p&o aurora norway cruise

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Why cruise on this ship?

Exclusively for adults - Mid-sized Aurora is a world-class ship, bringing you the joys of classic cruise travel. In April 2019, she enjoyed a refit and started an exciting new chapter as a ship that caters exclusively for adults.

Value for Money

Delivers unparalleled experiences without compromising on affordability

Understand why that Value For Money

Welcome to the P&O cruise experience - where quality and value abide in perfect harmony.

P&O Cruises offer a distinctive style that appeals to both new and veteran travellers alike, with trademark sailings providing opportunities for the whole family to enjoy.

Cruises for those seeking an adult-only vibe are available, while those who prefer smaller ships can choose from more modest vessels.

The Northern Lights again!

Our third cruise on the Aurora with P&O to see the Northern Lights was the best yet (not that P&O has any control over the elements). We had one night of the most fabulous aerial entertainm...

Aurora, Northern Europe

P & O Aurora awful This is very hard to write, considering our last cruise to Norway on Iona I gave 5 Stars as it was an amazing experience. We both had such high hopes and were so happy to...

Our first cruise and everything was lovely. if I was being picky and looking what to improve then the App could include a ships layout diagram and also the daily activity sheet could be dist...

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Related Cruises

Western Europe

• P&O Cruises, Aurora
• La Rochelle

• Isafjørdur, Akureyri, Honningsvåg, Alta

Short Break

Norwegian Fjords

• Trondheim, Åndalsnes, Nordfjordeid, Kristiansand

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7 of the Best Northern Lights Cruises

Set sail on these itineraries to try to spot the aurora borealis.

If seeing the northern lights , also known as the aurora borealis, is on your travel list, you've probably already looked into the best places to see them : northern destinations like Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Iceland , and Scandinavia among them. But have you ever considered visiting those destinations by sea rather than land? Many cruise lines not only offer itineraries to those regions but also offer northern lights-specific sailings, too. Cruising is particularly appealing for northern lights seekers because the ships can access remote areas without light pollution, allowing guests to see the aurora in its full brilliance. So if you haven't yet seen the northern lights — or if you're looking to see them again — here are seven northern lights cruises to help you accomplish your goal.

Viking: In Search of the Northern Lights

RelaxFoto.de/Getty Images

Over the course of 13 days, a luxurious Viking ocean ship transports guests from London to Amsterdam , then all the way up the coast of Norway and north of the Arctic Circle, before returning back south to the Norwegian city of Bergen. (Although some sailings operate in reverse.) The Norwegian fjords themselves are a sight to behold — and if they're paired with the northern lights, that's all the better! The sailings run from January to March when daylight is limited in the Arctic Circle, making for prime aurora opportunities. Rates start from $4,999 per person in 2023, and it should be noted that Viking is an adults-only cruise line.

Aurora Expeditions: Northern Lights Explorer

Considering the cruise line is named after the atmospheric phenomenon, it should come as no surprise that it offers a northern lights itinerary. At 19 to 22 days long, depending on the departure, there is plenty of time to hope for a northern lights appearance — or two, or three, or more. The sailings start in the northern Norwegian city of Kirkenes before sailing south along the coast, heading back north to the remote archipelago of Jan Mayen (a polar bear hotspot), over to the scenic fjords of East Greenland, and around the northern half of Iceland. The longer itinerary continues with a visit to the Faroe Islands and disembarkation in Bergen, Norway. Aurora offers just one of these sailings per year in September. Rates start from $19,705.50 per person in 2023.

Hurtigruten: The Classic Roundtrip Voyage

Hurtigruten is something of an outlier in this group because it doesn't offer specific northern lights itineraries. But the routes of this coastal ferry company in Norway just happen to traverse the perfect latitudes to see the aurora. In fact, Hurtigruten is so confident you'll see the northern lights during the auroral season (Sept. 26 through March 31) that if they don't show up on a sailing of 11 days or more, the company will give you a free six- or seven-day cruise to try again. For the best odds of seeing the northern lights, we suggest the 12-day round-trip itinerary from Bergen up the coast of Norway and back. Rates start from $2,309 per person in 2023.

Quark Expeditions: Under the Northern Lights

Specializing in polar voyages, Quark Expeditions knows a thing or two about the northern lights, which is why the company offers aurora sailings each fall. These 14-day itineraries cruise from Iceland to Greenland and back from September into early October. As the majority of the voyage takes place above the Arctic Circle, the odds of seeing the northern lights are high, especially as solar activity tends to peak around the autumnal and vernal equinoxes in September and March, respectively. And if they don't show, well, you still get to explore Iceland's Westfjords and Greenland's eastern shores — and that's a worthwhile journey in itself. Rates start from $8,501 per person in 2023.

Oceanwide Expeditions: East Greenland Scoresby Sund - Aurora Borealis

If you don't have two or three weeks to take off work to go northern lights watching, consider Oceanwide Expeditions' eight-day aurora borealis sailings from Iceland to Greenland and back. The adventure begins in Akureyri, the unofficial capital of north Iceland, before heading for Greenland's breathtaking Scoresby Sund, the largest fjord system in the world. If you do have a little more time, you can opt for the 13-day Spitsbergen - Northeast Greenland - Aurora Borealis itinerary, which embarks in the Svalbard archipelago before sailing to Greenland and down to Iceland. Both take place in the late summer into early fall, as darkness returns to the skies in the Arctic. Rates for the eight-day itinerary start from $4,600 per person for the 2023 sailings.

