2015 September Northern Lights HAL Cruise

[cfgrandma]

HAL has a Northern Lights Cruise in September 2015. Is September too early to see the lights?

 

Thank you for the info.

[donaldsc]

Probably. Although there is a slight chance of seeing them, there is a whole lot of false advertising in the cruise description. They should be ashamed (if they have any shame) of advertising the cruise as a Northern Lights Cruise.

 

Another issue is that it has to be dark to really see the aurora. Are they planning to black out the ship except for the required running lights so you can see the aurora better. Also, you need to check how bright the moon will be when you are on the ship. The brighter the moon, the lower the chance of seeing them.

 

When I went to Fairbanks and points north just to see aurora, I made sure to pick a time when there was no moon out.

 

Bottom line - you may see them but prepare to be disappointed.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have done quite a few Alaskan cruises including one in September on HAL.

 

Never have seen the Aurora Lights -- not even when we were as far north as Anchorage.

[Essiesmom]

I believe the OP is thinking of a cruise on Rotterdam to the North Cape of Norway. Asking on the Europe Ports of Call board might give a better idea. EM

 

http://www.cruisetimetables.com/cruisesonmsrotterdam-sep2015.html

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

I believe the OP is thinking of a cruise on Rotterdam to the North Cape of Norway. Asking on the Europe Ports of Call board might give a better idea. EM

 

http://www.cruisetimetables.com/cruisesonmsrotterdam-sep2015.html

That would be a great cruise and then do Africa

[CruiserBruce]

I believe the OP is thinking of a cruise on Rotterdam to the North Cape of Norway. Asking on the Europe Ports of Call board might give a better idea. EM

 

http://www.cruisetimetables.com/cruisesonmsrotterdam-sep2015.html

 

Sound idea. "Northern Lights Cruise" definitely doesn't equal Alaska.

[Mary Ellen]

The HAL cruise by that name is indeed the Rotterdam sailing to Norway. She is sailing a good distance above the Arctic Circle. It looks like Alta is the furthest north port.

 

Alta, Norway: Latitude: +69.98 (69°58'48"N)

Anchorage: Latitude: +61.21806 (61°13'05.016"N)

Fairbanks: Latitude: +64.83778 (64°50'16.008"N)

 

Alta is more than 500 miles further north than Anchorage, so being able to see the Northern Lights in Anchorage (or not) has little merit. Fairbanks is around 350 miles south of Alta. I would expect even better viewing in Alta than in Fairbanks.

 

The moon will be less than a quarter full for the dates this cruise will be at the northernmost part. Shouldn't be a huge factor.

 

https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/norway/alta?month=9

 

Of course, seeing the Northern Lights is all dependent upon how much solar flares are occurring then and, as always, the weather will play a role. Good luck! :)

[gaelsail]

Of course, seeing the Northern Lights is all dependent upon how much solar flares are occurring then and, as always, the weather will play a role.

The first reports of Northern Lights that we saw in 2013 and 2014 were in August. These were from Norway and Scotland.

[donaldsc]

We have done quite a few Alaskan cruises including one in September on HAL.

 

Never have seen the Aurora Lights -- not even when we were as far north as Anchorage.

 

Anchorage is not what I would call "north" in Alaska. If you look at a map, you will see that most of Alaska is north of Anchorage rather than than south of it. Even Fairbanks really isn't north. Now if you get to Barrow or Prudhoe Bay (have't been to either place yet), you can definitely say that you are north.