From Reykjavik: Northern Lights Boat Cruise

The best part of this Northern Lights boat cruise is the change of setting. You leave Reykjavik’s streetlights behind and watch the sky from Faxaflói, with the city glowing at your back and open water ahead. On a good night, the Aurora Borealis may appear as a faint veil or a bright, shifting show.

I like the heated indoor cabin and the warm flotation overalls, since this is still Iceland in winter. I also like the free return ticket if the lights do not appear. Guide Lucas has helped guests with camera settings, taken photos, and even stayed late to help find a lost phone. The catch is simple: two hours on the water cannot force clouds to clear or the aurora to appear.

Key points to know

• The boat leaves Reykjavik for Faxaflói: You get a darker viewing area and fine night views back toward the city.
• Warm flotation overalls are supplied: They help, but you should still wear proper cold-weather clothing.
• The free retry matters: If no lights appear, you can use your booking number to join again.
• Guide Lucas adds practical help: He has assisted with camera settings and taken photos for guests.
• The cabin is more than a backup plan: It has heating, toilets, WiFi, and refreshments available for purchase.
• The $101 price buys flexibility, not a guarantee: The real value is the equipment, guide service, and second chance when conditions fail.

Leaving Reykjavik for a darker sky

You meet at Geirsgata 11, at the Special Tours office on the corner, and should arrive 30 minutes early. That extra time is useful. You need to check in, get settled, and collect the right size of warm flotation suit before boarding.

The boat heads out from Reykjavik into Faxaflói. This is not a sightseeing cruise with several shore stops. The whole outing is built around finding a darker patch of sky and waiting for the aurora. The route can change with cloud cover and conditions, but you should expect to spend the full trip on or near the water rather than stepping ashore.

That setup has two advantages. First, you leave the strongest city lights behind. Second, the sea gives you a wide view in every direction. You can look away from Reykjavik toward darker skies, then turn around for a memorable view of the city from the water.

There is also a tradeoff. A boat is not a magic escape from bad weather. Clouds, weak solar activity, and changing conditions can still spoil the show. You are paying for a well-organized search, not a guaranteed curtain call from the aurora.

What the two-hour schedule feels like

The advertised trip lasts about two hours, though actual timing can vary. One outing lasted close to four hours when the captain stayed out while the crew waited for a chance to see the lights. Another trip added roughly 40 minutes when the aurora became visible near the end.

That flexibility is welcome when conditions look promising. If the sky starts to open, the captain may give the group more time rather than turning straight back. Still, you should plan your evening around the stated two-hour duration and treat any extra time as a bonus, not a promise.

You can move between the heated cabin and the outside deck. The deck is where you want to be when the sky begins to change, but the cabin is important during the waiting periods. Aurora hunting involves a lot of watching and very little action. A warm place to sit makes that wait far easier.

Some people spend much of the trip outside, especially after putting on the supplied overalls. Others use the cabin as their base and step outside for checks. I recommend the second approach unless you handle cold very well. You will see more if you stay comfortable and alert instead of trying to prove you can stand on deck all night.

Warm suits, cold air, and the cabin

The warm flotation overalls are one of the strongest practical features. They are designed to go over your own clothing, so choose a size that leaves room for your layers. One useful tip is to request an extra size if needed. A tight suit over a winter coat is awkward and less useful than a roomy one.

Wear weather-appropriate clothes underneath. The supplied suit is not a replacement for warm socks, gloves, a hat, or layers. The outside deck can feel very cold, especially during the ride out and back. One person found the suits warm enough to remain on the roof deck comfortably, but also noted that the cold was noticeable when moving in and out.

The heated cabin gives you a sensible escape. It has toilet facilities, WiFi, and a bar where you can buy snacks and drinks. Food and drink are not included in the $101 price, so bring money or a payment method if you want something during the trip.

There is a small practical point about the toilets. Getting out of a bulky suit in a compact bathroom can be awkward. Use the toilet before boarding if you can, then give yourself extra time when you need to go. Seats may also be damp after people come in from the deck, so a small personal towel or waterproof layer could be useful, though neither is listed as supplied.

Complimentary seasickness tablets are available. That is a thoughtful touch, but the boat is still on the sea, and the tablets do not guarantee that everyone will feel fine. If you are prone to motion sickness, ask about them before departure rather than waiting until you feel unwell.

The guide’s stories and hands-on help

The English-speaking guide provides commentary during the search. The talk covers the science behind the aurora as well as Icelandic beliefs, local legends, and older ideas about the lights. That gives the waiting time some purpose, especially on a night when the sky stays dark.

The strongest guide feedback centers on Lucas, who has been described as funny, kind, and generous with his time. He has helped people adjust camera settings, taken pictures for them, and assisted with practical problems after the boat returned. In one case, he stayed late to help look for a lost phone and then gave the passengers a ride back to their hotel.

That kind of service matters on an experience built around uncertainty. A good guide cannot produce the aurora, but can make the search more pleasant and help you get more from whatever the night provides.

The commentary is also useful for understanding what you are seeing. The lights may look stronger in a long-exposure photograph than they do to your eyes. On one outing, the aurora was faint to the naked eye but more visible in a photo. Do not assume that a weak visual display means the camera is malfunctioning.

The crew has also taken photos of people under the night sky and made them available online afterward. This is especially helpful if you want a memory of the occasion without spending the whole trip trying to operate your phone in gloves.

Seeing the aurora from the water

The Northern Lights are unpredictable. That fact should shape your expectations before you book. Even with clear skies, the lights may be weak or absent. On some nights, the main pleasure is star-gazing, the sea air, and the view of Reykjavik and the surrounding mountains from the boat.

