Northern Lights Cruise from Reykjavik Including Photos

The best part of this cruise is the chance to watch the sky from Faxafloi Bay, away from some of Reykjavik’s city glow. You can step outside for stars and aurora or retreat indoors to a heated viewing area with a hot drink. I like the thermal overalls and the free retry ticket most. They solve two common problems: cold weather and the simple fact that the northern lights do not follow a timetable.

I also like the crew’s practical help with photography. Guides such as Lukas have been praised for clear explanations, and crew members can help you point your camera in the right direction. The main drawback is the sea itself. Wind can make the boat rock, and a full departure may leave little room on deck. An aurora cruise gives you comfort, but not certainty.

Key points to know before you book

• Thermal overalls are included: Children’s sizes are available, and the suits matter once you leave the warm cabin.
• The cruise lasts about 2.5 hours: You sail from Special Tours at Geirsgata 11 and return there at the end.
• The free retry is useful: If you join but see no lights, you can use another ticket on the next available day, with no stated expiration.
• Photos are included: Images taken during each cruise are available to download free of charge.
• The boat can fill up: Capacity is listed at up to 198 people, so a rescheduled sailing may feel crowded outdoors.
• Weather controls the evening: A cancellation may mean a new date, a refund, or a bus alternative, depending on the conditions and option offered.

Sailing from Geirsgata 11 into Faxafloi Bay

Your evening begins at Special Tours, Geirsgata 11, in central Reykjavik. The activity ends at the same point, so you do not need to arrange a separate return from the harbor. Hotel pickup can be added directly with the operator for an extra fee, but it is not part of the basic price.

The cruise takes about two hours and thirty minutes. That timing usually gives the boat enough time to move away from the brightest part of the city, settle into darker water, and return before the night becomes too late for most sightseeing plans. Still, do not book a tight dinner reservation immediately afterward. Sea conditions and the search for a late appearance can affect the exact feel of the return.

Once aboard, you can use the heated indoor seating, free WiFi, and onboard facilities. The boat carries up to 198 people, so this is not a small private expedition. That larger size brings useful comforts, including indoor space and a better chance of finding a seat, but it can also mean a crowded outer deck.

The route itself is not a sightseeing cruise with a long list of shore stops. The point is to get into darker water and watch the sky. If you want a boat ride with constant scenery or fast movement, this may feel slow. One unfavorable experience described the cruise as boring because the boat did not go farther or faster. That is a fair warning: the reward comes from the sky, not from a packed itinerary.

What happens during the search

The guide explains how the aurora forms when particles in Earth’s atmosphere collide. You also hear Icelandic stories and myths, with the guide separating old beliefs from current science. That narration gives the quiet parts of the trip a purpose, especially when clouds hide the stars.

The guide normally points out where to watch and helps you understand what you are seeing. On a strong night, the lights may appear as a pale green arc before becoming brighter and more active. Some departures have also brought clear views of stars, constellations, and even shooting stars.

You should keep your eyes open even when the display seems weak. A camera may pick up color and detail that your eyes barely notice, particularly during a faint aurora. The crew takes photos on every tour and makes them available to download at no extra charge. Crew members can also help you with camera settings or positioning, which is useful if you have never photographed the night sky.

The best moments can come late in the trip. The lights may appear just when the crew is considering turning back, and the boat may stay out longer to give you more viewing time. That extra patience has made a difference on successful evenings. It is not a promise that the boat will extend every sailing, but the crew does watch conditions rather than treating the schedule as an absolute cutoff.

Thermal suits, hot drinks, and the indoor escape

I would use the thermal overall, even if the evening does not seem brutally cold at the dock. Water and wind make the outer deck colder than Reykjavik’s streets, and several accounts specifically warn that you should wear the suit. Children’s sizes are available, which makes this a practical option for families who do not want to buy winter gear for a single night.

Put the suit on carefully and choose a larger size if you are between sizes. You will want room for your own layers, and a tight suit is less useful when you are standing still in wind. Bring gloves and a hat if you have them, even though the overall adds important insulation.

The indoor area gives this cruise an advantage over an open-air vehicle or a long roadside wait. You can warm up, sit down, use the facilities, and purchase refreshments. Food and drink are not included, and the exact snack setup may be modest rather than café-like. Available items have included hot chocolate, chocolate bars, chips, and alcoholic additions such as Baileys with hot chocolate.

Do not assume that the drink service is the central feature. One poor experience found the refreshment area small and unattended. The safe approach is to treat onboard food as optional convenience, not part of the main value. Eat beforehand and bring any personal essentials allowed by the operator.

How good is the chance of seeing the aurora?

No northern lights tour can promise a sighting. You need darkness, suitable cloud cover, and enough aurora activity. A boat can reduce some city light, but it cannot control clouds or solar conditions.

The cruise does give you a sensible viewing position. Moving out across the bay can make the sky darker than it is around central Reykjavik, and several successful nights produced clear green arcs and dancing curtains visible to the naked eye. On other nights, the boat found no lights at all because cloud covered the sky.

The free retry ticket is therefore a major part of the value. If you take the cruise and see nothing, you receive another ticket for the next available day. The offer does not expire and can reportedly be used even years later, although you still need an available sailing. That last point matters. One person tried to rebook but found the next departure full, while also being unsure whether to contact Viator or the operator. Rebook as soon as you know you need another attempt, and confirm the procedure at the meeting point.

