From Reykjavik: Northern Lights Sightseeing Cruise

The real appeal here is simple: you hunt for the Northern Lights from the sea, with Reykjavik fading behind you and the mountains framing the dark sky. The boat gives you room to move between indoor seating and open decks, so you can wait in comfort and rush outside when a green glow appears.

I like the quiet rhythm of the cruise and the freedom to look in every direction. I also like the guides, who point out faint aurora activity and help with camera settings. The drawback is just as clear: the lights are never guaranteed, and the open deck can be brutally cold.

Key points to know before sailing

• Two observation decks: Move between covered seating and open-air viewing areas as the weather changes.
• A useful two-hour hunt: The cruise is long enough to reach darker water without taking up an entire evening.
• Helpful English-speaking guides: Guides including Steingreimur, Hólmar, and Christina have helped guests find faint lights and improve photos.
• Warm refuge on board: Indoor seating, blankets, lamps, cushions, and a bar make a missed aurora less disappointing.
• Free rebooking may soften the risk: If the lights do not appear, the operator may allow you to reschedule, subject to availability and its terms.
• Bring serious winter clothing: The boat may be warm inside, but aurora viewing usually means time outdoors in wind and cold.

Leaving Reykjavik for the darker water

Check in 30 minutes before departure at the Old Harbour House on Aegisgardur 2. You scan the bar code or QR code on your ticket at the self-service kiosk, then make your way to the boat. Hotel pickup is also available in the Reykjavik area if you choose that option.

The port is an easy starting point for an evening activity. You do not need to spend half the night getting out of town by coach, and the cruise keeps the whole outing to about two hours. That makes it a good fit for an arrival night, a final evening, or a schedule already filled with day trips.

Once aboard, you can settle into a seat, find the bar, or head outside. The vessel has a double observation deck, giving you more than one place to scan the sky. On some departures, the lower areas have felt warm and comfortable, while the upper deck offers the clearest view when the sky begins to brighten.

The first part of the trip is not a dramatic sightseeing tour with a string of formal stops. It is a gradual departure from the city. Reykjavik’s lights begin to fall behind, the water grows darker, and the mountains become quiet shapes in the distance.

That change matters. You are not going to a perfectly dark rural site, but you do gain distance from the strongest city glow. The sea also gives you a wide horizon, with fewer buildings and trees blocking your view.

What the two-hour route feels like

The cruise heads out from the coastline toward quieter water, where the crew can look for clearer patches of sky and lower light pollution. You are not guaranteed a particular route or viewing point, since the crew has to work with cloud cover, aurora activity, and sea conditions.

That uncertainty is part of the experience. You might spend much of the trip watching a dark sky that stays dark. Or the lights can show up soon after leaving, as happened on some departures, and turn the wait into an hour of repeated trips between the deck and the warm interior.

The boat’s motion is usually part of the setting rather than the main event. You hear the ocean, watch the city shrink, and wait with other people for a change in the sky. The mood is calmer than a fast-paced attraction, but you should know that much of the value depends on your patience.

Guides keep watch and direct you toward faint activity. This is especially useful because early aurora can look like a pale smear or gray-green patch rather than a bright curtain. Several people have noticed the lights more clearly in photographs than with the naked eye, particularly when the display is weak.

If activity develops, the guide may walk around the deck and help you face the right direction. Some guides also explain why the lights appear and how to photograph them. On a strong night, you may see the aurora spread across the sky, ripple between the stars, and reflect in the water.

The return trip is not always a quick turn for port. On one well-praised outing, the crew paused on the way back to point out stronger lights that had appeared late. That is the kind of small decision that can make a short cruise feel worthwhile, especially if the sky improves near the end.

Warm cabins, cold decks, and where to watch

The boat is one of the strongest parts of this outing. You have indoor seating, a bar where drinks can be bought, and covered areas that let you warm up without ending your night. Blankets are provided, and past departures have also had comfortable seating with lamps and cushions.

Do not confuse warm indoor seating with warm aurora viewing. The best photos and clearest views usually call for time outside, where cold air and wind can cut through light clothing. One practical approach is to start indoors, check the sky often, then go up as soon as the guide spots activity.

Wear warm layers, sturdy comfortable shoes, gloves, and a hat. The supplied blanket helps, but it is not a replacement for proper winter clothing. You may also want to keep your phone in an inside pocket so its battery does not lose power as quickly in the cold.

The open deck has a major advantage over a packed coach. You can move around and look in different directions instead of viewing the sky through one side of a window. That freedom is particularly useful when the aurora is faint or shifts position.

There is a tradeoff. Indoor seating is limited on some departures, and people may stand while waiting. When the lights appear, many people head outside anyway, so the boat can feel busy around the best viewing spots.

The bar gives you another way to pass the time, but drinks are not included in the ticket price. If you are counting every expense, bring that into your budget. The main ticket covers the cruise, guide, observation decks, and Wi-Fi, not refreshments.

How good are the Northern Lights chances?

No Northern Lights cruise can promise a display. You need darkness, enough aurora activity, and a break in the clouds at the same time. A strong forecast can fail, while a poor prediction can still produce a memorable show.

That is why I suggest booking this kind of cruise early in your Reykjavik stay when possible. If the first attempt is canceled or the lights do not appear, you have a better chance of using a second opportunity before you leave.

The operator may allow a free return or rescheduling when the lights are not visible. The stated policy says you may be able to reschedule, but availability and the length of your stay matter. A free second attempt is useful only if you still have another evening in Iceland, so do not treat it as a guaranteed solution.

