by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 4:15 PM ET, Mon June 2, 2025
Holland America Line will offer two cruises that give guests a front-row seat to the 2027 total solar eclipse.
The skyward spectacle will occur on August 2, 2027, with the path of totality primarily crossing over northern Africa. Holland America Line will have two ships, Nieuw Statendam and Oosterdam, positioned in the area for the occasion.
“The excitement around viewing a total solar eclipse the past few years has been palpable, and we jumped at the chance to create more itineraries that give our guests the incomparable opportunity of viewing the eclipse at sea,” says Paul Grigsby, vice president of deployment for Holland America Line.
Nieuw Statendam will be sailing the 28-day “Legendary Solar Eclipse & Cosmic Port Explorer” itinerary, roundtrip from Rotterdam, the Netherlands, or Dover, England. Departing July 10, the voyage includes 13 ports in Denmark, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Portugal, Gibraltar and Morocco, with overnight calls in Tilbury (London) and Barcelona. On the day of the eclipse, the ship will be positioned off the western coast of Morocco.
Oosterdam will sail the 14-day “Solar Eclipse & Astronomical Discovery” itinerary roundtrip from Piraeus (Athens), Greece. Departing July 31, the ship will position itself off the eastern coast of Tunisia for the eclipse before sailing on to ports in Tunisia, Malta, Italy and Greece, with an extended call in Valetta, Malta.
The two new 2027 itineraries join three itineraries available for the 2026 eclipse.
“When you’re at sea, there is a greater opportunity to witness an eclipse in the clear because the ship can attempt to position itself away from cloud cove—and the view on the horizon means you get more of the shadow coming in and going out,” says Grigsby. “Because of that, these cruises are extremely popular: for everyone from professional astronomers to travelers looking to check an eclipse off their bucket list.”
Holland America Line is also offering three Northern Lights cruises in 2027 aboard Rotterdam and Nieuw Statendam. The cruises feature an overnight call in Alta, Norway—nicknamed “The City of the Northern Lights—and includes five days north of the Arctic Circle. Guests can also elect to get a wake-up call anytime the ship’s crew spots the aurora borealis is spotted.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
