Fred. Olsen is offering three In Search of the Northern Lights cruises sailing from the Port of Tyne in February and March 2027, with ocean view cabins available from £1,819 per person. The 10-night holidays will journey into the Arctic Circle along Norway's coastline, coinciding with the period when aurora displays are typically most frequent.
Solar Maximum and Aurora Activity
The recent abundance of Northern Lights events is attributed to the sun undergoing a period of increased activity known as Solar Maximum. This is thought to have peaked in 2024, and experts suggest it causes elevated aurora activity for one to three years afterwards, meaning 2027 could be the last time for several years that Northern Lights chasers are most likely to see a show.
First Departure and Arctic Adventures
The first cruise, also Fred. Olsen's first departure from the Port of Tyne in 2027, sets sail on February 22. Ocean view cabins are available to book online from £2,449 per person. Guests aboard the Bolette ship can cosy up on deck with a blanket and hot chocolate as it crosses the Arctic Circle, where they will be "perfectly placed" to see any aurora that light up the dark skies above.
Five ports of call across Norway offer passengers the chance to immerse themselves in an Arctic adventure, from husky sled rides through the snow to seeing reindeer roaming the wintry wilderness. Panoramic views of snow-speckled islands and fjords can be seen at the top of Mount Aksla in Alesund, while in Tromso - the only one of the three cruises to visit the city - cable car rides offer more opportunity to witness the scenery.
Overnight Stay and Spring Equinox Sailing
The next cruise sailing on March 4 has Ocean View rooms available from £1,819 per person, with four stops on its itinerary rather than five. Stopping off in Alesund, Sortland and Molde, this 10-night cruise also includes an overnight stay in Harstad, offering holidaymakers the chance to find more adventures ashore from snowshoe hiking by day to Northern Lights seeking by night.
The final cruise sails on March 14, with passengers aboard during the spring equinox on March 20. The Northern Lights are typically at their most active during the spring and autumn equinoxes, as the tilt of the Earth on its axis during these periods opens up 'cracks' in the magnetic field, allowing solar winds to enter the atmosphere more than at other times of the year. With remaining cabins starting from £1,849 per person for ocean view rooms, this trip crosses the Arctic Circle following its first stop in Alesund, journeying on to Harstad, Sortland, Narvik and Molde.
Alternative Northern Lights Destinations from Newcastle
For those hoping to see the Northern Lights without a cruise, there are destinations available from Newcastle Airport. According to Nordic Visitor, the best places to see the aurora are the Nordic countries of Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland, which lie within or near the Arctic Circle. Flights run from Newcastle to Reykjavik on Wednesdays and Sundays in October, November, February, March and April via Jet2, priced from £44 per person.
Holidaymakers can also travel from Newcastle to Stavanger and Bergen in Norway directly with Loganair, although from there they may have to travel further north for the best chance of seeing the Northern Lights. There are multiple departures to Lapland in Finland during November and December with TUI, easyJet, Transun, Santa's Lapland, and Canterbury Travel, as well as in January and March.
It is worth bearing in mind that the Northern Lights are notoriously difficult to predict in advance due to the number of conditions that must align. An aurora display can only be forecast a couple of days at most before it hits, and even then the forecast can change multiple times per day. Clear skies are required, as the aurora cannot be seen through clouds, and times when the moon is not full are best, as its brightness can impact visibility. It must also be dark, making the long nights of winter the perfect opportunity, but a show is never guaranteed.