Cunard: Norway and Northern Lights

Each fall, one or two of the ships in Cunard's legendary fleet head north for Norway, where guests are treated to scenic cruising along the coast. The 12-day itineraries depart from Southampton, England, before traveling to Alesund, Tromsø, Narvik, and Haugesund, sailing through majestic fjords along the way. Since the ships sail this itinerary from October to November, the skies will be dark enough to see the northern lights, should they decide to appear. In 2023, the voyage will be undertaken by Queen Victoria , while next season, the Queen Mary 2 and the upcoming Queen Anne will take the reins. Rates start from $1,689 per person in 2023.

P&O: Norway

The most affordable option on this list, British cruise line P&O operates 12-day sailings to Norway year-round, but during the auroral season, there's a strong chance you'll see the northern lights while onboard. Guests embark in Southampton, England, before sailing north to Norway, traveling as far north as Tromsø, well north of the Arctic Circle. We recommend splurging on a room with windows for the best northern lights viewing options. However, those in interior cabins can always run up on deck — which you should do anyway to witness the full grandeur of the atmospheric phenomenon. Rates start from $1,385 per person in 2023.

Ship Specifications

City Southampton

City Sydney

City Hong Kong

Aurora itineraries, 18 night mediterranean, 19 night mediterranean, 3 night western europe, 16 night scandinavia and baltic sea, 12 night norwegian fjords, 14 night iceland, 21 night norway, 24 night canada, 12 night norway, 24 night usa and caribbean, 13 night canary islands, 4 night short break, 16 night canary islands, 65 night caribbean, 3 night belgium, 16 night northern europe and scandinavia, 16 night iceland, 3 night guernsey, p&o cruises fleet.

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• P&O Cruises

Cruise line P&O UK (P&O Cruises)

• Southampton (England)

Aurora current position

Aurora current location is at West Mediterranean (coordinates 35.84286 N / -5.81296 W) cruising at speed of 10.7 kn (20 km/h | 12 mph) en route to MA CAS > MA TNG. The AIS position was reported 7 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Aurora

Aurora current cruise is 18 days, round-trip Mediterranean . The itinerary starts on 08 Apr, 2024 and ends on 26 Apr, 2024 .

Specifications of Aurora

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

Aurora Itineraries

Aurora review, review of aurora.

The 2001-built P&O Aurora cruise ship is one of the older P&O UK liners. The drydock refit in 2014 made it the first in the fleet with the company's new hull livery - the Union Jack flag.

In February 2018, P&O UK announced that Aurora becomes an adults-only ship, after the scheduled drydock refurbishment in March 2019. The ship joined the adult-only fleetmate Arcadia on April 8, 2019. Both boats are exclusively for adults.

The vessel (IMO number 9226906) is currently Bermuda- flagged (MMSI 310556000) and registered in Hamilton .

History - construction and ownership

P&O Cruises is a subsidiary company and two brands owned by Carnival Corporation - P&O UK and P&O Australia. In 2000, P&O Cruises became subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises, which merged with Carnival Corporation in 2003. P and O is the world's oldest cruise company, starting passenger shipping operations in 1822 on the routes connecting England with Iberia.

The 1900-passenger ship Aurora operates some of the best luxury ship cruises from England, with cheap affordable cruises from UK ports. This one is among the most family-friendly cruise ships in the UK, featuring the PO Aurora World cruise deals from Southampton by the UK best cruise line. One of the best England cruise ships, P&O Aurora serves predominantly the British market, with a great variety of itineraries (mainly in Europe). With her classic design and tiered stern, she is more similar to the traditional ocean liners, and just like “the good old ones”, she offers sheer luxury, premium cruising experiences, stylish entertainment, and 5-star hotel amenities. The PO Aurora cruise ship reviews often recommend this vessel and its itineraries as presenting the best and cheap options for birthday celebrations and wedding anniversaries at sea, small family reunions, and for spending quality family time together.

Decks and Cabins

P&O Aurora staterooms (962 total, in 20 grades) including 30x Suites, 381x Balconies, 253x Oceanviews, 288x Inside, 10x Single cabins (Oceanview). Most cabins are sized 150-175 ft2 / 14-16 m2. Most cabin balconies are sized 30-40 ft2 / 3-4 m2. Wheelchair-accessible cabins are 22. The largest passenger accommodations are the Penthouse Suites (Duplex Apartments sized 865 ft2 / 80 m2, with terrace 70 ft2 / 7 m2).

The boat has 13 decks , of which 10 are passenger-accessible and 7 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

The decor of the vessel is not from the most exciting that passengers have ever seen and appeals to the older Brits. There is a 2-sitting fixed dining system in the dining venues and dress codes are enforced in the restaurants and in the basic bars in the evenings. The ship's main dining rooms are two (Medina and Alexandria restaurants), both with open-seating (serving breakfast and lunch) and Club dining at dinner (fixed seating). Alternative/specialty restaurant is Cafe Bordeaux (by chef Marco Pierre White) with Mediterranean cuisine. Dinner reservations are required, and a surcharge is applied. The casual Pennant Grill serves breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea. Another dining option is the self-service buffet restaurant “The Orangery”. Room service costs extra.

