Reykjavik: Northern Lights Motor Yacht Cruise

The best part of this cruise is the change in setting. You leave Reykjavík’s bright streets, pass Harpa Concert Hall and the Sun Voyager, then head into darker water where the northern lights have a better chance to show. When the sky cooperates, the aurora can appear above the bay with the city glowing behind you.

I like the stable yacht, which gives you a good platform for photos, and the warm indoor cabin for waiting between checks of the sky. I also like the choice of boats: MY Harpa carries up to 35 people, while MY Amelia Rose carries up to 95. The main catch is simple: clouds and solar conditions decide the show, not the crew.

Key points

• A 2.5-hour evening cruise from Reykjavík Old Harbor into Faxaflói Bay
• Two possible yachts: MY Harpa for up to 35 passengers or MY Amelia Rose for up to 95
• City sights along the way: Harpa Concert Hall, Sun Voyager, Höfði house, and Viðey
• Warm indoor seating, blankets, Wi-Fi, and drinks at the bar
• A more comfortable option than standing outside on a land excursion
• Free second-trip rebooking may be available if the aurora does not appear, but confirm the policy when booking

Leaving Reykjavík Old Harbor after dark

You check in inside the restaurant at the Old Boat House, using a self-service kiosk. This detail matters because the meeting point can be easy to miss if you only follow a map pin. Give yourself a few extra minutes and go inside rather than waiting outside by the harbor.

The cruise lasts about two and a half hours. That is enough time to get beyond the strongest city glow, wait for breaks in the clouds, and still enjoy Reykjavík’s waterfront on the way out and back.

Your boat will be either MY Harpa or MY Amelia Rose. The smaller MY Harpa holds up to 35 passengers, giving the trip a more intimate feel. MY Amelia Rose carries up to 95, so the atmosphere can be more social and less private. Both boats provide indoor seating, but the exact feel of your evening depends on which yacht is operating.

You can sit inside while the boat moves away from the harbor, then go outside when the guide spots activity or conditions improve. This is a sensible setup in Iceland, where the cold can become tiring long before the aurora appears.

Reykjavík landmarks before the darkness

The cruise is not only a hunt for the sky. It also gives you a water-level view of some of Reykjavík’s best-known sights.

Harpa Concert Hall is the first major highlight. Its glass front reflects the city lights, and its pattern takes inspiration from Iceland’s basalt formations. From the water, you see the building as part of the waterfront rather than as a single street-side attraction.

The Sun Voyager, Jón Gunnar Árnason’s stainless-steel sculpture, is another good sight from the bay. It resembles a Viking ship, though its meaning is tied to dreams of discovery and travel rather than a literal historical vessel.

You also pass Höfði house, the site of the 1986 meeting between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev. That meeting did not formally end the Cold War on its own, but it helped move the two superpowers toward better relations. Seeing the house from the water gives the tour a useful bit of modern history without turning the evening into a lecture.

The route may also take you behind islands in Faxaflói Bay, including Viðey. Between October 9 and December 8, and on selected other dates, Yoko Ono’s Imagine Peace Tower may shine there. Its visibility depends on the date, weather, and route, so treat it as a possible extra rather than a guaranteed stop.

Waiting for the aurora over Faxaflói Bay

Once you reach darker water, the focus shifts to the sky. The crew looks for breaks in cloud and signs of aurora activity while explaining the basic science: charged particles from the sun interact with Earth’s atmosphere and produce the colored light.

The northern lights can be faint at first. You may see a pale green band that looks like a cloud until it begins to shift. At other times, the display arrives quickly and becomes bright enough to show clear movement and color.

This is why a boat trip requires patience. The yacht can move away from some city light, but it cannot roam across the entire region in search of a clear patch. A land-based vehicle may have more freedom to change direction and find darker or less cloudy areas.

That limitation is balanced by comfort. You are not standing beside a road or sitting in a cold van for the whole evening. You can watch through the windows, warm up inside, and return outside when the guide calls attention to activity. Several people have been able to see the lights only briefly, including near the end of the return trip, so keep watching until you are back in the harbor.

A cloudy or rainy night does not always mean failure. The aurora has appeared during short breaks in the cloud, and a weak display can still be visible. But you should book this as a chance to see the lights, not a promise that they will appear.

What the boats are really like

MY Harpa is the better fit if you want a smaller group and a quieter feel. With room for 35 passengers, it should be easier to move between indoor and outdoor viewing areas without feeling crowded.

MY Amelia Rose holds up to 95 people. That is still a limited-size cruise compared with a large sightseeing vessel, but it will not feel as private as the smaller yacht. If the boat assignment matters to you, check the details before booking, since the operator may use either vessel.

Both boats include an inside seating area, free Wi-Fi, and warm blankets. These are not minor extras. The wait for the aurora can be long, and the cold ocean air often feels sharper than the temperature on land.

A bar sells hot and cold drinks, and chocolate is available on board. Buying a hot drink can make the waiting period much easier, especially if you plan to spend time outside for photographs.

One older experience involved a replacement fishing vessel because the yacht needed repairs. The operator offered a change of date, but the passenger chose to go ahead because it was the final night in Reykjavík. This is a useful reminder to confirm the boat on the day and understand that maintenance or weather can affect the planned vessel.

Photography from a moving yacht

The stable platform helps, but northern lights photography still takes effort. A phone may capture a strong display, while a faint aurora can be difficult to record. Keep your hands warm and avoid spending the entire cruise staring at a screen.

The boat’s outside areas give you a wider view of the sky, while the windows let you keep watching from warmth. City lights can add a pleasant foreground, especially when the aurora appears over the darker bay with Reykjavík behind it.

