How Holland America Arctic Voyages Track the Northern Lights

Travelers hoping to cross the Northern Lights off their bucket list may not have a better opportunity for years. Scientists say the Earth is currently experiencing heightened solar activity, creating some of the strongest aurora displays seen in more than a decade, and because the next peak in the sun’s activity cycle is not expected until the mid-2030s.

Experts say the coming fall and winter seasons are among the best times to witness the phenomenon. Above the Arctic Circle, long nights, dark skies and minimal light pollution create ideal viewing conditions, while a cruise offers a unique perspective with access to remote Arctic destinations and wide-open views of the night sky.

“We’re currently in a period of heightened solar activity, making this one of the best times in years to see the northern lights,” said Adam Burgasser, professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the University of California San Diego. “The coming fall and winter seasons offer some of the best viewing opportunities in the Northern Hemisphere. A cruise is an especially rewarding way to experience the phenomenon, with wide-open views of the dark night sky and little interference from city lights. If seeing the northern lights is on your bucket list, now is the time. The next peak in solar activity won’t happen again until the mid-2030s.”

To help guests maximize their chances of witnessing the aurora, Holland America is sailing a series of Arctic Journey & Northern Lights voyages aboard Rotterdam and Nieuw Statendam in October and November 2026. Guests can experience more than 30 hours of darkness while docked in Arctic Norway on October departures and nearly 60 hours on November sailings. When combined with time at sea, that grows to approximately 65 to 80 hours of darkness over a four-day period, creating exceptional opportunities to view the northern lights.

Among the highlights are extended calls and overnight stays in Tromsø and Alta, two of Norway’s premier northern lights destinations. Depending on the itinerary, guests can spend up to 36 hours in Tromsø and 30 hours in Alta, creating exceptional opportunities to experience the aurora ashore through a variety of activities and excursions. Guests can immerse themselves in Sámi culture, enjoy reindeer experiences and join guided northern lights adventures designed to maximize viewing opportunities, including:

In Alta, a search for the Northern Lights at Pæskatun takes guests to a mountaintop aurora camp for northern lights viewing, local storytelling and photography tips while enjoying coffee and cake. In Tromsø, the Northern Lights can be seen beyond the city lights into surrounding fjords aboard a comfortable boat, offering the opportunity to search for the aurora from the water while enjoying Arctic scenery and hot coffee or tea. With the flexibility to explore during the day and search for auroras after dark, the extended stays give guests multiple opportunities to experience one of nature’s most spectacular displays.

The experience doesn’t end when the ship leaves port. With long stretches of darkness at sea and minimal light pollution, guests can continue searching for the northern lights from the comfort of the ship, adding dozens of additional viewing hours beyond their time ashore. To help ensure guests don’t miss a sighting, they can sign up for onboard northern lights wake-up calls when the aurora is visible.

While aurora sightings aren’t limited to locations above the Arctic Circle, the extended time spent in Arctic Norway and the significant increase in nighttime hours later in the season give guests even more opportunities to witness the phenomenon from both land and sea.

The Arctic Journey & Northern Lights departures for 2026 include:

Rotterdam: 14-Day Arctic Journey & Northern Lights, Rotterdam to Amsterdam, departing Oct. 4, 2026.

Nieuw Statendam:15-Day Arctic Journey & Northern Lights, Dover (London) to Rotterdam, departing Oct. 16, 2026.

Nieuw Statendam: 14-Day Arctic Journey & Northern Lights, roundtrip Rotterdam, departing Oct. 17, 2026.

Nieuw Statendam: 14-Day Arctic Journey & Northern Lights, roundtrip Rotterdam, departing Nov. 7, 2026.