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On March 20, 2015, a full solar eclipse will take place and one of the best places to view it is in the waters surrounding the Faroe Islands. A number of cruise lines are capitalizing on the astrological phenomenon by offering voyages with the eclipse as the main attraction.
Iceland and Ireland with Voyages of Discovery
Adventure cruise line, Voyages of Discovery, is setting sail from Portsmouth, U.K. on a 13-night cruise to Iceland aboard the 540-passenger Voyager. The ship stops in the Faroe Islands before catching the solar eclipse off the coast where total darkness will take place for three minutes. Then, it makes four stops in Iceland, followed by Belfast, Ireland before returning. The guest speaker onboard is Professor Ian Morison, president of the Society for Popular Astronomy, the UK's largest astronomical society. The ship embarks on March 16, 2015.
Maiden Cruise on the Magellan
Cruise and Maritime Voyages is celebrating the solar eclipse with a maiden voyage aboard the newest ship in the fleet, the 1,250-passenger Magellan. The ship sails on March 15, 2015, to Invergordon, in the Scottish Highlands and Lerwick, in the Shetland Islands before heading towards Reykjavik, Iceland. On the way, passengers will get to witness the eclipse before the return voyage to the Faroe Islands and London.
Solar Eclipse and Northern Lights Combination Cruise
P&O Cruises' adults-only, Oriana, sets sail on a two-week voyage beginning March 17, 2015, to Norway for a combination of solar eclipse and northern lights viewing with a number of overnight port stops. The first stop is Torshavn, the capital of the Faroe Islands to catch the solar eclipse before crossing the Arctic Circle to Tromso and Alta for several chances to witness the Northern Lights. The ship also calls on Bergen and Stavanger before returning to Southampton.
Three Options with Fred Olsen
Fred Olsen Cruises has three vessels departing in March 2015 that are heading to the Faroe Islands for the solar eclipse show: Black Watch, Braemar, and Boudicca. Ships embark from Dover or Southampton on 11 to 15-night voyages and include port visits to several locations in Norway (but vary based on itinerary).
Saga Sapphire to Scotland and Norway
Departing March 11, 2015, from Southampton to three ports of call in Norway, the 720-passenger Saga Sapphire is an excellent choice for a blend of large ship amenities without feeling lost in the crowd. The 10-night solar eclipse cruise includes fascinating talks, stargazing sessions and daily facts on the enigmas of the night sky, as well as screenings of classic space films. The ship also calls in Scotland and the Faroe Islands.
Silversea's 2016 Solar Eclipse
If this year's solar eclipse cruises won't fit into a busy schedule, in 2016 Ring of Fire Expeditions is chartering the Silver Discoverer for its 44th solar eclipse venture. The 17-day quest will explore the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Micronesia and Palau. Giving informative lectures onboard the luxury vessel will be astronaut Jerry Ross and Paul D. Maley, who worked at the NASA Johnson Space Center for more than 40 years. The ship embarks on Feb. 27, 2016, from the Solomon Islands and includes fantastic diving opportunities and viewing of the complete solar blackout.
Holland America's 2016 Voyage
Plan ahead and join Sky and Telescope magazine editors aboard the ms Volendam for a solar eclipse voyage through Indonesia. The ship embarks from Singapore on March 1, 2016 and passengers can choose to stay the full 16 days and conclude the trip in Singapore, or nine days and finish in Bali after the March 9 eclipse. A number of informational talks will be held onboard with astronomer David Tholen and geologist Dr. Michael Wysession.
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