From Reykjavik: Northern Lights Boat Cruise

The best part of this cruise is the shift from Reykjavik’s city glow to the dark waters of Faxaflói, where the Northern Lights have a better chance to show. You get a moving view of the city from the sea, then a wide, open sky for watching the aurora.

I like the free return trip if no lights appear, since the aurora is never guaranteed. I also like the practical setup: heated indoor cabins, warm flotation overalls, toilets, WiFi, and guides who can help with camera settings. The catch is simple: two hours on cold, often moving water can feel long if clouds cover the sky.

Key points

• A search at sea: Leave the bright harbor behind and cruise into Faxaflói for darker skies.
• Warm flotation overalls: Put them over your own clothes before heading onto the deck.
• A useful no-show policy: If the lights do not appear, your booking number can be used to join again free.
• Guide help with photos: Lucas has helped with camera settings and taken photos for guests.
• Indoor comfort: Heated cabins, toilets, WiFi, and seasickness tablets are available onboard.
• A flexible outing: The cruise lasts about two hours, though some trips have stayed out longer while waiting for a clearing.

Leaving Reykjavik for the dark waters of Faxaflói

You meet at Geirsgata 11, at the Special Tours office on the corner. Arrive 30 minutes early. That gives you time to check in, collect any needed information, and get ready without rushing down the dock.

The boat leaves Reykjavik and heads into Faxaflói Bay. This first section gives you something useful even before the sky performs: a view back toward Reykjavik from the water. City lights, harbor activity, and the surrounding mountains look different from offshore, and the change in viewpoint helps explain why this trip is more than simply standing on land and looking up.

The main purpose of heading out is to reduce the effect of urban light. That does not guarantee an aurora, but it gives the sky a better chance to show faint green or gray movement. You may see nothing at all, or you may catch a strong display soon after leaving port. The Northern Lights are a natural event, not a scheduled show.

The stated duration is two hours, while the booking information also describes the trip as lasting two to three hours. In practice, timing can vary with conditions. One trip stayed out for about four hours while the captain waited for clouds to shift, and another added roughly 40 minutes near the end when faint lights appeared. Do not count on extra time, but it is worth knowing that the crew may wait when conditions look promising.

What happens during the search

Once the boat reaches darker water, the outing becomes a patient sky watch. Your guide explains the science behind the aurora, along with Icelandic beliefs, local stories, and older ideas about the lights. This commentary gives the waiting time a purpose, especially on a cloudy night.

The guide team also helps you understand what you are seeing. The aurora can begin as a faint pale arc that is easier to capture on a camera than with your eyes. One person described seeing the lights faintly, with the camera recording them more clearly. That is normal for weak displays, and it is one reason you should not judge the sky only by what appears on a phone screen.

If the lights strengthen, the deck is the place to be. You can watch the aurora over open water without buildings or streetlamps filling your view. The boat itself becomes part of the experience: you may move between the warm cabin and the deck several times, waiting for the right moment and trying not to miss a sudden change in the sky.

A guide named Lucas has been praised for helping with camera settings and taking photos for people onboard. That can be a real advantage, since Northern Lights photography often requires more care than simply pressing the shutter. The crew has also taken photographs that guests could view online afterward. Treat that as a useful extra, not a guaranteed personal photo service.

Staying warm on a cold boat

The supplied flotation overalls are one of the most practical features. They are designed to be worn over your own clothing, so arrive in weather-appropriate layers and choose an overall size that leaves room underneath. One useful tip is to request a larger size if you plan to wear several layers.

The suits help, but they do not make the deck tropical. You are still standing outside in Icelandic night air, and the cold can return quickly when you go out and back in. Bring a hat, gloves, and sturdy warm clothing rather than relying on the suit alone. If you get uncomfortable, the heated indoor cabin provides a welcome break.

The cabin has toilet facilities, though the heavy suit can make using the small restroom awkward. My practical advice is to use the toilet before putting on the outer gear. That sounds minor, but it matters when you are dressed for cold weather and the boat is moving.

Food and drinks are not included. You can buy refreshments onboard, and the indoor bar gives you somewhere warm to sit while you wait. Seasickness tablets are also available at no charge. If you tend to feel unwell on boats, take this seriously. The best place to spend the whole trip is not necessarily the open deck, and you should choose comfort over chasing a perfect viewing position.

The value of a $101 Northern Lights outing

At $101 per person, this is not the cheapest way to search for the aurora. The price makes more sense if you value the boat setting, the city views from the sea, the heated cabin, and the included flotation overalls. You are paying for a guided search with practical facilities, not a guaranteed sighting.

The free retry is the biggest safeguard. If the sky stays blank, you can use your booking number to join another trip. That matters because a failed Northern Lights outing is often a matter of clouds or weak activity, not poor organization. Still, the return ticket only helps if your Iceland schedule gives you another suitable evening.

The policy is especially useful for visitors spending several nights in Reykjavik. You can try again without buying a second ticket. If you are leaving the next morning, the offer has less value, since you may not have time to return.

The average score is 4 out of 5 from 87 ratings, and the strongest praise centers on the crew, the warm gear, and the way the operator handles missed sightings. That is the right way to judge this kind of outing. No operator can control the aurora, but the crew can control how comfortable and useful the search feels.

