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Beautiful, ethereal, and elusive, the Northern Lights have captivated humanity for millennia. Early civilisations attributed the lights to supernatural beings, and, while today we know they’re caused by solar particles, they’ve lost none of their mystical appeal.
It’s no surprise that seeing the Northern Lights is the world’s number one bucket list experience. And, while sightings are never 100% guaranteed, if you’re eager to witness the swirling glow of the Aurora Borealis, there are several reasons why a cruise is the best way to do it.
To tell you more, we’ve partnered with Hurtigruten, a Norwegian cruise line known for turning Northern Lights dreams into reality. In fact, you have such a good chance of seeing the lights with Hurtigruten that they even have a Northern Lights Promise: if you sail between 20th September and 31st March on a cruise of 11+ days and don’t catch the lights, you can enjoy another cruise free of charge.
If you’ve always dreamed of witnessing the swirling glow of the Aurora Borealis, you might be thinking about finally booking that trip…but you also may have some questions. Why is a cruise your best chance of seeing these strange, celestial lights? What makes Hurtigruten cruises so special? And why do these Northern Lights cruises belong on every travel wishlist?
You can cruise beneath the Aurora Oval
One of the main reasons why a cruise is the best way to see the Northern Lights is that it allows you to travel right under the Aurora Oval, an area close to the North Pole where you have the highest chance of seeing the lights. The Aurora Oval is always there, but it changes in size and shape during different periods. On a cruise, you’re constantly moving, so you can move with the Oval.
The Arctic Circle is a key area where the lights are frequently visible, and much of the Oval lies within this region. On Hurtigruten’s Coastal Express route, 22 of the 34 ports visited sit inside the Arctic Circle, and for days on end, you’ll journey directly beneath the Oval. Not only does that increase your chances of seeing the lights multiple times, but it also maximises your chances of catching the most magnificent displays.
When you see the lights from inside the Aurora Oval, they can completely fill the sky – from horizon to horizon – and colours can range from green and blue to pink, purple, and red. Watching these ghostly lights dance across the sky as they shape-shift, surge, and fade is a truly magical experience.
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Hurtigruten The Coastal Express – South *
Kirkenes - Bergen (Southbound)
Norway | 6 days
Experience Norway under the Northern Lights. Call 0203 553 6937 to book.
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Hurtigruten The Coastal Express – North*
Bergen - Kirkenes (Northbound)
Norway | 7 days
Experience Norway under the Northern Lights. Call 0203 553 6937 to book.
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Hurtigruten The Coastal Express - Northern Lights*
Bergen - Kirkenes - Bergen (Roundtrip)
Norway | 12 days
Flash Sale: Save up to 25% + £250pp onboard credit. Offer ends July 16th.
The conditions are ideal for a light show
Another reason you have a better chance of seeing the Northern Lights on a cruise than from land is the conditions. The sheer remoteness and lack of air and light pollution – both of which dull the vibrancy of a display – set the scene perfectly. On a Polar night, all you can see as you gaze out to sea is the silver glow of the moon and the glimmer of stars – and perhaps the faint outline of distant, snow-capped peaks.
While the weather can’t be controlled on a cruise, it can be managed; if the sky is overcast, you can simply sail past the clouds for a clearer view. Because you’re always on the move, the conditions and landscape are always changing. One day, you might watch the lights flicker above craggy fjords; the next, they’re glimmering over glistening glaciers.
Plus, on a cruise, you don’t need to worry about missing the lights. Hurtigruten ships are set up to give you the best chance of seeing multiple displays, and the experienced crew are often the first to catch a glimpse of the Aurora. When you hear the alert, you can get into position, whether that’s on deck or even in a hot tub. You can request cabin alerts at night, too, so you know you won’t miss a thing, even while sleeping.
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Hurtigruten Savour the Northern Lights - Southbound*
Helsinki - Oslo (Southbound)
Norway & Finland | 14 days
Experience Norway under the Northern Lights. Call 0203 553 6937 to book.
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Hurtigruten Follow the Northern Lights – Finland to Norway*
Helsinki - Rovaniemi - Honningsvåg - Oslo (Southbound)
Norway & Finland | 15 days
Experience Norway under the Northern Lights. Call 0203 553 6937 to book.
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Hurtigruten Follow the Northern Lights – Norway to Finland*
Oslo - Honningsvåg - Rovaniemi - Helsinki (Northbound)
Norway & Finland | 17 days
Experience Norway under the Northern Lights. Call 0203 553 6937 to book.
