Carnival, HAL, Princess Cruises answer the call for heavenly travel

In April 2024, demand for solar eclipse travel was out of this world as a total solar eclipse crossed North America. On April 8, millions of people descended on cities in Texas, Indiana, Ohio and more to see the rare celestial event in which the moon blocks our view of the sun for a brief period.

Carnival’s Princess Cruises and Holland America Line even offered prime viewing of the eclipse at sea to passengers aboard select ships sailing off the coast of Mexico.

Related: Carnival, Norwegian and Princess Cruises add new itineraries

On August 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 path of the 2026 eclipse falling over the North Atlantic Ocean between Spain and Greenland, it creates a unique opportunity for cruise lines to offer even more passengers a once-in-a-lifetime experience at sea.

To meet travel demand for the solar eclipse, Princess, Holland America and other cruise lines are adding more voyages to take passengers on special trips directly in the path of totality in August 2026.

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Princess Cruises is adding a second solar eclipse cruise.

Image source: Princess Cruises.

Princess Cruises adds second solar eclipse cruise option

Princess Cruises has just reworked the itinerary for a seven-day Mediterranean cruise on its newest ship, Sun Princess, departing from Barcelona on August 8, 2026, so that passengers can witness the celestial event at sea. The itinerary takes the ship to a location off the coast of southern Spain on August 12, where passengers can experience two minutes and 18 seconds of a total solar eclipse.

In addition to viewing the eclipse, Sun Princess passengers will have the opportunity to experience lectures from astronomy experts, themed food and beverages, nighttime stargazing, information about the solar system 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 cruise in the Mediterranean aboard Sky Princess, sailing August 8 – 22, 2026, round trip from Southampton.

Related: Carnival Princess Cruises Makes Famous Drink Addition

Holland America Line offers three solar eclipses, plus other celestial cruises

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 eclipses will place passengers in the path of totality on August 12, 2026. Two of the voyages will offer eclipse viewing off the coast of Iceland, and a third will allow passengers to view the spectacle off the coast of Spain.

Two new Northern Lights cruises will give sky-seekers the opportunity to enjoy a night in Alta, Norway’s ‘City of the Northern Lights’, during what is expected to be an active aurora season in 2026. Passengers on board these voyages will also spend five days above the Arctic Circle.

A 14-day Arctic Circle Crossing cruise will give travelers the opportunity to spend the 2026 summer solstice at full light in Honningsvåg, Norway, one of the northernmost cities on Earth.

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Carnival Cruise Line will sail its first solar eclipse cruise in 2026

For the first time, Carnival Cruise Line is joining sister cruise lines to offer a Solar Eclipse Sail for the 2026 season.

Carnival will run a special 11-day Carnival Journeys Eclipse cruise with stops in Spain, Portugal and France on Carnival Legend. Departing from Dover, England on August 9, 2026, the cruise will provide passengers with excellent viewing at sea of ​​the total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026.

2026 solar eclipse cruises are also offered on Carnival’s Seabourn, Cunard, P&O Cruises and AIDA cruise lines.

Celebrity Cruises will also offer a Solar Eclipse sailing to Iceland.

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Virgin Voyages will offer Marvelous Voyages to view the 2026 eclipse

For 2026, Richard Branson’s adult-only cruise line Virgin Voyages is also introducing its first Eclipse Voyages as part of a new Marvelous Voyages series.

Virgin Voyages’ 2026 solar eclipses include a 15-night Fire and Ice eclipse from Portsmouth, UK, and a 12-night total cruise (Med) eclipse from Barcelona. Eclipse Voyages promise special onboard events with space explorers and scientists, new moon ceremonies, starry symphonies and cosmic culinary creations.

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