Reykjavik: Northern Lights Motor Yacht Cruise

The sky is the main event here, but the setting gives it a special frame. You leave Reykjavik Old Harbor and head into the darker waters of Faxafloi Bay, where the city lights fade and the northern lights may ripple overhead. I like the chance to see Reykjavik from the water, especially Harpa Concert Hall, the Sun Voyager statue, and Hofdi House along the coast.

I also like the small yacht option, MY Harpa, which carries up to 35 people, and the useful comforts: indoor seating, Wi-Fi, warm blankets, and drinks from the bar. The catch is simple but important: clouds can defeat even the best forecast, and a boat cannot roam as freely as a land-based northern lights tour in search of clear skies.

Key points at a glance

• Faxafloi Bay after dark: The cruise moves away from Reykjavik’s strongest lights for a better chance of seeing the aurora.
• Two different yachts: MY Harpa holds up to 35 passengers, while MY Amelia Rose carries up to 95.
• Coastal sightseeing included: Look for Harpa Concert Hall, the Sun Voyager, Hofdi House, and Videy Island.
• Warmth without giving up the view: You can watch from the outside deck or retreat indoors with blankets and hot drinks available to buy.
• A 2.5-hour search: The length gives the crew time to wait for a break in the clouds, but there is no guarantee the lights will appear.
• A well-rated experience: The overall rating is 4.3 out of 5 from 133 bookings, with especially strong praise for the crew, comfort, and successful aurora sightings.

Leaving Reykjavik Old Harbor after sunset

Check in inside the restaurant at the Old Boat House, using the self-check-in kiosk. This is easy once you know the trick, but the meeting instructions can be less clear than the actual process. A map pin alone may leave you wandering outside, so go into the restaurant rather than searching for a separate tour office.

The cruise lasts 2.5 hours, with departure times varying by date. Plan to arrive early enough to find the Old Harbor without rushing. Reykjavik’s harbor area is close to the city center, and the meeting point also gives you a chance to see the working waterfront before setting out.

Once aboard, you can choose an indoor seat or head outside. The inside area is especially useful at the start of the trip, when the cold wind can make standing on deck uncomfortable before the aurora hunt really begins.

The yacht choice matters more than it sounds

Harpa Yachts uses either MY Harpa or MY Amelia Rose. MY Harpa carries up to 35 passengers, making it the better match if you value a quieter, more personal outing. MY Amelia Rose can hold up to 95, so the atmosphere may feel less intimate even though there is still room to move around.

The boat assigned to you is not presented as a choice, so check the details when booking if the yacht size matters. The experience can also change if mechanical trouble requires a different vessel. One past departure used a larger fishing boat after electrical problems, and that meant losing some of the expected comforts, including blankets and Wi-Fi.

That is worth keeping in mind when comparing this cruise with a land tour. You are paying for a boat experience, not simply transportation to a dark viewing spot. The yacht adds fresh air, open-water views, and a memorable angle on Reykjavik, but the exact feel depends partly on the vessel running that night.

Watching Reykjavik landmarks from Faxafloi Bay

The trip is not only a dark-water search for the aurora. As you leave the harbor, the guide points out several recognizable parts of Reykjavik, giving you something to look at while the sky makes up its mind.

Harpa Concert Hall is especially striking from the water. Its glass front reflects the city and recalls Iceland’s basalt formations, so it looks different from the usual street-level view. The building glows against the dark shoreline and makes a good early photograph before you move farther into the bay.

The Sun Voyager, Jón Gunnar Árnason’s steel sculpture, is another coastal marker. From the boat, it becomes part of a wider view of the waterfront rather than a single stop where everyone gathers around it.

You also pass the Hofdi House, known for the 1986 meeting between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev. That meeting did not instantly end the Cold War, but it became an important part of the period’s diplomacy. Seeing the house from the sea adds a small piece of modern Icelandic and international history to the evening.

The route may take you behind islands in Faxafloi Bay, including Videy. From October 9 through December 8, and on selected other dates, Yoko Ono’s Imagine Peace Tower shines from Videy. It is a gentle, unusual sight during the dark season, though its appearance depends on the date and conditions.

How the northern lights search works

The crew takes you away from the brightest city lights and into darker water. That helps, but it does not remove the main problems: cloud, rain, wind, and changing aurora activity.

The northern lights form when solar particles interact with Earth’s atmosphere. A good guide can explain that science in plain language, while also sharing Icelandic stories and legends connected with the lights. The strongest praise for this cruise goes to the crew’s ability to explain the aurora, keep people informed, and maintain good spirits when the sky looks unpromising.

You should expect some waiting. The yacht may hold a position or move through the bay while the crew watches the sky and checks for activity. The lights can appear late, even on a cloudy night. Several successful outings described the aurora arriving only near the return to the harbor or after a long spell of poor conditions.

That timing is part of the thrill, but it can also test your patience. If you need constant action, this is not the right evening activity. If you are happy to wait under an Icelandic sky, with a guide explaining what to watch for, the slow pace makes sense.

Indoor warmth, outdoor views, and photography

The boat provides indoor seating, which is more than a minor comfort in Iceland’s winter darkness. You can warm up inside, look through the windows, and wait for the guide to signal stronger activity. Then step outside when the sky begins to change.

Warm blankets are provided, though you should still dress for the ocean. Wear a warm jacket and sensible layers. The breeze on the bay can feel much colder than the weather in central Reykjavik, and you will enjoy the trip more if you can stay outside for photographs without shivering.

