Northern lights with a wheelchair

[silversurf]

Looking at 2025 and would love to see the Northern Lights. I use a manual wheelchair which my partner pushes. I can imagine it would be really difficult with the snow and ice.

Has anyone done this with a wheelchair and how difficult or easy did you find it?

[twotravellersLondon]

4 hours ago, silversurf said:

Looking at 2025 and would love to see the Northern Lights. I use a manual wheelchair which my partner pushes. I can imagine it would be really difficult with the snow and ice.

Has anyone done this with a wheelchair and how difficult or easy did you find it?

 

There's no reason why you can't see them. We've seen the lights dozens of times over the years and the best sightings have always been at sea from the deck of the ship or from our balcony.

 

The idea that you have to go at vast expense to a dark clear sky away from the ship is really a myth promulgated by companies that do very well out of the "tourist trade." We've seen the lights in Tromso... in Alesund during a blizzard... for five hours off Bodo... all from the deck pf a ship. We were on the Discovery last February and saw the lights on six consecutive nights... all from the ships decks or from our balcony.

 

The main thing is to be patient, go to a darkened place (switch the lights off in the cabin) dress up very warm and wait at least 20-30 mins until the eyes become accustomed. Some people go out in flimsy clothing from the bright lights inside the ship, take one look directly at the lights... can't see them and just go back to the bar!

 

This is some of what we saw just a few months ago... most photos were taken from our balcony on the Spirit of Discovery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We especially liked the curious cat staring down from the heavens!

 

 

Good Luck. 

[silversurf]

We would also like to do some of the shore excursions. Is there anything that would be suitable?

[twotravellersLondon]

22 minutes ago, silversurf said:

We would also like to do some of the shore excursions. Is there anything that would be suitable?

 

The panoramic trips should be fine... even those that stop at places such as the Bryggen as Norway is well advanced on the need for accessibility.

 

One trip that we did last year was to the North Cape. There had been a very heavy fall of snow but by the time that the first coaches arrived the ground had been cleared in front of the visitor centre and so had the main paths. These pics may help you to decide if these are conditions that you would be comfortable with because you know best.

 

 

Busses to the door.

 

 

Entrance cleared

 

 

Main paths clear... good solid snow... should be suitable for a wheelchair.

 

 

 

And fantastic views there and back again.

 

 

 

Hope this helps.

[silversurf]

Thank you. This is very helpful.

may reconsider.

[david05]

Here is a great report of a P&O Northern Lights cruise. No wheelchair but pictures which show what you can see (with a bit of luck as there is no guarantee of the lights) without going further than your balcony. 

 

Edited November 22, 2023 by david05

[pete14]

There are people on our current cruise who have to use a wheelchair and others who rely on other mobility aids. They seem to be coping quite well, even off the ship. The pavements are packed snow but proper walking boots/shoes with decent grip are recommended. However, there are some icy patches, one of which I nearly slipped over on in Tromso.
 

As David points out, if the lights are visible, as they have been for the last 3 nights but probably not tonight now the weather has turned, you should be able to see them from your balcony. If they are predominantly on just one side of the ship, public outside areas on the other side are accessible unless the decks are closed if it is too icy or too windy.