by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 2:30 PM ET, Thu December 7, 2023
From October to March, the northern lights regularly dance across the skies of Norway, which makes this Scandinavian country a popular bucket-list travel destination.
Next year, travelers will have new opportunities to experience the aurora borealis and other celestial spectacles. Havila Voyages is offering three new astronomy cruises for 2024, the company unveiled today.
Offered in collaboration with the Royal Astronomical Society, the special themed voyages will take place in February, March and October. The 11-night cruises sail roundtrip from Bergen, Norway, with stops along the Norwegian coast. The cruises reach as far north as Kirkenes, Norway, before turning around and heading south.
Astronomy experts will join each voyage and offer lectures on a variety of topics, from constellation mythology to human space exploration. Ian Ridpath, an English science writer and broadcaster, will join the February and October sailings, while John Zarnecki, an emeritus professor of space science at the Open University, will join the March cruise.
In addition to attending onboard lectures and marveling at the northern lights, guests can participate in Nordic excursions like dog sledding or visiting a hotel made of snow and ice.
The cruises are offered on Havila Polaris and Havila Capella, two of the four ships that make up Havila’s fleet. The four identical hybrid ships can accommodate up to 640 guests in 179 passengers and are equipped with an array of sustainability features, like energy efficient hulls and large rechargeable batteries. The vessels can also run on liquified natural gas.
Other cruise lines are also capitalizing on travelers’ interest in stargazing, especially as the April 2024 total solar eclipse draws near. Princess and Holland America are both offering special eclipse cruises next year.
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