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Guide · Northern Lights cruise
Tromsø Cruise: Northern Lights from the Water
A Northern Lights cruise from Tromsø is quieter than the bus hunt, but it is tied to the coast. Here you can see which evening cruise suits you and when the bus is the better choice.
Check availabilityfrom $61 · free cancellation
Editorial tromsonordlichter.deUpdated on October 2, 20267 min read9 sources
In short
- 01Recommended
- The evening cruise lasts 3 to 3.5 hours and is rated 4.37.
- 02From price
- The evening cruise starts from $126.
- 03Boat or bus
- A ship stays along the coast; some bus tours head inland or into Finland when clouds are overhead.1
- 04Multi-day ship voyage
- This is about evening departures from Tromsø; a coastal voyage you book directly with the shipping company.
- 05Alternative
- The northern lights bus safari lasts 6 hours and starts from $61.
What makes a northern lights cruise from Tromsø special
A cruise from Tromsø to see the northern lights offers something a bus cannot: instead of sitting for hours on a seat, you are out on the water with the city lights behind you. Once the ship leaves the harbor, it grows dark all around you, and the sky opens up over the fjord. That moment when the city shrinks behind you and all that remains is water and mountains is the real appeal of being on the water.
The conditions are favorable: Tromsø sits directly under the northern lights oval, the ring of aurora activity over the geomagnetic North Pole.2 In the region, the lights can appear from late August to early April, provided the sky is dark and clear enough.3 A ship does not change those conditions. It simply takes you to a place where less city light interferes. Whether you see the lights on the water is still decided by the sky alone.
An honest expectation is important. A cruise is an evening on the water with a chance of seeing the northern lights, not a guarantee. If a dense layer of cloud lies over the coast, a ship cannot escape it, while some bus tours drive inland or even into Finland when clouds are overhead.1 But even on an overcast night you get something: the silhouettes of the mountains, the glitter of the city from the water, and the special stillness of a winter evening in the North.
How it works
Plan your evening on the water
-
A few days before
Reserve
Book now, pay later, free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.
-
In the afternoon
Check the forecast
NOSWE publishes a short-term forecast for Tromsø and predictions for one hour and four hours.4
-
Before departure
Dress warmly
Wool as a base layer, then sweaters and a jacket, plus hat, scarf, and gloves.5
-
On the water
Look up
The lights are often most active between roughly 20:00 and 02:00.6
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Back in the harbor
Warm up
The evening cruise ends after 3 to 3.5 hours.
The evening cruise at a glance
The evening cruise with a chance of northern lights is the trip we recommend for an evening on the water. It lasts 3 to 3.5 hours and has a rating of 4.37 out of 1,611 reviews. It includes a live guide in English. A German-speaking guide is not listed for this cruise, so you should expect explanations in English. Basic English is perfectly fine, and the most important thing you will see is in the sky anyway.
The listing states that dinner is optional. Exactly what is included and what it costs is shown when you book. The cruise itself starts from $126. You can reserve now and pay later, and free cancellation is possible up to 24 hours before departure. This keeps your evening free without committing early, letting you make a final decision only shortly beforehand.
The listing also mentions a rebooking at a reduced rate. This helps if the forecast for your evening looks poor and you would rather move the cruise to another night. The exact discount is not stated in the listing. So ask about it when booking, do not rely on it, and consider keeping an extra evening free in your travel plan just in case.
Reviews
How guests rate the tours
out of 5
Compare
Northern lights cruises from Tromsø and the bus alternative
| Duration | Duration | Rating | From price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evening cruise | 3 to 3.5 hrs | 4,37 | from $126 | Dinner optional |
| Cruise with a second chance | 2.5 hours | 4,35 | from $115 | Free rescheduling |
| Dinner catamaran | 3 hrs | 4,25 | from $209 | Wheelchair accessible |
| Electric cruise | 3.5 hrs | 4,23 | from $137 | Wheelchair accessible |
| Luxury with hot tub | 4 hrs | 4,78 | from $310 | With dinner |
| Bus safari | 6 hrs | 4,55 | from $61 | Unlimited option |
Details from the respective offers on GetYourGuide; all prices are starting prices.
Selection
Which cruise suits you
Decision helper
Ship or bus?
