nil6000 Posted May 23, 2018 #1 Share Posted May 23, 2018 We are planning a cruise for September next year and were wondering if anyone has seen the northern lights from a ship. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashland Posted May 23, 2018 #2 Share Posted May 23, 2018 Yes, we have during our early September RCI Radiance (last of the season) cruise. Well after midnight..thanks to the Captain sounding the horn and our adult kids calling our cabin phone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herfnerd Posted May 23, 2018 #3 Share Posted May 23, 2018 We didn't see it on our mid-September cruise on the Eurodam last year. However we were asleep fairly early. Would have loved to have been able to see it from our verandah but no one else had mentioned seeing it, either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsldonk Posted May 23, 2018 #4 Share Posted May 23, 2018 There's not a good way to predict it and we are (probably) entering the solar minimum, so this summer, you probably won't see a lot of activity, no matter how far north you are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nil6000 Posted May 23, 2018 Author #5 Share Posted May 23, 2018 There's not a good way to predict it and we are (probably) entering the solar minimum, so this summer, you probably won't see a lot of activity, no matter how far north you are. We are going in 2019. Crossing fingers! Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eaglecw Posted May 23, 2018 #6 Share Posted May 23, 2018 In all of our 13 cruises to Alaska we've only seen the Northern lights once and that was about 2010. You have to be out on deck about 3am if they are going be visible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nil6000 Posted May 23, 2018 Author #7 Share Posted May 23, 2018 In all of our 13 cruises to Alaska we've only seen the Northern lights once and that was about 2010. You have to be out on deck about 3am if they are going be visible. My husband is a night owl. If anyone will see it he will. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donaldsc Posted May 24, 2018 #8 Share Posted May 24, 2018 Not likely and if they are out, they will be very dim. Since the ship's lights will be on, it will be even harder to see them. Also, is the moon out at the time of the cruise? The one time that I did see aurora in September, there was no moon and we were on a small 50 passenger ship so they woke all of us up and they turned off all the lights on the ship except for the navigation lights. If you really want to see aurora, go to Fairbanks in February or March when there is no moon out. I went there for a full week a few years ago and then stayed in a place north of town where there were no artificial lights to interfere. DON Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twjcruiser Posted May 24, 2018 #9 Share Posted May 24, 2018 I have been on 4 Alaskan cruises and never saw Northern lights. However on my next Alaskan cruise this coming June, I downloaded a free app called My Aurora Forecast to my Iphone. You can probably download it to your IPAD. It will supposedly be able to tell you if you have a chance of seeing based on your present location. Chances are slim in June with nearly 19 hours of sunlight. Should be better in Sept. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helpmesailaway Posted May 24, 2018 #10 Share Posted May 24, 2018 We saw the Northern Lights on a cruise in Iceland last September. I was beyond thrilled even though the colors were muted. The changing shapes and color changes were magical. Given the opportunity, I would love to see them again with with more color. However - my memories of that one time will last me forever.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newbegin Posted May 26, 2018 #11 Share Posted May 26, 2018 We did not see them from the shop, but in Sept 2011 they were visible @ 1:30 am from the McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge (Talkeetna) on our cruise tour & they will call you if they appear. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budget Queen Posted May 27, 2018 #12 Share Posted May 27, 2018 Ii have only seen aurora twice from a cruise ship, with having taken over 60 Alaska cruises. I have seen them several time mainland, Denali area and north, including several "winter" (March) trips- with at least 2 weeks invested. :) I do- -daily_ check prediction stats when I'm there in Sept/winter etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budget Queen Posted May 27, 2018 #13 Share Posted May 27, 2018 I have been on 4 Alaskan cruises and never saw Northern lights. However on my next Alaskan cruise this coming June, I downloaded a free app called My Aurora Forecast to my Iphone. You can probably download it to your IPAD. It will supposedly be able to tell you if you have a chance of seeing based on your present location. Chances are slim in June with nearly 19 hours of sunlight. Should be better in Sept. In June "slim" is actually pretty close to zero. Having an active prediction of aurora, has no correlation to viewing. Essential- clear darkness, meaning no clouds and the ability to see stars. Even a full moon can greatly impact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nil6000 Posted May 27, 2018 Author #14 Share Posted May 27, 2018 Thank you for the info. We have decided on sept 2019 I have booked the week with the least amount of moon light. If it happens awesome if not they I'm still in Alaska! Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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