Northern lights (Aurora borealis)

[sumismommy]

Has anyone ever seen Aurora borealis on the Alaska cruise?

 

[Geomom]

I don't think so! The Alaskan cruising season is in the summer, when they have too much daylight to see it. I believe that prime viewing is late fall/winter. The cruises also do Southern Alaska, staying below 60 degrees latitude, so less likely to see it there in general.

 

[DCLCrazy64622]

We flew over the arctic circle and stayed till midnight. We never saw a thing. It was late June. I think it’s just too early for it when the Alaska cruises are going.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

It's not unusual. On our cruise 3 weeks ago the Borealis was visible at Skagway the night before we pulled into port.

http://auroraforecast.gi.alaska.edu/

https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/aurora-30-minute-forecast

The above websites are fairly accurate

 

[FSU Girl]

I have a friend who is a pilot of a private jet and he saw the aurora borealis a couple months ago when he was flying there. But I think he was farther north of where the cruises sail so I'm not sure if it's possible to see it from the ship.

 

[GPaLarry]

Under the right conditions, we can see them from here in Portland, OR. We have seen them while in Syracuse, NY, too. Good luck on your cruise.

 

[Shanti]

We cruised in June and never saw anything. The sun was usually up, but even when it was down, we saw nothing. Summer cruises are unlikely to offer a view of them imo. You probably have a better chance if you sail in early May or in September.

 

[sumismommy]

Under the right conditions, we can see them from here in Portland, OR. We have seen them while in Syracuse, NY, too. Good luck on your cruise.

What time of year was this? I really would like to see them!

 

[jetskigrl]

On our Alaska cruise last year a group of kids from the teen club were able to see them after midnight (after leaving Ketchikan). I was so bummed that my son didn't tell me so that we could go outside but he didn't want to wake me up. The CM in the club told them there was a chance to see them that evening and then a very slight chance the next (but by then I think we had moved too far south).

 

[mike314]

It's not unusual. On our cruise 3 weeks ago the Borealis was visible at Skagway the night before we pulled into port.

http://auroraforecast.gi.alaska.edu/

https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/aurora-30-minute-forecast

The above websites are fairly accurate

Interesting, I always though Alaskan cruises aren't far north enough to see it

 

[Claireywalsh]

On our 2015 Alaskan you could see them one night but it was fairly late into the night - we sailed last week in August. There were quite a few people camped out on deck to see them, wrapped in duvets and blankets

 

[mocodis]

we were on the 2015 Alaska cruise also and I was able to see the northern lights one evening, we were in Skagway. A cast member pointed it out to me, as I would have otherwise not noticed it. it was probably around midnight. awesome