If you want photographs, bring warm clothing rather than relying only on the provided blanket. Wear several layers, gloves, and a hat. The official advice is to dress warmly, and the weather-related comments make clear why that matters.

Guide commentary and the human side of the trip

The guide and crew are a large part of the experience. The strongest outings have included clear explanations of the aurora, stories about Icelandic legends and myths, and practical help when the sky changes.

One guide, Einar, was praised for his friendly local knowledge and for helping a group find the lights when the weather was poor. On another trip, Seamus at the Old Harbor House helped arrange a free second outing after the first attempt failed. Staff have also been praised for keeping spirits up during a rainy, cloudy evening.

The amount of commentary may vary. One passenger felt there was not enough explanation of what causes the aurora, even though the lights appeared. If you want a detailed science talk, ask questions early rather than assuming there will be a constant narration.

The tone is generally informal. You get a mix of coastal views, local stories, basic science, and sky watching. That suits the experience better than a nonstop script.

What happens if you do not see the lights

This is the key decision point. A northern lights cruise can be excellent even when the sky stays dark, but the aurora is still the reason most people pay for it.

Cloud cover has ended many attempts with only a brief glimpse or no sighting at all. Some cruises have been cancelled for weather and then operated on a later night. If the lights do not appear, ask about a second trip. A free rebooking has been arranged in some cases, but you should confirm the current conditions and policy before relying on it.

The cruise is also a reasonable choice if you prefer a calm evening over a long land chase. You get the harbor, the bay, the city skyline, and the chance to watch the sky from a warm yacht. A land vehicle may offer better odds on a difficult weather night because it can travel farther and change locations more easily.

I would choose the boat when comfort, easy access, and the experience of being on the water matter as much as the aurora. I would choose a land tour when maximizing the chance of finding clear skies is your top concern.

Is $99 a fair price?

At $99 per person, this is not the cheapest way to search for the northern lights. You are paying for a 2.5-hour yacht outing, crew assistance, indoor seating, blankets, Wi-Fi, and the setting of Faxaflói Bay.

The price makes more sense if you value the boat itself. You see Reykjavík from offshore, pass major waterfront sights, and have somewhere warm to sit while you wait. A simple aurora hunt that ends without lights can feel poor value, while this cruise still gives you a proper coastal evening.

Drinks cost extra, and the aurora cannot be guaranteed. That means the value depends heavily on your expectations. Think of the $99 as paying for a northern lights search with a scenic cruise attached, not as buying a guaranteed natural show.

The rating of 4.3 from 133 reviews points to a strong but not perfect experience. The praise centers on friendly staff, comfortable boats, good explanations, and memorable aurora displays. The main complaints concern clouds, unclear check-in directions, limited movement compared with land tours, and occasional boat changes.

Who will enjoy this cruise most

I would recommend it to couples, families, and first-time visitors who want a relaxed evening with several parts to enjoy. It is also a good fit if you dislike the idea of waiting outdoors for hours or riding around in a vehicle all night.

Families may appreciate the cabin, blankets, and the ability to move inside when children get cold. People who worry about being at sea may find the slow pace reassuring. One nervous passenger found that the boat moved gently and that Reykjavík’s lights remained visible on the horizon.

Photographers will like the stable yacht and open viewing areas, though serious night photography still depends on the brightness of the aurora and the weather. If you want a small-group feel, hope for MY Harpa. If you are comfortable with a larger group, MY Amelia Rose offers more capacity without giving up the indoor cabin.

I would be cautious about choosing this as your only aurora chance if your schedule allows just one night. The weather may cancel the cruise or hide the sky, and a land tour can search more widely.

Practical advice before you go

Book with enough flexibility to allow a second attempt if possible. A late-season or multi-night stay gives you a better chance than putting all your hopes on one evening.

Check in inside the restaurant at the Old Boat House, not just at the map marker. Arrive early enough to find the kiosk and board without rushing.

Wear warm layers, waterproof outer clothing, gloves, and a hat. Use the cabin as your base and go outside when the guide reports activity. You do not need to stand in the cold for the whole cruise.

Keep watching on the return journey. Aurora displays can appear late, even after a disappointing start. Also, do not judge the trip only by photographs. A faint green glow may look weak on a phone but still be memorable in person.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Check the operating time and boat assignment when you book, since starting times and vessels may change.

Should you book the Reykjavík Northern Lights Motor Yacht Cruise?

Book it if you want a comfortable coastal evening and a genuine chance to see the aurora without spending the night on a road. The city views, warm cabin, blankets, and friendly crew give you something to enjoy even when the sky refuses to cooperate.

Skip it if your only goal is the highest possible chance of seeing the lights. A land-based tour may travel farther in search of clear skies. For most visitors, though, this cruise is a pleasant middle ground: scenic, fairly comfortable, and memorable when the aurora finally appears above the bay.

FAQ

Where does the northern lights yacht cruise depart from?

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

How long does the cruise last?

The cruise lasts approximately 2.5 hours.

How much does the experience cost?

The listed price is $99 per person.

Which boats are used?

The cruise operates on either MY Harpa, which holds up to 35 passengers, or MY Amelia Rose, which holds up to 95 passengers.

Are there indoor seats?

Yes. Both boats provide an inside seating area.

Are warm blankets provided?

Yes. Warm blankets are included, but you should still dress warmly for the ocean air.

Is Wi-Fi available on board?

Yes. Free Wi-Fi is included.

Are drinks included?

Hot and cold drinks are available at the onboard bar. Drinks are not listed as part of the included cruise features, so expect to purchase them separately.

What languages are offered?

The live guide service is available in Icelandic and English.