When the aurora appears, the experience can change quickly. A pale band may strengthen, move, and spread across the sky. The dark water and reduced city light give you a good setting for watching, though the boat itself will still have some lighting and other people around you.

The open deck is the best place for the full effect. Step outside when the guide signals a possible sighting, and keep your phone or camera ready. At the same time, do not spend the whole trip staring at a screen. The lights can be more impressive when you simply watch them.

Photography requires patience. Camera settings may need adjustment, and the display can look different in a photograph than it does in person. Ask the guide for help. Lucas has been particularly helpful with camera settings, which may save you from producing a gallery of black skies and blurry lights.

If the lights are only faint, you may see more through a camera than with your eyes. That is not a flaw in the trip. It is part of photographing a low-light natural event. Keep your expectations realistic, and enjoy the sight itself rather than chasing a perfect picture.

The free retry and what it is really worth

If no Northern Lights appear, you can use your booking number to reschedule. This is the feature that makes the $101 price easier to defend. A failed night does not automatically mean the money is gone, provided you have another evening available.

You may book the return trip for the following night without an extra charge. That works best if you are staying in Reykjavik for several nights and have room in your schedule. It is less useful if this is your final night in Iceland or if you are leaving early the next morning.

The retry policy does not guarantee success on the second attempt. Some people have gone out twice and still seen nothing. But it gives you another chance without paying again, which is a fair response to a natural event no operator can control.

The policy also makes this cruise a better early-trip activity than a last-night gamble. Book it near the start of your Reykjavik stay if you can. Then bad weather or weak aurora activity may be disappointing, but it will not end your only opportunity.

Is $101 a fair price?

At $101 per person, this is not the cheapest way to look for the Northern Lights. You are paying for a boat, crew, guide commentary, warm flotation overalls, heated indoor space, toilets, WiFi, and a free retry if the lights fail to appear.

The value is strongest for visitors who want the experience of being on the water. You get a different view of Reykjavik and a broad sky rather than standing in a dark field outside town. The cabin also makes the wait more comfortable than a fully outdoor search.

The value is weaker if your only goal is the highest possible chance of seeing the aurora. This cruise cannot promise better solar activity or clear weather. Since food and drinks cost extra and hotel transfers are not included, you also need to handle your own transport to Geirsgata 11.

I would consider the price reasonable for a flexible evening outing, especially if you have multiple nights in Reykjavik. The free second trip is a real benefit, not a minor footnote. If you have only one night available, the price feels riskier because the central attraction may not appear.

Who should choose this cruise?

This suits you if you want a relaxed Northern Lights search with a warm indoor fallback. It works well for couples, families, and anyone who prefers not to stand in a snowy field for hours. The wheelchair-accessible boat also makes it an option for people who need accessible arrangements.

You should choose it if the sea setting appeals to you, if you enjoy hearing the legends behind the aurora, or if you want a guide who can help with photographs. It is also a good fit if you have enough time in Reykjavik to use the free retry.

You may prefer another approach if you dislike boats, get seasick easily, or have a very tight schedule. The trip includes waiting, and there is no guarantee of a strong display. You should also avoid treating it as a quick photo stop. Nature may provide a great show, a faint one, or nothing at all.

Practical advice for a better night

Arrive 30 minutes early at Geirsgata 11 and confirm the check-in point at the Special Tours office on the corner. The meeting point is not hotel pickup, so plan your own way there and back.

Wear layers that fit comfortably under the flotation overall. Bring gloves and a hat, and choose footwear suitable for cold conditions. Ask for a larger suit if your clothing makes the first one feel tight.

Use the cabin whenever you need to warm up. You will enjoy the deck more if you take breaks instead of staying outside continuously. Before boarding, use the toilet and ask about the complimentary seasickness tablets if you need them.

Keep your booking number. If the sky stays empty, you will need it to arrange the free return trip. Try to leave at least one spare evening in your Reykjavik schedule so the retry is practical.

The cruise is delivered in English, and the guide provides live commentary. At certain times of year, environmental efforts may mean sharing a boat with a partner operator so fewer boats are on the water. That may affect the exact onboard arrangement, but the aim is to reduce pressure on the marine setting.

Should you book this Northern Lights boat cruise?

Book it if you want the aurora hunt to be part of a comfortable evening on the sea, not just a quick attempt to tick off a natural wonder. The warm suits, heated cabin, guide support, and free retry give you a fair amount of protection against Iceland’s changeable conditions.

I would book it early in a Reykjavik stay, not on the final night. Go in expecting star-gazing and city views as well as Northern Lights. If the aurora appears, the open water can make the moment special. If it does not, you still have a warm place to wait and another chance to return.

Skip it if your schedule allows only one short evening or if you strongly dislike boats. For everyone else, $101 is a reasonable price for the equipment, comfort, guide service, and second attempt, as long as you accept the one rule nature will not bend: the lights decide when they appear.

FAQ

Where does the Northern Lights boat cruise depart?

The meeting point is Geirsgata 11 in Reykjavik. Check in at the Special Tours office on the corner and arrive 30 minutes before departure.

How long does the cruise last?

The advertised duration is two hours. Some trips may run longer when conditions look promising, but extra time is not guaranteed.

What happens if no Northern Lights appear?

You can use your booking number to reschedule and join the trip again at no extra charge.

Are warm clothes provided?

Warm flotation overalls are provided. You should still bring weather-appropriate clothing to wear underneath and prepare for cold air on the deck.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Snacks and drinks can be purchased onboard, but they are not included in the tour price.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you must make your own way to and from Geirsgata 11.

Is the boat wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.