Carnival joined Holland America and Princess Cruises as the next cruise line to introduce a special solar eclipse cruise for 2026.
The next total solar eclipse is scheduled to occur on August 12, 2026, and the three mainstream cruise lines have teamed up to offer a great line-up for itineraries for passengers who want to witness this celestial spectacle at sea.
Carnival Legend, a Spirit Class ship initially launched in 2002, will offer an 11-night cruise from Dover, England on August 9, 2026. The total solar eclipse will happen three days later while the ship is at sea, so guests will have a prime vantage point to view this rare and spectacular event.
Read more: Carnival Ships By Age: Newest to Oldest
“The chance to see a total solar eclipse while having fun exploring the cultural richness of Spain, Portugal and France aboard Carnival Legend, is a truly special opportunity – among a lineup of many phenomenal cruises,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.
“And as the popularity of Carnival Legend’s 2024 Europe sailings prove, it’s never too soon for our loyal guests to start planning their next summer vacation.”
Ports of call on this unique cruise include Le Havre (Paris), France; St. Peter Port, Guernsey; Vigo, Spain; Lisbon and Leixões (Porto), Portugal; Le Verdon (Bordeaux), France; and Zeebrugge (Brussels), Belgium.
Carnival Legend measures 88,500 gross registered tons and can accommodate 2,610 passengers at double occupancy. Onboard, Carnival fans will find brand favorites like BlueIguana Cantina, the Punchliner Comedy Club, Bonsai Sushi, WaterWorks, the Alchemy Bar, and more.
Reservations are now open and start at $1,509 per person.
Read more: Carnival Cruise Line Guide
Princess Cruises was the first cruise line to launch a solar eclipse cruise for 2026 after thousands of cruisers onboard Emerald Princess and Discovery Princess caught a glimpse of the total eclipse off the coast of Mexico earlier this year
Dubbed the "Total Eclipse Sky Princess Voyage," the 14-night Mediterranean cruise onboard Sky Princess will depart from Southampton (London), England, on August 8, 2026.
Throughout the two-week cruise, passengers will visit an exciting array of historic ports, including Cherbourg, France; Bilbao, Spain; Málaga, Spain; Cartagena, Spain; Gibraltar; Lisbon, Portugal; and La Coruña, Spain.
The total eclipse will happen the day after the ship visits Bilbao, Spain, with August 12, 13, and 14 being sea days. During the eclipse, passengers will receive Princess Cruises safety glasses, enjoy lectures from astronomy experts, partake in solar system trivia, and snack on themed treats and drinks!
Read more: I booked a Princess cruise for $1,147 per person—take a tour of my inside cabin
Bookings opened on May 23. Currently, the cheapest available cabin starts at $4,458 per guest, based on double occupancy. Ocean-view, mini-suite, and suite categories have all sold out.
"The best way to see a total solar eclipse is via cruise ship, and our guests who recently experienced this rare occurrence on Discovery Princess and Emerald Princess were simply blown away," said John Padgett, Princess Cruises president.
"We make it easy for guests to come aboard, relax and meet other eclipse enthusiasts. It's truly a special opportunity."
Read more: 11 things I loved and hated about my first Princess cruise
Holland America takes the lead with three solar eclipse sailings in 2026
Like Princess, Holland America Line launched more solar eclipse cruises after successful sailings in 2024.
"After the excitement and success around our 2024 eclipse cruises, we knew our guests were looking for additional opportunities to get a front-row seat for some of the world's most special natural spectacles," said Beth Bodensteiner, chief commercial officer for Holland America Line.
"Our team has put together a lineup of cruises that not only deliver on that front, but also give guests in-depth exploration of exciting destinations and the premium onboard experience for which we're known."
The longest is a 35-day cruise onboard MS Zuiderdam, a Vista Class ship that debuted in 2002. Unlike the sailings on Carnival and Princess, however, passengers will be able to see the totality of the solar eclipse off the western coast of Iceland.
Departing on July 18, 2026 from Boston, the voyage will take guests to Portland, Maine; Reykjavik, Iceland; Seydisfjordur, Iceland; Eidfjord, Norway; Rotterdam, Netherlands; Laoghaire (Dublin), Ireland; and more.
According to their website, the month-long cruise starts at $8,409 per person for an inside room, based on double occupancy.
The second option is a "Scandinavian Solar Eclipse" cruise onboard Nieuw Statendam from Dover, England, or Rotterdam, Netherlands, for a 28-day sailing to Norway, Iceland, Greenland, and Scotland.
The voyage from Dover begins on July 24, while the sailing from Rotterdam departs on July 25. Both itineraries start around $5,570 per person for an interior room, based on double occupancy.
The Neptune Suite, however, can be reserved for $16,169 per guest if departing from Rotterdam, or $16,390 for those sailing from England.
Finally, those with less PTO can book the 13-day "Mediterranean Solar Eclipse Cruise" from Lisbon, Portugal to Piraeus (Athens), Greece, onboard MS Oosterdam. Similar to Carnival's and Princess' solar eclipse cruises, MS Oosterdam will be located off the coast of Spain during the eclipse, rather than near Iceland.
The ship will visit Alicante, Spain; Barcelona, Spain; Ajaccio and Corsica, France; Civitavecchia (Rome) and Bari (Puglia), Italy; and Kotor, Montenegro.
As it's the shortest, the August 9 cruise is the most affordable, starting at $2,619 per person, based on double occupancy.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
