2024’s solar eclipse was marked on my calendar since the last one in 2017 as my hometown of Rochester, NY was smack dab in the path of totality. When the big day came, clouds blocked the view, but the world faded to black none the same. When it ended, our family looked at each other and said, “now we want to see one without clouds!” The next total solar eclipse is August 12, 2026, and a cruise may just be the best way to see it as the path of totality will cross both the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans.
Cunard plans to have three of its ocean liners, Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, and Queen Anne (that launches next month, May 2024), positioned near Iceland, Spain, and Portugal along the path of the total solar eclipse. The maximum duration of totality for this eclipse will be 2 minutes and 18 seconds, and the closer to the center line, the longer you can experience the entire duration. Cruises are an excellent way to view the eclipse as they can “chase it” to position themselves away from the clouds (like we had in Rochester).
“Watching a total solar eclipse from sea is an utterly unique and very rare experience,” Katie McAlister, president of Cunard. “Cunard is therefore thrilled to offer three remarkable voyages positioned along the path of the 2026 eclipse – two in the Mediterranean and one in Iceland – which will give guests the chance to witness this extraordinary phenomenon from the water, an unforgettable moment observed from the luxurious vantage point of our Queens.”
If you’re interested in cruising into the next solar eclipse, we recommend MEI Travel for a free, no obligation quote and free help throughout your trip.
