- Holland America Line will offer three cruises that will put its ships in orbit around the 2026 total solar eclipse.
- The voyage is part of a wider celestial cruise focusing on astronomical phenomena.
- Cruise bookings will open on July 31st.
The 2026 total solar eclipse won’t be visible from the United States, but you can easily track it with Holland America Line.
The cruise line is offering three routes that will put the ship in the path of the total solar eclipse, including a round-trip voyage from Boston, Massachusetts. The voyage is part of a broader celestial cruise focused on the astronomical phenomenon.
“After the tremendous excitement and huge success of our 2024 solar eclipse cruise, we knew our guests wanted even more opportunities to have a front-row seat to one of the world’s most extraordinary natural spectacle,” Beth Bodensteiner, Holland America’s chief commercial officer, said in a news release. “Our team has put together a lineup of cruises that will not only deliver on that front, but also provide guests with in-depth exploration of exciting destinations and the premium onboard experiences we’re known for.”
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When is Holland America’s 2026 solar eclipse cruise?
The company’s 1,964-passenger Zuiderdam will depart from Boston on the 35-day Viking Voyage: Solar Eclipse on July 18, 2026. That will be followed by a 28-day Scandinavian Eclipse to Greenland and Scotland aboard the Nieuw Statendam starting July 25 (guests can choose to sail round-trip from Dover, UK or Rotterdam, Netherlands), followed by a 13-day Mediterranean Eclipse from Lisbon, Portugal to Piraeus, Greece, with an overnight in Barcelona, on August 9 aboard the Oosterdam.
Nieuw Statendam and Oosterdam can accommodate 2,666 and 1,964 people respectively.
Where does the cruise sail?
- The Viking voyage will sail from New England to Canada, then head to Europe, stopping at destinations such as Greenland, the Netherlands, Ireland and Iceland. Zuiderdam will arrive off the west coast of the United States in a good position to view the eclipse before returning to the continental United States. The itinerary also includes overnight stays in Reykjavik and Rotterdam.
- Participants on the Scandinavian Eclipse Cruise will visit ports in Greenland and Scotland, as well as Norway and Iceland, and will view the eclipse off Iceland’s northwest coast, with the itinerary including an overnight stay in South Queensferry, near Edinburgh.
- The Mediterranean voyage will take passengers to Spain, France, Italy and Montenegro. Passengers will view the solar eclipse from off the coast of Spain, where the ship will overnight between Barcelona and Alicante.
Cruise ships will not only offer passengers panoramic views of the eclipse, but they will also transport passengers directly to the best locations and be able to move around as needed.
“It’s definitely helpful to map out where you can see the eclipse based on current weather and know the extent of the ocean where you can track it,” Adam Burgasser, a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the University of California, San Diego, who served as an onboard expert on the Holland America eclipse cruise in April, previously told USA Today.
The 2026 eclipse cruises will also feature talks from scientific experts and themed activities, and the cruise lines will even provide eclipse glasses so passengers don’t have to worry about finding them.
Additionally, Holland America will be operating a series of Aurora Voyages as part of its Celestial Cruises, with itineraries offering an opportunity to celebrate the summer solstice in the Arctic Circle.
How much does a 2026 solar eclipse cruise cost?
Pricing information has not yet been released, but bookings for the cruise will open on July 31. Members of Holland America’s Mariner Society loyalty program who book by Oct. 29 will receive an onboard credit of up to $400 per stateroom.
Nathan Diller is USA TODAY’s consumer travel writer based in Nashville. He can be reached at ndiller@usatoday.com.
