Aurora Borealis in Alaska

[SZ2016]

For the people who have gone on Alaskan cruises, are the Aurora Borealis ever seen? They are something I've ALWAYS wanted to see and we are booking our Alaskan for 2014 onboard when we get on the Wonder in about a week! Hoping to hear that I will finally get to see the Northern Lights! (of course assuming solar flares are corporative the week we sail)

 

[PrincessShmoo]

For the people who have gone on Alaskan cruises, are the Aurora Borealis ever seen? They are something I've ALWAYS wanted to see and we are booking our Alaskan for 2014 onboard when we get on the Wonder in about a week! Hoping to hear that I will finally get to see the Northern Lights! (of course assuming solar flares are corporative the week we sail)

Typically the cruise ships do not travel far enough north to see them. And you need a pretty dark night, something you don't find in the summertime.

You can check here for the aurora forecast:
http://www.gi.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast/Alaska/

 

[cwdefouw]

Typically these happen in winter time and even if they did happen during cruising season, most southern Alaska Cruises (like Disney) would not get far enough north to see them. Also remember that in far northern Alaska, the sun never sets in the summer, so they would not be visible then either. On a Southern Alaska cruise, twilight seems to last forever, well at least a very long time, but it does eventually get dark.

Northern lights can occasionaly be seeing from the lower 48. I remember seeing them once when I was a child, in central Indiana, during winter.

 

[cleophus12]

Our Alaska cruise in august a couple of years ago was within viewing range for two nights. However, one night was too foggy and the other night I was too tired. There were passengers who said they saw them though. So sorry I missed it.

 

[TeamH5]

Definetly better off booking a vacation to Fairbanks in Winter if you want to see some REALLY pretty Northern lights! We used to see them in Anchorage, but didn't get the full color spectrum due to the city lights. But yea chances of seeing them in Summer is pretty slim. Dusk (I wouldn't even say dark.lol) would only last 2-3 hours in the summer around midnight, in Anchorage. It may have actually gotten dark further south around Ketchikan and Juneau.

 

[iloverags2]

My husband spent six months in Iceland during the winter and said it was incredible. I am forever jealous! LOL

Back on topic, while it is unlikely you will see them there is always a very slight possibility. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

 

[N365PA]

I highly doubt you'll see the aurora on the disney cruise. As a resident of Anchorage we only see them when we leave the lights of the city and are much further north than Skagway. Sorry!

 

[alaskanabbott]

I highly doubt you'll see the aurora on the disney cruise. As a resident of Anchorage we only see them when we leave the lights of the city and are much further north than Skagway. Sorry!

We're in Soldotna-(smaller town/less lights) we usually only see them when it's super cold out, like 20 below.

 

[alaskanabbott]

Definetly better off booking a vacation to Fairbanks in Winter if you want to see some REALLY pretty Northern lights! We used to see them in Anchorage, but didn't get the full color spectrum due to the city lights. But yea chances of seeing them in Summer is pretty slim. Dusk (I wouldn't even say dark.lol) would only last 2-3 hours in the summer around midnight, in Anchorage. It may have actually gotten dark further south around Ketchikan and Juneau.

Fairbanks is hosting the Arctic Winter Games this year, too