Sail to the solar eclipse: Virgin, Aurora Expeditions to offer specialty cruises in 2026
If seeing the total solar eclipse in 2026 is on your bucket list, cruise lines have you covered. Multiple operators have announced voyages that will take guests to the path of totality in recent weeks – along with plenty of other destinations.
Aurora Expeditions guests can see the phenomenon as part of the company’s Jewels of the Arctic: Greenland Solar Eclipse Itinerary. “Embark on an extraordinary adventure to Scoresbysund, Greenland, sailing through stunning Arctic landscapes as we position ourselves for the celestial spectacle,” the company said last week in a news release. “Feel the anticipation grow as the moon gradually eclipses the sun, casting an ethereal glow.”
Adults-only cruise line Virgin Voyages will also offer eclipse cruises of its own as part of its Marvelous Voyages collection.
When are the 2026 solar eclipse cruises?
Aurora’s solar eclipse itinerary from Oslo, Norway, to Reykjavik, Iceland, will begin on Aug. 2, 2026. The 15-day journey on the company’s ship Greg Mortimer will also explore Svalbard – where guests should keep their eyes peeled for other wild sightings like polar bears – the Denmark Strait and more.
The first of Virgin’s two cruises, Eclipse in the Land of Fire and Ice, will set sail on Aug. 5, 2026, from Portsmouth, England, aboard its ship Valiant Lady. In addition to eclipse viewing, the round-trip, 15-night sailing will stop in Dublin; Reykjavik; and Edinburgh, Scotland, among others.
Total Eclipse of the (Med), a 12-night cruise on Scarlet Lady, will sail from Barcelona, Spain, to Civitavecchia, Italy, starting Aug. 10 with ports including Cannes, France, Ajaccio on the island of Corsica, and Salerno on the Amalfi Coast.
The news comes after Holland America Line announced three eclipse cruises in July, including one round trip from the U.S.
Why should I take a solar eclipse cruise?
Cruise ships not only offer expansive views of the horizon, but they can avoid potential obstructions.
“Having the ability to map out based on what the current weather is where you can catch the eclipse, and having a range over the course of the ocean where you could chase that a little bit, is certainly helpful,” Adam Burgasser, a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the University of California, San Diego, told USA TODAY. He served as an expert on board an April Holland America eclipse cruise.
'The ship can move': Why you should watch next solar eclipses from a cruise ship
How much do the cruises cost?
Aurora’s sailing starts at $21,245 per person based on double occupancy. The fare includes a pre-cruise hotel stay, a chartered flight from Oslo to Longyearbyen, meals during the cruise, and drinks like beer and wine with dinner, shore excursions and more.
Virgin’s Eclipse in the Eclipse in the Land of Fire and Ice cruise currently starts at $5,201 per person based on double occupancy, while Total Eclipse of the (Med) starts at $3,970 per person. The fares include a wide range of dining venues on board, Wi-Fi, gratuities, fitness classes and more.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 solar eclipse cruises: Virgin Voyages, Aurora to offer sailings