The stable yacht gives you a useful platform for pictures. Keep your expectations realistic, since photographing faint aurora on a moving boat is not effortless. Still, the open deck gives you a broad view of the sky, and the lack of tall buildings is a clear advantage over watching from a city street.

Hot and cold drinks are available at the onboard bar, with refreshments such as chocolate available to buy. These are practical extras rather than part of the $99 fare, so budget for them separately if you want something warm during the wait.

What the guide adds to the evening

The guide can make or break a northern lights outing, especially when the aurora refuses to cooperate. The best guiding here combines three jobs: explaining the science, telling stories about Iceland, and keeping you updated about possible activity.

One guide named Einar received particular praise for explaining both the lights and Icelandic history, while Seamus at the Old Harbor helped arrange a free second attempt for one booking after the first trip produced no sighting. Those names come from specific past departures, so do not assume either person will be on your boat. The wider point is useful: staff have shown a willingness to help, and the crew’s attitude matters on a night when nature controls the result.

You should also pay attention to how much commentary you want. Most of the praise centers on strong explanations and friendly staff, but one outing felt short on information about the aurora itself. If the guide is busy watching the sky, you may get updates rather than a continuous lecture.

The main weakness: a boat has a fixed search area

A land-based northern lights jeep can usually move toward a clearer patch of sky, at least within the limits of roads, weather, and tour rules. A yacht has a defined route in Faxafloi Bay. That gives you the peaceful open-water setting, but it limits how far the crew can chase clear skies.

This is the central tradeoff. Choose the boat for the setting, not because it offers the highest possible odds of seeing the aurora. If the lights appear, their reflection and movement above the dark bay can be wonderful. If thick cloud settles over the area, the boat may have fewer ways to escape it.

The cruise can still be worthwhile without a sighting. You get a coastal night ride, Reykjavik landmarks from the water, time outside the city, and an introduction to the science and folklore of the aurora. But at $99 per person, a failed sighting may feel expensive if the lights were your only reason for booking.

Is $99 good value for 2.5 hours?

At $99, this is not the cheapest way to search for northern lights. The price makes more sense if you value the yacht itself, the limited capacity on MY Harpa, the city views, and the comfort of having an indoor cabin and blankets.

The small yacht can offer a more personal feel than a large coach tour. You also avoid spending the whole evening on a bus, and the water creates a memorable backdrop even when the aurora does not appear. On the other hand, the larger MY Amelia Rose carries up to 95 people, so the experience may feel less exclusive on those departures.

I would compare the cost with your wider Iceland plan. If you already have a land-based aurora outing booked, this cruise works well as a different kind of evening, especially for its harbor views. If this is your only northern lights attempt, a land tour may offer more flexibility in changing location, while the yacht gives you the more unusual setting.

The free cancellation window is practical: you can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps when weather forecasts are still shifting. Neither policy changes the natural risk of the activity, but both make planning less rigid.

Who should book this yacht cruise?

I would choose this cruise for couples, families, and anyone who likes the idea of watching the sky from the sea. It suits you if you want a calm evening with a guide, a little sightseeing, and the option to move between warm indoor seating and the open deck.

It is also a good choice if boats appeal to you more than coaches. One nervous passenger found the slow speed and visible city lights reassuring, and the indoor area helped make the dark-water setting feel comfortable rather than intimidating.

Families should appreciate the relatively short 2.5-hour duration. Still, children need warm clothing and patience. The aurora may not appear until late, and there is no fixed sequence of attractions with a guaranteed payoff.

I would think twice if you get seasick, dislike waiting, or want the strongest possible ability to follow clear skies. The supplied information does not state that motion sickness medicine is provided, so plan according to your own needs rather than assuming the sea will be calm.

My booking advice

Book this if you want the northern lights experience to include a yacht ride, Reykjavik’s illuminated waterfront, and a relaxed search with a friendly crew. I especially like the combination of Faxafloi Bay, Videy views, indoor warmth, and the chance to photograph the aurora away from the harbor lights.

Do not book it expecting a guaranteed show. Cloudy skies have ended some outings with only a brief glimpse, while other nights produced a dramatic display. If you can treat the cruise as a coastal night experience first and an aurora hunt second, the $99 price is easier to justify.

If seeing the lights is your one non-negotiable Iceland goal, consider pairing this cruise with a land-based outing on another night. That gives you the water setting here and the greater route flexibility of a road tour elsewhere.

FAQ

Where does the northern lights yacht cruise depart from?

It departs from Reykjavik Old Harbor. Check in inside the restaurant at the Old Boat House using the self-check-in kiosk.

How long does the cruise last?

The cruise lasts 2.5 hours. Starting times vary, so check availability for your chosen date.

How much does the experience cost?

The listed price is $99 per person.

Which languages are offered?

The live guide service is available in Icelandic and English.

Which yacht will I be on?

You may cruise on MY Harpa, which holds up to 35 passengers, or MY Amelia Rose, which holds up to 95 passengers.

Are warm clothes necessary?

Yes. You should dress warmly because the boat travels into the open bay and the ocean breeze can be cold. Warm blankets are provided onboard.

Is there indoor seating?

Yes. The yacht has an inside seating area, and you can also go outside when you want a clearer view of the sky.

Are drinks included?

Drinks and refreshments are available at the onboard bar. The provided information does not state that they are included in the ticket price.

What happens if I do not see the northern lights?

A sighting depends on weather and aurora activity, so it is not guaranteed. Ask the operator about available options after a missed sighting, since one past booking was helped with a free second trip.