What matters most to you about your northern lights evening?
Evening cruise
The evening cruise lasts 3 to 3.5 hrs and takes place entirely on the water.
Bus safari
Some bus tours head inland or all the way to Finland when clouds appear.1
Dinner catamaran
The dinner cruise on the hybrid catamaran lasts 3 hrs and is wheelchair accessible.
Second chance
This cruise includes free rescheduling as noted in the offer.
Bus safari
The northern lights safari by bus starts from $61.
Tromsø sits directly under the northern lights oval, a continuous ring of auroras over the Earth geomagnetic North Pole.
Boat or bus: the honest comparison
The most important question before booking is not which ship, but whether a ship is the right choice at all. The northern lights safari on this page is a bus tour, lasts 6 hours, and starts from $61. It is rated 4.55 out of 8,349 reviews. The evening cruise is shorter and costs more, but you spend the evening on the water instead of sitting in the snow.
The bus has a clear advantage when the weather does not cooperate: some bus tours drive inland or even into Finland when clouds are overhead, where the drier continental climate often offers a clearer sky.1 A ship, by contrast, stays along the coast. The safari on this page also offers the Unlimited option: you can join again during your stay until you have seen the lights.
In favor of the ship is the calm. There is no long drive over snowy roads, and the fjord is already an experience before anything appears in the sky. Anyone who dislikes long bus rides will notice this difference clearly. On the other hand, if your main goal is to increase your chances of seeing the northern lights, a bus tour that can head inland when clouds appear gives you more flexibility. Both are a good choice; it just depends on what matters more to you on that particular evening.
Checklist
For the night on the water
01
Clothing
- Wool as the base layer directly on the skin
- Warm, dry sweaters and a jacket
- Hat, scarf, and gloves
- Warm shoes with a firm sole
02
Against the wind while driving
- Windproof outer layer
- Thin gloves under thick mittens
- Camera or smartphone with night mode
03
Booking
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance
- Reserve now, pay later
- Check the forecast in the afternoon
Cost calculator
What will your evening on the water cost?
Choose a trip and the number of participants.
people
Total from$252
from per person $126
Check availabilityfree cancellationDeparture prices according to GetYourGuide, converted at the ECB reference rate. The exact price is shown when you book.
Video
Traveling to Tromsø by ship: a travel vlog in autumn
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More cruises from Tromsø compared
Besides the evening cruise, there are other ships in Tromsø that head out to see the northern lights in the evening. The second-chance cruise lasts 2.5 hours, is guided in Norwegian and English, and is rated 4.35. Free rebooking is noted in the listing. It starts from $115. For a short evening, it is a worthwhile alternative.
If you value dinner on board, the dinner cruise on a hybrid catamaran is a good option. It lasts 3 hours, is wheelchair accessible, and is rated 4.25. It starts from $209. A similar length is the electric northern lights cruise at 3.5 hours, also wheelchair accessible and rated 4.23, starting from $137. Both are worth considering if someone in your group needs wheelchair access.
A special option is the luxury cruise with a hot tub and dinner. It lasts 4 hours and is rated 4.78 out of 137 reviews. It starts from $310. A hot tub may sound like a gimmick, but on a clear winter night, warm water is a pleasant way to wait for the northern lights. If you want to treat yourself to a special evening, you will find a cruise here that stands out from the rest.
Staying warm on the water
The cold feels sharper on the water than the numbers suggest. In winter, the average temperature in Tromsø is around -4 °C.7 Add the wind on the water, and the cold on deck becomes noticeably more intense. Dress as if you were standing outside in the snow for several hours, because that is exactly when you do not want to have to go inside because your hands are cold.
The layering principle works best: wool directly against your skin, then warm, dry sweaters and a jacket on top, plus warm shoes, gloves, scarf, and a hat.5 For being on the water, add a windproof outer layer that blocks the chill from the boat's movement. Thin gloves under thick mittens are practical, so you can operate your phone without exposing your hands to the cold the whole time. A hat that also covers your ears is essential on the water.
Think about your feet, too. They cool down faster than your hands on cold ground, and cold feet end any evening sooner than planned. Thick wool socks and shoes with a sturdy sole matter more here than the latest camera. A small thermos with a warm drink helps if nothing is offered on board. And eat something warm before the cruise, because a full stomach helps you endure the cold significantly longer.
