REVIEW · REYKJAVIK
Northern Lights Yacht Cruise
Book on Viator →Operated by Harpa Yachts · Bookable on Viator
That green glow isn’t guaranteed, but the ride is.
This Northern Lights yacht cruise turns an aurora hunt into a comfortable evening: you leave from central Reykjavik, glide past landmarks like Harpa from the water, then wait in a warm cabin for the sky to cooperate. If you miss the lights, there is a built-in fallback that can turn one disappointing night into a second chance.
I especially love the way the crew helps you actually see and photograph the aurora. I also like the on-board setup for cold-weather realism: heating, blankets, a bar/café, and Wi‑Fi so you’re not just freezing in the dark. One consideration: the tour is weather-dependent, and even good scheduling can’t force clear sky.
In This Review
- Quick hits before you go
- Why a yacht works better than standing outside
- Price and value: what $100.82 covers
- Meet at Old Harbour House: start smart, not rushed
- From Harpa to the coastline: the first look at the night
- Viðey Island and the Imagine Peace Tower viewpoint
- Faxaflói Bay: darker water and a chance of whale sightings
- Aurora guidance that actually helps: aim, focus, wait
- On-board comfort: blankets, café/bar, Wi‑Fi, and bathrooms
- Group size and the vessel question you should ask yourself
- The biggest variable: weather and clear sky odds
- Who should book this cruise (and who might want a different plan)
- Should you book the Northern Lights Yacht Cruise?
- FAQ
- How long is the Northern Lights yacht cruise?
- Where do we meet, and does the tour return there?
- Is the tour offered in English?
- Is there food or drinks on board?
- Is Wi‑Fi available during the cruise?
- What happens if we do not see the Northern Lights?
- Is the Northern Lights cruise dependent on weather?
- What is the cancellation policy?
Quick hits before you go
- Crew guidance for photos: you get help with phone/camera settings and where to aim when the aurora shows up.
- Warm-yacht waiting game: you can move between open decks and a heated interior while you wait.
- Viðey Island views with context: you pass by the island and the well-known Imagine Peace Tower (John Lennon and Yoko Ono).
- Faxaflói Bay area for aurora odds: the plan focuses on being in calmer, darker waters away from heavy light pollution.
- Free additional yacht trip when the lights don’t happen: a real benefit if your timing or the sky is unlucky.
- Small-boat feel, but check the vessel: the operator uses both a smaller and a larger yacht, so crowding can vary.
Why a yacht works better than standing outside
Reykjavik is fun, but for the Northern Lights you need two things: a decent view of the sky and time to let your eyes adjust. A yacht gives you the best kind of flexibility. You can step outside to look up when conditions improve, then retreat fast to warmth without losing the moment.
The other big advantage is how the crew manages attention. Several people praised how staff actively identify when aurora becomes visible and help you aim your phone so you’re not guessing. That matters in Iceland, because the lights can start subtle, then brighten, then fade quickly.
The cold reality: waiting is long. A yacht keeps that waiting comfortable, not punishing. And if you love your evening plan to feel like a trip (not a dare), this is one of the better formats.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Reykjavik.
Price and value: what $100.82 covers
At about $100.82 per person for a 2 to 3 hour outing, you’re paying for more than motion on the water. You’re paying for (1) a guided aurora experience, (2) a heated, bathroom-equipped yacht, and (3) the chance to stay out of the wind while you wait.
The value gets better if you don’t see aurora on your first attempt. The tour highlights a free additional yacht trip if the Northern Lights don’t appear. That’s not a gimmick in the real world. It’s an acknowledgment that aurora viewing is luck plus sky conditions, and it gives you something most fixed tours don’t: another go without eating the full cost twice.
A drawback to keep in mind is that on-board drinks can add up. Some guests felt the bar pricing didn’t match the experience. If you’re cost-sensitive, you might plan to limit purchases and treat the included warmth and views as the main event.
Meet at Old Harbour House: start smart, not rushed
You meet at Old Harbour House | Food, Drinks & Tours, Ægisgarður 2, in Reykjavík. The tour returns to the meeting point.
Here’s your practical tip: arrive early. One crew reply mentioned they ask guests to come about 15 minutes before departure. When someone checks in late, it doesn’t just shift timing; it can delay the start of the night, which is exactly when you want to be watching the sky.
Because it’s near public transportation, you don’t have to stress about parking and getting tangled in city traffic. Still, Reykjavík evenings can feel chaotic, so I’d rather you arrive with time to spare and settle in.
From Harpa to the coastline: the first look at the night
Right after leaving the harbor, the cruise sets up a strong viewing rhythm. You’ll spend time cruising past the old harbor, getting a sea view of Harpa musical hall, and tracing along the Reykjavík coastline.
This early stretch is useful even if the aurora is quiet. It gets you oriented fast: you see where you are in relation to the city and where the darker sky line likely opens up. It also helps you choose your viewing spot on the yacht without scrambling later.
Some people reported the lights were impacted by proximity to city glow. The operator’s defense is that even if you can see city lights, they’re far enough away for the aurora not to be blocked, since the aurora itself occurs high up in the sky. Translation for you: the goal isn’t zero light forever; it’s to avoid heavy conditions that block the aurora during the crucial windows.
Viðey Island and the Imagine Peace Tower viewpoint
You’ll also pass Viðey Island, one of the quieter islands off Reykjavík. What makes Viðey special is how much it packs into a small area: history, art, and natural quiet—and above all, the Imagine Peace Tower, a tribute tied to John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
On a yacht cruise, the value of Viðey isn’t hiking for hours. It’s seeing the tower and the island silhouette from the water, while you’re already set up for aurora viewing. You’re out there after dark, so the island shapes become part of the atmosphere. Think of it as a scenic intermission before the real sky show.
