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You’ll also have the chance to take advantage of the camps many winter activities like dogsledding, snowmachining, snowshoeing, and fat-tire biking. A survey by the Discovery Channel noted that seeing Aurora Borealis made it to more "bucket lists" than any other travel adventure. And it truly is an adventure - because its appearance from one sighting to the next is never the same. I like to think that chasing the Borealis similar to the adrenaline rush of storm-chasers who follow tornadoes - except, you're chasing a natural beauty, rather than a destructive force. Traveling with UnCruise also grants exclusive access to remote areas, as their ships, with capacities ranging from 22 to 86 guests, navigate areas where larger vessels can’t. UnCruise guests visiting Glacier Bay National Park get a rare opportunity to set foot on land and explore the “outback,” a privilege granted to less than one percent of total park visitors.
Evening Viewing, Short Drive from Fairbanks or Anchorage
Seeing the aurora is not unheard of during summer months, but it's very rare. So reliably clear are the skies of Fairbanks that visitors who stay in the city at least three nights during the aurora season have a more than 90 percent chance of seeing the Northern Lights, Evans says. To make it even easier for travelers to catch a glimpse of glowing skies, Explore Fairbanks maintains a real-time aurora tracker based on weather, daylight, and auroral activity over Fairbanks and surrounding locales.
FAQs on Alaska Northern Lights Cruises
With so many options available, it’s important to consider factors such as itinerary options, ship size and amenities, and onboard activities. Overall, while the winter months offer the highest chances of seeing the Northern Lights in Alaska, late fall and early spring also provide opportunities for memorable displays. It is important to plan your trip accordingly, considering the specific months that align with your preferences and availability. During the winter months, the nights are longer in Alaska, providing more hours of darkness for the Northern Lights to be visible. Additionally, the colder temperatures help to reduce cloud cover, increasing the chances of clear skies.
Anchorage Aurora Quest
With the right gear, you’ll be ready to embark on an unforgettable Alaska cruise and witness the awe-inspiring spectacle of the Northern Lights. Consider what interests you most and look for cruises that align with your preferences. If you’re a nature enthusiast, you might enjoy guided hikes or wildlife spotting excursions. If you’re a foodie, culinary workshops or wine tastings might be more appealing.
The northern lights, or aurora borealis, have enchanted humanity for millennia. Their ethereal dance across the night sky tells a tale as old as time, combining science, legends, and raw natural beauty. Alaska cruises from Princess can transport you to enchanting and intimate ports of call that boast culinary and cultural experiences for all. Whether or not you’re lucky enough to witness the aurora borealis, your adventure to the Great Land will be just as enlightening and colorful as Alaska’s iconic skies.
“While we can see the aurora, being a rainforest we tend to have a lot of cloud coverage preventing us from seeing much of anything at night,” says Kara Tetley, a spokesperson for Travel Juneau. But there’s still a chance of spotting those dancing lights if you’re visiting Alaska’s capital for glacier touring or whale-watching in late summer and early fall. The best time to see the northern lights in Alaska is from late August to mid-April, when the nights are long and dark. (You won’t see them during the summer months because of Alaska’s midnight sun.) Plan to look for the spectacular, multi-colored lights from 11 p.m. To 2 a.m., when the sky is at its darkest and the auroras are the most active. While this spectacle can be seen from various ports of call, Princess offers the Aurora Borealis Viewing experience in Fairbanks for an unparalleled experience.
Additional Alaskan Experiences to Consider
Smaller ships often have the advantage of being able to navigate closer to the coastline, providing better views of the lights from the ship’s deck. Additionally, smaller ships tend to have fewer passengers, creating a more intimate and immersive experience. On the other hand, larger ships may offer a wider range of amenities and facilities, providing a luxurious and comfortable journey.
