Northern Lights Boat Cruise from Reykjavik

The best part of this cruise is the chance to leave Reykjavik’s city glow behind and watch the sky from the water. The boat travels around Faxaflói Bay and along the coast, with views of Reykjavik, small islands, and possibly distant mountain peaks. On some nights, the boat can move beyond low cloud and find clearer skies.

I like the indoor cabin and outdoor viewing deck, since you can step outside for the sky, then return for warmth and a hot drink. I also like the free return-trip policy if the lights do not show. The drawback is simple: northern lights viewing is never guaranteed, and the upper deck can be painfully cold, even when the boat ride itself is smooth.

Key points to know before sailing

• Departure from Old Harbour: Check in at Old Harbour House, Ægisgarður 2, before boarding.
• A two-hour evening cruise: The route covers Reykjavik’s coast and parts of Faxaflói Bay.
• Indoor comfort matters: The boat has seating below deck, a café, Wi-Fi, and a restroom.
• The crew keeps watch: Maria, Lucky, Isabella, and the captain have been praised for updates and help spotting faint lights.
• Bring serious cold-weather clothing: The viewing deck is exposed, and February conditions have felt bitterly cold.
• A second chance is included: If you do not see the northern lights, you can take the cruise again at no extra charge.

Leaving Reykjavik from the Old Harbour

Your evening begins at Old Harbour House, a red building at Ægisgarður 2. It is also a food and drink stop, so it can be useful before the cruise, but check in first if you want to use the reported 15 percent restaurant discount. A few people paid for dinner before collecting the discount information, then could not apply it afterward.

The harbor location is convenient if you are staying in central Reykjavik or already spending time near the waterfront. The activity returns to the same meeting point, so you do not need to arrange a separate ride back across town. Confirmation is sent when you book, and public transportation is nearby.

The boat carries a maximum of 75 people. That is large enough to give the cruise some energy, but not so large that it feels like a giant ship excursion. Still, it is worth arriving ready for check-in. The red restaurant building is not instantly obvious to everyone, and a little extra time will help you avoid starting the evening in a rush.

What you see across Faxaflói Bay

Once the boat leaves the harbor, the route heads among the small islands in Faxaflói Bay and along Reykjavik’s coast. The city looks especially attractive from the water after dark, with its lights spread along the shore. Even on a night when the sky stays blank, this part gives you something to watch.

Faxaflói is the bay on Reykjavik’s southern side. From the area, you may be able to see the Akranes peninsula to the northeast. On a clear day, Snæfellsjökull can be visible at a distance of about 120 kilometers, though an evening cruise is mainly about the sky rather than a daytime mountain panorama.

The bay has relatively few islands, and those islands sit close to land. That gives the route a more open feel than the heavily island-filled Breiðafjörður farther north. You are not simply sitting in the harbor waiting for darkness. The boat moves out along the coast, giving you changing angles on the city and the water.

The itinerary also mentions searching for wildlife. Minke and humpback whales, dolphins, and porpoises are among the more common possible sightings. Orcas may appear, but there is no promise of seeing them. Keep your expectations in check: this is a northern lights cruise with a chance of wildlife, not a dedicated whale-watching trip.

Finding the northern lights from the deck

The boat’s main purpose is to get you into a better position for aurora watching. The crew follows the sky and points out places to look, which can be valuable when the lights are faint. Maria has been praised for staying outside and explaining where the lights were appearing, while Lucky has been described as working hard to help everyone follow the action.

That guidance matters. A weak aurora may look like a pale gray smear to your eyes, while a camera can record more color. Several experiences on this cruise have included faint lights, partial displays, or colors that were not visible without help from a phone camera. You should not assume every green or gray patch is a dramatic show.

On better nights, the payoff can be striking. The lights have appeared soon after leaving the harbor for some departures, while on other evenings they appeared near the end of the trip. One particularly strong experience lasted for nearly the entire two-hour ride, with vivid greens and reds. That kind of display is possible, but it is not the normal promise of the excursion.

The boat may also find a clearer patch away from cloud cover. One important advantage of being on the water is that the crew can move beyond some low cloud near Reykjavik. That does not mean the boat can outrun every storm or guarantee an aurora. It simply gives you a moving platform and more options than standing in one place along the shore.

Staying warm without missing the sky

The upper observation deck is the place to be when the lights appear, but it is also where the cold hits hardest. You should dress for standing outside, not for a short walk from a hotel to a restaurant. Extra layers are essential, and two additional layers may not be excessive in winter.

The lower section provides a warm retreat. You can sit indoors, buy hot chocolate or another drink, and wait for the crew to announce a change in the sky. The café also sells food and drinks at what several people considered reasonable prices. Isabella has received praise for her work behind the bar, adding a friendly touch to the indoor part of the evening.

This indoor option is more important than it sounds. Aurora watching involves waiting, and waiting outside in cold wind can drain the fun quickly. You can warm up without ending the trip, then return to the deck when the crew calls out a sighting. The boat also has a restroom and Wi-Fi, useful comforts on a two-hour ride.

The boat offers both indoor and outdoor seating, but the best position may change during the cruise. You might begin outside for the departure views, spend time inside with a drink, then head back up when the captain or guide spots activity. Bring gloves that let you handle a phone or camera, since fumbling with cold fingers is an easy way to miss a short burst of color.