Follows the complete list of Aurora restaurants and food bars.

• Medina Restaurant (forward Dining Room; open seating breakfast 8-9:30 am, Lunch 12:15-1:45 pm, Afternoon Tea 4-4:45 pm, club dining with two fixed Dinner seatings (at 6:30 or 8:30 pm/complimentary)
• Alexandria Restaurant (aft Dining Room, dinner only, with 2 fixed dinner seatings at 6:30 or 8:30 p.m.; complimentary)
• Cafe Bordeaux (120-seat French specialty restaurant by Marco Pierre White; at surcharge; open for Breakfast 6:30-11:00 am, Lunch 11 am - 5:30 pm, Afternoon Tea 5:30-6:30 pm, Dinner 6-10:30 pm, late-night snacks 10:30 pm - 6:30 am)
• The Orangery (Lido buffet, self-service, complimentary; open for Breakfast 7-10:30 am, Brunch 10:30-12 am; Lunch 12-2:30 pm, Children’s Afternoon Tea and snacks 5:45-6:30 pm, Dinner 6:30-9 pm/ features themed buffets)
• Sidewalk Cafe (Lido Cafe, fast food bar; offers pizzas, burgers, fish and chips, complimentary; open 11 am - 6 pm)
• "Sindhu" (Indian, by A. Kochhar)
• Pennant Grill and Bar (specialty restaurant, alfresco; surcharge PP applied; open only for dinner/ 7-9:30 pm).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

P&O Aurora liner attracts passengers during the school holidays, but basically, she is loved by more elderly people who prefer a traditional cruising experience. Ship's Sun Deck features a golf simulator, Cyb@Study (Internet), the line’s signature Crow’s Nest (bar&lounge by day, nightclub by night), the Uganda room for private parties, and Crystal Pool with 5 hot tubs. The Lido Deck boasts the Oasis spa-salon-sauna, The Orangery, and Sidewalk Cafe, as well as the Pennant bar. The Riviera Pool and Weights and Measures gym are located on Deck 11. Onboard P&O Aurora, there are a total of 8 bars, 3 pools (1 with retractable glass dome), 2 jacuzzis, up to 3 lectures a day, dance lessons, French and Spanish classes. Additional amenities include: Complimentary 24-hour Room-Service, Internet/WiFi access, supervised kids programme, laundry/self-serve laundromats.

Follows the complete list of Aurora lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Aurora Atrium (4-decks central open floor area and social hub)
• Palm Court Lobby
• Curzon Theatre (600-seat, features grand style productions, with hi-tech lighting and sound equipment)
• Carmen’s Lounge (show lounge and dance club; hosts dancing classes, bingo games, cabaret shows nightly)
• Champions Bar (sports bar); Anderson’s Bar; Charlie’s Bar (wine/piano)
• Monte Carlo Casino; Art Gallery and Shop
• Masquerade Disco and Nightclub
• Raffles Bar (hand-made chocolates and cakes; specialty coffee; a la carte pricing)
• Mayfair Shop (luxury jewelry); Piccadilly Court and Shop (clothes, accessories, sunglasses, logo items); Emporium (duty-free general store: logo merchandise, chocolates, souvenirs, alcohol, tobaccos, special occasion gifts)
• Photo Gallery and Shop; The Library (with Internet computers); Vanderbilt’s Card Room
• Cyb@Study (24-hour Internet computers room)
• Uganda Room (wedding venue, vow renewals; also used for private parties)
• The Playhouse (213-seat cinema)
• Decibels Disco (teens club lounge)
• Terrace Pool and Bar area; Crystal Pool (served by Crystal Bar); Riviera Pool and Bar area (adults-only)
• Toybox Room and Night Nursery; Quarter Deck (kids club room); Jumping Jacks (kids club); Intergalactic (video games arcade)
• Oasis Spa and Health Club (Treatment Rooms, Steam Rooms, Beauty Salon)
• The Retreat (relaxation room with large wooden floor for Yoga, Tai Chi, ballroom dance classes)
• Weights and Measures Gym (complimentary equipment, Fitness classes; Yoga and Pilates at surcharge)
• The Crow’s Nest Lounge (dance floor, a stage for live music; with floor-ceiling windows for panoramic views; hosts art classes, quiz games, cooking demos during the day)
• Power Walking/Jogging Track; Sports Court (tennis, basketball, football, cricket); Shuffleboard, Deck Quoits, Table Tennis; Golf Simulator; four Golf Net cages.

Itineraries

P&O Aurora itinerary program is based on roundtrips from homeport Southampton England , including an annual World Cruise , Caribbean itineraries (ex-UK roundtrip Transatlantic crossings), Canary Islands, Baltic (Norwegian Fjords), Mediterranean, Iceland and Norway, as well as "mini-cruises" from the UK to Belgium.

Due to the Coronavirus crisis, the ship Aurora was paused through April 2022.

Aurora - user reviews and comments

Aurora ship related cruise news.

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Other P&O UK cruise ships

Aurora wiki.

MS Aurora was specifically designed to appeal to the UK cruising market. Since British travelers are more attracted by traditionally looking ships, vessel's hull and superstructure as design resemble traditional ocean liners. Design's basics were taken from mv Oriana , but largely extended and improved (cabins and facilities).

