Noorderlicht Arctic Cruises

The beautiful Noorderlicht was originally built in 1910 in Flensburg, Germany, as a three-masted schooner. For most of her existence, she served as a light vessel on the Baltic. In 1991 the present owners bought the hull and re-rigged and refitted her thoroughly under the Holland Ship Register’s strict rules.

Noorderlicht is now a well-balanced two-masted schooner rig that’s capable of sailing anywhere in the world and is, therefore, the perfect expedition vessel for exploring small islands. Her open decks provide excellent views all around, even when she’s under sail.

Offering an intimate and exclusive experience, Noorderlicht provides accommodation for only 20 polar explorers in small but comfortable twin cabins. All cabins have upper and lower berths, a storage locker, and a washbasin with hot and cold water. Shared shower and toilet facilities are conveniently located throughout the passenger deck. All cabins have a small hatch in the ceiling that varies in size, except cabin 6 which has a small, locked porthole in the ceiling but ventilation slots in the door. On occasion - and depending on the weather - the crew will open all hatches when passengers are ashore to allow fresh air ventilation of the whole lower deck.

Her qualified captains have a great experience of the polar oceans. Together with the rest of the crew, they will do everything possible to ensure that you have a wonderful and unforgettable journey. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises, and your crew can and will change the itinerary to suit the conditions and give you the best possible chance to experience the most intense wildlife and nature experiences in the arctic and antarctic. A willingness to compromise on luxury facilities is a basic requirement on board a historic traditional sailing vessel - this is true exploration!

Noorderlicht’s routes are designed to maximize your shore experiences. Weather, sea nd ice conditions permitting, you will have a land excursion every day. These will take between three and six hours and will be over untracked areas. You’ll have ample time to explore the unique wildlife, flora, geology, and human history of each area.

Foremost among our sustainability goals are actively reducing the impact and emission of our vessels, investing in new technology, and continuously improving our existing resources. Our traditional sailing vessel, Noorderlicht, therefore sails under canvas using nothing but wind power whenever possible.

Onboard waste is limited by recycling as much as possible as well as banning single-use plastics. You will not find plastic straws, plastic cups, or any individually wrapped butter, yogurt, or jam on Noorderlicht. This vessel has a water treatment and desalination system that uses reverse osmosis, eliminating the need for plastic bottled water on board. Bathrooms are equipped with biodegradable shampoo and soaps in recycled packing, further limiting the use of plastics.

The cook serves three delicious international meals per day, to be enjoyed as a group in the mess room.