Northern Lights Cruise to Norway with Fred. Olsen and Go Stargazing
Wednesday 30th October 2024 to Saturday 9th November 2024
Departing from Newcastle Cruise Terminal
Port of Tyne, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, NE29 6EE
Prepare to embark on an extraordinary adventure meticulously crafted by our expert team, offering you the rare privilege of experiencing the captivating Northern Lights season in the Arctic realm of northern Norway. This journey is an immersion into nature’s most ethereal spectacle, a dance of lights that will etch itself into your memories.
As you set sail on the welcoming decks of Balmoral, you’ll be positioned to witness the magic of the Northern Lights in all their splendor. Moreover, an extended stay in Alta will provide you with an intimate encounter with this natural phenomenon, a moment of awe that transcends words.
In every corner of this journey, you’ll find opportunities to learn, to connect, and to discover. The Arctic’s secrets are unveiled, its landscapes, cultures, and natural wonders creating a symphony of exploration. Join us as we navigate the Northern Lights season, and let this voyage become a chapter in your own Arctic story.
On this Northern Lights Cruise, you’ll be joined by an experienced astronomer from Go Stargazing for guided night sky tours under light pollution-free skies as part of Fred. Olsen’s Sky at Sea signature experience.
- Explore the night skies on deck with an astronomer from Go Stargazing.
- Learn how our ancestors interpreted the sky with a laser-guided tour of the constellations.
- Given the current high activity of the Sun (close to the ‘solar maximum’), it’s the best time to see the Northern Lights for several years. Displays may be intense and bright, especially if the skies are cloud-free!
- As this cruise encompasses a new Moon period, the skies will be at their darkest. It’s the best time for observing stars, the Milky Way, and of course the Aurora. A thin crescent Moon will grace the dusk skies towards the latter stages of the cruise.
- We should notice that the stars in the northern part of the sky get higher up as we cruise north – by observing the famous pole star (which would be directly overhead at the north pole), we can work out our latitude!
- Saturn will be visible as soon as darkness falls and through the night. Binoculars may allow viewing some of the planet’s Moons and famous ring system.
- Mars and Jupiter will shine bright and can be observed rising from the East later in the evening. See the Moons of Jupiter using binoculars and watch how they change position in relation to the giant planet during the cruise.
- There are lots to see in the autumn skies, including the constellations of Cygnus, Pegasus, Cassiopeia, Perseus and Taurus, all well placed.
- Later in the night, the recognisable constellation of Orion will rise from the East, with Mars well placed near the twin stars of Gemini.
- View the most distant object that can be seen with just your eyes — the Andromeda Galaxy. Our astronomer will show you how to find it using binoculars, a trick you can take home!
- Shooting stars or meteors are always a possibility if the sky is clear! You may even glimpse some Taurids meteors as the shower peaks on the 4th of November.
The map plots the course of this cruise. As you travel away from light pollution, a breathtaking canvas of stars unfolds above. The sky becomes a sanctuary of twinkling constellations, captivating stargazers with its celestial wonders. Guided by a Go Stargazing astronomer, you'll learn to navigate the skies and immerse yourself in their beauty.
Cruise organiser
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is organising this cruise
Please contact Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines directly for more details regarding this cruise.
Email: [email protected]
Website: Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Twitter: @FredOlsenCruise
Facebook: Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Cruise booking
For full details on how to attend this cruise, including how to book, please see the cruise's official website.
Visit cruise websiteCruise darkness
The below chart shows if and when the skies will be at their darkest during this cruise. Moonlight is shown in light yellow and the Sun's twilight in light blue. Midnight on the date shown is shown as a white line with sunset to the left and sunrise the next morning to the right. A black background with stars shows the best times for stargazing.
Wed 30th Oct
Thu 31st Oct
Fri 1st Nov
Sat 2nd Nov
Sun 3rd Nov
Mon 4th Nov
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