The retry policy is not the same as a refund after you have taken the cruise. Once you have joined and used the service, the remedy for no sighting is another ticket, not your money back. If you have already used the retry, there is no further refund.

Weather cancellations need careful attention

The operator can cancel when weather makes the cruise unsafe or viewing conditions poor. If the trip is canceled before you join and the conditions are unsuitable, you may be offered a different date or a full refund. If the sea is rough but the aurora forecast still looks promising, you may instead be offered a Northern Lights by Bus tour.

The bus option is treated as the same-price alternative, so choosing it does not create a refund. Read the message you receive on the day and ask exactly which option is being offered before you accept it. The cruise and bus are different experiences, even if both aim at the same sky.

The cancellation policy also matters for your own plans. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the scheduled start. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not refunded. Cutoff times use local Icelandic time.

I would avoid booking this as your only possible aurora attempt on the last night of a short visit. A cancellation or a missed sighting may leave no time to use the free retry. Booking early in your stay gives the policy a practical purpose.

Crowds, boat comfort, and motion on the water

The boat is described as comfortable, with plenty of lower-deck seating on some departures, including the vessel Andrea. Boats may vary, so do not expect the same layout every night. The maximum group size is 198, and a canceled sailing can push extra people onto the next departure.

A full boat can make the outer deck awkward. You may have to wait for a clear spot or share the best viewing areas. If you want uninterrupted control of your camera and plenty of elbow room, a smaller land-based tour may suit you better.

Sea motion is another real consideration. A windy night can make the boat rock, and one account found the movement frightening. Another described the last part of the cruise as uncomfortable because of wind and speed. If you are prone to motion sickness, ask about the most stable indoor seating and consider bringing your usual remedy, though the supplied information does not specify any onboard medical service.

The crew generally helps people find the best viewing direction and photography position. Service quality can vary by departure, but the strongest experiences included friendly staff, patient waiting, useful camera advice, and guides who kept the mood light. The quieter or less successful nights can feel long, particularly if rain and cloud cover block the sky.

What you get for $108.13

At $108.13 per person, this is not the cheapest way to look for the aurora. The price makes more sense when you count the included thermal overalls, heated indoor seating, WiFi, onboard photography, and free retry after a missed sighting. You also avoid buying specialist winter clothing for one evening.

The retry ticket is the biggest value feature. A failed first night does not automatically turn the payment into a total loss, provided you have enough time and an available departure. The policy becomes less useful if your schedule is fixed, the boat is full, or you are leaving Reykjavik immediately.

Compared with a bus tour, the boat offers a different type of comfort. You are not sitting in a coach for hours while staff search roads and open ground. You can move between the deck and a warm cabin, and the sea gives you a broad horizon. On the other hand, a bus can be easier if the water is rough, and land transport may reach darker areas more effectively on a particular night.

I would call the price reasonable for someone who values warmth, toilets, seating, and a second chance. I would hesitate if your only goal is the strongest possible aurora odds, since the boat still depends on the same clouds and solar activity as every other option.

Who should choose this cruise?

This suits you if you want a first aurora outing with basic comforts and a simple meeting point in Reykjavik. It also works well for families because thermal overalls come in children’s sizes and the heated cabin gives everyone a break from the cold.

Photographers may appreciate the free images and crew assistance, but a moving boat is not an easy platform for sharp night shots. You will need patience, a steady grip, and luck with the wind. Keep your camera ready, since a short burst of activity may appear without much warning.

Choose it if you like the idea of watching stars from the water and hearing both science and Icelandic folklore. Skip it in favor of a land-based option if you dislike rocking boats, need a guaranteed schedule, or want the quietest possible setting.

The experience has a middling overall rating of 3.9 from 345 ratings, which fits the nature of the product. The best evenings sound unforgettable, with green curtains overhead and a crew that stays out for a better view. The worst evenings involve rain, cramped decks, rough water, and no aurora. Both outcomes are possible on the same tour.

Should you book the Northern Lights Cruise?

Book it if you have at least two evenings in Reykjavik, want warmth and indoor seating, and accept that the aurora is a natural event rather than a scheduled show. The free retry gives you a sensible safety net, and the included suit and photos add real value to the price.

I would book early in your stay, keep the following night flexible, and ask about rebooking as soon as the crew confirms no sighting. If the forecast is poor, check whether the operator is canceling, offering another date, or substituting a bus trip.

For a comfortable, social search from Reykjavik, this is a solid choice. For the darkest skies, smallest group, or most control over your route, compare it with a land tour before paying.

FAQ

How long does the Northern Lights Cruise take?

The cruise lasts approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Where does the cruise start and finish?

It starts at Special Tours, Geirsgata 11, 101 Reykjavik, and finishes back at the same meeting point.

Are thermal overalls included?

Yes. Thermal overalls are included, and children’s sizes are available.

Is food included in the price?

No. Food and drinks can be purchased onboard, but they are not included.

Are hotel transfers included?

No. Hotel pickup can be added by booking directly with the supplier for an extra fee.

What happens if I do not see the northern lights?

You receive a free ticket to try again on the next available day. The ticket does not expire, but it depends on space being available.

Can I get a refund if the cruise is canceled because of bad weather?

If the operator cancels because of poor weather and you have not previously joined the tour, you can be offered a different date or a full refund. A bus tour may be offered instead when sea conditions are poor but viewing conditions still look promising.

Can I cancel my booking for a refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not refunded.

Are photos included?

Yes. Photos are taken on every tour and are available to download free of charge. Crew members can also assist with photography onboard.