The Northern Lights: Best Cruises to Book Now for 2026 & 2027

The Best Northern Lights Cruises 2026 & 2027

1. Ponant's Lofoten Northern Lights Cruises

Ponant's sleek and stylish explorer yachts blend luxury and intimacy with a discreet elegance and tasteful décor and will visit northern Norway from Northern Lights capital Tromso in March, October and November 2026 for an early-spring or autumn exploration of the beautiful Lofoten Islands.

Or, there's the chance to see the Northern Lights during autumn with Ponant cruise on the pioneering icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot in September 2026, sailing from Longyearbyen to Reykjavik that even calls in to the geographic North Pole.

2. Autumn Auroras in Greenland on Silversea

Silversea have long been front runners when it comes to pairing luxury with expedition, and Silversea offer a few choice sailings that combine the best standards of food, service and comfort with the chance to see the Northern Lights on exciting shore excursions.

While not stricly a Northern Lights-focussed cruise, you've got a good chance of seeing them on the Iqaluit to Boston, Massachusetts sailing in September 2026 on the stunning expedition ship Silver Wind. Visit Arctic Canada and the Northwest Passage shrouded in autumn colours before deep winter sets in, with September often regarded as one of the most favourable months for aurora viewing, thanks to a balance of ample darkness, milder temperatures compared to winter, and a natural peak in solar activity near the autumnal equinox.

3. AE Expeditions' Northern Lights Explorer

More focussed on adventure and experience than luxury - but still offering a supremely comfortable experience - AE Expeditions' (previously Aurora Expeditions) voyages are tailor-made for adventurous travellers, with experienced and enthusiastic onboard expedition teams including naturalists, historians and geologists.

AE Expeditions will chase the lights on 130-guest Sylvia Earle, which has a revolutionary X-BOW design, on 18 August 2026 or 2 September 2026 on their Northern Lights Explorer itinerary. These spectacular 17-night voyages include Bear Island and its huge bird colonies nesting on the cliffs and Norway's beautiful Lofoten Islands respectively, and both visit Jan Mayen - home to the northernmost active volcanic in the world - and Iceland's remote fjords. Many experts swear that this is the best time to view the aurora, with autumn bringing fewer obscuring snow clouds overhead in the night sky than winter and the autumn equinox bringing greater solar activity. Expect everything from bird watching and whale watching to Zodiac cruises, stepping out each evening to view - with luck - the dazzling aurora.

4. Under the Northern Lights with Quark Expeditions

Specialising in polar expedition travel, Quark Expeditions' 'Under the Northern Lights' itineraries on the Ultramarine departs in September 2026 and offers the chance to immerse yourself in Greenland - including exploring via helicopter rides (extra supplement applies) - in the remote Northeast Greenland National Park.

The world's largest national park, it covers 375,000 square miles of uninhabited Arctic wilderness and is home to wildlife including polar bears, Arctic hares and musk oxen, and walrus, beluga whale and narwhal around the coast. Most of Greenland lies within the Arctic Circle, making it a prime location for watching the aurora borealis as you step out on deck.

5. HX Expeditions' Tromso Northern Lights Voyages

HX Expeditions have exciting new Northern Lights cruise itineraries, offering all-inclusive Tromso round-trips between January and April 2026 on board 335-guest MS Spitsbergen. Included excursions on the cruise include the likes of a Norwegian bonfire, Nordic sauna sessions, the polar plunge and dinner at a museum, alongside visiting destinations such as the Lofoten Islands, Senja and the Lyngen Alps.

There's also the option to include a four-day pre-programme (at additional cost) where guests will enjoy classic Norwegian activities such as Sami storytelling, reindeer feeding, dog sledding and snowshoeing under the Northern Lights, and HX's Northern Lights promise means you'll receive a credit towards another cruise if the lights do not appear during your voyage. On board you can expect expert lecturers, naturalist guides and Zodiacs to facilitate trips ashore, along with comfortable cabins, a fresh Nordic style and a relaxed ambience.

What can you do on a Northern Lights cruise?

You can combine a Northern Lights cruise with a range of exciting activities and excursions, such as visiting a snow hotel, husky sledding or even snowmobiling through the frozen landscape. Make sure you read Sharon's review of her trip with Hurtigruten for an idea of what a Northern Lights cruise involves.