Reykjavik: Northern Lights Motor Yacht Cruise

The northern lights are never guaranteed, but this 2.5-hour yacht cruise gives you a pleasant way to wait for them. You leave Reykjavík Old Harbor, pass Harpa Concert Hall and the Sun Voyager, then move into darker water behind the islands of Faxaflói Bay.

I like the warm indoor cabin and the blankets, especially when the wind comes up. I also like the smaller MY Harpa, which carries only 35 people, though some departures use MY Amelia Rose, which can hold up to 95. The main drawback is simple: clouds can hide the aurora, and a boat cannot always move as far or as flexibly as a land-based tour.

Key points at a glance

• A city-to-darkness route: See Harpa, the Sun Voyager, Höfði house, and the Reykjavík shoreline before heading into Faxaflói Bay.
• Two possible yachts: MY Harpa holds up to 35 passengers, while MY Amelia Rose holds up to 95.
• Comfort in cold weather: Indoor seating, free Wi-Fi, and warm blankets are included.
• Aurora viewing is weather dependent: You may see a spectacular display, a brief glow, or nothing at all.
• A useful repeat-trip policy: You can cancel up to 24 hours ahead, and some passengers have been helped with a free second outing after a no-show.
• Good value for a boat experience: At $99, you are paying for the cruise, crew, and setting as much as for the possibility of the lights.

Leaving Reykjavík Old Harbor after dark

Check in inside the restaurant at the Old Boat House, using the self-check-in kiosk. This is worth knowing because the meeting point can be easy to miss if you are standing outside and looking for a separate tour office.

Once aboard, you can choose an indoor seat or head outside. The cabin gives you shelter from the cold and lets you watch the coast through the windows while the boat is moving. The deck is the better place for photographs and open-sky viewing, but you will want a proper jacket, hat, and gloves even with the supplied blankets.

The cruise begins with Reykjavík as part of the show. Harpa Concert Hall is especially striking from the water. Its glass front catches the city lights, and its geometric pattern was inspired by Iceland’s basalt formations. You also pass the Sun Voyager, Jón Gunnar Árnason’s steel sculpture facing the bay.

This first stretch is not just filler before the aurora hunt. It gives you an easy introduction to Reykjavík from a different angle, and the city lights help you keep your bearings before the yacht reaches darker water.

Into Faxaflói Bay for a darker sky

The yacht heads out into Faxaflói Bay, where the crew looks for a useful balance between darkness, weather, and sea conditions. The route takes you behind islands such as Viðey, away from some of Reykjavík’s strongest lights.

That darker setting matters. The aurora can be faint at first, and city glare may wash out pale green or gray streaks. On a strong night, the lights can appear clearly over the city. On a weak night, getting farther from the brightest streets may make the difference between seeing a glow and seeing nothing.

The boat provides a stable platform for photography. You do not need to walk over rough ground or wait beside a roadside in the cold. Still, a moving vessel has limits. A land vehicle can sometimes chase clearer weather in another direction, while the yacht follows a set water route. One practical account of the cruise made this point well: the boat is comfortable and attractive, but a land tour may have more room to seek a break in the clouds.

That is the trade-off. You get the quiet feeling of open water and a distinctive view of Reykjavík, but you give up some flexibility.

What the guide adds to the night

The crew does more than point toward the sky. Guides explain the science of the Aurora Borealis, including how solar particles interact with Earth’s atmosphere. They may also tell Icelandic legends and local stories, which gives the waiting time a little shape when the sky is quiet.

The quality of the commentary can vary by departure. Some trips have included clear explanations and steady updates when the lights appeared. A few people have wished for more detail during parts of the cruise, so do not expect a nonstop lecture from departure to return.

That said, the strongest departures have had guides who kept watch while passengers stayed warm inside. This is useful because aurora activity can arrive suddenly. You do not want to spend the whole night staring into a cloudy sky, then miss a brief opening while buying a drink.

Einar has previously led family-run trips connected with this type of outing, and Seamus at the Old Harbor House has helped passengers arrange another attempt after a first night without aurora. Staff names and crew assignments can change, so treat those details as examples rather than promises for your sailing.

The landmarks along the Reykjavík coast

The cruise gives you several memorable views before the sky becomes the main event.

Harpa Concert Hall: From the bay, the glass façade looks different from its street view. The building’s angular pattern reflects Iceland’s natural forms, and it is one of the easiest landmarks to recognize from the yacht.

Sun Voyager: This steel sculpture resembles a Viking ship, though its meaning is more about dreams, hope, and discovery than a literal historical vessel. Seen from the water, it fits the setting particularly well.

Höfði house: This modest white house has an important place in modern political history. Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev met there in 1986, during a summit often linked with the end of the Cold War. From a boat, you get a rare outward view rather than the usual roadside glance.

Viðey and the Imagine Peace Tower: From October 9 to December 8, and on selected other dates, Yoko Ono’s Imagine Peace Tower shines from Viðey. Its presence adds another point of light to the night, though it is not the same thing as an aurora and visibility depends on the route and conditions.

These sights make the outing worthwhile even on a cloudy night. They also give your guide something concrete to discuss while everyone waits for the sky to change.

Waiting for the aurora on deck

The northern lights are created when solar particles interact with Earth’s atmosphere. That explanation is simple, but the experience itself can be hard to predict. You might see a strong green curtain moving overhead, a faint arc that only your camera seems to capture, or a short burst just as the yacht turns back toward Reykjavík.

Several departures have had the lights appear late in the cruise, sometimes near the return to the harbor. This is why I would stay alert until the boat is nearly back. Do not assume that a quiet first hour means the night is finished.