The only caution: if you’re expecting a long, on-foot visit with lots of exploration time, the data you have here doesn’t explicitly promise shore time. Treat it as a close-up, from-the-water experience where you can take in the island and then refocus on the sky.
Faxaflói Bay: darker water and a chance of whale sightings
Later in the cruise, the route centers on Faxaflói Bay, an area known for dramatic scenery and marine life. This is where the aurora timing often matters most, because you want calmer, sheltered water plus reduced light interference.
You may also get a whale-watching bonus. The tour description highlights the chance to spot whales such as humpback and minke, plus seabird colonies. Whether you actually see whales is never a promise on open water, but Faxaflói Bay has a strong reputation for marine life, so the odds are better than you’d get just staying in the harbor.
The practical value here is simple: even if the aurora takes longer, you’re not stuck with nothing. You’re still moving through an environment worth looking at, with staff focused on the sky.
Aurora guidance that actually helps: aim, focus, wait
One of the strongest praise points was the crew’s approach to aurora spotting. People specifically mentioned a guide helping set up phone settings for photographing the northern lights and showing where to focus when the sky turns green.
That’s a big deal if you’ve ever tried to capture aurora in Iceland and watched your photos come out blank. Phones often struggle without the right adjustments, and the aurora is not always bright at the start. A guide who tells you what to do and when to do it saves you time and frustration.
Another thing guests appreciated: the crew identifies when the aurora becomes visible and calls people to look. Aurora nights can be slow—then suddenly active. Waiting comfortably inside until the right moment is a smart strategy, and a warm yacht makes it realistic.
On-board comfort: blankets, café/bar, Wi‑Fi, and bathrooms
If you’re picturing a cramped night-time boat ride, you should know this one leans comfortable. The highlights call out an on-board bar and café, and the experience includes Wi‑Fi.
From guest feedback, the experience on the smaller yacht especially gets mentioned as cozy and well set up: warmth inside, blankets, and the option to circulate between open viewing areas and enclosed shelter. Bathrooms are available on board (not an automatic luxury at sea in cold climates, so it’s worth noting).
There’s also a practical advantage: you can keep your phone charged, check settings, and warm back up without losing the search. That’s not just comfort; it changes how long you can stay patient when the aurora decides to show up.
Group size and the vessel question you should ask yourself
Here’s the balancing act. The tour description indicates a max of 35 travelers, but the operator also uses a larger yacht in some cases. One crew reply mentioned two vessels: a smaller yacht for about 35 passengers and a larger yacht for around 95.
So what should you do with that info? Decide what you value most.
- If you hate crowding and want a calmer viewing vibe, you’ll likely prefer the smaller-boat setup.
- If you’re fine with a bigger group and mainly care about getting out there, a larger yacht can still be a good night.
Some complaints focused on feeling that the boat was larger or more packed than expected, along with concerns about the bar experience. The fix isn’t to panic—it’s to be clear with yourself about what kind of evening you want.
The biggest variable: weather and clear sky odds
Northern Lights tours live and die by the sky. Iceland weather can change fast, and the operator’s situation is the same as yours: they’re trying to forecast conditions and then respond when reality shifts.
The provided info says the experience requires good weather and is run with an educated guess using experience and forecasts. But you should treat aurora viewing as a probability game, not a scheduled event. You need clear areas of sky and aurora strong enough to be visible with the naked eye.
Some guests were frustrated when forecasts looked bad close to departure, or when they felt the tour didn’t search aggressively enough. Others had a great night after snow cleared and winds shifted. That pattern is Iceland in a nutshell: sometimes the sky opens right at the right time.
The practical strategy is to come prepared for different outcomes. If you can, schedule your aurora attempt when you have at least one flexible night afterward.
Who should book this cruise (and who might want a different plan)
This tour is a strong fit if you want:
- a warm, guided aurora experience rather than a stand-in-the-cold plan
- help with phone/photo settings so you can actually capture what you see
- a cruise format that keeps you entertained even before the lights appear
- a real second-chance option if the aurora doesn’t show
It may not match you as well if:
- you’re extremely sensitive to crowding and are hoping for a quiet, small viewing bubble every time
- you think the tour should chase clear sky far offshore beyond what’s described
- you only want the most remote darkness possible and are wary of any city glow
Still, the overall direction is clear: comfort plus active crew support beats random luck on a bus plus cold waiting.
Should you book the Northern Lights Yacht Cruise?
If you’re weighing this against other aurora options, I’d book it if your priorities are comfort, guidance, and the chance to try again. The yacht format keeps the wait manageable, and the crew’s photo help is exactly the kind of practical skill that improves your odds of getting what you came for.
My final advice is to treat it like a night out with an aurora bonus. Wear warm layers even if the yacht is heated. Bring your phone fully charged and ready to tweak settings when the guide calls it. And if the lights don’t appear, take the free additional trip seriously—because that’s where the real value turns from good to strong.
FAQ
How long is the Northern Lights yacht cruise?
The cruise runs for about 2 to 3 hours.
Where do we meet, and does the tour return there?
You meet at Old Harbour House | Food, Drinks & Tours at Ægisgarður 2, 101 Reykjavík. The activity ends back at the meeting point.
Is the tour offered in English?
Yes, it’s offered in English.
Is there food or drinks on board?
Yes. The yacht has an on-board bar and café.
Is Wi‑Fi available during the cruise?
Yes, Wi‑Fi is provided on the yacht.
What happens if we do not see the Northern Lights?
If the Northern Lights don’t appear, the tour highlights that you can attend a free additional yacht trip.
Is the Northern Lights cruise dependent on weather?
Yes. It requires good weather, and it may be canceled due to poor weather.
What is the cancellation policy?
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount paid is not refunded.
