Celestial Celebrations: The Solar Eclipse
Cruise Circle
The sky at night has a deep, longstanding relationship with seafarers. It has been used as a navigation tool for thousands of years. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes in between the earth and the sun, blocking out the sun’s rays. Because the moon’s orbit isn’t precisely aligned with the planet, sometimes it only blocks out some of the light (a partial eclipse vs. a total eclipse). The next one in Europe will happen in 2026, so what better time to see it than out at sea?
We love them, but historically, feelings were mixed
Something is awe-inspiring about eclipses as a reminder of our small place on the broader universe. But ancient cultures generally weren’t so enamoured...
The Greeks
The Greeks believed eclipses were a sign of the god's anger with them, signalling that the Sun would abandon Earth. The word “eclipse” comes from the Greek word “abandonment.”
Explore the remnants of ancient Greece on these cruises
The Mayans
As keen observers of the stars, the Mayans created the Dresden Codex, a meticulously written study of eclipses. But, with sacrifices on the agenda to commemorate these events, you were probably best to keep your head down...or it might come off!.
See the Mayan Pyramid Chichen Itza on these cruises
The Celts
One of the rare cultures that welcomed eclipses, the Celts' Druidic Priests associated this event with the rabbit and the hare, both symbols of fertility, which made the event very, ahem…interesting - definitely more fun than the Mayan alternative!
Visit the Druid stronghold of Anglesey on these cruises
Solar eclipse sailings in 2026
A total solar eclipse will occur in Europe on August 12th, 2026, and a selection of cruise lines have created a limited number of unique itineraries to celebrate this fact. All of them take you off the coast of Spain, one of the best (and only) places to see it.
Whilst activities vary from cruise line to cruise line, you can expect lectures from astronomy experts, eclipse-themed eats and drinks, night-time stargazing, solar trivia and, of course, the big event itself.
See all our solar eclipse sailings