P&O Aurora (Papenburg shipyard/hull number 640) is powered by MAN B&W marine diesel engines (model 14V48/60) generating total power output 56 MW.

A most unfortunate event in mv Aurora's history happened at the very beginning of its service. Vessel's royal godmother (Princess Anne) failed to shatter the champagne bottle in the hull during the christening ceremony in Southampton . And many blamed this for the canceled Maiden Voyage (May 1, 2000) when due to a serious technical problem the Inaugural cruise to the Mediterranean was canceled after only 16 hrs at sea. The ship was taken out of service for drydock repairs, and passengers refund/compensation package cost P&O UK about GBP 6 million. Aurora returned to service 2 weeks later.

The liner was christened on April 27, 2000, by godmother HRH Princess Royal. The list of other P and O cruise ships named by British Royals includes Oriana (April 6, 1995, by HM The Queen), Britannia (March 10, 2015, by HM The Queen) and the ships Oceana and Adonia (Azamara Pursuit since 2018) . Both vessels were named on May 21, 2003, by HRH Princess Royal and her daughter Zara Phillips.

The list of P&O World Cruise ships, besides Aurora also includes mv Arcadia .

P&O Aurora refurbishments review

The ship is currently scheduled for a drydock refurbishment in April 2025.

Aurora's renovation project in 2023 (April-May) resulted in new chairs (in all passenger staterooms), new furniture (on all cabin balconies), and new deckchairs/furniture on all open deck areas. Neptune Pool's sundeck was upgraded with new garden furniture (loungers, sofas, tables, armchairs).

Follows the list of deck plan changes after the 2014 drydock refurbishment in Hamburg (Nov 29 thru Dec 18) conducted at Blohm+Voss.

• new livery design. The refit in 2014 makes ms Aurora the first of all P and O cruise ships with the new livery for the P&O line- the Union Jack flag (on the hull/bow) and the funnel’s new livery design will feature a contemporary version of the Union Flag and new blue funnels with illuminated rising sun designs.
• (Deck 8) New Indian cuisine restaurant (“Sindhu”, by Atul Kochhar) replaces the library, which is to be relocated to Deck 13 (where is the  cyb@study).
• (Deck 8) Cafe Bordeaux to be replaced by the wine bar/specialty restaurant “Glass House”.
• Venues to receive renovations (decor and furniture changes): Lido Buffet, Sidewalk Cafe and the Spa (on Deck 12), Reef Club (Deck 8, changes in the kids' rooms names), Champions Bar, Casino, the Theatre and Carmen’s Lounge (all on Deck 7).
• New Grill evening menu (“The Beach House”)
• New venues: Medina Restaurant (Deck 6, with more 2-seats tables), “Grab & Go” food station and specialty “Costa Coffee” bar
• passenger cabins amenities upgrade (new flat TVs, furnishings).

Drydock 2014 refurbishment’s total cost was GBP 26 million (~USD 44 million).

Aurora's drydocking in 2022 (June 9-23) was at Harland & Wolff shipyard (in Belfast, Northern Ireland ). Before the 2022 drydock, the boat was drydocked for general maintenance works in March 2019.

Around South America cruises 2023

Next table shows Aurora's 65-night/66-day itinerary (booking code R301) Around South America roundtrip from the UK.

Prices started from GBP 1450 () per person with double occupancy.

P&O Aurora World Cruise 2022 (canceled)

In 2021, P&O UK planned a 100-day "World Cruise 2022" on MS Aurora, leaving roundtrip from Southampton (January 3 thru April 13). Paul Ludlow (P&O UK's President) commented that was "not possible" to operate the scheduled voyage due to the "complex logistics" (COVID impact) involved with a global itinerary.

The canceled voyage was also available for booking in smaller itinerary segments:

• (Jan 3) 49-days Southampton to Sydney
• (Jan 3) 24-days Southampton to San Francisco
• (Feb 21) 51-days Sydney to Southampton
• (Feb 21) 23-days Sydney to Singapore
• (Feb 21) 19-days Sydney to Hong Kong
• (Feb 23) 49-day Brisbane to Southampton
• (Feb 23) 17-days Brisbane to Hong Kong
• (Mar 12) 14-days Hong Kong to Dubai
• (Mar 12) 32-days Hong Kong to Southampton
• (Mar 26) 18-days Dubai to Southampton

Instead, the ship was rescheduled to operate two substitutes/Southampton roundtrips (sales opened on July 6, 2021) leaving in 2022 on February 22 (Transatlantic to the Caribbean) and April 1 (to the Canaries).

The 40-night Caribbean itinerary (priced from GBP 2150 pp) visits La Coruna Galicia, Funchal Madeira, Basseterre St Kitts, Pointe-a-Pitre Guadeloupe, Oranjestad Aruba, Castries St Lucia, St Georges Grenada, Kingstown St Vincent Grenadines, Bridgetown Barbados, Kralendijk Bonaire.

The 12-night "Portugal and the Canaries" itinerary (priced from GBP 600 pp) visits Santa Cruz de la Palma, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Arrecife de Lanzarote, and Lisbon Portugal.

A 3rd passenger (in the same cabin) paid just GBP 200 (on both P&O Aurora cruises).

