Northern Lights Cruise from Downtown Reykjavik

The best part of this Northern Lights cruise is the setting. You leave central Reykjavik, pass the city lights from the water, and search the northern sky from open decks in Faxaflói Bay. The trip can produce a thrilling aurora show, but it can also produce two chilly hours beneath ordinary clouds. Nature makes the rules here.

I like the warm floatable overalls and the choice between an outdoor viewing deck and a heated cabin. I also like the free return policy, which gives you another chance if the lights fail to appear. The main drawback is simple: a boat cannot steer around every cloud or escape Reykjavik’s glow as effectively as a land-based tour.

Key points at a glance

• The cruise lasts about two hours, making it a shorter evening option than many long coach excursions.
• You sail past Harpa and Hallgrímskirkja, with excellent views of Reykjavik’s lit waterfront.
• The Imagine Peace Tower may be included from October through December, when its beam is lit.
• Warm overalls are available, but you still need a hat and gloves for the exposed decks.
• No aurora means a free return cruise, with complimentary tickets valid for up to two years.
• The boat can carry up to 150 people, so busy departures may feel crowded on the best viewing decks.

Leaving Ægisgarður for the northern sky

You meet at Elding Whale Watching at Ægisgarður 5c, close to Reykjavik’s downtown harbor. The tour ends back at the same point, so you do not need to arrange a second pickup across the city.

There is no hotel pickup or drop-off included. You’ll need to make your own way to the harbor, though the meeting point is near public transportation. Plan a little extra time if you are walking from your hotel, especially in winter weather.

The boat heads out into Faxaflói Bay for roughly two hours. This is not a sightseeing cruise with several scheduled stops. The route is built around finding a darker patch of sky and giving the aurora time to appear.

That distinction matters. You are not promised a particular route, a particular strength of lights, or even a sighting. The crew can watch conditions and point you toward any visible activity, but the aurora is a natural event. Clear stars do not always mean strong lights, and a high forecast does not guarantee a display from the boat.

Reykjavik from the water

The first part of the outing gives you a pleasant bonus even if the sky stays quiet. From the bay, Reykjavik’s illuminated waterfront looks different from the usual street-level view.

You can see Harpa Concert Hall glowing near the harbor and Hallgrímskirkja rising above the city. These views give the cruise a real sense of place. You are not simply standing in a dark field waiting for color in the sky. You are also seeing the capital from an unusual angle.

From October through December, the boat sails by the Imagine Peace Tower when it is lit. The tower sends a bright beam upward from Viðey Island, and it can be one of the evening’s most memorable sights when the aurora does not cooperate.

One practical point: city lights remain part of the experience. The boat gets away from the worst of Reykjavik’s street lighting, but this is still a harbor cruise, not a remote wilderness outing. A bright aurora can be seen clearly. A faint one may be harder to spot, and your camera may record more than your eyes can see.

Outdoor decks, heated cabin, and winter clothing

The boat offers several ways to spend the evening. You can stand outside on one of the viewing platforms, move inside to the heated saloon, or go back and forth as conditions change.

The upper decks offer the widest sky and the best chance of seeing faint activity. They are also cold and windy. Even with the provided overalls, you should bring a warm hat and gloves. January departures can feel particularly sharp on the water, and the wind makes the temperature seem lower than it is on shore.

The overalls are waterproof and windproof, and they are designed to keep you warm while standing outside. Use them. Several people who saw strong lights still described the cold as a major part of the evening. The suits can make the difference between enjoying the sky and retreating indoors after ten minutes.

The heated cabin provides a useful fallback. It has seating, Wi-Fi, toilets, and an onboard café selling hot drinks and snacks. You can warm up, check the forecast, and return outside when the crew spots activity.

The boat is generally stable, but it can rock, particularly on the upper deck or during faster movement. If you are prone to seasickness, consider bringing your usual medication. Sea sickness tablets may also be available on board, but you should not rely on that without checking in advance.

What the guides add to the evening

The crew explain how the aurora forms, what conditions help, and where to look. A good guide makes a difference because the first signs may be faint. You might mistake a pale green smear for cloud, or miss activity because you are looking in the wrong direction.

Guides also help with photography. The crew has shown passengers how to adjust camera settings and where to stand for better pictures. That help is valuable because northern lights photographs often need longer exposures, and even a small movement can blur the result.

Guide quality can vary from one departure to another. Some passengers have found the commentary clear, friendly, and entertaining, while others have had trouble hearing the guide because of microphone problems, music, or general noise in the cabin. English is the operating language.

Pay attention during safety instructions. On a busy boat, conversations can make announcements hard to hear. If you are outside when an announcement begins, move closer to a speaker or ask a crew member to repeat anything important.

How good is the sighting guarantee?

The free return policy is one of the tour’s strongest practical features. If you do not see the northern lights, you can receive a complimentary ticket for another night at no extra cost. The ticket is valid for up to two years.

That policy does not mean you receive a refund. If you are leaving Iceland soon, a voucher may be of little use. This is important when comparing the cruise with a tour that offers a cash refund or a different form of compensation.