What guides add to the experience

A good guide is important on a night when the sky refuses to cooperate. Lucas, also spelled Lukas in one account, has been singled out for humor, patience, camera help, and practical assistance. One guide even stayed late to help find a lost phone and drove the owners back to their hotel. That kind of care is not the main reason to book, but it tells you something about the service standard described in the feedback.

The commentary covers both science and folklore. You will hear why the lights appear, along with Icelandic stories and beliefs connected to them. The result is more satisfying than simply waiting in silence, especially during a no-show.

The guides may also help you decide when to go outside, where to look, and how to set your camera. That support is useful because the aurora may look weak to your eyes but stronger in a long exposure. Keep your expectations sensible: help with photography does not turn a faint display into a dramatic one.

The crew can also take pictures during the trip. On some outings, these have been made available online afterward. If you want your own photographs, bring a camera or phone that can handle night images, but do not spend the whole cruise staring at a screen. The best display may last only briefly, and your eyes are better than a badly adjusted camera.

The free second chance and the risk of bad timing

The no-sighting policy is a strong feature, but read it as a chance to try again, not a promise of success. Several nights in a row can produce poor conditions. One couple returned twice and still saw no lights, yet enjoyed the guides, drinks, water views, and warm suits.

That is the honest bargain here. The trip can be memorable even without an aurora, but the Northern Lights remain the main reason most people book. You should schedule the cruise early in your Reykjavik stay if possible. The activity data does not promise a particular number of retry nights, so you need enough time left in your visit to use the offer.

The return trip is handled with the booking number and is described as free when there is no sighting. The process has been reported as straightforward, but availability and weather still matter. Do not build your entire holiday around one boat trip.

Clouds are the key enemy. A captain may stay out longer while waiting for them to move, and the lights can appear near the return to port. That means a quiet first hour does not always mean the night is lost. It also means you should be ready for a late arrival if the crew decides that conditions justify waiting.

Who will enjoy this cruise most

I would recommend this outing to you if you want a guided, comfortable search rather than a self-directed attempt from Reykjavik. It suits first-time aurora watchers, couples, families, and anyone who wants an English-speaking guide to explain what is happening.

It is also a sensible option if you like having an indoor refuge. The heated cabin and onboard toilet make the experience easier than standing outdoors for two hours. The overalls are valuable for visitors who did not pack serious cold-weather clothing, though you should still bring layers.

Photographers may appreciate the help with camera settings and the darker setting offshore. Serious photographers should still bring their own equipment and plan around the fact that the boat moves. A tripod or long-exposure setup may be harder to use on a moving vessel, though the supplied information does not specify photography equipment or deck conditions.

This is less suitable if you need a guaranteed event, dislike boats, or have only one evening available. It is also not the best pick if you want a quiet private outing. During parts of the year, environmental measures may mean the trip runs on a shared boat with another supplier, reducing the number of vessels on the water. Expect a shared experience rather than a private charter.

The boat is wheelchair accessible, which makes it a more practical choice for some visitors. Pets and smoking are not allowed.

Small details that make the night easier

Wear your warmest practical clothing, then add the provided overalls. Ask for enough room to fit the suit over your layers. Gloves and a hat remain useful, especially when you are handling a camera.

Arrive half an hour early at Geirsgata 11. Do not rely on a last-minute dash to the harbor, and double-check the meeting location before walking over. One person had trouble because map directions pointed to the wrong place, so confirm that you are heading to the Special Tours office at the corner.

Use the restroom before putting on the suit. Keep snacks or a drink budget in mind because onboard food and beverages cost extra. If you are prone to seasickness, ask for the complimentary tablets before the boat gets underway.

You can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before departure, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps your plans flexible. Starting times vary, so check availability for your date. The live guiding is in English.

Should you book the Reykjavik Northern Lights boat cruise?

Book it if you have at least two evenings in Reykjavik, like the idea of watching from the water, and value warm indoor facilities plus a free retry. The boat setting gives you a darker sky and a different view of the city, while the guides add useful science, folklore, and photo help.

Skip it if your schedule allows only one short night, you strongly dislike boats, or you need certainty. The aurora may be faint, hidden by clouds, or absent. At $101, the trip is fair value when you use the comfort features and keep the free return option available. It is a sensible search, not a guaranteed spectacle.

FAQ

Where does the Northern Lights boat cruise meet?

Meet at Geirsgata 11, at the Special Tours office on the corner. You should arrive 30 minutes before departure.

How long does the cruise last?

The listed duration is two hours, with the activity also described as lasting two to three hours. Some trips may stay out longer when conditions look promising.

Where does the boat go?

The cruise leaves Reykjavik and travels into Faxaflói Bay, away from the strongest city lights.

What happens if no Northern Lights appear?

You can use your booking number to join the tour again free of charge if there is no sighting.

Are warm clothes provided?

Warm flotation overalls are provided. You should still bring weather-appropriate clothing and wear layers underneath.

Is there a heated place to sit onboard?

Yes. The boat has heated indoor cabins, toilet facilities, and an indoor bar where you can buy food and drinks.

Is food included in the ticket?

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

Is the cruise wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. Pets and smoking are not allowed.