Weather cancellations are a separate issue. If conditions make sailing unsuitable, the operator can cancel and offer a new booking. That protects you from setting out in poor conditions, but it can also disrupt a tightly planned itinerary.

A short visit creates a real risk. If you have only one night in Reykjavik, a missed display may remain a missed display. If you have several nights, the flexible rebooking option adds meaningful value.

Seeing the aurora with your eyes and your camera

Set your expectations before you sail. The Northern Lights may look bright green and active, but they can also appear as a dim haze. Cameras often show more color and detail than your eyes, especially during a weak display.

That does not make a faint sighting a failure. A guide can help you understand what you are seeing and where to look. On one departure, the guide even helped people adjust their phone settings so they could capture the activity more clearly.

For phone photography, keep your device steady and use a night or pro setting if your phone has one. A review of the tour specifically suggested an Android Pro setting with a one-second exposure. That is a useful starting point, but your phone model and the brightness of the aurora will determine what works.

Do not spend the whole cruise staring at a screen. Take a few pictures, then look up. The most memorable part is often the change from a barely visible patch to a moving band across the sky, not the perfect image in your camera roll.

A full moon can add another element to the trip. It lights the water and mountains, though it may also make faint aurora harder to see. The balance depends on the strength of the display and the cloud cover that night.

The guides make the waiting easier

A good guide matters on a Northern Lights outing because you may not know where to look or how much activity to expect. Guides on this cruise speak English and provide updates without turning the evening into a constant lecture.

Steingreimur and Hólmar have been singled out for their friendly, well-informed approach, while Christina has been praised for mixing facts, humor, and practical help. The important point for you is not the name on the roster, since guides can change, but the role they play: they watch the sky, explain the conditions, and help you make sense of weak activity.

The best guiding style here seems to be light but present. You get direction when something appears, then space to enjoy the view. That suits the experience. A long speech would be a poor match for a quiet night at sea.

Guides may also help you use your camera and check that people on different parts of the deck have had a chance to see the lights. If the display starts late, their patience can make a difference. A few minutes of extra waiting may be all you need.

Is $88 a fair price?

At $88 per person, this is not a cheap way to spend two hours. You are paying for the boat, crew, guide, observation decks, and the chance to get away from Reykjavik’s strongest lights without committing to a longer land excursion.

The value depends on what you want. If you dislike sitting in a coach for several hours, the cruise is appealing. You can walk around, use the indoor areas, buy a drink, and look over open water. The two-hour length also leaves most of your evening free.

A land-based bus tour may offer a longer search and could reach darker areas, but it takes more time and may involve more road travel. The cruise does not provide the darkest possible sky, so serious night-sky photographers may prefer a remote countryside outing.

I think the price becomes easier to justify if you value comfort and a compact schedule. It also feels better value when the operator lets you return after a no-show, though you should confirm the exact rebooking terms before relying on that option.

If the lights do not appear, the boat still gives you city and mountain views, open water, and a comfortable place to wait. That is not equal to seeing the aurora, but it does mean the evening is not simply a failed search.

Who should book this cruise?

This outing suits you if you want a Northern Lights attempt without giving up an entire night. It works well for couples, families, and solo visitors who prefer a boat to a crowded coach.

It is also a good choice if cold is a concern. You still need proper clothing outside, but you can retreat indoors, warm up, and return to the deck later. That flexibility is harder to find on some land-based searches.

Photographers will appreciate the open sky and the chance to move around, though the city glow means this is not a specialist dark-sky expedition. First-time aurora watchers may get the most from the guides, especially if they are unsure how faint activity looks to the naked eye.

You may want another option if you need a guaranteed sighting, have only one evening available, or dislike waiting in uncertain weather. Nature decides the result here, and no friendly crew can change that.

Booking details worth knowing

Check in at the Old Harbour House 30 minutes before departure. You can reach the meeting point yourself or choose hotel pickup in the Reykjavik area.

The activity lasts two hours and is guided in English. Wi-Fi is included, while drinks cost extra. Comfortable shoes and warm clothing are specifically recommended.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Iceland plans are still moving around.

Should you book the Reykjavik Northern Lights cruise?

Book it if you want a short, comfortable aurora search with open-air viewing and the option to warm up inside. The two-hour format is easy to fit into a Reykjavik stay, and the guides add real value when the lights are faint or appear late.

I would book it early in the trip and keep at least one spare evening if the aurora is a priority. Go prepared for cold, accept that the sky may stay empty, and see the free rebooking option as helpful insurance rather than a promise. For a compact Northern Lights attempt with city views, mountains, and the sound of the ocean, this is a sensible choice.

FAQ

Where does the Northern Lights cruise depart from?

Check in at the Old Harbour House, Aegisgardur 2, 101 Reykjavik. You should arrive 30 minutes before departure.

How long does the cruise last?

The cruise lasts two hours.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Pickup is available from hotels in the Reykjavik area, or you can make your own way to the Old Harbour House.

Are the Northern Lights guaranteed?

No. Aurora sightings depend on weather, cloud cover, and solar activity, so viewing is not guaranteed.

What happens if the Northern Lights do not appear?

You may be able to reschedule for free with the tour operator. The exact option depends on availability and your remaining time in Iceland.

Is the tour conducted in English?

Yes. The live guide speaks English.

What should I bring?

Bring warm clothing and comfortable shoes. Blankets are provided, but the outside deck can be very cold. Drinks are available to purchase on board but are not included.