What are the best Northern Lights cruises?
From no-fly escapes to family-friendly adventures, find the Northern Lights cruise tailored to your tastes.
Jump to
- What makes a cruise 'the best'?
- Best for families: Hurtigurten
- Best for no-fly options: P&O Cruises
- Best for over-50s: Saga Cruises
- Best for affordability: Ambassador Cruise Line
- Best for luxury: Viking Cruises
- Best for the Alaskan Northern Lights: Holland America Line
- Best for the Southern Lights: Seabourn
At a glance
The Northern Lights – or aurora borealis – have long captured the British imagination. One poll of thousands of Britons found they were the most sought-after bucket-list travel experience, beating the Orient Express and African safaris.
One of the best ways to see them is from the water. Thanks to minimal light pollution at sea and the flexibility to follow clear skies to remote latitudes, cruises offer a front-row seat to one of nature's most elusive displays.
The result? A dizzying number of cruises designed to seek out the aurora. Here are seven of the best, each matched to a different kind of traveller.
What makes a cruise 'the best'?
At World of Cruising, our travel experts curate our 'best for...' guides by focusing on what makes a cruise the right fit for different types of travellers. Because let's face it, one person's dream cruise is another person's nightmare. That's why we dig deeper, factoring in elements like overnight port stays, no-fly options and unique shore excursions, as well as price and ship amenities.
The result? Tailored advice that goes beyond a basic, one-size-fits-all approach, capturing those subtle, 'if-you-know-you-know' details, so you can trust our recommendations to find the cruise that's genuinely best for you.
Best for families: Hurtigruten
Who is this cruise line for?
Hurtigruten isn’t your typical cruise line. It has sailed the Norwegian coast for over 130 years, delivering cargo, post and passengers to remote communities. Today, it’s still part of life for locals, as well as a way for visitors to explore.
While you won’t find go-kart tracks or waterparks onboard Hurtigruten ships, you will find that this cruise line provides thoughtful experiences to engage passengers of all ages. That includes immersive shore excursions where children can learn about the science and mythology behind the Northern Lights. Select itineraries even feature onboard talks by expert astronomers.
Hurtigruten makes travelling with kids more affordable. Children under 16 can receive up to 20 to 50 per cent off fares and excursions, helping families experience the Northern Lights without breaking the bank.
That doesn’t mean Hurtigruten cruises are completely geared towards children, though. From fjord-fresh cuisine to sea-aged sparkling wine matured deep in the ocean, there’s plenty to appeal to grown-up tastes.
What to know before you book:
Perhaps the most compelling reason to sail with Hurtigruten is that it offers a Northern Lights promise. On select sailings of 11 days or more, if the aurora isn’t within sight at least once on the voyage, you’ll be invited back for a free six or seven-day sailing. The offer applies to cruises from the 20th of September to March 31st at the time of writing – though it’s always worth checking the latest terms before booking.
Learn more about Hurtigruten.
Best for no-fly options: P&O Cruises
Who is this cruise line for?
P&O Cruises caters primarily to British passengers, with a considerable number of cruises sailing directly from Southampton. That means no airport queues, no absurd baggage limits and no squeezing into tiny airplane seats (a real bonus for the long-limbed among us).
If you’re planning an aurora-focused trip, it’s also worth knowing that many of P&O’s Northern Lights cruises sail on the Aurora, an adults-only ship. That’s either a drawback or a perk, depending on who you ask.
What to know before you book:
P&O Cruises offers no-fly itineraries to Norway, Iceland or a combination of the two, so you can find something that matches your timeline and budget.
Also, if you're worried about itineraries with multiple sea days, don't fret. A definite advantage is the Aurora's range of amenities, such as a spa, hair salon, theatre, cinema and a variety of restaurants and bars. It’s designed to help you make the most of time spent sailing, even if the sky doesn’t cooperate.
Learn more about P&O Cruises.
Best for over-50s: Saga Cruises
Who is this cruise line for?
Saga Cruises caters exclusively to travellers aged 50 and over, though companions aged 40 and up are welcome too. Its cruises are designed for people who have earned the time and freedom to explore on their own terms and want to do so in comfort and style.
That’s reflected in how every fare covers a nationwide chauffeur service, travel insurance, gratuities and a cabin with a balcony – a real win, considering the views on a Northern Lights cruise. After all, aboard one of Saga's winter sailings to Norwegian destinations like Stavanger, Bergen and Narvik, there’s a fair chance you’ll see the surreal spectacle of an aurora.
