Northern Lights Boat Cruise from Reykjavik

Reykjavik’s northern lights boat cruise gives you something a bus tour cannot: a dark, open view across Faxaflói Bay, with the city glowing behind you and the sky spread wide ahead. The boat usually sails among the bay’s small islands and along the Reykjavik coast while the crew watches for auroras.

I like the open observation deck, which gives you a real shot at seeing faint lights without streetlamps nearby. I also like the practical setup: a warm lower deck, café, toilets, Wi-Fi, and a crew that keeps pointing out where to look.

The catch is simple: the northern lights are never guaranteed. The boat still sails when conditions offer only a slim chance, so you may spend two cold hours seeing little more than stars. The free return trip helps, but only if you still have time in Iceland.

Key points to know before you sail

• You sail from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour for about two hours, returning to the same meeting point.
• Faxaflói Bay gives you open sky, plus views of Reykjavik, nearby islands, Akranes, and, on clear days, distant Snæfellsjökull.
• The lower deck has warmth and refreshments, while the upper deck offers the best chance for an unobstructed view.
• The crew actively tracks the sky, with guides such as Maria, Lucky, and other staff offering updates and pointing out faint activity.
• A free repeat trip is offered if you do not see the lights, though this has little value if you leave Reykjavik soon.
• The price is $78 per person, reasonable for a boat outing with indoor facilities, but less convincing if the aurora does not appear.

Sailing from Old Harbour into the night

You meet at Old Harbour House, the red harbor building at Ægisgarður 2. This is also a food and drink stop, and the activity ends back at the same place, which makes the cruise easy to fit around an evening in central Reykjavik.

Check-in deserves a little care. The building can look more like a restaurant than a tour office, and some people have found the process unclear. If you plan to eat there, collect or confirm your cruise ticket before paying for dinner, since a 15 percent restaurant discount is available with the ticket. The discount is easy to miss if you eat first.

The boat carries a maximum of 75 people. That is large enough to provide several seating choices without feeling like a tiny sightseeing vessel, yet small enough for crew members to move around and help you find the lights.

Once the boat leaves the harbor, the mood changes quickly. Reykjavik’s lights become part of the view rather than the main attraction, and the dark water opens toward the bay. The smooth ride is a plus if you dislike rougher sea trips, though the experience remains an outdoor winter activity, not a cozy harbor dinner cruise.

Why Faxaflói Bay matters for aurora viewing

Faxaflói Bay lies off Reykjavik’s southern shore. Its small islands sit close to land, and the boat can sail among them before following the coast. This gives you a change of scene during the search instead of simply sitting in the harbor.

The bay also provides useful visual landmarks. From Reykjavik, you can see the peninsula of Akranes to the northeast. On a very clear day, Snæfellsjökull may appear about 120 kilometers away. You will not necessarily get a clear view of either place at night, but the geography helps explain where the boat is heading.

The main reason to leave the harbor is the sky. Street lighting can wash out weak auroras, while open water gives you a darker horizon. That does not guarantee color or strong activity, but it improves your odds of seeing something faint.

The boat does not promise a spectacular display. Some nights bring vivid green and red curtains that last much of the trip. Other nights produce only a gray streak, a weak glow, or nothing visible to the naked eye. A camera may capture more than you can see, which can be exciting for photographers but disappointing if you want a clear show overhead.

What the northern lights search is really like

The crew keeps watch throughout the cruise and announces where to look. Guides named Maria and Lucky have been singled out for clear commentary and patient help, while other crew members have been praised for staying outside and updating everyone as the lights shift.

That human help matters. A faint aurora can look like a pale cloud until someone explains where it begins and how it is moving. When the sky brightens, the captain and guide point people toward the best part of the display rather than leaving you to search alone.

Still, you need realistic expectations. The crew can read conditions and move the boat, but they cannot create clear skies or stronger solar activity. If the clouds close in, the cruise may offer beautiful stars and a view back toward Reykjavik, but not the main event.

The most successful outings appear to combine clear weather, active aurora, and enough darkness away from the city. One group saw lights after the boat passed beyond a cloud layer, while another saw only faint traces that were stronger through a phone camera. Both outcomes are possible on the same type of trip.

The upper deck gives you the best view

The open observation deck is the place to be when the sky is active. You get a broad view from horizon to horizon, with no bus roof, nearby buildings, or car windows blocking the sightline.

It is also the coldest part of the boat. Even on a calm night, being on open water in Iceland during the aurora season can feel bitter. Several people who enjoyed the cruise still wished they had brought one or two extra layers.

Dress for standing outside, not merely walking around Reykjavik. Bring more insulation than you think you need, and plan to step indoors often. The upper deck may deliver the magical moment, but you will appreciate the lower deck five minutes later.

A phone camera can be useful because it may record faint green or gray light that your eyes barely notice. But do not let photography replace the view. Some of the disappointment comes from finding that the best image is visible only on a screen rather than overhead.

Warm up below with drinks and simple comforts

The lower deck is one of the strongest practical features of the cruise. You can sit indoors, get out of the wind, and buy hot drinks such as hot chocolate, along with other refreshments from the café.

