Booking choice: The northern lights cruise with a free second chance, from $127 per person. Check dates Tour details
A northern lights cruise asks something odd of your clothes. You sit inside in a heated lounge, then rush out onto an open deck where the boat makes its own wind. Too much and you sweat inside; too little and you last five minutes at the railing.
The answer is the one Norwegians give: layers, wool and a windproof shell. As they like to say, there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. Here is the full list, what the boats provide, and how to get a sharp photo from a deck that is never perfectly still.
The quick answer
Wear a thin wool base layer, a fleece or wool jumper, and a windproof, water-repellent jacket and trousers, or a down jacket on the coldest nights. Add a hat, a scarf, mittens over thin gloves and warm waterproof boots with wool socks. Bring a power bank, because cold drains batteries fast.
What should I wear on a northern lights cruise?
Three layers: a thin wool base, a warm middle and a windproof outer shell. Add a hat, mittens, a scarf and warm boots.
This is Visit Norway's layering advice, and it fits a boat perfectly. Wool keeps you warm even when you are a little damp, which cotton does not. The middle layer comes off in the lounge and goes back on when the guide calls. The outer layer stops the wind, which matters more on a moving boat than the thermometer.
It may look like a lot. It is always easier to take a layer off than to wish you had one.
| Layer | What to wear | Why it matters on a boat |
|---|---|---|
| Base | A thin wool top and long johns | Wool keeps you warm when you sweat in the lounge, then step outside |
| Middle | A fleece or a wool jumper | Easy to pull off inside, quick to put on when the guide calls |
| Outer | A windproof, water-repellent jacket and trousers, or down on the coldest nights | A moving boat makes its own wind, and spray finds every gap |
| Head and hands | A hat, a scarf or a roll-neck, mittens with thin gloves under them | Your ears and fingers chill first at the railing |
| Feet | Warm, waterproof boots with room for wool socks | Metal decks are cold; one boat bans shoe spikes on board |
How cold is a northern lights cruise in Tromsø?
Coastal Northern Norway usually sits between plus 5 C and minus 5 C in winter, but the wind on deck makes it feel much colder.
Visit Norway warns that wind chill makes you feel much colder than the temperature, and that being wet adds to the risk. On a boat you meet both: the speed of the boat adds to the wind, and spray can reach the deck. Autumn is milder, with typical temperatures between 0 C and 12 C, but evenings at sea still feel cool.
The good news is the lounge. On every cruise we list, you can go back inside to warm up whenever you like. Guests on the evening cruise say the crew even lent them blankets on deck on a cold night.
Three and a half hours on the Arctic sea with a warm cabin to come back to and the deck open all the way.
Check dates for the evening aurora cruiseDo northern lights cruises provide warm clothing?
It depends on the trip. The minibus chase includes a thermal suit and the fishing cruise's all-inclusive option has thermal suits; the Narvik train does not, so dress for it yourself.
- Second chance cruise: a warm lounge with panoramic windows; bring warm clothing.
- Evening aurora cruise: Polar Adventures lists thermal suits among its highlights, and asks for warm clothing and warm shoes.
- Yacht cruise: blankets on board; shoes and outdoor clothing come off inside; bring swimwear for the hot tub.
- Minibus chase: a thermal suit is included.
- Narvik train: no thermal suits; bring a hat, scarf, socks and thermal clothing.
Even with a suit, you need warm base layers underneath, Visit Norway says. A suit over jeans is still cold.
What shoes should I wear on a northern lights cruise?
Warm, waterproof boots with good soles and room for wool socks. Leave shoe spikes in your bag on the second chance cruise, where they are not allowed on board.
The street to the quay can be icy, which is why many people in Tromsø wear spikes. The second chance cruise bans them, so slip them off before boarding. On the yacht shoes come off at the door anyway.
Cold feet end more deck sessions than anything else. Thick wool socks and a boot half a size up, so your toes can move, make a real difference.
A quiet catamaran with a warm lounge, outdoor platforms and a free second cruise if the sky stays cloudy.
Explore the northern lights cruise with a free second chance Tour detailsWhat should I bring on a northern lights cruise?
A charged phone or camera, a power bank, mittens with thin gloves under them and a hat. A small bag keeps your hands free on deck.
- Power bank: batteries drain much faster in the cold. Keep your phone in an inside pocket between shots.
- Thin gloves under mittens: mittens hold heat better, Visit Norway says; thin gloves let you work a screen.
- Hat and scarf: your head and neck lose heat first.
- Swimwear: only for the yacht's hot tub, and it is not sold on board.
- Cash or a card: snacks and drinks are sold on most boats.
A silent electric boat with heated lounges and a hot vegan soup on the way back to Tromsø.
Check dates for the electric northern lights cruiseHow do you photograph the northern lights from a boat?
Use manual settings or your phone's night mode, brace against something solid and keep exposures short, because a boat is never perfectly still.
Visit Norway's starting point on land is f/2.8, ISO 1600 and a 15-second exposure, with manual focus on a bright star and no flash. On a boat, the deck moves and the engine hums, so a long exposure blurs. Shorter exposures with a higher ISO work better. Brace the camera against your body and take several frames; some will be sharp.
Ask the crew. On the evening cruise they help you set up your camera or phone, and on the second chance cruise and the electric cruise the guides help with photos too. For portraits under the lights done for you, the minibus chase includes a photographer.
Can you take good northern lights photos with a phone?
Yes. Modern phones take good aurora photos in night mode. Hold the phone still, turn off the flash and avoid digital zoom.
Visit Norway's phone tips are simple. Night mode or a manual exposure lets in more light, a steady hand or surface stops the blur, RAW gives you room to edit, and closing other apps saves battery. A lit boat, a mountain or the fjord in the foreground makes the picture.
Then put the phone away for a while. The lights move in a way no photo shows, and the best memory of the night is often the minute you just watched.
Sail away from the town lights with a guide who helps with photos and a free retry on a cloudy night.
Check dates for the northern lights cruise with a free second chanceFrequently asked questions
Should I wear jeans on a northern lights cruise?
Not on their own. Jeans stay cold once they are damp. Wear wool long johns under outdoor trousers instead.
Do I need a thermal suit for a northern lights cruise?
Not on a boat with a warm lounge, if you dress in layers. On a chase you spend hours outside, which is why the minibus chase includes one.
Can I buy winter clothing in Tromsø?
Yes. Visit Norway says proper winter clothing is easy to buy in Norwegian cities, and wool clothing makes a good souvenir.
Is it cold in the hot tub on the yacht cruise?
The water is warm; the air is Arctic. A changing room, a shower and a hair dryer are on board, and a towel costs NOK 50.
Ready to book
Choose your cruise
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Northern Lights Cruise with a Free Second Chance
- English-speaking guide
- Free coffee or tea
- Warm lounge with panoramic windows
Evening Aurora Cruise from Tromsø
- A seat for every guest
- Deck access for the whole trip
- Warm indoor cabin
Northern Lights Yacht Cruise with Hot Tub and Dinner
- 4-hour cruise with a local captain and crew
- 30 to 45 minutes of private hot-tub time
- Reindeer stew with bread (vegetarian on request)
