Virgin Voyages has introduced the launch of its first Eclipse Voyages as a part of its new Marvelous Voyages collection, set to debut in 2026. The cruises, impressed by the rising curiosity in astrotourism, will function itineraries designed to offer vacationers the chance to expertise a complete photo voltaic eclipse at sea.
Happening on August 12, 2026, the entire photo voltaic eclipse will seem throughout the Arctic Ocean, Greenland, Iceland, the Atlantic Ocean, Portugal, and northern Spain. In consequence, the cruise line will provide 12- and 15-night sailings that align with the trail of totality
Locations on Virgin Voyage itineraries embrace Dublin, Eire; Glasgow, Scotland; and Reykjavik, Iceland, aboard the Valiant Woman, in addition to the Amalfi Coast of Italy; Mallorca, Spain; and Cannes, France, on the Scarlet Woman. Every 110,000-gross-ton ship accommodates as much as 2,770 passengers.
The brand new voyages will embrace particular onboard occasions and skilled appearances with the higher decks geared up with telescopes and binoculars for optimum viewing. Astronomers will probably be out there to information passengers by way of the celestial occasion.
Further programing consists of new moon ceremonies, star-themed dwell orchestral music performances, yoga underneath the celebrities, and distinctive culinary choices like Milky Method milkshakes and conventional moonpies. Photo voltaic eclipse glasses and a commemorative information may even be provided.
Longer, Expanded Choices for 2026
The Eclipse Voyages are a part of Virgin Voyages’ broader Marvelous Voyages collection, which incorporates a complete of seven sailings between March and August 2026. These voyages vary from 8 to 16 nights and canopy a large geographical space, from Iceland to Istanbul and the British Isles to the Baltics.
Throughout these itineraries, Virgin Voyages will introduce 12 new ports of name, together with locations reminiscent of Salerno on the Amalfi Coast; Edinburgh, Scotland; Stockholm, Sweden; Hamburg, Germany; Oslo, Norway; Tangier, Morocco; and Greenland.
The brand new itineraries signify a shift from its earlier choices, which primarily centered on shorter Caribbean cruises. The brand new journeys will enable for extra in-depth exploration of assorted areas.
“We already sail to greater than 100 worldwide ports, however our itineraries are ever-evolving based mostly on what our Sailors and journey companions are asking for,” stated Michelle Bentubo, chief working officer at Virgin Voyages.
She continued, “Our Marvelous Voyages, paired with Sensible Woman’s epic itineraries throughout all 4 corners of the U.S., simply exhibits the expansion and power of this monumental model and the selection we’re dedicated to providing.”
Virgin’s Scarlet Woman will full her 2025-2026 winter within the Caribbean on April 19, 2026, in Miami, earlier than crossing the Atlantic. Her 12-night Complete Eclipse journey will depart from Barcelona, Spain, on August 10, and spend the twelfth in Ibiza, which can expertise one hundred pc totality.
The itinerary, which concludes in Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy, on August 22, may even name on Palma de Mallorca; Cannes and Ajaccio, France; and La Spezia, Salerno, and Catania, Italy.
Valiant Woman, which can also be scheduled to winter within the Caribbean by way of early 2026 from a homeport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, will launch her “Eclipse within the Land of Hearth and Ice” cruise from Portsmouth, England, on August 5, 2026.
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Touring to Dublin; Glasgow and Stornoway, Scotland; and Akureyri, Siglufjörour, Isafjördur, and Reykavik, Iceland, on a 15-night voyage, the cruise will finish in Edinburgh on August 20. The trail of totality will probably be 98 p.c over Iceland throughout the journey.
Sister ship Sensible Woman may even offer longer journeys in 2026, together with a 16-night journey from Miami to Los Angeles passing by way of the Panama Canal, and an 8-night voyage from Los Angeles to Vancouver.
The brand new cruises will settle for bookings starting August 21, 2024. Loyalty members have early reserving choices starting August 14.
