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Solar Eclipse Cruises You Can Still Book for 2026

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Katie Corrigan Seemann
Edited by: McKay Moffitt
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A total solar eclipse will be visible from parts of the Mediterranean and the Arctic on August 12, 2026. If you don’t have any plans yet, there’s still time to book a solar eclipse cruise — one of the best ways to position yourself in the path of totality, since ships can adjust their position to give passengers the best views.

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Where You Can See the 2026 Total Solar Eclipse

The August 12, 2026, total solar eclipse will be a highlight of summer travel for those seeking peak experiences. “Anyone can visit the Arctic and see a polar bear, but to then pair that with seeing a total solar eclipse from the deck of your ship? That turns an epic expedition into a truly once-in-a-lifetime one,” says Kelly Gorrell of AdventureSmith Explorations, a company that specializes in small-ship expeditions.

2026 Solar Eclipse path
The solar eclipse will be visible from parts of the Arctic, including Greenland and Iceland, as well as from parts of the Mediterranean. Image Credit: National Solar Observatory, AURA, and National Science Foundation

Interest in eclipse travel is already surging. AdventureSmith Explorations has seen a 215% increase in interest over the last few months, while Road Scholar reports a 68% increase in enrollments for astronomy programs and plans to launch solar eclipse cruises in 2027.

Small Ships vs. Large Ships for Cruises

Travelers can book both small-ship and big-ship cruises to see the 2026 solar eclipse, and there are benefits to both. “Captains can adjust position for the best vantage point, guests enjoy wide-open horizons at sea, and onboard experts (from naturalists to special guest astronomers) bring the science and spectacle to life,” says Gorrell.

Small ships offer an effortless way to immerse yourself while maintaining flexibility. However, larger ships can be more affordable and can offer an experience better suited for families and larger groups. I’m personally sailing on a solar eclipse cruise with my family on a Princess ship this summer. While I love small-ship cruising, the benefits of a larger ship work better for my multi-generational group, which ranges from 12 years to 80+ years old.

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2026 Solar Eclipse Cruises: Arctic and Mediterranean

It’s not too late to book a solar eclipse cruise in 2026. Here are the options that are still available at the time of writing.

Celebrity Cruises

Virgin Voyages

Princess Cruises

Grand Princess in Anchorage Alaska
There are 7-, 14-, and 21-day solar eclipse cruises on Princess. Image Credit: Katie Corrigan Seemann

There are a few 21-day options as well:

Royal Caribbean

Holland America

Oceania Cruises

Windstar Cruises

Aurora Expeditions

Ponant Cruises

SeaDream Yacht Club

AdventureSmith

Adventure Life

Hot Tip:

Some itineraries on small ships can be booked through multiple companies. For example, Jewels of the Arctic cruise can be booked through Aurora Expeditions or AdventureSmith. Total Solar Eclipse in the Far North can be booked through Ponant, Antarctica Cruises, or AdventureSmith. Additionally, you can book cruises through traditional online travel agencies like Cruise Direct and Cruises.com.

Solar Eclipse Cruises To Consider for 2027

If you can’t make a 2026 sailing work, another total solar eclipse will be visible on August 2, 2027. Here’s a look at some of the itineraries already available for solar eclipse cruises next year.

Road Scholar will debut its first solar eclipse cruises in 2027 with 2 new itineraries, but only 1 is still available for booking: Eclipse at Sea: A One-Time Voyage Through Spain & Portugal, which departs from Lisbon on July 26, 2027.

Princess has 2 solar eclipse itineraries planned for 2027. You can book the 14-Day Mediterranean with Total Solar Eclipse, which leaves from Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy, on July 24, 2027, or the 14-Day Spain, France & Portugal with Total Solar Eclipse, which leaves from Southampton (London), on July 24, 2027.

Celebrity’s 7-night Spain & Morocco Solar Eclipse itinerary will sail from Barcelona on July 31, 2027. There’s also the 11-night Italy & Spain Solar Eclipse cruise that leaves on July 26, 2027.

Princess and Celebrity cruise ship in Alaska
You’ll find solar eclipse cruises on popular cruise lines like Princess and Celebrity. Image Credit: Katie Corrigan Seemann

Additional options include:

Final Thoughts

A solar eclipse cruise is one of those rare, once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences. The good news is that there are still cruises available for both the solar eclipse on August 12, 2026, and on August 2, 2027.

If seeing a total solar eclipse is on your bucket list, now is a great time to combine that with a cruise vacation for a truly memorable vacation.

Katie Corrigan Seemann's image

About Katie Corrigan Seemann

Katie has been in the points and miles game since 2015 and started her own blog in 2016. She’s been freelance writing since then, and her work has been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure, LongWeekends Magazine, AAA The Extra Mile, Forbes Advisor, and Fortune Recommends.

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