Photographing the northern lights from a ship
Photographing the northern lights from a ship is harder than from land. A tripod helps little if the ground beneath you is moving, and long exposures quickly lead to blurred stars and fuzzy mountain ridges. Still, it is worth bringing your camera, especially when the lights are bright and shorter exposures are enough. Set it up before departure so you do not have to fumble around in the dark.
Visit Tromsø recommends starting with an ISO of 1600 to 3200.8 If the northern lights are especially bright or there is a lot of light from the moon or snow, a lower value is often enough.8 On the water, it is better to start at the higher end to keep the exposure short and compensate for the ship's movement. Take many short shots rather than a few long ones.
With a smartphone, the best results come from pressing it firmly against the railing or another solid hold and using night mode. Do not expect images like those in a coffee table book; the northern lights often look paler to the naked eye than the sensor captures, and conversely, they move more vividly across the sky than any photo can show. The most beautiful memories are often the minutes when you put the camera down and simply look up.
Choosing the right evening
On a boat you cannot avoid the weather, so choosing the right evening matters. The Norwegian Space Weather Center NOSWE publishes a short-term forecast for Tromsø along with predictions for one hour and four hours.4 The Kp index shown in many apps measures geomagnetic activity on a scale from 0 to 9.9 Together, both give you a good feel by the afternoon for what the evening might bring.
Even more important on the water is the cloud cover. Check a cloud map in the afternoon and see whether gaps over the coast are expected. Since the evening cruise can be canceled free of charge up to 24 hours before departure, it is worth booking early and making the final decision only the day before. This way you secure a spot without committing too soon.
If you can, plan more than one evening in Tromsø. The lights are often most active between roughly 20:00 and 02:00,6 and a cruise covers only part of that window. With multiple nights available, you can spend one evening on the water and try another by bus or at a dark spot in the city. That way you spread your luck across several chances and experience the region from more than one perspective.
Book safari
Tonight the sky could turn green.
Reserve now, pay later, and cancel free up to 24 hours before.
You ask,we answer.
How long does a northern lights cruise from Tromsø last?
Depending on the cruise, 2.5 to 4 hours. The evening cruise lasts 3 to 3.5 hours, the second-chance cruise 2.5 hours, and the luxury cruise with hot tub 4 hours.
Am I guaranteed to see the northern lights on the ship?
No. The northern lights are never guaranteed. They can appear in the region from late August to early April, if the sky is dark and clear enough.3
Is a ship better than a bus?
That depends on you. The boat offers a calm evening on the water. Some bus tours may head inland or into Finland when clouds appear.1
Is there a German-speaking guide on board?
Not specified. The evening cruise features a live guide speaking English. The bus safari on this page can be booked with a German-speaking guide.
Can I cancel the cruise for free?
Yes, up to 24 hours in advance. For the evening cruise, you can cancel for free up to 24 hours before departure, and you can book now and pay later.
How cold is it on the water?
Cold, especially on deck. In winter, the average temperature in Tromsø is around -4 °C.7 The wind chill makes it feel even colder, so dress in layers.
Are there wheelchair-accessible cruises?
Yes. The dinner cruise on the hybrid catamaran and the electric northern lights cruise are marked as wheelchair accessible.
Sources
What this guide is based on
- 1Visit TromsøAurora Quest Minibus Adventure - Norway↩
- 2Visit Tromsø Region ASLook out for the Northern Lights!↩
- 3Visit Tromsø Region ASWhen and where to see the northern lights in Tromsø?↩
- 4Norwegian Centre for Space Weather (NOSWE)Northern Lights – Norwegian Centre for Space Weather (NOSWE)↩
- 5Visit Tromsø Region ASHow to dress in the Arctic↩
- 6Visit Tromsø Region ASWhen and where to see the northern lights in Tromsø?↩
- 7Visit Tromsø10 reasons to visit Tromsø in winter↩
- 8Visit Tromsø Region ASHow to photograph northern lights↩
- 9NOAA / NWS Space Weather Prediction CenterTips on Viewing the Aurora↩
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