Enjoy the Sights on Solar Eclipse & Northern Lights Cruises

If you have ever wanted a front-row seat to a solar eclipse or northern lights, get ready to pack your bags for one of Holland America Line’s 2026 Solar Eclipse & Northern Lights Cruises. Our thoughtfully crafted itineraries around Europe will help guests soak up the sights in one of the best ways possible – from a cruise ship. In fact, when you are at sea positioned in prime locations for viewing, you will have less light pollution impacting the stellar views.

Here are some highlights:

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Solar Eclipse Cruises

Arctic Journey & Northern Lights Cruises

Summer Solstice Arctic Circle Crossing Cruise

When you are in the path of totality to watch a solar eclipse from a cruise ship, it is an awe-inspiring sight. After two highly successful solar eclipse sailings in 2024, three ships from our Holland America Line fleet will be positioned under the path of totality for the Aug. 12, 2026, total solar eclipse. You could join us in the Mediterranean aboard Oosterdam to view the eclipse off the coast of Spain.

If you prefer a summer vacation with cooler temperatures, join us on a coolcation in Northern Europe, where you can experience the total solar eclipse off the coast of Iceland. You can also sail aboard Zuiderdam for the popular Voyage of the Vikings cruise to take in the sights of the solar eclipse.

Here are highlights of each solar eclipse cruise itinerary:

35-Day Voyage of the Vikings: Solar Eclipse

• Departs July 18, 2026, aboard Zuiderdam. This is a Legendary Voyage, roundtrip from Boston, MA.
• In the path of totality for the solar eclipse off the western coast of Iceland, just before arriving at Grundarfjørdur.
• Visit Portland, Maine; Sydney, Corner Brook, Red Bay, St. Anthony, St John’s, and Halifax, Canada; Paamiut (Frederikshåb), Nanortalik and Qaqortoq (Julianehåb) Greenland; Reykjavik (overnight), Seydisfjördur, Húsavík and Grundarfjørdur, Iceland; Eidfjord, Norway; Rotterdam, Netherlands (overnight); Dún Laoghaire (Dublin), Ireland; and Belfast, Northern Ireland.

28-Day Scandinavian Solar Eclipse with Greenland and Scotland

• Departs July 25, 2026, aboard Nieuw Statendam. This is a Legendary Voyage, roundtrip from Dover, England, or roundtrip from Rotterdam.
• In the path of totality for the solar eclipse at sea off the northwest coast of Iceland.
• Visit Kristiansand, Eidfjord and Stavanger, Norway; Seydisfjördur, Djúpivogur, Akureyri, Isafjördur, Grundarfjørdur, Heimaey and Reykjavik, Iceland; Paamiut (Frederikshåb), Nuuk (Godthåb), Nanortalik and Qaqortoq (Julianehåb), Greenland; Runavík, Faroe Islands; Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Invergordon (Inverness) and South Queensferry (Edinburgh), Scotland (overnight).

13-Day Mediterranean Solar Eclipse with Barcelona Overnight

• Departs Aug. 9, 2026, aboard Oosterdam from Lisbon, Portugal and ends at Piraeus (Athens), Greece.
• In the path of totality for the solar eclipse at sea off the coast of Spain between Alicante and Barcelona.
• Visit Alicante and Barcelona (overnight), Spain; Ajaccio and Corsica, France; Civitavecchia (Rome) and Bari (Puglia), Italy; and Kotor, Montenegro.

Predictions show 2026 to be a highly active period for auroras. If the northern lights are on your wish list for a sight to behold, 2026 could be your year to head to the arctic on one of our inaugural Northern Lights cruises. Join us on Rotterdam and Nieuw Statendam and explore Norway with an overnight in Alta, which is known as the “City of the Northern Lights.”

Explore the north and its breathtaking auroras on these cruise itineraries:

14-Day Arctic Journey and Northern Lights

• Cruise departs Oct. 4, 2026, aboard Rotterdam from Rotterdam and ends in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
• Visits to Nordfjordeid, Trondheim, Narvik, Tromsø, Alta (overnight), Åndalsnes and Bergen, Norway; and Lerwick, Shetland Islands.

14-Day Arctic Journey and Northern Lights

• You can cruise aboard Nieuw Statendam departing on Oct. 17, 2026, for 14 days, roundtrip from Rotterdam.
• Visit Ålesund, Trondheim, Narvik, Tromsø, Alta (overnight), Åndalsnes and Bergen, Norway; and Lerwick, Shetland Islands.

What is it like to experience 24 hours of daylight on summer solstice in the Arctic? If you want to indulge in the longest day of the year, why not make the most of it on a cruise ship? Join us for our 14-Day Arctic Circle Crossing: North Cape Solstice aboard Nieuw Statendam, departing June 12, 2026, roundtrip from Dover or June 13, 2026, roundtrip from Rotterdam. During the journey, you can celebrate summer solstice in Honningsvåg, Norway — one of the northernmost cities on the planet. You will also visit Eidfjord, Maloy, Trondheim, Leknes, Tromsø, and Honningsvåg, Norway; and Lerwick, Shetland Islands.

Which cruise do you want to go on the most? Is it the solar eclipse or the northern lights that you seek? Share in the comments below.