Hurtigruten’s Northern Lights Promise, guaranteeing guests will see the Aurora borealis on Norway voyages, has clocked up 10 years of offering this pioneering initiative just as the 2024-25 solar activity cycle provides the best viewing opportunities in 11 years.
September is the start of the official Aurora borealis season as the Northern Lights is ranked number one on travellers’ bucket lists globally, according to a Skyhook survey.
Hurtigruten pioneered the Northern Lights Promise 10 years ago due to the extremely high visibility rate of the Aurora borealis during its cruises. It has also extended the Northern Lights Promise to now start in mid-September as of this year.
Earlier in 2024, the cruise line introduced the world’s first Chief Aurora Chaser, astronomer Tom Kerss, one of several astronomers partnering with Hurtigruten.
For the upcoming 2024-25 winter season, Hurtigruten will offer nine astronomer-led itineraries, after a strong response to the previous season’s astronomy voyages, in addition to 266 itineraries where cruisers can expect to see the Northern Lights.
Winter 2024-25 = best time to see the Northern Lights
Kerss said now is the perfect time for travellers to plan an aurora-chasing adventure in Arctic Norway.
“Since Hurtigruten launched the Northern Lights Promise a decade ago, nearly a full cycle of solar activity has passed. Now we’re approaching solar maximum again and all signs point to a superb season ahead, exceeding the performance of the last maximum in 2014,” he said.
“With the expertise on board to give you a head’s up, the chances are you won’t just cross the Northern Lights off your bucket list, but also add several unique aurora experiences and cross them all off in a single voyage!
“Now’s your chance to experience the unmatched beauty of the Arctic sky, safe in the knowledge that with the Northern Lights Promise, you really can’t go wrong,” he said.
For more info, visit hurtigruten.com