Aurora P&O Cruises (R418) Norwegian Fjords Cruise 11th September 2024

Inroduction.

This cruise aboard P&O Aurora and operated by P&O Cruises, is a 12-night Norwegian Fjords No-Fly cruise from Southampton. The cruise departs on the 11th of September, 2024.

Ports of Call * (in no particular order!)

• Alesund: Alesund is a Norwegian port town known for its Art Nouveau architecture and scenic views. Visitors can explore the Alesund Aquarium, the Jugendstilsenteret Museum, and the Aksla viewpoint.
• Andalsnes: Andalsnes, a Norwegian port town in the Rauma region, is known for its scenic views and outdoor activities. Visitors can explore the Trollstigen Road, the Romsdal Museum, and the Raumabanen Railway.
• Eidfjord: This Norwegian village is known for its natural beauty, including the Hardangervidda National Park and the Vøringfossen waterfall. Visitors can explore the Eidfjord Church, the Hardangervidda Nature Centre, and the Kjeåsen Mountain Farm.
• Haugesund: Haugesund is a coastal town in southwestern Norway known for its Viking heritage, beautiful fjords, and stunning natural landscapes.
• Nordfjordeid: Nordfjordeid is a small town located at the end of the Nordfjord in Norway and is a popular port of call for many cruise ships. Visitors can explore the town's historic sites, museums, and nearby natural attractions.
• Skjolden: Skjolden is a village at the head of the Sognefjord, the largest fjord in Norway. The village is surrounded by mountains and glaciers, making it a popular destination for outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking, and fishing. Visitors can also take a scenic drive along the fjord or visit nearby attractions such as the Jostedalsbreen Glacier and the Urnes Stave Church.
• Stavanger (Norway): Stavanger is a city in southwestern Norway known for its natural beauty, museums, and cultural attractions. The city is often a popular port of call for cruise ships travelling through the Norwegian fjords. Visitors can explore the old town, hike to the top of Pulpit Rock for panoramic views, or visit the Norwegian Petroleum Museum to learn about the country's oil industry.
• Trondheim: Trondheim is a city in central Norway located on the Trondheim Fjord. The city has a long and rich history, having been the capital of Norway during the Viking Age. Trondheim is known for its beautiful medieval architecture, including the iconic Nidaros Cathedral, and its modern cultural offerings, including festivals and music events.

About Aurora

Aurora is a mid-sized ship from P&O Cruises, exclusively for adults. Aurora is a world-class ship, bringing the joys of classic cruise travel to all. Aurora features a skydome over her inviting Crystal Pool, an award-winning wine bar, a cinema and theatre, and a range of fine dining options. Aurora sails to a variety of destinations, including the USA and Canada, the Mediterranean, the Norwegian Fjords and more. Book your Aurora cruise today and enjoy the intimate classic ship.

Fitness enthusiasts on Aurora, can take advantage of the ship’s well-equipped gymnasium, fitness classes, and personal training sessions, ensuring they can stay active during their cruise.

All of Aurora Cruises in 2024 can be found on the main Aurora page of Cruisez. For details about the ship, visit P&O Aurora .

Aurora Cruises this Month

Itinerary: Southampton – St. John’s (Newfoundland), Gaspe, Sept-Iles, Quebec City (overnight onboard), Saguenay, Charlottetown (Prince Edward Island), Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Halifax, Sydney (Nova Scotia) – Southampton

Similar Cruises

Itinerary: Southampton – Haugesund – Skjolden – Alesund – Trondheim – Andalsnes – Nordfjordeid – Bergen – Kristiansund – Southampton

Itinerary: Southampton – Haugesund, Skjolden, Alesund, Trondheim, Andalsnes, Nordfjordeid, Eidfjord, Stavanger (Norway) – Southampton

• Fred. Olsen Cruise Line

Fred Olsen Borealis vs P&O Aurora for Norway

By CruiseMark , March 29, 2023 in Fred. Olsen Cruise Line

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I’m considering a Norway Northern Lights cruise in December. Both Fred Olsen Borealis and P&O Aurora get good reviews and the itineraries are somewhat similar.   

I realize that this is a Fred Olsen forum and may lead to some biased responses, but does anyone have thoughts on the two ships? Any differences I should be aware of between either the ships or the cruise lines?  I’ve cruised extensively but never with either of these two lines.   

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Hi. We have cruised with both lines.

We have cruised with FO to the Northern Lights 4 years ago.

We are booked again with them next year to the Northern Lights.

Not done Northern Lights with P&O.

I would be happy to cruise with P&O to the Northern Lights.

So the only difference I would say between the two lines is the spread of Passengers.

Fred Olsen has the “feel” of a Country House with Passengers more to the 60 plus age group.

P&O we have found to have a wider age range.

Depending with whom you have cruised with before may influence your choice.

If you are used to the large ship cruise lines you may find P&O more to your taste. But if you want a more smaller ship feel FO may be the one.

We have found food and service very much the same between the two lines.

Whichever Line you choose it will be a fantastic cruise. The Northern Lights are an experience never to be forgotten.

