Why You Should Book a HX Hurtigruten Expeditions’ Northern Lights Cruise
The Aurora Borealis is a mesmerising natural phenomena, and HX Hurtigruten Expeditions’ Northern Lights cruises provide a unique and wonderful opportunity to witness it. These one-of-a-kind cruises transport guests through beautiful Arctic landscapes, giving you the chance to not only see the Northern Lights, but also to experience the stunning fjords, coastal communities, and Arctic wilderness along the way. You’ll board one of their expedition ships that are packed with all the amenities you require for the adventure of a lifetime.
A magical sight, the Northern Lights are caused by solar storms and sun flares, which produce breathtaking green, blue and pink colours that dance across the sky. Often on people’s bucket lists to see, the best place to catch the Aurora Borealis is in Northern Norway, in the cold Winter months between October and March.
Truly extraordinary cruises, HX Hurtigruten Expeditions’ cruises along the beautiful Norwegian coast stand out from the crowd as they take you across and beyond the Arctic Circle, so that you’re sailing directly beneath the Auroral Zone, where the solar activity takes place. Hurtigruten have been taking guests along this coastline for 130 years, and are the undisputed experts in this area.
Contents:
- What are HX Hurtigruten Expeditions’ Northern Lights Cruises?
- Why Sail with HX Hurtigruten Expeditions?
- Which HX Hurtigruten Expedition Ships Offer Northern Lights Cruises?
- Where Do Hurtigruten Expeditions’ Northern Lights Cruises Visit?
- HX Hurtigruten Expeditions’ Northern Lights Promise
What are HX Hurtigruten Expeditions’ Northern Lights Cruises?
HX Hurtigruten Expedition's Northern Lights cruises take you to some of the world’s most incredible destinations, giving you a chance to explore the rugged fringes of northern Europe and beyond.
The Arctic scenery that you’ll see along the way, from the snow-covered mountains to the icy fjords and coastal villages is simply magical. Plus, you’ll also have the opportunity to choose from a range of optional included activities and excursions that will enhance your experience, including the likes of ice fishing and dog sledding!
The knowledgeable Expedition Team on board will be on hand to provide you with useful insights into the local cultures, the Arctic environment, and the Northern Lights through daily lectures and activities! Throughout the voyage, you’ll also have the opportunity to indulge in some local cuisine, with a range of regional specialities on offer.
Combining the chance to witness one of nature’s most spectacular and awe-inspiring displays, with the exploration of Norway’s Arctic wonders, this is an ideal option for those seeking an immersive and extraordinary sailing experience.
Why Sail with HX Hurtigruten Expeditions?
As mentioned above, Hurtigruten has been sailing along the Norwegian Coast for over 130 years. Their experience means they are best placed to offer an unforgettable experience of coastal Norway. Hurtigruten is engrained in local culture and their ships are always warmly welcomed by the coastal communities.
Sailing with HX Hurtigruten Expeditions gives you the best chance of witnessing the illustrious Northern Lights. When you are at sea you are away from artificial light, on ships that are constantly on the move. Whilst onboard, you can opt to have announcements direct to your cabin when the lights make an appearance, ensuring you don’t miss out!
Giving you a front row look at the Northern Lights from the observation deck, you can enjoy unobstructed views of the natural lightshow. During your cruise, you’ll also have the chance to see cultural landmarks, such as the Cathedral of the Northern Lights in Norway; a fascinating landmark that features architecture that took inspiration from the Aurora!
On a Hurtigruten Expeditions’ Northern Lights cruise, you will enjoy included breakfast, lunch and dinner, including House wine & beer, sodas and mineral waters along with other amenities such as:
- Complimentary tea and coffee
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Expert Expedition Team - who deliver in-depth lectures and discussions
- Use of the onboard Science Center onboard
- A reusable water bottle
Which HX Hurtigruten Expedition Ships Offer Northern Lights Cruises?
Currently one of the HX Hurtigruten Expeditions ships is offering Northern Lights cruises, and that's MS Spitsbergen, however this is subject to change and other HX ships might offer these in the future.
An example of a HX Hurtigruten Expeditions Northern Lights cruise is:
What stands MS Spitsbergen out from the crowd is its Science Center, which you can access throughout your cruise. Here you can examine samples under the microscopes that you’ve collected during your cruise and learn more about which Citizen Science projects you can get involved in.
You can also enjoy a wide selection of fascinating and captivating daily lectures or, if you want to relax in the comfort of your cabin, you can watch the lectures on the TV - via Hurtigruten’s live streaming service.
MS Spitsbergen offers a stylish restaurant (Restaurant Aune) with superb local cuisine, a sauna, fitness room, hot tub and a variety of accommodation to choose from.
Where Do HX Hurtigruten Expeditions’ Northern Lights Cruises Visit?
Setting sail on an expedition vessel, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to head outside and see the Northern Lights cascading throughout the sky. And with sailings being offered to all of the destinations known for being Aurora Borealis hotspots, you’ll have the opportunity to see the Northern Lights whilst stopping in incredible destinations along the way. And one of the best ways to see the Northern Lights is on a ship; as there’s less light pollution at sea.
One example of the destinations that these voyages visit include Tromson. Regarded by many as the entryway to the Arctic, and follow in the footsteps of illustrious explorers. Before choosing to embark on thrilling expeditions like snowmobile and husky dog sledding experiences over the snow, you may explore sights like the majestic Arctic Cathedral, the ancient harbour area or take the Fjellheisen cable car up Storsteinen mountain.
Other stop offs along the way include Svolvær in the Lofoten Islands and Narvik; both of which have their own attractions and beautiful scenery. On these special expedition cruises, you can rest assured that you’ll witness some of the world’s most unique and magnificent sights, all whilst sailing in a comfortable and state-of-the-art ship.
HX Hurtigruten Expeditions’ Northern Lights Promise
Another reason why HX Hurtigruten Expeditions stand out above the rest is their Northern Lights Promise. Although they aim to maximise the chances of seeing the Northern Lights, by sailing directly below the Auroral Zone and offering cruises that sail throughout October and March, if there’s no recorded occurrence of the Northern Lights throughout your 15-day cruise, you'll receive Future Cruise Credit worth up to £1,000 per person towards a new HX Hurtigruten Expeditions voyage.
HX Hurtigruten Expeditions states that 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 onboard”. It is the ship’s decision as to whether the Northern Lights have occurred, and the phenomena can last from anywhere between minutes to hours at a time.
Other terms and conditions apply.
Book You HX Hurtigruten Expeditions Northern Lights Cruise Today
Discover HX Hurtigruten Expeditions’ unique Northern Lights cruises and enjoy an Arctic adventure that’ll create memories that last a lifetime. A getaway that’ll be unlike anything you’ve experienced before, you’ll be able to see some of the world’s most beautiful and incredible scenery, whilst having the chance to see the awe-inspiring natural phenomena of the Northern Lights.
Read more about the Northern Lights on our recent blog post - Top Tips for Seeing the Northern Lights.