Cloud is the biggest practical threat. Rain and heavy cover can block a display even when aurora activity is present above the clouds. A few short sightings have occurred through difficult weather, but you should book this as a chance to see the lights, not as a guaranteed performance.

The crew can tell you when activity appears, which is helpful if you prefer to stay indoors until there is something worth facing the cold for. When you go outside, use the blanket as an extra layer rather than as your only protection. Icelandic winter weather can change quickly around the water.

MY Harpa or MY Amelia Rose?

You may sail on one of two yachts.

MY Harpa carries up to 35 passengers. If your departure uses this boat, the lower capacity can make the outing feel more personal, with less crowding around the deck and easier access to the guide.

MY Amelia Rose can hold up to 95 passengers. That is still a limited-size boat outing compared with a large sightseeing vessel, but it will feel less intimate than MY Harpa when full.

Your booking does not appear to guarantee one specific yacht. This matters if you are choosing the cruise because of the smaller boat rather than simply because you want to be on the water. A past boat substitution also shows that operational changes can happen, including repairs or electrical problems. On that occasion, the replacement vessel still provided a good aurora outing, but it lacked some of the expected comforts.

The standard inclusions are indoor seating, free Wi-Fi, an experienced crew, and warm blankets. Hot drinks, cold drinks, and snacks such as chocolate are available at the bar for an extra charge.

Is $99 good value?

At $99 per person, this is not the cheapest way to search for the aurora. You are paying for a two-and-a-half-hour boat trip, not simply transport to a dark viewing point.

I think the price makes sense for three types of visitor:

• You want the northern lights and a pleasant evening on the bay even if the sky stays cloudy.
• You prefer a warm cabin, toilets and a bar-style setting, rather than standing outdoors beside a vehicle.
• You are staying in central Reykjavík and want an outing that begins at the Old Harbor without a long transfer.

The value is weaker if your only goal is to maximize the odds of seeing the aurora. A land-based vehicle may be able to move toward clearer skies and darker areas. The boat offers a more memorable setting, but not the same freedom to change direction.

The cruise also becomes better value if you see the lights clearly. A strong display over open water, with Reykjavík glowing behind you, is a special combination. Several outings have produced exactly that sort of evening, while others have ended with only a brief glimpse or no sighting.

Weather, cancellations, and the second-chance question

Northern lights tours need patience. The cruise may be cancelled when conditions are unsafe, and departures have occasionally been postponed for weather. If your trip is cancelled, or if the lights fail to appear, ask staff what options apply to your booking.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Iceland schedule depends on the weather forecast.

A second attempt can make sense if your schedule allows it. One passenger was helped with a free return trip after missing the lights on the first outing. Do not assume every booking receives the same arrangement, but it is worth asking at the Old Harbor House before you leave Reykjavík.

For the best chance of success, schedule this cruise early in your stay rather than on your final night. That gives you room to try again, choose a land-based outing later, or simply accept the weather without losing your only opportunity.

Who will enjoy this cruise most?

I would choose this for couples, families, and first-time visitors who want the aurora search to feel like a proper evening activity. The boat, city views, indoor cabin, and guide commentary give the outing value even when the sky refuses to cooperate.

It also suits anyone who dislikes long roadside waits. You can sit inside, buy a hot drink, and hear updates from the crew instead of standing outdoors for the full two and a half hours.

Families should appreciate the gentle pace and the chance to move between cabin and deck. People nervous about being at sea may find the yacht reassuring because the city lights remain visible on the horizon for much of the route, and the vessel does not travel at a frantic speed.

I would hesitate if you are very sensitive to motion, strongly opposed to cold-weather outdoor viewing, or focused only on finding the clearest possible sky. The yacht is comfortable, but it is still a boat in a cold bay. Conditions can be damp, windy, and unsettled.

Practical advice before you go

Dress warmer than you think you need. Wear a warm jacket, gloves, and a hat, and keep your camera or phone battery protected from the cold. The blankets help, but they are not a replacement for proper clothing.

Arrive with enough time to find the Old Boat House restaurant and use the check-in kiosk. If the map seems to place you outside, go into the restaurant rather than waiting around the harbor.

When you board, take an indoor seat first if the weather is poor. You can move outside when the guide announces aurora activity. This approach keeps you warm and saves your energy for the moments that matter.

For photographs, use the deck when the sky clears. The stable yacht helps, but low light still makes sharp images difficult. Keep your expectations realistic: the colors visible to your eyes may be softer than the vivid green images produced by a long camera exposure.

Should you book the Reykjavík Northern Lights Motor Yacht Cruise?

Book it if you want a comfortable, scenic aurora hunt with Reykjavík landmarks, open water, indoor seating, blankets, and a bar. The best version of this outing is hard to beat: the city behind you, dark bay ahead, and the lights moving over the water.

Skip it if you want the most flexible possible chase for clear skies, or if $99 feels too high for an experience that might end without an aurora. The risk is real, but so is the reward. For many people, the combination of the cruise and the northern lights makes the evening worth the gamble.

FAQ

How long is the Northern Lights Motor Yacht Cruise?

The cruise lasts 2.5 hours.

Where does the cruise depart?

It departs from Reykjavík Old Harbor. Check in inside the restaurant at the Old Boat House using the self-check-in kiosk.

Which languages are available?

The live guide service is available in Icelandic and English.

Which boat will I sail on?

You may sail on MY Harpa, which holds up to 35 passengers, or MY Amelia Rose, which holds up to 95 passengers.

Are blankets and indoor seating included?

Yes. The cruise includes an inside seating area, warm blankets, and free Wi-Fi.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. Reserve now and pay later is also available.