Aurora seen from a Hurtigruten cruise in December 2018. Photo: Graham Bryant

In November 2019 I experienced my first northern lights cruise. I flew into Tromsø and boarded the Hurtigruten ship MS Finnmarken as it travelled up to Kirkenes and back, joining a 50-strong group who were on a full Astronomy Voyage from Bergen to Bergen, which included talks from astronomer Graham Bryant and guided tours with tour leader Eva Stiegler.

Seeing the aurora on a cruise is different to seeing it on land,...