The Northern Lights are a fickle phenomenon.
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I’ve gone on two different tours (one in Norway and one in Sweden) to see the Aurora Borealis in Scandinavia, one in Sweden and one in Norway. Despite being in the right place at the right time, neither experience worked out.
Instead, I saw the northern lights on a flight from New York City to Spokane, Washington. Out of nowhere, the flight attendants directed us to look out the window. There, we saw a dancing display of neon-green lights… and we were up in the sky with them, making the experience even more profound.
In short, you can’t guarantee a sighting, and there’s no foolproof guide on how to see the Northern Lights.
However, you can give yourself a great chance at spotting the northern lights when you stay in the area for a longer period of time. While you can hole up in Scandinavia or Alaska for a while, hoping to see them, I recommend going for the more magical route: Booking an Aurora Borealis cruise that heads to Norway.
Here’s how to see the Northern Lights in Norway like a pro—from the water along some of the world’s most remote and northern coastlines. You can book these excursions for later this year or, if you need more time to finalize your plans, for 2027.
Top 3 Aurora Borealis cruises:
- The best long itinerary: Holland America: 14-Day Journey & Northern Lights
- The best guarantee: Fred Olsen Cruises: In Search of the Northern Lights
- The budget-friendly option: MSC Cruises: Northern Europe
Aurora Borealis cruises where you’re almost certain to catch the Northern Lights
Holland America: 14-Day Journey & Northern Lights
- Cruise dates: October 4 – October 18, 2026
- Cost: Starting at $3,690
- Departure/arrival: Rotterdam, Netherlands / Amsterdam, Netherlands
- What to expect: You’re almost sure to see the Northern Lights on this two-week tour thanks to its stops in Northern Norway and the season. The itinerary includes two nights in Tromso and Alta, aka the ‘City of Northern Lights’. Expect remote ports in the untouched Arctic.
Fred Olsen Cruises: In Search of the Northern Lights
- Cruise dates: November 8, 2026 – November 23, 2026 (If you’re looking for different dates or shorter routes, there are plenty on the Fred Olsen site)
- Cost: Starting at $2,644
- Departure/arrival: Southampton, England (both)
- What to expect: This is yet another Arctic Circle adventure that is designed to guarantee a Northern Lights sighting. You even work with experts from Go Stargazing to ensure you get more out of the experience. The cruise is scheduled in November when the nights are long, and the skies are often crisscrossed with Aurora lights. Expect plenty of land-based adventures on this cruise, too, from husky sledding to hiking excursions.
MSC Cruises: Northern Europe
- Cruise dates: September 27, 2026 – October 4, 2026
- Cost: Starting at $936
- Departure/arrival: Copenhagen, Denmark (both)
- What to expect: Head to northern Norway during this late September cruise, which departs from Copenhagen. It’s a shorter and more affordable cruise than the other options on this list, although a shorter time in Norway means you don’t have as many opportunities to see the northern lights.
Celebrity Cruises: Norwegian Fjords & Arctic Circle
- Cruise dates: August 29, 2026 – September 12, 2026
- Cost: Starting at $2,559
- Departure/arrival: Southampton, England (both)
- What to expect: If you’re new to cruising, Celebrity is always a great option. The atmosphere is vibrant, the ports are exciting and easy to navigate, and you have plenty of chances to get off the vessel to explore Norway.
Havila Voyages: Round Voyage
- Cruise dates: September 7, 2026 – September 18, 2026
- Cost: Starting at $2,719
- Departure/arrival: Bergen, Norway (both)
- What to expect: You depart and return to Bergen, Norway, which is one of my favorite spots to visit in Europe. It’s also further up north than the other disembarkation points, meaning you’ll head into Northern Lights territory without any delays. In fact, this cruise is one of the few that comes with a Northern Lights Promise.
Viking: In Search of Northern Lights
- Cruise dates: Beginning in January 2027, with multiple routes running through March 2027
- Cost: Starting at $7,499
- Departure/arrival: London or Tromso (depends on the route)
- What to expect: This tour is similar to the Fred Olsen cruise (listed second, above) that has almost the same name. The main difference is that Viking is the luxury take, which you’ll notice in the pricing. You can expect adventurous on-land tours during your journey, including a visit to the fjords and the chance to experience centuries-old Sami traditions.
Cunard: Norway And Northern Lights 12 Nights
- Cruise dates: March 14, 2027 – March 26, 2027
- Cost: Starting at $1,649
- Departure/arrival: Southampton, England (both)
- What to expect: The chances of seeing the Northern Lights in spring aren’t quite as high as in autumn and winter, which cover the other cruise itineraries (above). However, this is an almost two-week cruise that hops all around Norway. You also have an overnight in Tromso, where you’re most likely to see the aurora borealis. You can also explore the route on an interactive map, letting you dig into the details of this getaway.
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