6 hours ago, CruiseMark said: Hello,   I’m considering a Norway Northern Lights cruise in December. Both Fred Olsen Borealis and P&O Aurora get good reviews and the itineraries are somewhat similar.    I realize that this is a Fred Olsen forum and may lead to some biased responses, but does anyone have thoughts on the two ships? Any differences I should be aware of between either the ships or the cruise lines?  I’ve cruised extensively but never with either of these two lines.    Thanks.   Mark

The main thing that would make a difference to us is the itineraries.  Fred often go to less visited ports which can be more interesting, but if you have not been to any Norwegian ports before it will not make a difference.  I would also look at the length of the cruise, since spending a bit longer there may give you a bit more chance of seeing the lights, which can never be guaranteed and if you go to Alta with one line and not the other, you may have a greater chance of seeing the lights there as it is sheltered from some of the rain/cloud cover as behind mountains from the prevailing wind direction, yet Tromso, which is as far north as some itineraries go, can remain more cloudy, so lights not visible if they do show.  All chance though.  One other point is that if not visiting a port that day in Norway, Fred normally goes up the inside passage, so there will be scenic cruising and also you will be better protected from rough seas, whilst P&O sail out to sea between all the ports.

I agree with the previous answer in that P&O, on average, have a greater mix of ages, especially for Med cruises on their bigger ships, but for Aurora and Arcadia, which are smaller, child free ships we have not really found a big difference in clientelle, especially post covid.

As far as I know Fred still only has a choice of 6.15pm or 8.30pm sittings in the main dining room, when you will be allocated a table for the whole cruise, though you can choose table size (subject to availability).   On Aurora there is a third choice of freedom dining (subject to availability).  I have often found Fred to have better speakers with a knowledge of the area, if you enjoy talks on the cruise.  Both lines have self service restaurants that you can use at a time of your choice and a couple of pay for, speciality restaurants.

Enjoy whatever you choose.

On 3/29/2023 at 12:21 PM, CruiseMark said: Hello,   I’m considering a Norway Northern Lights cruise in December. Both Fred Olsen Borealis and P&O Aurora get good reviews and the itineraries are somewhat similar.    I realize that this is a Fred Olsen forum and may lead to some biased responses, but does anyone have thoughts on the two ships? Any differences I should be aware of between either the ships or the cruise lines?  I’ve cruised extensively but never with either of these two lines.    Thanks.   Mark

I was just looking at the Borealis itineraries for next December as she is sailing out of our local port, Liverpool.  I see she is not going to Norway next winter, but Balmoral seems to be doing all Fred's Norway cruises for winter this year.  If so be aware Balmoral is not an ex HAL ship, but is a smaller, older ship, though what has been said will still be applicable to that cruise.  Or you may be looking at December the following winter 24/25, when both Borealis and Aurora are scheduled to do those itineraries.

One other thing to be aware of is that the seas can get quite rough up there in the winter, so be careful  choosing your cabin location.  There have been reports of a force 12 up there a week or two ago, though will not necessarily be that bad, all chance.

sleepingcat

just in case you are not aware, there is also the Norwegian Company Hurtigruten.  Its not a cruise as such, as their ships service the ports up the Norway coast.  but it is a good way to see the Northern Lights, and they guarantee you a further trip for free if you dont see the lights. My bro and Sis in Law went with them in November and had a wonderful trip including 2 nights of Northern Lights.

twotravellersLondon

On 3/29/2023 at 12:21 PM, CruiseMark said: I’m considering a Norway Northern Lights cruise in December. Both Fred Olsen Borealis and P&O Aurora get good reviews and the itineraries are somewhat similar. 

3 hours ago, sleepingcat said: just in case you are not aware, there is also the Norwegian Company Hurtigruten.  Its not a cruise as such, as their ships service the ports up the Norway coast.  but it is a good way to see the Northern Lights, and they guarantee you a further trip for free if you dont see the lights. My bro and Sis in Law went with them in November and had a wonderful trip including 2 nights of Northern Lights.

It's good to compare what's on offer and in addition to  Hurtigruten, SAGA are also offering cruise as far North as the North Cape.

We've done the   Hurtigruten trip in winter and it was excellent. Local museums opened for us, very reasonably priced excursions were put on, the food was some of the freshest, healthiest and tastiest afloat... in our experience. We visited many places that cruise boats never touch... it was possible to go ashore night and day... at stops... even just for a bit of snowballing on the quay in the Arctic night  And for an "interesting itinerary" it's unbeatable. Just don't hope for a roomy cabin or cruise-style entertainment! We saw the Northern Lights in Ålesund   Harbour  from the deck! They covered the entire  sky!

However, we've just come back from a SAGA cruise where we saw the Northern Lights on five consecutive nights... and, unlike FOCLs these days, we     travelled as far as Honningsvåg, visited the North Cape, and sailed around the Cape itself! The cruise was all inclusive with door-to-door transfers, Wi-Fi, speciality restaurants, gratuities and excursions included. It also included premium drinks in the restaurants and bars.

The same cruise as we did a couple of weeks ago or so is available for next year from the company that we used at £3,000 less than FOCL's current price for a similar but less exciting itinerary based on a similar cabin. Interesting, we had three (included) dinners in the speciality restaurants with folks that we'd originally made friends with on FOCLs in the days that we all trusted "Fred" to show us a good time at value for money. Like us, these émigrés were enjoying better food, better entertainment, better accommodation and a far better itinerary than FOCLs are putting on now... and we were all saving a small fortune by not booking with FOCLs.

