NEED ADVICE ON ALASKA CRUISE AND NORTHERN LIGHTS
Sep 5th, 2002, 07:07 PM
#1
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NEED ADVICE ON ALASKA CRUISE AND NORTHERN LIGHTS
Hi:
I would like to surprise my wife with a trip for her 50th birthday. She has always wanted to see the Northern Lights. Can they typically be seen during an Alaska cruise? Any advice on which cruise line, time of year, and/or itinerary to choose? (don't want a lot of kids, but not looking for a seniors cruise either). ANY ADVICE would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks,
Paul
I would like to surprise my wife with a trip for her 50th birthday. She has always wanted to see the Northern Lights. Can they typically be seen during an Alaska cruise? Any advice on which cruise line, time of year, and/or itinerary to choose? (don't want a lot of kids, but not looking for a seniors cruise either). ANY ADVICE would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks,
Paul
Sep 5th, 2002, 07:28 PM
#2
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Because most of the cruises are in the summer, seeing the Northern Lights will be highly unlikely because the aurora is fairly dim and the days are very long in northern latitudes (midnight sun, right?) Most aurora sightings are in the winter, when the cruise ships are in Barbados. There's a slim chance that you could see the Northern Lights in September, and better chances the farther north you go (most cruises are either entirely in Southeast Alaska or stop in Seward, near Anchorage.) If you toured the interior of the state in September (Fairbanks, Denali Park (which closes in Sept.) you'd have a better chance.
When is her birthday? If you're skiers you might consider a winter getaway to the Alyeska Resort an hour from Anchorage - the skiing is good, the resort is gorgeous (but not as gorgeous as the scenery) and I've seen the aurora bunches of time in the area (far enough from city lights that it's easy to see them if they're out.) Just a thought.
When is her birthday? If you're skiers you might consider a winter getaway to the Alyeska Resort an hour from Anchorage - the skiing is good, the resort is gorgeous (but not as gorgeous as the scenery) and I've seen the aurora bunches of time in the area (far enough from city lights that it's easy to see them if they're out.) Just a thought.
Sep 12th, 2002, 01:32 PM
#4
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We're just back from a land tour and Ocean Princess cruise (had a great time, and mostly good weather.)
As earlier poster said, the more dark sky there is the more likely you are to see them. The sky also needs to be clear -- so there are no guarantees! We started our trip in Fairbanks, and there were too many lights around the hotel to see much at night. At the McKinley Princess Lodge you can leave a request at the front desk for a wakeup call when Northern Lights or Mt McKinley appear. We had some rain and much cloud there, so no success.
Finally, when I'd given up hope, we saw the Northern Lights from the ship as we sailed between Skagway and Juneau (9/3). It was a clear beautiful night, and the lights were a translucent limey-green. Everyone was very psyched -- some folks took to the hot tubs on top deck to see them. We watched from top deck, then from our balcony. It got dark about 9:30 or so that day, and the lights showed up at about 11:00.
I hear the best way to see them is to go to Chena Hot Springs near Fairbanks in the winter. You can sit in the hot spring and watch the lights -- of course, there's a lot more darkness then... about 20 hours a day, I think!
As earlier poster said, the more dark sky there is the more likely you are to see them. The sky also needs to be clear -- so there are no guarantees! We started our trip in Fairbanks, and there were too many lights around the hotel to see much at night. At the McKinley Princess Lodge you can leave a request at the front desk for a wakeup call when Northern Lights or Mt McKinley appear. We had some rain and much cloud there, so no success.
Finally, when I'd given up hope, we saw the Northern Lights from the ship as we sailed between Skagway and Juneau (9/3). It was a clear beautiful night, and the lights were a translucent limey-green. Everyone was very psyched -- some folks took to the hot tubs on top deck to see them. We watched from top deck, then from our balcony. It got dark about 9:30 or so that day, and the lights showed up at about 11:00.
I hear the best way to see them is to go to Chena Hot Springs near Fairbanks in the winter. You can sit in the hot spring and watch the lights -- of course, there's a lot more darkness then... about 20 hours a day, I think!
Sep 14th, 2002, 09:35 PM
#5
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September through May is great for the Northern lights. I have seen them in Ketchikan during the winter that are outstanding! So if you are on a cruise...and it's a clear, cool, crisp evening, more than likely, you will experience the Northern Lights. The other night...my family in cordova said the northern lights were fantastic. People were getting wakeup calls all over town. The cruise to/from Seward in September or mid-may would be my recommendation. Princess Cruises has great specials that time of the year. Call your local agent or Carnival Cruise lines; I have used Thrifty Travel in Anchorage for my cruises in Alaska and I have lived here over 30 years. They go out of their way to make you happy! Enjoy your trip.
Sep 24th, 2002, 12:09 AM
#7
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Rcd this in my email today. Worth reading.
Enjoy your trip
Jan
NASA Science News for September 23, 2002
Northern autumn began today at 55 minutes past midnight EDT (Sept. 23rd at
0455 UT), which means "aurora season" is officially underway. Scientists
aren't certain of all the reasons why, but there are more geomagnetic
storms during autumn than other times of year. Already this month three
such storms have triggered auroras visible as far south as the Carolinas
in the United States. Some were so bright they cast shadows! It's an
auspicious beginning to one of the loveliest times of year.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2002/23sep_auroraseason.htm?list647326
Enjoy your trip
Jan
NASA Science News for September 23, 2002
Northern autumn began today at 55 minutes past midnight EDT (Sept. 23rd at
0455 UT), which means "aurora season" is officially underway. Scientists
aren't certain of all the reasons why, but there are more geomagnetic
storms during autumn than other times of year. Already this month three
such storms have triggered auroras visible as far south as the Carolinas
in the United States. Some were so bright they cast shadows! It's an
auspicious beginning to one of the loveliest times of year.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2002/23sep_auroraseason.htm?list647326
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