Reykjavík: Northern Lights Cruise

The best part of this Northern Lights cruise is the change of setting. You leave Reykjavík’s Old Harbour, watch the city fade behind you, and look out across open sea where artificial light is lower. At the same time, the shoreline gives you a lovely evening view of Harpa Concert Hall and Hallgrímskirkja.

I like two things in particular: the heated indoor saloon, which gives you a proper break from the cold, and the crew’s practical help with warm overalls, camera settings, and clear calls when the lights appear. The main drawback is simple: a boat cannot order the aurora into the sky, and moving water makes serious photography harder.

Key points at a glance

• The cruise leaves Reykjavík Old Harbour: Meet at the Elding Adventure at Sea boat at Ægisgarður 5.
• You get 2.5 hours on Faxaflói Bay: The route combines city views with a darker patch of open water.
• Warm clothing is supplied: Borrow overalls, raincoats, and blankets, then use the heated saloon when needed.
• The Imagine Peace Tower appears in season: From October through December, the boat sails by when the tower is lit.
• The crew offers a sighting guarantee: If the Northern Lights do not appear, you can try again free of charge.
• Photography takes patience: The boat’s movement, cold, and faint early displays can make sharp pictures difficult.

Leaving the Old Harbour for Faxaflói Bay

You meet at the Elding Adventure at Sea boat in Reykjavík’s Old Harbour, at Ægisgarður 5. Hotel pickup is not included, though it can be added for an extra charge. That makes the harbour meeting point useful for anyone staying in central Reykjavík, but you need to plan your own way there.

The cruise lasts about two and a half hours. That is long enough to get beyond the brightest part of the city without turning the evening into an exhausting all-night wait. The exact departure time varies, so check the available start times when booking.

The first part has its own appeal. Reykjavík lights up the shore with a cool, clean glow, and the boat gives you a broad view that you cannot get from a city street. Harpa Concert Hall is especially easy to pick out, while Hallgrímskirkja rises above the town as a bright landmark.

I like this opening because it gives you something worthwhile even if the aurora stays hidden. You are not simply standing in a dark field waiting for the sky to perform. You get a short city cruise first, then the chance to watch Reykjavík shrink behind you.

The Imagine Peace Tower from the water

From October through December, the route includes a look at the Imagine Peace Tower when it is lit. The tower sends a tall beam of light into the night sky from Viðey Island, and seeing it from the water gives the sight a little more space around it.

This is a seasonal detail, not a feature you should expect on every departure. If your visit falls outside those months, the main points of interest remain the Reykjavík shoreline and the open bay.

The tower also helps break up the waiting time. Northern Lights outings can involve long stretches of standing and scanning, especially when the aurora forecast looks promising but the display has not started. A passing landmark gives you something definite to watch before the sky takes over.

Waiting for the aurora on deck

Once the boat reaches the bay, your guide keeps watch and explains what is happening. The crew checks weather and forecast conditions before sailing, then chooses the route with the best practical chance of seeing the lights.

That does not mean the cruise can guarantee an aurora display. Clouds, weak solar activity, haze, and changing conditions can spoil an evening. Even on a clear night, the lights might appear as faint pale streaks rather than the strong green curtains shown in photographs.

This is where expectations matter. Some displays begin as thin white or gray lines that are hard to notice with the naked eye. They can strengthen later, sometimes after an hour of waiting. If the activity grows, the guide alerts everyone so you do not miss the change.

The boat gives you a different viewing position from a land excursion. Open water can reduce nearby lights, and the horizon feels wide. That can help when a faint aurora is low in the sky. It is not a magic solution, though. A cloud bank over the bay still blocks the view, and the boat itself continues to move.

Warm overalls and a heated saloon

I would not treat the supplied clothing as a minor extra. You are going out on cold water at night, and the wind can make the temperature feel much lower than it does on Reykjavík streets.

Warm overalls, raincoats, and blankets are available on board. Wear the overalls if you plan to spend serious time outside, even if the evening feels mild when you leave the harbour. You can also move into the heated indoor saloon, where there is comfortable seating and enough room to take a proper break.

Toilets are available on the boat, and an onboard café sells hot drinks and snacks. Refreshments are not included, so carry money or a payment method suitable for the café. The warm cabin matters for more than comfort: you can stay on the boat for the full outing without having to choose between watching the sky and becoming miserable.

The best approach is to move back and forth. Spend time on the open viewing platforms when the sky looks promising, then warm up indoors before returning outside. The outdoor decks offer the widest view, but the cabin can make the experience much more manageable.

How good is it for photography?

You can photograph the Northern Lights from the boat, but this is not the easiest setting for a camera. The vessel moves, the subject may be faint, and long exposures can produce blurred images. The cold can also drain batteries and make camera controls harder to handle.

