Cruise or chase?
A cruise, if…
- You want a much shorter evening than a chase
- Dinner, a hot tub or simply a warm cabin matter as much as the lights
- The forecast shows a clear sky over the coast
- You prefer not to sit in a vehicle for hours
A bus or minibus, if…
- Seeing the aurora is the main goal of the night
- The coast is cloudy and the clear sky is inland or in Finland
- You want to watch from a dark spot away from the city lights
- A long night and a late return are fine
Reviewers make the same point from both sides. Some were lucky and saw the lights through gaps in the clouds; others found that the boat stayed close to the harbour and its lights, and wrote that a bus would have been the better way to see the aurora. On a cloudy night, a cruise is mostly a cruise. If the lights are the priority, compare the bus, minibus and small-group chases.
The boats
Brim Explorer’s electric cruise runs on a quiet electric boat with heated indoor lounges and a guide on board. Vegan soup is included, other drinks are for sale. The boat leaves from the pier beside Skarven Kro in central Tromsø; be there a quarter of an hour early.
Brim Explorer’s dinner cruise serves dinner on a hybrid catamaran. Cancellation terms and the rule for a night without lights are on the product page.
Polar Adventures runs an evening cruise with a warm indoor cabin, deck access throughout and toilets on board. Thermal suits are included, and a three-course dinner is available as an option. Photos are not included, but the crew helps with camera settings. If you see no lights, the operator offers a discount on one new tour.
World Sea Explorers takes no more than twelve guests on a large sailing yacht with a hot tub on deck, a warm saloon and reindeer soup for dinner, with a vegetarian option. Towels and thermal suits can be rented on board.
Moon and city lights
A bright moon lights up the fjord and the mountains. That helps photos with a landscape, but a full moon makes a faint aurora look weaker. One cruise reviewer said she would come back on a night without a full moon. Near the harbour, city lights have the same effect. Neither is a reason to skip a cruise; both are a reason to keep expectations realistic on a weak night.
Dress for the deck
The cabin is warm, but the aurora is watched from the open deck, often in wind. Wear warm layers, a hat and gloves even if you plan to stay inside most of the time. Polar Adventures includes thermal suits; on the yacht they can be rented.