By the way... the ship we sailed in was smaller than anything that FOCLs can now offer but had a real theatre and large areas of public space over several decks. From day one... the staff in the restaurants, bars etc knew us by name but no-one presumed that we would choose the same "drink" each time. The staff were excellent, nothing was too much trouble. The ship was virtually full, there was bubbles and fruit in our room on arrival, the toiletries were in large bottles and what was left was complementary. All shuttle busses were free to all passengers to use and, unlike FOCLs, we didn't have to go through the painful security check every time that we returned to the ship... will FOCLs go to any length to prevent a passenger who's already paid the fare from taking a bottle of booze on board! Just such a pain.

After between 25 and 30 cruises with "Fred" & FOCLs as well as cruises with the likes of P&O, Princess & Cunard, we shopped around... and find that, in our opinion, on a like for like basis... FOCLs is now just so much more expensive for a less good offering... so we've found that it really helps to compare the market.  

These are some pics that we took just a week or two ago of the bits that FOCLs have recently missed out of their winter itineraries...

And our trip to the North Cape was included... even a nice warm jacket for us to keep... delivered to our cabin at the start of the cruise. Even the coach journey to the North Cape was amazing.

The scalloped snow shows the line of the road that we travelled on.

It was such a wonderful day... fresh snow, brilliant sunlight, calm seas and relatively balmy day for the northernmost point (almost) on the European continent... the North Pole is just 2,000 km or so over the horizon.

Forget about list of things to do before kicking the bucket... even our bus driver said... "Just enjoy!"

Other included trips were to the Arctic "Cathedral" in Tromso and the  Bryggen in Bergen.

4 hours ago, CruiseMark said: Thank you for the excellent insight. Could you please PM me the name of the company you used to get such a great price?  

We used SAGA. We booked at the beginning of the booking period and had a 35% discount. We have compared next seasons prices on the basis of a balcony cabin... the entry level on SAGA.

Also included in our price was visits to the speciality restaurants... one example...

Compared with the main dining room...

These are pics of other included visits...

Bryggen in Bergen...

Northern Light Cathedral in Alta by free shuttle bus...

Arctic "Cathedral" In Tromsø...

After between 25 and 30 cruises with "Fred" & FOCLs as well as cruises with the likes of SAGA, P&O, Princess & Cunard, we shopped around... and find that on a like for like basis... FOCLs is now just so much more expensive for a less good offering... so we've found that it really helps to compare the market. 

We would always take a balcony cabin because probably by the time a cruise ship reached Alta and most certainly by the time it reached Honningsvåg it would be further North and closer to the Pole than any other cruise ship or expedition ship on earth. By the time that it rounded the North Cape it would be further North than even the Hurtigruten ferries. At that Latitude of well over 71˚ North the decks on cruise-ships may well be closed because it's too windy, too wet, too snowy or the sea's too high and so the only sheltered, safe, dark spot... to patiently look out for the Aurora is the balcony.

This is important because, the most likely place for the Northern Lights to be seen on a cruise is while the ship is travelling off shore. (That's because the sky is likely to be clearer, the ship often travels at night and the fact that he ships spend more time at sea than in port.) Often ships try to increase the chances of possible sightings by spending some time just off the Norwegian coast in sea areas such as Lopphavet, which is a stretch of open sea along the border of Troms og Finnmark. It's a fairly open area of sea off the entrance to the Altafjorden. P&O's Aurora is currently just leaving that area.

I was brought up in a seaside village in the North of Scotland where the Northern Lights were common in the dark of winter.  Over more than a quarter of a century we've successfully seen the Northern Lights dozens of times in Alaska, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and the sea areas in between. They can last for seconds or for hours, be as faint as smoke trails or as bright as neon lights, vary from a light green haze to startling shafts of light and create the illusions of anthropogenic forms of the faces of animals, trolls and all manner of other things. While it's possible to see the effects of the northern lights during the day... the blue of the sky can change to a translucent turquoise... the one thing that's certain the human eye needs to be well adjusted to the darkness of the night sky to see and appreciate them in all of their glory... (these days it can take us up to 30 minutes in the dark if the lights are faint... young eyes can adjust quicker!) Anyone inside a ship or behind reflective glass is far less likely to see the light in their true intensity or colour.

The HD Northern Lights images that we see in the media have often been taken on highly sensitive cameras on solid tripods set on viewing positions with little extraneous light to allow for timed exposures of 15s or more. On many occasions the pictures have been digitally enhanced.

What passengers on a cruise ship are more likely to actually see with the naked eye is... something like these that we took a couple of weeks ago.

On a good night (Five solid hours) on Fred's Boudiccain 2015 while cruising  Lopphavet... this  is the  type of thing that we saw from the deck.

This "Troll" came out of nowhere almost frightened the living daylights  out of those of up on deck and, then vanished in an instant. You can see the goatee beard on the chin, the well define pointed nose, the deep hollow eyes, the Troll-like ears and the hair blowing away into the distance. Ten seconds of intensely exciting, awesome Primeval Fear... it left us all gasping!

The Friend in the red jacket was also with us on our last cruise!

And the Northern Lights excursion...

