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See the Northern Lights with Fred. Olsen Cruises and Go Stargazing

See the Northern Lights with Fred. Olsen Cruises and Go Stargazing

Saturday 7th December 2024 to Saturday 21st December 2024

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Departing from Portsmouth International Port
Wharf Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO2 8RU

Embark on an unforgettable two-week odyssey to the enchanting landscapes of Northern Norway, where every moment is an opportunity for discovery. This cruise is a symphony of experiences, designed to immerse you in the wonders of the Arctic realm.

This cruise is more than a journey; it’s an exploration of the Arctic’s heart and soul. Join us as we navigate these storied waters, where the Northern Lights grace the sky and the Arctic’s beauty unfolds before you. Let this voyage be a chapter in your own Arctic tale, a tapestry of memories that will forever warm your heart.

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.

Stargazing highlights for this cruise
  • 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!
  • 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 the skies darken until it sets in the West around midnight. Binoculars may allow viewing some of the planet’s Moons and famous ring system.
  • Jupiter will shine bright and can be observed as soon as darkness falls. See the Moons of Jupiter using binoculars and watch how they change position in relation to the giant planet during the cruise.
  • Mars will be visible towards the East from mid-evening, its bright colour making it unmistakable. The planet’s proximity to the Beehive open star cluster should look resplendent in binoculars.
  • There are lots to see in the winter 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, its famous nebulae being easily visible to the naked eye and even better through binoculars.
  • 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 and show your friends!
  • Shooting stars or meteors are always a possibility if the sky is clear! The Geminids meteor shower, arguably the best of the year, peaks on the night of 13th December, although views may be spoiled a little by a bright, full Moon.
Sail away from light pollution

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.

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Cruise darkness

The Moon has a big impact on the visibility of celestial bodies in the night sky. Try to plan your stargazing when there is no bright Moon at night as this is when the skies will be at their darkest.

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.

Sat 7th Dec

First Quarter
32 % illuminated
Dark from 22:39 to 06:32
Dark for 7h 53m

Sun 8th Dec

First Quarter
43 % illuminated
Dark from 00:03 to 06:33
Dark for 6h 30m

Mon 9th Dec

First Quarter
54 % illuminated
Dark from 01:27 to 06:34
Dark for 5h 7m

Tue 10th Dec

First Quarter
65 % illuminated
Dark from 02:52 to 06:35
Dark for 3h 43m

Wed 11th Dec

Waxing Gibbous
76 % illuminated
Dark from 04:21 to 06:36
Dark for 2h 15m

Thu 12th Dec

Waxing Gibbous
85 % illuminated
Dark from 05:52 to 06:37
Dark for 0h 45m

Fri 13th Dec

Waxing Gibbous
92 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS

Sat 14th Dec

Full Moon
97 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS

Sun 15th Dec

Full Moon
100 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS

Mon 16th Dec

Full Moon
99 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS

Tue 17th Dec

Full Moon
97 % illuminated
Dark from 17:21 to 17:56
Dark for 0h 34m

Wed 18th Dec

Waning Gibbous
92 % illuminated
Dark from 17:21 to 19:17
Dark for 1h 55m

Thu 19th Dec

Waning Gibbous
85 % illuminated
Dark from 17:21 to 20:35
Dark for 3h 13m

Fri 20th Dec

Waning Gibbous
77 % illuminated
Dark from 17:22 to 21:51
Dark for 4h 28m

Sat 21st Dec

Third Quarter
68 % illuminated
Dark from 17:22 to 23:02
Dark for 5h 39m