The guarantee also has a broad interpretation. Very faint lights, a short appearance, or aurora visible mainly through a camera may count as a sighting. If seeing the lights is the central purpose of your Iceland trip, ask about the company’s exact policy before booking and keep enough nights available for a repeat attempt.

The best strategy is to book this cruise early in your stay. If the first trip is canceled or produces nothing, you may still have time to try again. Departures can also be canceled at short notice if conditions are unsafe. In that case, you are offered another date or a full refund.

What a successful night can look like

On a strong night, the experience can be remarkable. The lights may appear soon after leaving the harbor and remain visible for much of the two-hour cruise. A large boat gives you room to move between decks, and the crew can direct you toward the strongest part of the sky.

The water adds to the mood. You see green or pale streaks above the dark bay, with Reykjavik glowing behind you. The open horizon gives the aurora a bigger frame than it has from a city street.

Some departures have found the lights within minutes. Others have waited for an hour or more before the sky finally opened. Patience matters. If you see nothing during the first half hour, that does not mean the rest of the trip is lost.

A full moon or thin cloud can reduce the effect. You may still see the lights, but they might not resemble the strong green ribbons shown in promotional photographs. The camera can also exaggerate faint color, so prepare for the possibility that a photograph looks more impressive than the view to your eyes.

When the cruise is less successful

The weaknesses are clearest on a quiet or crowded night. With up to 150 people aboard, the top deck can become busy when the crew announces activity. You may need to move around to find an unobstructed view.

Inside, seating is arranged around tables, and a full boat may require you to share space with people you do not know. That is fine for a social evening, but it will not suit you if you want silence while waiting for the sky to change.

The boat also cannot always travel far enough from city light pollution during a two-hour outing. A coach tour can change direction on land and chase clearer skies based on the forecast. This cruise gives you the pleasure of being on the water, but its route has more limits.

One unusual problem has occurred when a boat could not get beyond the harbor because of mechanical trouble. The crew handled the situation professionally and offered alternatives or compensation, but it is a reminder that a boat tour has risks that a land trip does not.

Price and value at $105

At $105 per person, this is not the cheapest way to search for the aurora. You are paying for the boat, crew, heated indoor area, outdoor decks, loaner overalls, Wi-Fi, and the unusual view of Reykjavik from the sea.

The value is strongest if you want a short evening activity and do not want to spend five hours on a coach. The cruise takes about two hours, and the harbor location makes it easy to pair with dinner or other downtown plans.

The value is weaker if your only goal is the darkest possible sky. A land-based tour can drive farther from Reykjavik’s glow and may adjust its route more freely. It can also take longer, which gives the sky more time to change.

I would compare the price with your schedule, not just the ticket cost. If you have several nights in Iceland, the free repeat option is useful. If you have only one night in Reykjavik, the guarantee may not help you much, and a land tour could give you better odds of reaching clear skies.

Who should book this Reykjavik cruise?

I would choose this cruise if you want the aurora without giving up an entire evening. It suits couples, families, and solo visitors who like being on the water and want indoor shelter when the cold becomes too much.

It is also a good fit if you want a gentle introduction to the northern lights. The crew explains what you are seeing, the city views fill the early part of the trip, and the boat provides toilets, Wi-Fi, hot drinks, and somewhere warm to sit.

You should think twice if you get seasick, dislike crowds, or need complete control over the route. You should also avoid treating the advertised photographs as a promise. The real experience may be a spectacular two-hour display, a brief pale glow, or no visible aurora at all.

Book it early in your Iceland stay, check the forecast before going, and keep a second evening free if possible. Wear the provided overalls, then add your own hat, gloves, and warm layers. Good preparation cannot summon the lights, but it can keep a disappointing sky from becoming an uncomfortable night.

Should you book it?

Book this cruise if you value the boat ride, Reykjavik waterfront views, and a shorter search with a free return option. The strongest reports describe stable sailing, helpful crew, warm indoor space, and memorable displays that lasted most of the trip.

Choose a coach tour instead if escaping city light pollution is your top priority or if you have only one chance to see the aurora. The cruise is a pleasant and practical way to try from downtown, but it is still a gamble. At $105, it offers fair value for the full package, not a guaranteed light show.

FAQ

Where does the Northern Lights Cruise depart?

It departs from Elding Whale Watching at Ægisgarður 5c, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland.

Where does the activity end?

The cruise ends back at the same meeting point where it began.

How long does the cruise last?

The cruise lasts approximately two hours.

Is hotel pickup included?

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

What happens if I do not see the northern lights?

You are offered complimentary tickets to try again on another night at no extra cost. The return ticket is valid for up to two years.

Are warm clothes provided?

Warm floatable overalls are available to borrow. You should still bring a hat and gloves, since the outdoor decks can be cold and windy.

Is there a heated area on the boat?

Yes. The boat has a heated indoor saloon with seating, Wi-Fi, toilets, and an onboard café.

Can I buy food and drinks during the cruise?

Yes. Hot drinks and snacks are available for purchase at the onboard café.

Can passengers with limited mobility join?

Passengers with limited mobility are welcome, but the boats are not fully accessible. Steep stairs and high thresholds may limit access to some inside areas and the toilet facilities.