The sensational Aurora Borealis is one of Mother Nature’s most awe-inspiring phenomena. Created by solar wind interacting with the Earth’s magnetic field, this magical, multi-coloured light show is an unforgettable, must-see spectacle — and the sort of memory that lasts forever.
With Fred. Olsen, you can go in search of the Aurora on a selection of specially timed Northern Lights cruises, sailing from both southern and northern UK ports at the times of year that offer the best chances of seeing dancing ribbons of green, blue and pink above Arctic Norway’s wonderland of remote islands, towering mountains and stunning glaciers.
Why go by ship?
Two reasons, and they’re both practical.
The first is darkness. A ship at sea, well away from any town, has no light pollution at all. Step onto an open deck in the Arctic in November and the sky above you is as dark as it gets — which is exactly the condition the Aurora needs to show properly.
The second is movement. The single biggest enemy of an Aurora hunt is cloud. Book a week in one hotel and you’re stuck with whatever weather that one spot gives you. A ship keeps moving north along the coast night after night, which gives you several rolls of the dice instead of one.
There’s a third reason that isn’t about the sky at all: you sail from the UK. No flights, no airport, no luggage limits, and you unpack once.
Sailing from the UK
Fred. Olsen’s In Search of the Northern Lights itineraries depart from several UK ports, so most people can reach one without an internal flight:
| Departure port | Handy for |
|---|---|
| Southampton | The south and south west |
| Portsmouth | The south coast and London |
| Newcastle | The north east, Yorkshire and Scotland — and the shortest crossing to Norway |
| Liverpool | The north west, the Midlands and North Wales |
If you’re in the north, Newcastle is worth looking at first — it’s the closest UK port to Norway, so you spend proportionally more of the holiday in Arctic waters and less of it crossing the North Sea.
The ships
Fred. Olsen run a small fleet, which is rather the point — these are ships that can get into narrower fjords and smaller ports than the floating cities can.
| Ship | Guests | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bolette | 1,338 | The largest of the three |
| Borealis | 1,353 | Adults only |
| Balmoral | 1,250 | The smallest |
Where you’ll go
These sailings cross the Arctic Circle, which is the whole idea. Ports and highlights on the various itineraries include Tromsø and Alta, both well inside the Aurora zone, plus Hammerfest, Sortland in the Vesterålen islands, the Seven Sisters mountain range, and on some sailings Longyearbyen on Svalbard — about as far north as a passenger ship goes.
What you can do ashore
Experience the flawless Arctic wilderness on an exhilarating snowmobile or husky dog sled adventure, immerse yourself in authentic Sami culture, visit an Ice Hotel, and a good deal more besides. These are the excursions that book out first, so it’s worth choosing them as soon as your booking allows rather than waiting until you’re aboard.
When to go, and what it costs
The season runs roughly October to March, when the Arctic nights are long enough to give you real hours of darkness. Fred. Olsen’s autumn/winter 2027 programme has 20 sailings departing between October and December 2027.
As a guide to price, an 11-night In Search of the Northern Lights round trip from Southampton in November 2027 starts from around £1,199 per person. That was the lead-in fare at the time of writing in August 2026 — check the live price for the sailing you want.
Being honest about it
Nobody can guarantee you the Northern Lights. It’s a natural phenomenon that depends on solar activity and clear skies, and anyone who promises you a sighting is selling something. What a cruise buys you is the best set of odds going: proper darkness, several nights at Arctic latitudes, and a route that keeps moving.
And if the sky refuses to perform, you’ve still spent a week in the Arctic in winter, which is not a bad consolation.
Northern Lights cruise holidays always sell out quickly, so book early and secure your chance to witness the Aurora Borealis with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.
Click here to browse Fred. Olsen Northern Lights cruises
Itineraries, ships, departure ports and prices change between seasons — check the current details before booking. This page was written in August 2026.
Disclosure: the Fred. Olsen links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them I may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It doesn’t change the price you pay.