The crew may help you adjust camera settings. That can be useful if you are unfamiliar with night photography, and one past outing included practical help with cameras while the guide explained the display. Still, you should not book this cruise mainly for perfect aurora pictures.

For many people, the better goal is to see the lights with your own eyes and take a few record shots if conditions allow. If you bring a camera, keep it simple and be ready to watch rather than spend the whole trip looking down at a screen.

A phone may capture little more than a dark frame unless it has a suitable night mode and you can hold it steady. The boat’s movement is the key problem, not a lack of effort from the crew.

The crew, safety, and onboard service

The crew is one of the strongest parts of this experience. You get an English-speaking naturalist guide, and the staff are described as friendly, attentive, and helpful with both safety and the practical side of the outing.

That includes explaining the sights, watching conditions, alerting you when the aurora begins, and helping people get comfortable in the cold. Safety matters on a night cruise, especially when people move between the indoor area and outside decks in low light.

The onboard café is another small but useful touch. A hot drink can make a long wait much easier, and reasonable drink prices were noted during one outing. Since other refreshments are not included, budget a little extra if you want something warm while you wait.

The service cannot control the weather, but it can shape how you handle a disappointing forecast. Sensible decisions about cancellations and rescheduling are important here. If conditions are poor, the cruise may be cancelled or moved, rather than sending you out simply to fill the departure.

What happens if you see nothing?

The tour includes a sighting guarantee. If the Northern Lights do not appear, you can return on another night free of charge.

This is useful, but read it as a second chance rather than a promise of success. It works best if you have several nights in Reykjavík and can keep your schedule flexible. It is less useful if this is your final evening in Iceland or you are leaving town the next morning.

The free return also changes how I judge the $111 price. You are paying for a guided boat outing, city views, warm clothing, indoor facilities, and the chance to reach darker water. If the aurora does not show, the value depends heavily on your ability to come back.

The booking terms add flexibility: you can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if the forecast looks poor several days out, though they do not remove the basic uncertainty of nature.

Is $111 a fair price?

At $111 per person, this is not a cheap way to spend an evening. The price makes more sense if you value comfort and want a guided outing rather than simply walking around Reykjavík hoping to spot a glow.

You get 2.5 hours on the water, a naturalist guide, warm overalls, rain protection, blankets, a heated saloon, toilets, and the free return option. The city views give the trip a second purpose, especially if the aurora is weak.

The value is weaker for a serious photographer. A fixed land position is usually easier for sharp long-exposure images, while the boat introduces movement and glare from the city. You may still take good pictures, but this cruise is better suited to watching the sky than producing a polished photo set.

It also suits a first night in Reykjavík. You can see the city lit up, learn how the crew reads the conditions, and potentially spot the aurora at the start of your Iceland visit. If the sky remains blank, you have a clear idea of whether to try again on land or return to the boat.

Who should book this cruise?

I would consider it a good fit for you if you want:

• A comfortable way to search for the Northern Lights
• A mix of Reykjavík sightseeing and open-water viewing
• A warm indoor place to escape the cold
• Help from a guide with the sky and basic camera settings
• The option to return free if the lights do not appear
• An evening activity that does not require a long drive outside the city

It may not suit you if you have only one night available, need guaranteed results, or care most about photography. The aurora is never guaranteed, and even a successful sighting might be faint, brief, or difficult to photograph from a moving boat.

Families, couples, and first-time visitors to Iceland should find the format easy to manage because you can choose between the deck and the heated saloon. People with strict schedules should look closely at the departure time and return option before booking.

The practical verdict

I like this cruise because it treats the Northern Lights as a natural event, not a scheduled show. You get a warm place to sit, a helpful crew, a proper view of Reykjavík from the water, and a free second attempt if the sky stays quiet.

Book it if you want the experience of searching from the sea and value comfort more than photographic control. Skip it if you want guaranteed aurora, dislike waiting, or have no chance to use the return offer. At $111, the trip earns its price through the combination of city sights, onboard facilities, and crew support, but the final decision still belongs to the weather.

FAQ

Where does the Northern Lights cruise depart from?

The cruise departs from the Elding Whale Watching boat at Reykjavík Old Harbour, Ægisgarður 5, 101 Reykjavík.

How long does the cruise last?

The cruise lasts approximately 2.5 hours. Starting times vary, so check availability for your chosen date.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

Are warm clothes provided?

Yes. Warm overalls, raincoats, and blankets are available on board.

Is there an indoor area on the boat?

Yes. The boat has a heated indoor saloon with comfortable seating and toilets.

Is food or drink included?

No. Other refreshments are not included, but the onboard café sells hot drinks and snacks.

What happens if the Northern Lights do not appear?

You are offered another trip free of charge. The sighting guarantee is useful if you have another night available in Reykjavík.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.