea rather than by land? Cruise lines offer specially themed sailings to many of those same destinations. Plus, cruising is a particularly appealing option for northern lights seekers since the ships can access remote areas far from light pollution, allowing guests to view the aurora borealis in its full brilliance. Here are 10 of the best cruises you can take to help you meet your goal of seeing the northern lights. When to Go Embark on your northern lights cruise during the auroral season, generally between late September and late March, when the skies above the Arctic Circle experience longer periods of darkness. 01 of 10 Viking: In Search of the Northern Lights RelaxFoto.de / Getty Images On Viking's In Search of the Northern Lights cruise, a luxurious Viking ocean ship transports guests for 13 days from London to Amsterdam, then up the coast of Norway, and north of the Arctic Circle to Tromsø and Alta before heading south to Bergen. The Norwegian fjords are a sight to behold, and if they're paired with the northern lights, that's all the better. The sailings run from January to March when daylight is limited in the Arctic Circle, which makes for prime aurora-viewing opportunities. Rates start from about $5,300 per person in 2025 and 2026. Some routes travel in reverse if you'd prefer to end in London. It's also worth noting that Viking is an adults-only cruise line. 02 of 10 Aurora Expeditions: Northern Lights Explorer Courtesy of Aurora Expeditions Considering the cruise line is named after the atmospheric phenomenon, it should come as no surprise that it offers a Northern Lights Explorer itinerary. The 18-day trip starts with one night in the northern Norwegian city of Tromsø before you sail along the coast to Ånderdalen National Park, the Lofoten Islands, and across to the remote island of Jan Mayen, home of the world's northernmost active volcano. Next, you'll sail to the scenic fjords of East Greenland, and around the northern half of Iceland. Aurora Expeditions offers just one of these sailings per year in September. Rates start from about $18,800 per person in 2026. Best Places to See the Northern Lights Around the World 03 of 10 Hurtigruten: The Coastal Express Courtesy of Hurtigruten Hurtigruten is something of an outlier in this group because it doesn't offer specific northern lights itineraries. Instead, the routes of this Norwegian ferry company just happen to traverse the perfect latitudes to see the aurora borealis. Hurtigruten is so confident you'll see the northern lights during the auroral season (between September 20, 2024, and March 25, 2025) that if they don't show up on a sailing of 11 days or more, the company's Northern Lights Promise means you'll get a free six-day southbound or seven-day northbound cruise to try again. For the best odds of seeing the northern lights, we suggest the 12-day round-trip Coastal Express itinerary from Bergen to Kirkenes (and back to Bergen). Rates start from about $2,080 per person in 2025. 04 of 10 Quark Expeditions: Under the Northern Lights Courtesy of Quark Expeditions Specializing in polar voyages, Quark Expeditions knows a thing or two about the northern lights, which is why the company offers an aurora sailing each fall. This 12-day itinerary cruises from Reykjavik, Iceland, to Greenland and back from late September into early October. Since the majority of the voyage takes place above the Arctic Circle, the odds of seeing the natural phenomenon are high, especially as solar activity tends to peak around the autumnal and vernal equinoxes in September and March, respectively. And if they don't show, well, you still get to explore Iceland's Westfjords and Greenland's eastern shores — and that's a worthwhile journey in itself. Rates start from about $8,400 per person in 2024. How to See the Northern Lights in Iceland 05 of 10 Oceanwide Expeditions: Northern Iceland and Greenland Courtesy of Oceanwide Expeditions If you don't have two or three weeks to take off work to go northern lights watching, consider one of Oceanwide Expeditions' shorter Arctic cruises, such as a six-night sailing and hiking trip to northeast Iceland. A nine-night itinerary beginning and ending in Akureyri, Iceland, takes in Greenland's breathtaking Scoresby Sund, the largest fjord system in the world. Aurora borealis cruises operate from late summer to mid-fall, as darkness returns to the skies in the Arctic. Rates start from $3,250 per person for 2024 six-night sailings. 06 of 10 Cunard: Norway and Northern Lights RelaxFoto.de / Getty Images Each fall, the ships in Cunard's legendary fleet head north for Norway, where guests are treated to scenic cruising along the coast. The 12-night Norway and Northern Lights sailings depart from Southampton, England, before traveling to Alesund, Tromsø, Narvik, and Stavanger, sailing through majestic fjords along the way. Since the ships sail this itinerary from September to March, the skies will be dark enough to see the northern lights, should they decide to appear. In 2024, the Queen Mary 2 and the upcoming Queen Anne will take the reins, while the Queen Victoria will also set sail in 2025 and 2026. Rates start from about $1,805 per person in 2024. When to See the Northern Lights in Norway 07 of 10 P&O Cruises: Norway Courtesy of P&O Cruises British cruise line P&O operates 12-night sailings to Norway year-round. And during the auroral season, there's a strong chance you'll see the northern lights while onboard. Guests embark in Southampton, England, before sailing north to Norway, traveling as far as Tromsø and Alta, north of the Arctic Circle. We recommend splurging on a room with windows for the best northern lights viewing options. However, those in interior cabins can always run up on deck, which you should do anyway to witness the full grandeur of the atmospheric phenomenon. Rates start from about $1,440 per person in 2024. 08 of 10 Havila: Round Voyage Courtesy of Havila Voyages Like the Hurtigruten cruise mentioned above, Havila's Round Voyage follows the Coastal Express route between Bergen and Kirkenes, stopping in 34 ports during its 12-day adventure up and down the Norwegian coast. The company also has a Northern Lights Promise for guests visiting between October 1 and March 31, although in this case, the replacement six- or seven-day cruise must be taken within a month of your return on the original one. The 2024 rates on these newer, more environmentally friendly ships start at just $1,500 per person for an interior room or about $2,280 for an exterior room. 09 of 10 Saga: Norway and the Northern Lights WanRu Chen / Getty Images British company Saga offers 16-night cruises aboard the Spirit of Discovery from its U.K. base in Portsmouth. The route includes an overnight stay in Tromsø, as well as stops in Alesund, Trøndheim, Honningsvåg, Alta, Bergen, and a side-quest to Flåm, a beautiful inland area known for its epic views of the Norwegian fjords. Wildlife experts from the Orca European conservation team will be available to help you spot whales, dolphins, and other animals as you sail through their natural environment. Each cabin comes with a private balcony so you'll have incredible views throughout your trip. Prices for all-inclusive 2025 sailings start at about $7,430 per person. 10 of 10 Ponant: Nordic Discoveries and Traditions Courtesy of Ponant Ponant’s 11-day Norway cruises actually include round-trip flights between Paris and Tromsø, where the journey begins, so you could theoretically make this a two-in-one vacation with a short stint in Paris on either end. From Tromsø, ships make their way south to Narvik and Reine before heading north to Hammerfest, west to Bjornoya, east to Honningsvag, and back to Tromsø via Alta. Rates for sailings in 2025 begin at about $11,880 per person. Updated by Kaeli Conforti Kaeli Conforti Currently based in Washington, D.C., Kaeli Conforti is a seasoned travel writer who covers travel news, points & miles, hotels, airlines, credit cards, aviation, solo travel, budget travel, adventure travel, family travel, weddings, honeymoons, and everything in between. learn more