What the crew adds to the evening

The crew is one of the strongest parts of this experience. The captain provides information during the ride, and guides keep passengers updated about where to look. Maria, Lucky, and Isabella are names connected with particularly warm and helpful service, though your exact crew may differ.

The guide’s job is not only to point at the sky. You also need someone willing to explain the difference between a strong display and a faint one, tell you when conditions are changing, and keep the group moving between the deck and the warm cabin. The best moments on this cruise come when the staff share your excitement without pretending that a weak sighting is spectacular.

That last point matters. A few people felt disappointed when faint lights were described as a major show. I would rather have a guide say clearly that the aurora is weak but still worth watching. Expectations shape the evening, especially after paying for a tour built around a natural event.

The crew cannot control cloud, wind, or the strength of the aurora. They can control how well they communicate, how fairly they handle a poor night, and how easy it is to try again. This cruise generally does well on those practical points, though a request for a repeat trip may take time to arrange.

Is $78 a fair price?

At $78 per person, this is not the cheapest way to look for the northern lights. You are paying for a boat, crew, indoor facilities, the café, and the chance to travel beyond the immediate city shore. The value is strongest if you like the idea of a night on the water even when the sky does not cooperate.

A successful aurora display makes the price easier to accept. You get a two-hour outing, city views from the bay, and a warm place to retreat when the deck becomes too cold. The free return option also lowers the risk, especially if you are staying in Reykjavik for several nights.

The value drops if your only goal is a guaranteed light show. No boat can provide that. On a cloudy night, you could spend two hours seeing little more than darkness, water, and Reykjavik’s lights. The second-trip policy helps, but only if you have another evening available.

The cruise is booked, on average, about 42 days ahead. That suggests the popular departures can fill well before your visit, but booking early also creates a problem: you may choose a night before you know the weather. If your schedule allows, leave room for a second attempt. If you are visiting for only one night, the risk is much higher.

Choosing this over a bus tour

A boat gives you a different mood from a road-based northern lights outing. You are not driving through Iceland’s countryside or stopping at several land viewpoints. Instead, you watch the city recede, listen for updates from the crew, and move across the dark bay.

This works well if you are staying near the harbor, prefer not to spend the evening on a coach, or like having a café and restroom close by. It also gives you a clear fallback: if the aurora fails, the boat ride and coastal views still form a complete evening activity.

A bus may give you more land-based flexibility on some routes, but this cruise has one useful advantage: the boat can sometimes move away from low cloud around Reykjavik. That does not make it automatically better. Your choice comes down to the type of night you want.

Pick the boat if you value water views, a comfortable indoor cabin, and the novelty of watching the sky from the bay. Pick another format if you want a land excursion with more stops or if sitting on a boat does not appeal to you.

Timing, weather, and the free second chance

The activity lasts about two hours and requires suitable weather. If poor conditions cancel the cruise, the operator offers a different date or a full refund. If the minimum number of people is not reached, you are offered another date, another activity, or a full refund.

That is different from simply sailing in poor conditions and failing to see the lights. The boat may still depart on a clear but low-activity night, because the aurora itself cannot be promised. If you see nothing, the operator offers another cruise at no charge.

Use that policy strategically. Book early only if you can keep a spare evening open. The free return is of little help if you are leaving Reykjavik the next morning. Several people could not use a second attempt because their schedules were too tight.

Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations made inside that window are not refunded, and late changes are not accepted. The cut-off uses local time, so check the clock carefully if you are changing plans from another country.

Who will enjoy this cruise most

I would recommend this trip to you if you want the northern lights to be part of a broader evening rather than a bare search for color. The boat, city views, warm cabin, and café make the outing worthwhile even when the aurora stays faint.

It is also a good fit for couples, families, and small groups with mixed tolerance for cold. One person can watch from the deck while another warms up below. Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate.

You should think twice if you dislike cold, motion, or waiting for an unpredictable natural event. The upper deck is exposed, and the most exciting moments may last only a short time. You need patience and warm clothing to get the most from it.

Should you book the Northern Lights Boat Cruise?

Book it if you have at least two evenings in Reykjavik, want a comfortable boat with indoor and outdoor seating, and like the idea of combining aurora watching with a coastal cruise. The free repeat trip makes the risk more manageable, and the crew’s regular updates are a real help when the lights are faint.

I would be cautious if you have only one night or expect a guaranteed green-and-red display. In that case, the $78 price can feel steep when clouds or weak activity leave you looking at a mostly dark sky.

My practical choice would be to book it early only with a flexible schedule. Check in before eating at Old Harbour House if you want the restaurant discount, pack more layers than you think you need, and keep your phone or camera ready. The boat cannot command the aurora, but it gives you a pleasant, well-supported way to wait for it.

FAQ

Where does the Northern Lights Boat Cruise depart?

It departs from Old Harbour House, Food, Drinks & Tours, at Ægisgarður 2, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland.

Where does the cruise finish?

The activity ends back at the same meeting point at Old Harbour House.

How long does the cruise last?

The cruise lasts approximately two hours.

How much does the cruise cost?

The listed price is $78 per person.

Is the cruise offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

What happens if I do not see the northern lights?

You can take another tour free of charge if the northern lights do not appear.

What facilities are available on the boat?

The boat has an observation deck, indoor seating, a restroom, Wi-Fi, and an onboard café serving food and drinks.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts for a full refund. Late cancellations and changes are not accepted.