Northern Lights

[mrsfmax]

Is it possible to see the Northern Lights from the Diamond Princess to Alaska? We leave June 26th.
Peggy

 

[PEB]

The trouble with when you are going is that the sun is up almost 24 hours so the chance of seeing Northern Lights from the cruise around a June 26 cruise is next to impossible.

 

[mrsfmax]

Thanks, I didn't think of that!
Peggy

 

[kana]

You can let the pursers office know that you want a Northern Light wake up call.

 

[SeniorSitter]

Here's a tip: It helps to know exactly what you're looking for... The Aurora Borealis has (as the Inupaq say) two 'personalities'. There's the one you see on TV and in those spectacular photos; veils of rainbow colors rippling in the sky. The other one is much more subtle and can occasionally be seen as far south as Northern Oregon. That one is a faint and shifting green glow, the color of glow-in-the-dark plastic toys. It resembles cloud shapes and will fade in and out very slowly.

Of course, as PEB stated, it is much harder to see when it's not completely dark out.

 

[nieciez]

So, can you see them if you book an early or late season Alaska cruise?

 

[PEB]

I have done several early season cruises in Alaska and have never seen the Northern Lights. It still stays birght out a long time even in early season. There was 18 hours of light while there in May and it does not get as dark as you would think during the dark hours. I have seen the Northern Lights from my home in Minnesota so I do have an idea of what to look for.

If you want to stay up until it gets dark and you look hard enough and conditions are right you may have a chance to see the Northern Lights but the chance is NOT a good one. Alaska cruising season is just not the right time or conditions for good viewing of Northern Lights, but than anything is possible its just not likely.

 

[nieciez]

Thanks for the info PEB....pretty much what I figured. Northern lights have been known to appear are far south as here in VA....it was last year or the year before I believe in about October....but I was fast asleep I have always wanted to see them. Guess I should go visit Tread and Bread in the dead of winter =eek

 

[Marion Paris]

We are going to Alaska on July 5.

How many hoiurs of daylight will there be at that time of year?

We have an inside cabin - won't have to worry about too much daylight on this cruise!

Many thanks

 

[PEB]

Marion Paris you can pretty much count on close to 24 hours of daylight and if the sun does go down it will only get like dusk and not real dark and not for long.