What to know before you book:
Keep in mind that there is plenty to experience beyond the Northern Lights. Shore excursions range from dogsledding to scenic cable car rides, so you’re never short on incredible sights. On select itineraries, you're even joined by a wildlife expert from the conservation charity ORCA to provide insight into Arctic marine life.
Learn more about Saga Cruises.
Best for affordability: Ambassador Cruise Line
Who is this cruise line for?
Put simply, an Ambassador cruise is for anyone looking for a wallet-friendly way to experience the Northern Lights at sea. It is is one of the most value-focused options, offering itineraries of up to 17 nights for under £1,500 per person at the time of writing. That places it firmly at the more accessible end of the spectrum.
These remarkably affordable itineraries take passengers to Norwegian destinations like Ålesund, Narvik and Bergen – providing the opportunity for aurora sightings as well as views of dramatic fjords and snow-dusted ports.
What to know before you book:
While Ambassador keeps fares low, bear in mind that some extras – like Wi-Fi packages – come at an additional cost. That said, core facilities like the gym, swimming pool and hot tubs are included, meaning you can unwind on sea days without stretching your budget.
Learn more about Ambassador Cruise Line.
Best for luxury: Viking Cruises
Who is this cruise line for?
Viking Cruises are great for passengers looking for approachable luxury. It sits comfortably in that bracket, at a more accessible price point than ultra-luxury cruise lines like Seabourn and Silversea Cruises, where fares can run into tens of thousands of pounds.
And there’s genuine value in what’s included: complimentary shore excursions, Wi-Fi, enrichment lectures, self-service laundrettes, gratuities and more come as standard.
Another thing to note: Viking is adults-only, exclusively welcoming guests aged 18 or above.
It’s also not the right option for you if you’re craving umbrella-topped cocktails or white-gloved formal service. Instead, expect serene, Scandi-inspired interiors on ships that each carry fewer than 930 guests. Crucially, every stateroom comes with its own veranda, so if the Northern Lights appear, you don’t even need to leave your cabin to catch the view.
What to know before you book:
Its illuminating Northern Lights itineraries are typically focused on Norway, sailing routes once taken by Vikings of old, though this time in search of celestial phenomena rather than conquest.
Plus, select cruises include overnight stays, with the optional opportunity to combine your cruise with sojourns at wilderness lodges or to go aurora hunting by snowmobile.
Learn more about Viking Cruises.
Best for the Alaskan Northern Lights: Holland America Line
Who is this cruise line for?
Thought northern Europe had a monopoly on the Northern Lights? Think again. A cruise to Alaska can offer dazzling displays of violet and emerald ribbons dancing across the sky – making it an exhilarating option for cruisers looking for the American perspective.
While these mystical natural phenomena are not guaranteed, Holland America has been sailing Alaska for over 75 years – longer than any other cruise line – and specialises in the region. If any line has honed its local knowledge to guide you to the best spots for aurora sightings, it’s this one.
What to know before you book:
The key to spotting the Northern Lights in Alaska is timing. A late August or September cruise maximises your chances, owing to long nights and (relatively) mild weather.
It’s also worth noting that Alaska offers far more than just the Northern Lights, though they are (quite literally) a highlight. That includes glorious views of glaciers, whale watching and multi-day overland tours to Fairbanks and Denali National Park and Preserve.
Learn more about Holland America Line.
Best for the Southern Lights: Seabourn
Who is this cruise line for?
This cruise line is best suited to passengers willing to invest in a truly unique experience. Seabourn is an ultra-luxury cruise line, with prices that reflect that. But what you get in return is a remarkably refined experience: intimate ships that are perfectly sized for reaching remote, less-travelled ports.
Alongside voyages through the Northwest Passage and to far-flung northern destinations like the Faroe Islands, Seabourn also sails south – to places from which you just might glimpse the Southern Lights.
The aurora australis, the southern counterpart to the aurora borealis, is just as surreal – but far less commonly seen. You’ll need to travel to the other side of the globe to seek it out, with the best sightings typically between September and March.
Keep an eye out for Seabourn sailings to Tasmania and New Zealand, particularly around Stewart Island, the Otago Peninsula and The Catlins – all promising locations for Southern Lights sightings when conditions align.
What to know before you book:
Beyond these rare sightings in some of the world’s most otherworldly landscapes, Seabourn provides highly personalised service and once-in-a-lifetime excursions. If you’re picturing endless caviar, free-flowing champagne and onboard submarines, you’re getting the idea.
Learn more about Seabourn.
Once you’ve picked the best aurora-chasing cruise for you, all that’s left to do is book, pack your parka and cross your fingers that the stars align.