The Noordam is a full-fledged luxury liner measuring over 900 feet in length with accommodations for nearly 2,000 passengers. For those staying up until the wee hours of the morning taking in the spectacle of the northern lights, there are onboard amenities galore to gather ones senses and recuperate for the next nights hunt for the aurora borealis. Of all the cruises operating in Arctic waters, Lindblads Iceland and Greenland voyage may be more aptly referred to as an expedition, and its passengers as true adventurers. Of this cruises 13 days, no less than 8 represent great opportunities to view the northern lights whether from Icelands western side, Greenlands eastern coastline, or the Denmark Strait that separates them. Northern lights dance across the sky all year round, but we are able to see it only on a dark and clear night.
The best time to cruise Alaska - The Points Guy
The best time to cruise Alaska.
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Hiland Road climbs from the Eagle River Valley into an alpine zone shared by a residential neighborhood and several access points into Chugach State Park. A good place to park for Northern Lights viewing would be at the South Fork trailhead, at about 2,000 feet in elevation, with a view of the northern sky above slopes that gleam pale when shrouded in snow. The glow from streetlights and human infrastructure can rub the edge off an aurora display, transforming something dazzling and detailed into a vague milky shimmer. As a rule of thumb, you want a spot where the stars appear bright against the black dome of the sky.
Testing the Waters with Dori: Late Season Alaska Cruising - Travel Market Report
Testing the Waters with Dori: Late Season Alaska Cruising.
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The combination of Alaska’s proximity to the Earth’s magnetic pole, low light pollution, and vast open spaces make it an ideal destination for Northern Lights enthusiasts. The northern lights, also called the aurora borealis, is the result of electrons colliding with the Earths atmosphere. The electrons transfer their energy to the molecules in the atmosphere, which eventually release the energy in the form of colorful light. It is at 2,200 feet in elevation and is arguably the best location to see the northern lights in Anchorage. Visitors are high enough up that Anchorage is a distant urban glow and there are unobstructed views of the northern sky.
Booking an Alaska cruise is the perfect way to experience this natural phenomenon in all its glory. In this section, we will guide you through the process of finding the right cruise line, exploring different booking options and packages, and considering important factors such as travel insurance. One of the recommended spots in Anchorage for Northern Lights viewing is Earthquake Park. This park, located on the western edge of the city, provides an open space with an unobstructed view of the northern horizon. It’s a popular spot for locals and visitors alike, offering a chance to witness the Aurora without venturing too far from city comforts. For a more adventurous experience, venture deeper into Denali National Park to Polychrome Pass.
If time and budget allows, add a Far North tour before continuing on to Juneau to experience everything from the Arctic to the Alaskan rainforest. This region is home to Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city and an excellent base for travelers hoping to see the Northern Lights. “It’s best to move away from streetlights and bright signs, but it’s possible to see the Northern Lights right here in town,” says Kathy Dunn, a spokesperson at Visit Anchorage. Guests can also take advantage of the resort's newly opened Nordic Spa, which offers indoor and outdoor hydrotherapy pools, saunas, and exfoliation with Alaskan sea salt. Out of all the North American hotspots for watching solar activity, perhaps the finest for the Northern Lights is Alaska.
Some venture to the Svalbard Archipelago, where the Gulf Stream flows prevent the seas from freezing in winter. Onshore activities for cruisers might range from museum and science center visits to dogsledding with huskies, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, ice-fishing, and scenic helicopter rides. Some cruises offer guests opportunities to spend a night in a snow-ice hotel and visit wildlife sanctuaries where wolves, wolverines, musk oxen, elk, reindeer, and other Arctic mammals might be spotted.
Add to that a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the awe-inspiring Northern Lights in their full glory, and the adventure possibilities are as varied as Alaska’s magnificent landscapes. Alaska also boasts a stunning variety of wildlife—think seals, sea otters, eagles, mink, porpoises, and mountain goats, to name a few. Search for brown bears in Red Bluff Bay against a backdrop of towering red mountains and waterfalls or along the shores of Chichagof Island. Observe a sea lion haulout (when they gather on the banks to rest) and puffin rookery in the Marble Islands, or go whale watching in Fredericks Sound, Stephens Passage, or Chatham. No matter your itinerary, UnCruise helps guests witness incredible creatures in their natural habitats, creating memories that will last a lifetime.
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