Sunday, 6 October 2024
by BD Banks
Solar eclipse travel demand was out of this world in April 2024 as a total solar eclipse crossed North America. On April 8, millions of people descended on towns in Texas, Indiana, Ohio and more to catch a glimpse of the rare celestial event where the moon blocks our view of the sun for a brief period.
Carnival’s Princess Cruises and Holland America Line even provided prime eclipse viewing at sea to passengers on board select ships sailing off the coast of Mexico.
Related: Carnival, Norwegian, and Princess Cruises add new itineraries
On Aug. 12, 2026, the next total solar eclipse will be visible in Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia, and a small area of Portugal. With much of the 2026 eclipse’s path falling over the North Atlantic Ocean between Spain and Greenland, it creates a unique opportunity for cruise lines to provide even more passengers with a once-in-a-lifetime experience at sea.
To meet the solar eclipse travel demand, Princess, Holland America and other cruise lines are adding more sailings to take passengers on special voyages straight to the August 2026 path of totality.
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Image source: Princess Cruises.
Princess Cruises just reworked the itinerary for a seven-day Mediterranean cruise on its newest ship, Sun Princess, that departs Barcelona on August 8, 2026 so that passengers can witness the celestial event at sea. The itinerary takes the ship to a spot off the coast of southern Spain on August 12 where passengers can experience two minutes and 18 seconds of solar eclipse totality.
In addition to viewing the eclipse, Sun Princess passengers will get to experience lectures from astronomy experts, themed food and drinks, stargazing at night, solar system trivia, and more. Passengers are encouraged to bring their own telescopes to set up on deck and wear eclipse-themed clothing and accessories.
Princess Cruises is also offering a 14-day Total Solar Eclipse Mediterranean cruise onboard Sky Princess sailing August 8 – 22, 2026 roundtrip from Southampton.
Related: Carnival’s Princess Cruises makes a famous beverage addition
For 2026, Holland America Line is offering a variety of Celestial Cruises in Europe to take passengers to experience the total solar eclipse and other natural phenomena.
Three solar eclipse sailings will position passengers within the path of totality on Aug. 12, 2026. Two of the voyages will offer eclipse viewing off the coast of Iceland and a third will allow passengers to see the spectacle off the coast of Spain.
Two new Northern Lights cruises will offer celestial seekers the opportunity to enjoy an overnight in Alta, “The City of the Northern Lights,” in Norway during what’s predicted to be an active aurora season in 2026. Passengers on board these sailings will also spend five days above the Arctic Circle.
A 14-Day Artic Circle Crossing cruise will also offer travelers the opportunity to spend the 2026 summer solstice in maximum daylight in Honningsvåg, Norway, one of the northernmost cities on Earth.
For the first time, Carnival Cruise Line is joining its sister cruise lines to offer a solar eclipse sailing for the 2026 season.
Carnival will sail a special 11-day Carnival Journeys Eclipse cruise featuring stops in Spain, Portugal and France on Carnival Legend. Departing from Dover, England on August 9, 2026, the cruise will provide passengers with prime viewing at sea for the total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026.
2026 solar eclipse cruises are also being offered on Carnival’s Seabourn, Cunard, P&O Cruises and AIDA cruise lines.
Celebrity Cruises will also offer a solar eclipse sailing in Iceland.
Related: Carnival Cruise asks passengers for help with expensive problem
For 2026, Richard Branson’s adults-only cruise line Virgin Voyages is also introducing its first-ever Eclipse Voyages as part of a new wonder-filled series of sailings, the Marvelous Voyages.
Virgin Voyages’ 2026 solar eclipse sailings include a 15-night Eclipse in the Land of Fire and Ice voyage departing from Portsmouth, U.K., and a 12-night Total Eclipse of the (Med) cruise departing from Barcelona. The Eclipse Voyages promise special onboard events with space explorers and scientists, new moon ceremonies, starry symphonies, and cosmic culinary creations.
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