You’ll witness the beauty of the Norwegian coastline
While seeing the lights might be a key reason to take a cruise, there are many other delights along the way. Regularly cited as one of the world’s most beautiful countries, Norway’s scenery is as dazzling as it is diverse – and on a cruise, you’ll see the best of it. This is a land where sapphire fjords shimmer between jagged mountains, and charming coastal towns sit between verdant valleys and tranquil forests.
There are two main Northern Lights cruises – the North Cape Line and the Coastal Express – and both itineraries take you past truly staggering scenery. Founded in 1893, the Coastal Express route has been described as the ‘World’s Most Beautiful Voyage’. It takes you from the city of Bergen to the Arctic town of Kirkenes and back, cruising past the rugged Helgeland Coast and between Norway’s famous fjords.
The coastal landscape here is the stuff of dreams. Sail past traditional farms, colourful fishing villages, and fairytale-like towns; marvel at enormous icebergs glistening on the inky waters; be awed by the soaring, snow-dusted mountains circling the deep-blue fjords; and witness the iconic beauty of Norway’s Lofoten and Vesterålen islands.
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Hurtigruten The North Cape Line - South*
Tromsø - Oslo (Southbound)
Norway | 9 days
Experience Norway under the Northern Lights. Call 0203 553 6937 to book.
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Hurtigruten The North Cape Line*
Oslo - Honningsvåg - Oslo (Roundtrip)
Norway | 15 days
Flash Sale: Save up to 25% + £250pp onboard credit. Offer ends July 16th.
You can sample the best Norwegian cuisine
If you’re a foodie, a cruise may not seem like the most obvious choice for a gastronomic adventure. But on a Hurtigruten cruise, the cuisine is all part of the experience. On a Northern Lights voyage, you won’t just see the Norwegian coast; you’ll taste it, too. Unlike other cruise lines that stockpile and freeze food, Hurtigruten ships source the finest homegrown produce from the ports you visit.
Sourcing the food locally isn’t just about ensuring fresh flavours. Eating sustainably and seasonally is also about minimal waste and achieving the lowest footprint possible. Hurtigruten is committed to working towards zero food waste, and in one port, food waste from the fleet is turned into fertiliser used by local farms to grow new produce.
The onboard restaurants serve freshly caught cod from Vesterålen, award-winning cheeses from Lofoten, and quality craft beer from Bergen. Ships have a main restaurant, a bistro-style eatery, and a fine-dining restaurant, and they offer an exciting exploration of Norwegian cuisine. As you dine, you can look out of the floor-to-ceiling windows and feel connected to the very same places your food is sourced.
You can look forward to menus based around local produce like seaweed and kelp, reindeer with local butter and wild herbs, and fresh fish and seafood – though there are plenty of plant-based options, too. Try open sandwiches called smørbrød, delicious ice cream direct from Lofoten, and cloudberry jam, made from a rare Arctic berry. This is farm-and-fjord-to-table dining at its very best.
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Hurtigruten Culinary Voyage *
Bergen - Tromsø (Northbound)
Norway | 7 days
Experience Norway under the Northern Lights. Call 0203 553 6937 to book.
Final thoughts…
Known as ‘the greatest show on Earth’, seeing the Northern Lights in person can be profoundly moving. Watching as these cascading curtains of light flicker across the sky is a true once-in-a-lifetime experience, which is why it’s at the top of so many travel wishlists.
Part of the allure of the Aurora Borealis is its unpredictability – and while there can never be any real guarantees when it comes to natural phenomena, Hurtigruten’s Northern Lights Promise is as close to one as it gets. Voyages of 11 days or more will give you a good chance of seeing the lights, and if you don’t, you’ll get offered another cruise free of charge.
Throughout 2025, increased solar activity means the lights will be brighter, more frequent, and more intense than they’ve been for 12 years…so if you’ve always wanted to see nature’s greatest display, now might be the time.
You won’t only have an excellent shot at seeing the Northern Lights; you’ll also gain a new perspective on Norway itself. Whether it’s exploring historic cities like Bergen, appreciating the rugged splendour of the coastline, or sampling delicious and diverse local flavours, Hurtigruten cruises only offer authentic, meaningful, and memorable travel experiences.
To find out more about Northern Lights cruises with Hurtigruten, head over to their website.
Have you ever been to Norway? Are you tempted by the thought of a Northern Lights cruise? We’d love to hear about your travel plans and experiences in the comments below.