The Aug. 12 total solar eclipse gave cruise travelers a front-row seat to one of nature’s most dramatic spectacles. From Greenland to Iceland and Spain, cruise lines positioned their ships in or near the path of totality, giving guests the chance to experience the brief transformation from daylight to darkness at sea.
Here’s a look at how several cruise lines captured the eclipse—and how some are already planning for the next one in 2027.
Atlas Ocean Voyages Takes the Eclipse Across Three Yachts
Atlas Ocean Voyages positioned all three of its expedition yachts in prime viewing areas for the Aug. 12 total solar eclipse, giving guests aboard World Traveller, World Navigator and World Voyager the opportunity to experience totality at sea.
The three yachts were positioned across the Mediterranean, Iceland and the North Atlantic. Atlas began planning its eclipse voyages more than two years ago, incorporating astronomy programming and expert enrichment in the days leading up to the event.
Atlas is already planning its next solar eclipse experience. World Traveller will sail an 8-night Solar Eclipse Expedition from Barcelona to Lisbon, departing July 27, 2027. The line is also expanding its celestial-themed itineraries into 2028.
For more information, visit atlasoceanvoyages.com.
Scenic Eclipse Captures the Eclipse Over East Greenland
Guests aboard Scenic Eclipse experienced the total solar eclipse while sailing off the coast of East Greenland, with Arctic videographer Tino Raimondi capturing the event from the Discovery Yacht.
The eclipse occurred during Scenic Eclipse’s 15-day Wonders of the High Arctic: Greenland & Iceland voyage from Oslo to Reykjavik. The itinerary placed the Discovery Yacht in one of the prime viewing regions as the eclipse crossed Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain.
The resulting imagery offered a dramatic view of the eclipse against the remote Arctic landscape, combining the celestial event with the scenery of East Greenland.
For more information, visit scenic.cruises.com.
Carnival Legend Sails Into the Path of Totality
Carnival Cruise Line gave guests a different kind of eclipse experience with its first-ever solar eclipse cruise. The 11-day Carnival Journeys voyage aboard Carnival Legend departed Dover, England, on Aug. 9, with stops planned in Spain, Portugal, Belgium and France.
On Aug. 12, the ship was positioned at sea within the path of totality, allowing guests to watch the moon completely obscure the sun from the ship’s decks. Carnival provided eclipse viewing glasses and added special programming, themed entertainment and beverage offerings to the sailing.
The cruise line is already looking ahead, with three solar eclipse cruises planned for 2027.
For more information, visit carnival.com.
Holland America Line Positions Three Ships for the Eclipse
Thousands of Holland America Line guests watched the eclipse from three ships: Nieuw Statendam, Oosterdam and Zuiderdam. The line positioned two ships off the coast of Iceland and a third off Spain, with clear skies providing favorable viewing conditions.
And for travelers who missed this year’s event, Holland America is already offering dedicated cruises for the Aug. 2, 2027 total solar eclipse.
Nieuw Statendam will sail a 28-day Legendary Solar Eclipse & Cosmic Port Explorer, departing July 10, 2027. Meanwhile, Oosterdam will offer a 14-day Solar Eclipse & Astronomical Discovery voyage departing July 31 from Athens, with the ship positioned off Tunisia for the eclipse.
The latter itinerary also includes an extended call in Valletta, Malta, where guests can visit the Royal Malta Observatory and explore the history of astronomy and navigation.
For more information, visit hollandamerica.com.
Cunard Queen Anne Watches Day Turn to Night
Guests aboard Cunard‘s Queen Anne watched the eclipse unfold over northwestern Spain during a 7-night roundtrip voyage from Southampton.
The ship provided a dramatic vantage point as the eclipse briefly transformed daylight into darkness across parts of Europe. Cunard is also looking ahead to 2027, when Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth will be positioned for the next total solar eclipse on Aug. 2.
Queen Victoria will be in Tangier, Morocco, during a 14-night voyage covering Portugal, Spain and Morocco. Queen Elizabeth will sail between Valletta, Malta, and Split, Croatia, during a 14-night Mediterranean and Adriatic voyage.
For more information, visit cunard.com.
Quark Expeditions Takes Totality to the High Arctic
For Quark Expeditions, the eclipse became an expedition in its own right. Guests aboard Ultramarine and Ocean Explorer watched totality from Harefjord, one of the innermost branches of Scoresbysund in Greenland.
The eclipse lasted approximately two minutes and 15 seconds, marking the first total solar eclipse visible from the region since 2015. Guests watched from the ships’ decks alongside eclipse experts and Quark’s expedition teams.
Quark also brought astronomy expertise onboard. Guests aboard Ultramarine were joined by science journalist David Baron, while eclipse cartographer Michael Zeiler accompanied the Ocean Explorer voyage. Both experts provided programming throughout the voyages leading up to totality.
For more information, visit quarkexpeditions.com.
