Have you made your plans yet for the next solar eclipse?  If you’re anything like me, the answer is “no”.  During 2024’s celestial event, I found myself about 250 miles from the path of totality, and realized I’d missed a huge opportunity (by only 250 miles!).

There is a mystic quality to an eclipse, and you can see how the event would have confounded those civilizations that were unable to understand what was happening.  It is perhaps partly my caveman brain processing the event, or maybe just the pure awe of nature manifesting itself in temporary darkness that makes me want to be more deliberate the next time a similar opportunity presents itself.  

Some of our cruise vendors have jumped on board to assist in such planning.  The advantage that cruise ships have over land-based resorts is that they have engines and rudders that can put them in the path of totality for such events.  

If you are of like mind, here are a few suggestions, but keep in mind that many of these voyages are already close to sold out, so you’ll need to commit quickly if it’s of interest.  The next total solar eclipse will take place on August 12, 2026, and the path of totality will include Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and Portugal (as well as a large swath of the Atlantic Ocean).  

ATLAS OCEAN VOYAGES

Barcelona to Monte Carlo departing August 9 for 7-nights

• Visit Valencia, Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca, Solar Eclipse at sea, Banyuls-sur-mer (France), Montpellier, Cannes, Monte Carlo (overnight)
• Verandas from $7349

Reykjavik round-trip departing August 11 for 9-nights

• Visit 4 ports in Iceland, 3 stops in Greenland, and eclipse at sea
• Verandas from $11,199

CUNARD

London to New York departing August 4 for 14-nights

• Visit Bruges, then 4 stops in the Norwegian Fjords, 2 stops in Iceland with an overnight in Reykjavik, and then on to NYC. 
• Fares from $3279pp

London round-trip to Spain & France departing August 9 for 7-nights.

• Visit Santander, La Coruna (for Santiago de Compostela), Gijon, Bordeaux
• Fares from $2299

Rome to Barcelona departing August 10 for 7-nights

• Visit Taragona, Palma de Mallorca, Villefranche, Toulon
• Suites from $5279 (verandas are sold out)

PRINCESS

London round-trip to Spain, Portugal & France departing August 8 for 14-days

• Visit Cherbourg, Billbao, Malaga, Cartagena, Gibraltar, Lisbon, La Coruna
• Fares from $4458

SOLAR ECLIPSE in 2027

Yep… there’s another one coming on August 2, 2027.  The path of totality this time will be southern Spain, Morocco, the Sahara Desert, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and then across the Indian Ocean.  So far, VIKING CRUISES is the only one that has released itineraries (in Egypt), and they are already completely sold out.  Look for the other river cruise lines on the Nile to feature cruises, and I would expect some ocean cruise lines to have some itineraries between Dubai and East Africa (but I am guessing until they release their 2027 plans). 

Today’s Other Travel Opportunities

UNIWORLD BOUTIQUE RIVER COLLECTION

Uniworld is offering a 10% discount on many of its 2025 itineraries.  Here are two:

Bordeaux, France for 7-nights – Wineries and more:

• Visit Cussac for Medoc (for Oyster tasting), Cadillac (Toulouse-Lautrec’s house), Blaye (for Blaye Fortress a UNESCO site)), Bourg sur Gironde, Libourne (for the Farmer’s Market), Saint Emilion
• Departures April through August from $3779
• Optional extension to Biarritz Basque Country (3-nights PRE) and/or Paris (2-nights post). 

Venice & Northern Italy for 7-nights

• Visit Venice (several spots), Mazzorbo, Burano, Chioggia.
• Optional extensions to Milan (2-nights pre) and/or Rome (3-nights post)
• Departs every Sunday in April, May, & June from $3779

Here’s a link to our video blog when we did this cruise: https://youtu.be/QRIHi6SED6g?si=IJvnYEJlqJt_iV4n 

OCEANIA FLASH SALE

Oceania is running a flash sale until August 26.  Here are two examples: 

Japan, Philippines & Bali departing February 14 for -days

• Visit Tokyo (overnight), Shimizu, Kagoshima, Ishigaki, Manilla, Boracay, Puerto Princesa, Borneo, Brunei, Java, Surabaya, Bali (overnight), Jakarta (overnight), Singapore.
• Fares from $6075 with a $500 shore excursion credit.

Auckland to Sydney departing December 8, 2024 for 14-days

• Visit Rotorua, Napier, Picton, Christchurch, Dunedin, Bluff, Melbourne (overnight), Geelong, Tasmania. 
• Verandas from $5325 with a $400 shore excursion credit

ICYMI: How it affects YOU because the Suez Canal is closed: https://pamperedcruiser.com/the-suez-canal-and-force-majeure/ 

Do You Have an Upcoming Viking Cruise?

Earlier this year, Viking replaced its Book on Board program with the BON VOYAGE incentive.  This allows you to book your next Viking cruise in the 2 weeks BEFORE you board, and get some extra goodies for doing so:

• $100 per person on board credit
• 6-month final payment date
• $100 per person OFF one-week cruises, and bigger discounts for longer itineraries. 

We made a short video about the Bon Voyage Program if you’d like more details:  

https://youtu.be/gBM8IvjIb3U?si=Vy9UDiSqZQYHWR32 
Contact us to book your NEXT VIKING CRUISE

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If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley