What‘s Included

What To Expect

Reviews

• Northern Lights Cruise – 13 to 27 November 2025, M.S. Balmoral (Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines)

  M111JET,

  Dec 1, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  We travelled on the M.S. Balmoral from 13–27 November 2025, journeying deep into the Arctic in search of the Northern Lights. We were pleasantly surprised to see them on several nights, often with excellent stargazing opportunities as well. This made the trip truly special, and we came home with many wonderful photos. The stopovers along the way were exceptional. Everything was beautifully snow-covered, and the hills and mountains created some of the most scenic views we’ve ever experienced. The Arctic Train excursion was a real highlight—exciting, informative and full of fascinating history. On board, the customer experience was excellent. The staff were extremely helpful and friendly throughout the journey, and the bar staff, in particular, were outstanding. Overall, the cruise far exceeded my expectations, and I was delighted with the experience. We travelled as a party of seven, and each of us purchased the additional drinks package (£349.86 per person) with the understanding that it would cover basic beverages. Particularly as half the group did not consume alcohol. It was therefore surprising to find that bottled water in the cabin was charged at £3.00 per bottle. If the aim is to reduce plastic use, it would make more sense to provide a refillable glass bottle or jug in each cabin, with multiple refill stations across the ship rather than just one on Deck 5. Additionally, tea and coffee ordered at the bar were chargeable, unless we walked to the back of the restaurant to use the self-serve machine. This felt inconsistent with what we expected from the package. Other extra costs also felt high, such as £120 per person for Wi-Fi, and an additional £5.00 per person per night for cabin cleaning, especially when the cruise itself cost just under £3,000. Despite these issues, the trip itself was fantastic, and I would still recommend it to anyone interested in seeing the Northern Lights or experiencing the Arctic.

• Very good experience

  Jet610069,

  Mar 10, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  Great experience, our guide was very friendly and informed us perfectly of everything. As we arrived half an hour before the start of the meeting, he invited us to see the museum which is very interesting. On the boat there was coffee, tea and biscuits. Although the night was very covered, the guide was on deck all the time looking for the aurora in the clearings and talking to all the passengers, until finally and almost at the end we got to see it. Thanks for everything, a very good experience.

  

  

  

• Wasnt possible to see...

  Florentina P,

  Feb 24, 2025

  - Review from Viator

  3.00

  Wasnt possible to see aurora due to weather conditions but overall is a nice evening activity Recommend

• Avoid this trip at all cost

  riche625,

  Feb 21, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  1.00

  Complete waste of money; nothing like the description! You only have access to two tiny rooms on the boat, the rest is off limits. Staff ignored everyone on the trip, they disappeared into their own part of the boat for most of it. A bowl of digestive biscuits was dumped on each table. We spent most of the 3.5 hours in the downstairs "bar" where noone was serving as there weren't enough seats in the upstairs room. There was no information about the aurora on board, we just spent an hour or so going one direction, stopped for an hour then came back. Total waste of money

  

• Must try! Beautiful and worth it

  Nirali B,

  Jan 2, 2025

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  Beautiful experience! Francesca started with a presentation on how northern lights are formed and showed us exactly where we’re going and why. She was so sweet and patient and seemed like a very genuine human being. My husband and I opted for the jacuzzi and that was the best decision we made. Beautiful city lights in the middle of the water on a cruise, in a jacuzzi (just my husband and I) and northern lights above us!

• Vintage vessel Northern Lights chase with sauna

  Rashmi K,

  Jan 1, 2025

  - Review from Viator

  4.00

  I liked the vintage vessel and the chit chat with the Captain. Again like the previous day, the tromso weather was not that great but moving forward towards dark, finally got the glimpse of the northern lights. The highlight of the tour was Sauna in that cold night.

• Horrible experience,...

  Shriram R,

  Dec 31, 2024

  - Review from Viator

  1.00

  Horrible experience, cramped boat, and didn’t see any signs of northern lights .. wud not recommend this to others

• Good tour to see the auroras

  PattyyRicky,

  Nov 25, 2024

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  4.00

  Because of the bad comments that have written the truth I was afraid to have taken the tour and we went with low expectations. The truth is that cruise ships explain the origin of the auroras at first, and also explain the safety measures. You get on the boat and they give you what they offer is coffee and unlimited you and they put cookies (not a lot but enough). The tour was like 20 people and we were fine. While we were waiting for the aurora you were inside the boat that was heated and you were leaving and there was a little snow outside the boat but nothing to worry about. Now we have gone with a 12-year-old girl and there were no inconveniences. Then we were talking to the guide and the captain very good people and had a lovely chat. In the end we could see the auroras on a cloudy day because they have the equipment to guide themselves.

  

  

• Bathing under the Aurora

  G3738ZMlenam,

  Nov 3, 2024

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  Unbeatable for the price. First the short presentation in the museum, then we went up to the ship. The sauna was fine with 40 degrees, but sitting under the aurora borealis in the hot tub had something. Great!!

• Best ski holiday ever 😄

  C9134UJchristinep,

  Mar 9, 2024

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  We spent two weeks on the boat with our family and friends in February and March to explore the fjords and do back country skiing. We had a fantastic time. The crew was amazing with Brijard, Lyn, Erling and Trond: incredible food, great navigation, fantastic flexibility for the ski drop off, superbe atmosphère. We felt extremely safe and welcome. We all hope to come again.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  
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