Press release -
Northern Lights ranked #1 Bucket List Experience as Hurtigruten Celebrates 10 Years of its Pioneering Northern Lights Promise
Oslo, Norway (September 10, 2024) – Hurtigruten is not only the iconic leader in Norwegian coastal cruise voyages but also the best opportunity to see what has once again been ranked as the number one bucket list trip/experience: the Northern Lights.
September marks the start of the official Aurora Borealis season, and the coming months will provide one of the best ever viewing opportunities as the Sun heads towards solar maximum in 2024/25 – a peak in solar activity that only occurs every 11 years, resulting in an increased number of charged particles released into space.
Travel company Skyhook surveyed 4,000 people from different countries across the world about their ultimate bucket list experiences. Seeing the Northern Lights came out on top overall, ahead of Machu Picchu, the Galapagos Islands, Antarctica, and an African safari, to name a few other high-ranking dream experiences. Gen Z respondents, born between 1997 and 2012, ranked the Northern Lights the highest of any other group, with around 60% having it at the top of their list.
“While we have offered guests cruises to see the Northern Lights since 1893, this coming winter season will be one of the best ever to see this natural phenomenon due to the solar maximum. Hurtigruten really does offer one of the best possibilities in the world to see the Northern Lights as our ships travel through the large geographical hotspot for the Aurora Borealis – Nordland, Troms, and Finnmark in Northern Norway – for multiple days each sailing. Additionally, the chances of viewing the Northern Lights from a ship are significantly better compared with on land, especially with minimal light pollution onboard Hurtigruten’s ships. That’s why we confidently introduced our unique Northern Lights Promise 10 years ago, and in recent years have added astronomy-led itineraries, and as of this year, our very our Chief Aurora Chaser, offering guests a wide range of options to experience their bucket list wishes,” said Hurtigruten CEO Hedda Felin.
Due to the extremely high visibility rate of the Northern Lights during its cruises, Hurtigruten pioneered the Northern Lights Promise 10 years ago. Earlier this year, the cruise liner introduced the world’s first Chief Aurora Chaser, astronomer Tom Kerss, the esteemed Northern Lights astronomer. He is one of several astronomers partnering with Hurtigruten, and this upcoming 2024/25 winter season, Hurtigruten will offer nine astronomer-led itineraries following a strong response to the 2023/24 season’s astronomy voyages. Meanwhile, Hurtigruten offers 266 itineraries this upcoming winter season where guests can expect to see the Northern Lights.
The designated astronomer-hosted itineraries provide travelers with an onboard Northern Lights expert, offering invaluable insights into the Northern Lights phenomenon. Moreover, they elevate the guest experience by leading digital talks, webinars, and workshops, as well as organizing engaging and innovative guest-focused activities and events.
Hurtigruten's Chief Aurora Chaser, Tom Kerss.
“Since Hurtigruten launched the Northern Lights Promise a decade ago, nearly a full cycle of solar activity has passed. Now we're approaching solar maximum again, and all signs point to a superb season ahead, exceeding the performance of the last maximum in 2014. There will be ample opportunities to witness dramatic, spellbinding displays of the Northern Lights as choppy space weather, churned up by the Sun, frequently arrives at Earth. With that in mind, it's a perfect time to be planning your aurora-chasing adventure in Arctic Norway. Being always on the move, and with the expertise on board to give you a heads-up, the chances are you won't just cross the Northern Lights off your bucket list, but also add several unique aurora experiences to the top of the list and cross them all off in a single voyage! Now's your chance to experience the unmatched beauty of the Arctic sky, safe in the knowledge that with the Northern Lights Promise, you really can't go wrong,” said Hurtigruten’s Chief Aurora Chaser Tom Kerss.
Earlier this year, Hurtigruten also announced the extension of its Northern Lights Promise period to commence mid-September, rather than October.
Hurtigruten has long been synonymous with the best of Norway's natural wonders, and its various initiatives underscore Hurtigruten's unwavering commitment to providing unparalleled Northern Lights experiences. It also reaffirms Norway as the ultimate destination to witness this awe-inspiring natural phenomenon.
For more information and to book Hurtigruten Northern Lights voyages, please visit Hurtigruten.com or call Hurtigruten directly at 888.501.6034 (North America).
For more information, please contact:
Anders Lindström
Head of PR and Communications, Americas, Hurtigruten
+1.646.944.9029
Anders.Lindstrom@hurtigruten.com
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About Hurtigruten
The unique Original Coastal Express Voyages have remained the very same for most of the 131 years since Hurtigruten conceived the itinerary up and down the Norwegian coast on July 2, 1893. The route, from Bergen to Kirkenes and back, takes in 34 enchanting coastal communities set amongst world-famous fjords, on idyllic islands and tucked under towering mountains. These itineraries have been the lifeblood of the coastal communities since that first day, making Hurtigruten an authentic Norwegian travel experience.
Hurtigruten’s Signature Voyages are the venerable cruise line’s newest category, a premium experience created to significantly elevate the Norway cruising experience and redefine small-ship sailing.
• The Svalbard Line sails in the summer and lets passengers relive the adventures of the early explorers by traveling up the Norway coastline to the Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic Ocean.
• The North Cape Line in the winter sends you high into the northern landscape to view the magical Northern Lights.
