Solar eclipse–themed voyages are offering a front-row seat to next year’s celestial event.

A total solar eclipse; photo by Jongsun Lee/Unsplash — Photo by Jongsun Lee/Unsplash

Few natural phenomena rival the drama of a total solar eclipse—an eerie midday darkness, a glowing corona, the sudden drop in temperature, and the collective gasp of awe. On August 12, 2026, that moment will arrive again as the moon’s shadow sweeps across the North Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. While land-based viewing will be possible in parts of Greenland, Iceland, Portugal, and Spain, the most atmospheric—and mobile—vantage points may be found at sea.

With that in mind, numerous cruise lines have devised itineraries that align with the path of the eclipse. Quark Expeditions’ Ultramarine (Aug. 6–18) sails from Reykjavík on a 12-night journey to eastern Greenland, complete with excursions by kayak, foot, and helicopter. The ship will position itself within the eclipse path in glacier-carved King Oscar Fjord, where guests can experience up to two minutes and 17 seconds of totality.

The shadow then races southeast toward Iceland, where as many as a dozen ships will line up off the island’s northwest coast. Oceania Cruises’ 14-night eclipse sailing on the Oceania Marina (July 30–Aug. 13) includes stops in Scotland and Scandinavia before arriving in Grundarfjördur, Iceland, for up to 90 seconds of totality. Astronomer Dennis Mammana will be on board to offer expert commentary.

Bound for the Bay of Biscay, the newest addition to the Cunard fleet, Queen Anne (Aug. 9–16), will chart a seven-night round-trip voyage from Southampton, England, visiting ports in northern Spain and southwest France. Passengers will view the totality from the waters off La Coruña, a historic harbor city on Spain’s Galician coast.

And in the Mediterranean, Ponant’s chic Le Boréal (Aug. 6–14) might offer the most weather-favorable option. Departing Nice on August 6, the eight-night voyage sails to Corsica, Marseille, and Barcelona before heading into the Balearic Sea for up to one minute and 36 seconds of eclipse viewing just before sunset.

The rugged coastline outside the historic harbor city of La Coruña in Spain’s Galicia region. (Photo: Calina Vilceanu/Unsplash)

This article originally appeared in the August/September 2025 print issue of DestinAsian magazine (“There Goes the Sun”). Buy a single issue or subscribe here.

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