An aurora, also commonly known as the northern lights (in the northern hemisphere) or southern lights in the southern hemisphere), is a natural light display in Earth’s sky, predominantly seen in high-latitude regions. The result of disturbances in the magnetosphere caused by the solar wind, auroras display dynamic patterns of brilliant lights that appear as curtains, rays, spirals, or dynamic flickers covering the entire sky. (thanks, Wikipedia!)
Whether you’re trying to see the northern or southern lights, the best time to get a chance to see them is in the winter months of whichever hemisphere you’re in, and as far to the north/south (corresponding with which hemisphere you’re in) as you can go.
In the northern hemisphere, your best chance of seeing the northern lights is in Norway, Finland, Sweden, Iceland, the northern parts of Canada and Alaska (although I have a friend who occasionally posts pictures of the northern lights that she’s taken from her living room. She’s in Minnesota).
Not surprisingly, a lot of the places where the northern lights tend to make a showing on a regular basis have frequent tourists during the time of year when the lights might be seen. I remember when Joe and I were in Iceland (in July), one of the B&Bs we stayed in had a winter program where you could sign up to be woken up if you could see the nights on any given night during your stay.
It’s not just hotels that get into the act, though. Cruise ships do, too. In fact, there are two cruise operators, Havila Voyages and Hurtigruten Expeditions (soon to be renamed HX), that are so sure their passengers will see the lights from their respective cruises from Norway that they’ll give them a free cruise if they don’t.
Both lines offer what they call a Northern Lights Promise. It offers passengers a second voyage if the aurora borealis doesn’t show up during their cruise.
Havila Voyages
PC: Havila Voyages
“If spectacular green light does not dance across the night sky during your Round Voyage in the period (October 1 through March 31), you get a new 6 or 7-day voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes (Voyage North) or vice versa (Voyage South) completely free of charge.
“The Northern Lights Promise applies to all passengers who have booked the Round Voyage Bergen-Kirkenes-Bergen, departing between October 1 and March 31.
“The Northern Lights Promise is only valid if you have activated the Northern Lights warning system on board. The ship determines whether a Northern Lights event has occurred, regardless of weather conditions and actual visibility.
“If the Northern Lights do not occur during your voyage, you will be given a new 6 or 7-day trip completely free of charge, either Voyage North or Voyage South, for the next season’s Northern Lights Promise period (October 1 – March 31).
“The Northern Lights Promise must be redeemed – and a new trip ordered – within one month of returning from your original trip. Cabin category (inside cabin) can be upgraded at an additional cost based on availability. The offer is only granted in the form of one free trip as described above and has no cash value.”
Hurtigruten Expeditions
PC: Hurtigruten Expeditions
“Enjoy a Classic Voyage free of charge if the Northern Lights do not appear on your cruise to Norway.
Tick the Northern Lights off your bucket list.
- Our promise to you is if there is no recorded sighting of Northern Lights during your expedition, we will give you a free 6 or 7 day Classic Voyage the year after.
- With short days, long winter nights, and reduced light pollution you’ll experience the best conditions to witness the awe-inspiring Northern Lights from the deck of your expedition ship.
Terms & Conditions
Northern Lights Promise on Norway Voyages
Sail the Norwegian coast with us during the auroral season between 26 September and 31 March on a voyage of 11 days or more. If the Northern Lights do not occur within sight of your ship during your voyage, we will give you a 6-day southbound or 7-day northbound Original Coastal Express Classic Voyage free of charge*
*Please see terms and conditions below
Why we can make this promise
Where we sail on the Norwegian coast is directly beneath the Auroral Zone, an area of consistent and heightened Northern Lights activity.
Our ships act as floating, mobile observatories that move between areas where there is a lot of cloud cover to places where it’s clear skies and perfect conditions to see the aurora when it appears.
How we help you to see the aurora
All the cabins and suites on our ships have an ‘Northern Lights alert’ which will tell you whenever we spot sightings of the aurora, so you can rush to your window or outside to catch them.
Our crew will announce occurrences of the aurora to your cabin or suite at any time of the day or night. You can switch these announcements on and off as you prefer.
Northern Light Promise Terms & Conditions
Subject to the following ‘Terms and Conditions’ in 2022/23
- You will be able to take a 6- or 7-days Classic Voyage cruise, departing 1 October 2023 to 31 March 2024 in an unspecified inside twin cabin on a full board basis, (you may upgrade to another grade of cabin subject to additional costs and availability).
- This offer applies to all new bookings on the select Expedition cruises along the Norwegian coast and The Original Coastal Express of 11 days or more, departing from 1 October 2022 to 31 Mar 2023. Hurtigruten reserves the right to withdraw or amended the offer at any time. Please check at the time of booking as to current status of offer.
- The offer cruise must be booked within 28 days from your return date. A choice of departure dates will be given. ‘Exclusions’ Offer excludes flights, transfers, all on board expenses, excursions, luggage handling. Offer does not apply to re-scheduled or cancelled cruises.
- Bookings are non-transferable, non-changeable and have no cash value.
Subject to the following ‘Terms and Conditions’ in 2023/24
- This offer applies to all new bookings of voyages of 11 days or more along the Norwegian coast aboard The Original Coastal Express, The North Cape Express, and selected Hurtigruten Expeditions cruises, departing between 26 September 2023 and 31 March 2024.
- A Northern Lights occurrence is defined as a sighting from the ship which is recorded by the ship’s deck officers and which is announced to passengers on board. An occurrence can last anything from a few minutes to a matter of hours, and the ships decision as to whether the Northern Lights occurred is final.
- We announce occurrences of the Northern Lights on board the ship and you have the option of announcements direct to your cabin or suite. We hope that you will experience seeing the Northern Lights whilst on your voyage with us of 11 days or more, but we cannot be held responsible if you don’t.
- We promise that in the event of there being no Northern Lights occurrence as defined above, you will receive a 6 or 7-day Original Coastal Express Classic Voyage, departing between 1 October 2024 and 31 March 2025 in an unspecified inside twin cabin on a full-board basis free of charge. You may upgrade to another grade of cabin subject to additional costs and availability.
- We reserve the right to withdraw or amend the offer at any time. Please check at the time of booking as to the current status of the offer. The offer must be claimed and booked within 28 days from your return date. A choice of departure dates will be given.
- The offer excludes flights, transfers, all onboard expenses, excursions, and luggage handling. The offer does not apply to re-scheduled or cancelled cruises. Bookings are non-transferable, non-changeable, and have no cash value.
The Northern Lights don’t appear every day, even under the best conditions. So having a guarantee to see them is pretty nice (although taking a second cruise still means using up more vacation time, travel to/from, etc.). I guess both companies feel pretty sure of showing you the aurora borealis on their respective cruises.
Feature Photo: Hurtigruten Expeditions
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1 comment
Already have a Havila cruise booked for next year. Looking forward to it.