northern lights cruise

[ethandron]

anyone done one? any comments?

[bimbo123456]

My mum spent a fortune going to see the Northern Lights, only for it to be too cloudy. YOu don't say where you are going? There are no guarantees for a natural phenomenom. I suppose you need to check the likelihood percentage on a weather site. Don't trust the cruise statistics....

[ethandron]

yes, i know there are no guarantees, looks an interesting trip even if you don't get to see them though. it's norway we're going. we've done a lot of research but i was interested to hear from anyone who's actually done one to see what they thought of it.

[thugulike]

I've seen the Northern Lights in Tromso but not from a cruise ship. Remember to book a date when the moon is at its smallest. Food and drink was so expensive in Tromso that I think a cruise ship is probably a good bet. No guarantees from land or sea.

[Cathyhuns]

We did the Hurtigruten but didn't see the lights. Some cabins are a bit basic and food and drink was expensive. However they've got no issue with you bringing your own drinks on board and there's time at some of the ports to go to the supermarket for mixers and supplies.

[redman41]

I have seen the Northern Lights on more than one occasion and they are spectacular.
Viewed them when I was visiting Canada on a couple of ships I was serving on.
Clear skies in Canada in winter time but Norway should be good as well
When are you going ethandron ?

[ethandron]

thanks for your comments everyone, very interesting :)
it's an all-in price - buffet breakfast, cold table lunch, 3 course no choice norweigan dinner. no alcohol included so i think it could be a dry 12 days for us as i've heard it's very expensive. although it's billed as a cruise, the ship is actually used as a ferry and supply vessel for the ports we call at. there's no entertainment, posh dressing up or invites to the captains table, thank goodness, those kind of cruises don't appeal. we have a bog standard inside cabin as we don't intend to spend much time in it. we're just trying to decide which trips, if any, to book when we dock at the various places. none particularly appeal although maybe a drink in an ice hotel would be interesting, or a musical evening at a cathedral. has anyone any recommendations?
the trip is booked now, mid february, so i've no idea what the moon will be doing unfortunately. lucky you redman, seeing the light so to speak, hope we get lucky too :)

[Cathyhuns]

I assume you are going on the Hurtigruten which are used as ferries.

Unlike most cruise ships they organise visits to the bridge but there's not much else going on. There are plenty of stops, so plenty to see, although some are very short. Scenery is spectacular.

However the best thing is that you can take your own drink on board - so stock up the duty free and buy mixers at the first port with a reasonable length stop.

[scotman]

someone on this site went recently. Can't remember her name. If you type something into the search box you may find some info. I think she went to Finland to see them.

[ttfn]

Well remembered, scotman.

Here you go ethandron:

http://www.theanswerb...k/Question992121.html
http://www.theanswerb...k/Question997376.html

It looks sublime :)