The boat also provides a restroom and Wi-Fi. These are modest details, but they matter on a two-hour evening outing, especially when you are trying to stay outside long enough to catch a sudden burst of light.

The indoor area creates a sensible rhythm. Watch the sky outside, warm up below, listen for an update, then return to the deck when the crew spots activity. You do not need to choose between comfort and viewing for the entire trip.

The facilities also make this a better option than a bare-bones boat ride. If the lights fail to appear, you still have a clean vessel, harbor and coastal views, refreshments, and a pleasant night on the water. That does not replace an aurora, but it softens the disappointment.

City views give the cruise a second purpose

Reykjavik looks especially appealing from the water after dark. The colorful coastal city becomes a strip of light along the shore, and the harbor gives you a different angle on the capital than you get from the streets.

This is the cruise’s built-in backup attraction. If the sky stays quiet, you can still watch the city recede, see the lights reflected on the water, and enjoy the sense of being offshore in Faxaflói Bay.

You may also see wildlife in the bay. The common possibilities include minke whales, humpback whales, dolphins, and porpoises, with a smaller chance of spotting orcas. The tour team has experience looking for marine life, but wildlife sightings are not guaranteed and the main focus after dark remains the aurora.

That combination makes the boat more forgiving than a transfer to a remote viewing field. You are not spending the whole evening beside a road if the sky stays empty. You are on a scenic bay cruise with a chance of whales, dolphins, and northern lights.

Is $78 a fair price?

At $78 per person, the cruise sits in the mid-range for a special evening activity in Reykjavik. You are paying for the boat, crew, indoor facilities, refreshments for purchase, and the chance to reach darker viewing conditions across the bay.

I think the price works best if you value the boat experience itself. You get a comfortable vessel, multiple indoor and outdoor seating areas, a café, and a guided search rather than simply being dropped at a viewing point.

The value becomes less certain if your only goal is seeing strong green auroras. Nature may provide nothing, and the boat still operates when the forecast offers only a small chance. The repeat-trip policy protects your opportunity, but not your schedule or your money in the short term.

Book early only if you have several nights in Reykjavik. The cruise is commonly reserved well ahead, around 42 days in advance, but I would leave room in your schedule for a second attempt. If your stay ends the next morning, the free return offer may be impossible to use.

The free return policy can make or break the decision

If you do not see the northern lights, you can take the cruise again at no extra charge. The exact practical value depends on how long you remain in Reykjavik, since a return trip is useful only if another departure fits your plans.

Some people have been offered a repeat outing but could not accept because they were flying home. If you are staying several nights, schedule this activity early in your visit. That gives you a second chance and lets you move the cruise if poor weather cancels it.

The tour may also be canceled for bad weather or if the minimum number of participants is not reached. In those cases, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

For a normal cancellation, you can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted, and the local departure time controls the deadline.

Who will enjoy this cruise most

I would choose this outing for you if you want a northern lights search with a proper boat, indoor warmth, and a city view. It suits couples, families, and small groups who prefer a shared evening activity over waiting in a dark field.

It is also a good choice if you are staying near central Reykjavik and want to avoid a longer bus transfer. The Old Harbour meeting point is straightforward once you identify the red Old Harbour House building.

Photographers may like the unobstructed horizon and the chance to record faint activity. Just remember that low-light photography often shows more than your eyes do, so bring the right expectations as well as your phone.

I would hesitate if you have only one night in town, dislike cold weather, or need a guaranteed result. No northern lights tour can promise an aurora, and this boat still sails when the sky may remain stubbornly dark.

The activity is offered in English. Confirmation arrives when you book, service animals are allowed, public transportation is nearby, and most people can participate. The maximum group size is 75.

Should you book the Northern Lights Boat Cruise?

Book it if you have at least two evenings in Reykjavik, enjoy being on the water, and like the idea of pairing aurora hunting with city and bay views. The crew’s active updates, warm lower deck, hot drinks, and free repeat trip make it a sensible choice when you want comfort without giving up the open sky.

I would book this near the start of your stay, not the final night. That is the single best way to use the return policy. If the lights appear, you may get a superb two-hour show. If they do not, you still have another chance, plus a smooth evening cruise through Faxaflói Bay.

FAQ

Where does the Northern Lights boat cruise depart?

It departs from Old Harbour House at Ægisgarður 2 in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Where does the cruise finish?

The activity ends back at the original meeting point at Old Harbour House.

How long does the cruise last?

The cruise lasts approximately two hours.

How much does the cruise cost?

The listed price is $78 per person.

Is the cruise offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

Can I go again if I do not see the northern lights?

Yes. You are offered another tour free if the northern lights are not seen.

Are food and drinks available on the boat?

Yes. The boat has an onboard café where you can purchase drinks and food items, including hot drinks.

Does the boat have indoor seating?

Yes. The lower section provides an indoor place to warm up, and the boat also has outdoor seating and an observation deck.

What happens if poor weather cancels the cruise?

You are offered a different date or experience, or a full refund.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted.