4 Incredible Cruises to Witness an Eclipse

Many people will travel great distances to experience the rare phenomenon of a solar or lunar eclipse. However, the areas within the path of totality—where these celestial events are visible—are often not easily accessible, as they can be located over vast expanses of water. Enter: cruise ships.

Whether you’re a dedicated astronomer or simply a casual stargazer, witnessing an eclipse from the deck of a ship enhances the entire sailing experience. Fortunately, numerous cruise lines have recognized this opportunity and included eclipse sightings in their itineraries, all set in breathtaking locations.

These upcoming cruises are all timed to coincide with an eclipse.

Holland America Line’s Western Caribbean cruise in November 2022

Guests aboard Holland America Line’s 7-Day Western Caribbean cruise, which departs from and returns to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on the 2,666-passenger Nieuw Statendam, will have the chance to witness a total lunar eclipse while sailing between the Bahamas and Jamaica on November 8.

After spending a day at Half Moon Cay, Holland America Line’s private island in the Bahamas, and a relaxing day at sea, travelers will need to rise early for the astronomical event.

The total lunar eclipse will start around 3 a.m. local time, with the Earth’s shadow fully obscuring the sun’s light at 5:59 a.m. local time.

Following the eclipse, the ship will also make stops in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, Georgetown in the Cayman Islands, and Key West, Florida.

Ponant’s Eastern Indonesia voyage in April 2023

On a 16-day journey to eastern Indonesia, East Timor, and the Kimberley region of Australia, Ponant's 188-passenger Le Lapérouse will witness a total solar eclipse on April 20, 2023.

This is one of just five total solar eclipses happening globally this decade. For this extraordinary trip, two Smithsonian experts—Alex Young, associate director of science at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, and historian Craig Benjamin—will accompany guests to enhance their viewing experience.

The adventure kicks off in Bali, then sails to Komodo National Park for two days of searching for the legendary dragons. The next two days will immerse travelers in the cultural and natural wonders of East Timor, including exploring the Portuguese art scene in the capital, Dili, and snorkeling in the vibrant reefs of the Coral Triangle. After crossing the Timor Sea, the cruise will reach Wyndham, the northernmost town in Western Australia. This region of the Kimberley is often called the “Antarctica of the tropics” due to its vast, remote landscapes featuring countless waterfalls, pristine white-sand beaches, dense mangrove forests, and the largest migration of humpback whales on the planet.

Next, Le Lapérouse will navigate back into the Timor Sea, positioning itself perfectly for viewing the eclipse, scheduled from late morning to early afternoon on April 20.

After the eclipse, the journey continues for an additional three days through the Kimberley region, with a focus on Collier Bay, home to the world’s only horizontal waterfall. Sir David Attenborough called it “one of the greatest wonders of the natural world.” The adventure wraps up in Broome, located on the northern coast of Western Australia.

UnCruise Adventures’ Belize expedition in October 2023

Usually, UnCruise Adventures' Belize itineraries set sail on Saturdays during October and November for a week-long cruise. However, to align with the Annular Solar Eclipse on October 13, 2023, UnCruise is providing an extended eight-night journey allowing guests to witness the eclipse early on October 14.

The cruise departs from Belize City aboard the 66-passenger SDinogoi Voyager, heading to Laughing Bird Cave National Park, where guests can view the eclipse. Following that, the ship will travel to Guatemala for two days filled with rainforest hikes, kayaking on the Rio Dulce, and exploring Livingston. In the final three days, guests will return to Belize, visiting ancient Mayan ruins, kayaking in Payne’s Creek National Park, and listening for the sounds of crested guans and Amazon kingfishers during a trek in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. The trip concludes in Belize City, with options for extended hotel stays and cultural tours to further discover Belize.

Aurora Expeditions’ Falklands and Antarctic cruise scheduled for October 2023

This 16-day journey aboard the 132-passenger Greg Mortimer begins in Santiago, Chile, with a welcome reception and a pre-voyage briefing, followed by a charter flight the next morning to Stanley, the capital of the Falklands. The subsequent three days will be spent searching for penguins and black-browed albatrosses along the rugged coastlines and rolling moors of the Falklands. Then, there will be two days at sea, navigating the notorious Drake Passage. On the 28th, guests will have the chance to witness a partial lunar eclipse.

Afterward, there are five days in Antarctica, where the landscape resembles a stark lunar surface, before the ship heads back to Ushuaia, Argentina, for disembarkation.