And the Northern Lights excursion... this is when we were on "Fred" at Alta in 2014... (Again on the Boudicca) almost knee deep in snow on a green on the local golf club. Five coaches went... the great majority were too cold to stay out and retreated back to the coaches or the club house where there was ample supplies to hot drinks and chockie cake. About a dozen of us braved the weather and we rewarded with this beautiful Aurora Bow rising majestically behind the clubhouse. It was awesome... and nobody in the light and warmth of the clubhouse had any idea that it had ever been there. However... folks who had stayed on board the Boudicca and looked out from the ship's decks saw it... despite the lights of the town.

You've probably guessed that we find the lights exciting and we're willing to wrap up very warm and have the patience to stay out in the cold for ages to watch and wonder.

Good luck in selecting your cruise. We hope that you will have a wonderful time, that you'll see the lights and that you'll have memories that will last a lifetime.

On 4/1/2023 at 12:30 PM, twotravellersLondon said:   We used SAGA. We booked at the beginning of the booking period and had a 35% discount. We have compared next seasons prices on the basis of a balcony cabin... the entry level on SAGA.   Also included in our price was visits to the speciality restaurants... one example...     Compared with the main dining room...     These are pics of other included visits...   Bryggen in Bergen...     Northern Light Cathedral in Alta by free shuttle bus...     Arctic "Cathedral" In Tromsø...     After between 25 and 30 cruises with "Fred" & FOCLs as well as cruises with the likes of SAGA, P&O, Princess & Cunard, we shopped around... and find that on a like for like basis... FOCLs is now just so much more expensive for a less good offering... so we've found that it really helps to compare the market.    We would always take a balcony cabin because probably by the time a cruise ship reached Alta and most certainly by the time it reached Honningsvåg it would be further North and closer to the Pole than any other cruise ship or expedition ship on earth. By the time that it rounded the North Cape it would be further North than even the Hurtigruten ferries. At that Latitude of well over 71˚ North the decks on cruise-ships may well be closed because it's too windy, too wet, too snowy or the sea's too high and so the only sheltered, safe, dark spot... to patiently look out for the Aurora is the balcony.   This is important because, the most likely place for the Northern Lights to be seen on a cruise is while the ship is travelling off shore. (That's because the sky is likely to be clearer, the ship often travels at night and the fact that he ships spend more time at sea than in port.) Often ships try to increase the chances of possible sightings by spending some time just off the Norwegian coast in sea areas such as Lopphavet, which is a stretch of open sea along the border of Troms og Finnmark. It's a fairly open area of sea off the entrance to the Altafjorden. P&O's Aurora is currently just leaving that area.   I was brought up in a seaside village in the North of Scotland where the Northern Lights were common in the dark of winter.  Over more than a quarter of a century we've successfully seen the Northern Lights dozens of times in Alaska, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and the sea areas in between. They can last for seconds or for hours, be as faint as smoke trails or as bright as neon lights, vary from a light green haze to startling shafts of light and create the illusions of anthropogenic forms of the faces of animals, trolls and all manner of other things. While it's possible to see the effects of the northern lights during the day... the blue of the sky can change to a translucent turquoise... the one thing that's certain the human eye needs to be well adjusted to the darkness of the night sky to see and appreciate them in all of their glory... (these days it can take us up to 30 minutes in the dark if the lights are faint... young eyes can adjust quicker!) Anyone inside a ship or behind reflective glass is far less likely to see the light in their true intensity or colour.   The HD Northern Lights images that we see in the media have often been taken on highly sensitive cameras on solid tripods set on viewing positions with little extraneous light to allow for timed exposures of 15s or more. On many occasions the pictures have been digitally enhanced.   What passengers on a cruise ship are more likely to actually see with the naked eye is... something like these that we took a couple of weeks ago.         On a good night (Five solid hours) on Fred's Boudiccain 2015 while cruising  Lopphavet... this  is the  type of thing that we saw from the deck.     This "Troll" came out of nowhere almost frightened the living daylights  out of those of up on deck and, then vanished in an instant. You can see the goatee beard on the chin, the well define pointed nose, the deep hollow eyes, the Troll-like ears and the hair blowing away into the distance. Ten seconds of intensely exciting, awesome Primeval Fear... it left us all gasping!     The Friend in the red jacket was also with us on our last cruise!     And the Northern Lights excursion...   And the Northern Lights excursion... this is when we were on "Fred" at Alta in 2014... (Again on the Boudicca) almost knee deep in snow on a green on the local golf club. Five coaches went... the great majority were too cold to stay out and retreated back to the coaches or the club house where there was ample supplies to hot drinks and chockie cake. About a dozen of us braved the weather and we rewarded with this beautiful Aurora Bow rising majestically behind the clubhouse. It was awesome... and nobody in the light and warmth of the clubhouse had any idea that it had ever been there. However... folks who had stayed on board the Boudicca and looked out from the ship's decks saw it... despite the lights of the town.         You've probably guessed that we find the lights exciting and we're willing to wrap up very warm and have the patience to stay out in the cold for ages to watch and wonder.     Good luck in selecting your cruise. We hope that you will have a wonderful time, that you'll see the lights and that you'll have memories that will last a lifetime.

Lots of great info there thank you and super photos.

One tiny point for clarification only - the two Saga ships are only very slightly smaller than Fred's two larger ships (around 3000/4000 tons) and they are actually bigger than Balmoral. They do however take around 300 fewer passengers.

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