"And the cruise industry is ready: Celebrity Cruises and Ponant have launched eclipse-specific itineraries, while Holland America Line (HAL) will have three ships off Iceland and Spain. According to Robert de Bruin, HAL's director of deployment and itinerary planning, the Nieuw Statendam, Zuiderdam, and Oosterdam will host astrophysicists on board, including Adam Burgasser from the University of California, San Diego, to provide real-time commentary and lectures "to give insight into one of nature's most spectacular spectacles.""
"While big ships are being deployed to Iceland and the Mediterranean, expedition ships will anchor in places like East Greenland, where larger vessels cannot dock. And demand is high for the world's biggest island: Quark Expeditions' initial eclipse voyage sold out quickly, leading the company to reposition a second ship. The line is allowing flexibility in its itineraries in the days leading up the event to ensure the ship can secure the best spot."
"This focus on solar eclipse sailings is part of an upward trend in astrotourism cruise itineraries, with more travelers sailing to catch the midnight sun or meteor showers or do general stargazing. "Traveling to the Arctic offers something most travelers can't experience at home: unspoiled night skies, full-view auroras, and solar events like the midnight sun," says Solan Jensen, Quark Expeditions' director of expedition delivery and communication."
The August 2026 solar eclipse path of totality will run from Siberia to the Balearic Islands, with much of it over water, making maritime viewing optimal. Celebrity Cruises and Ponant have launched eclipse-specific itineraries, and Holland America Line will position three ships with onboard astrophysicists, including Adam Burgasser, to provide real-time commentary and lectures. Expedition vessels will anchor in remote locations such as East Greenland where larger ships cannot go. Quark Expeditions quickly sold out its initial voyage and repositioned a second ship while keeping pre-event itineraries flexible to secure prime viewing. Astrotourism demand is rising, spanning midnight sun cruises, meteor-shower trips, stargazing, and northern-lights voyages.
Read at Conde Nast Traveler
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