See the 2026 solar eclipse on a Mediterranean cruise with Princess

Sadly, there won’t be another total eclipse visible in the UK until 2090, but all it takes to see the phenomenon before then is a little short-haul travel. The 2026 eclipse, which will occur on Wednesday 12th August, is due to be visible over much of Northern Spain, from the Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean coast, with many of the Balearic Islands noted as promising viewing locations, too.

Guaranteeing that you’ll be in the right place at exactly the right time to see the spectacle, we’ve designed seven 2026 solar eclipse cruises that take in nature’s breath-taking display while at sea, as well as stopping at several dazzling Mediterranean destinations.

For example, our 7-night Mediterranean adventure on our brand-new Sphere Class ship, Sun Princess, departs from Barcelona ahead of the solar eclipse and offers the ideal short-but-sweet summer getaway in 2026. You’ll call at Gibraltar and Cartagena in Spain, before witnessing the solar eclipse from the ship, which will be perfectly located in the Mediterranean Sea. Afterwards, you’ll head on to La Spezia (ideal for accessing Pisa and Florence in Italy) before docking in Civitavecchia.

Also on Sun Princess, our 14-night Mediterranean Solar Eclipse cruise departs from Piraeus and stops at Greek gems Santorini and Corfu along with Sicily and Barcelona, while our 21-night Best of the Mediterranean with Solar Eclipse itinerary will call at the likes of Naples, Mykonos, Kusadasi in Turkey and even Montenegro’s stunning historic port town Kotor, to name just a few.

Those looking to embark from the UK should book their spot on our 14-night Spain, France and Portugal with Total Solar Eclipse cruise instead. A round-trip sailing from Southampton on Sky Princess, it’ll explore destinations like Bilbao, Cherbourg, Málaga and Lisbon on either side of seeing the 2026 solar eclipse from a prime location.

While the total eclipse in 2026 will only last for just over two minutes, our onboard activities and celebrations will have plenty of legs! As well as providing viewing glasses to protect your eyes on the day, both ships will host talks and stargazing sessions with astronomy experts, and will offer an array of delicious solar-themed drinks and snacks.

Of course, all the brilliant facilities, entertainment venues and food and drink you can find on Sun Princess and Sky Princess all year round will be available, too. Enjoy fine dining, freshly made gelato and the ‘best pizza at sea’, have signature cocktails brought to you as you lounge by the pool, be wowed by magical variety shows, or simply take some time out in the spa.

On Sun Princess, you can also book our brand-new, ultra-luxurious Sanctuary Collection accommodation, which offers guests access to an exclusive pool and sun deck (pictured above), one-off events, VIP restaurant and much, much more. Go on, make 2026’s solar eclipse your excuse for a once-in-a-lifetime holiday!

On Sun Princess

7-day Mediterranean with Total Solar Eclipse
Barcelona to Rome departing 8th August 2026

14-day Mediterranean with Total Solar Eclipse
Barcelona to Athens departing 8th August 2026

14-day Mediterranean with Total Solar Eclipse
Athens to Rome departing 1st August 2026

21-day Best of the Mediterranean with Total Solar Eclipse
Roundtrip from Rome departing 25th July 2026

21-day Best of the Mediterranean with Total Solar Eclipse
Roundtrip from Athens departing 1st August 2026

21-day Best of Mediterranean with Total Solar Eclipse
Roundtrip from Barcelona departing 8th August 2026

On Sky Princess

14-Day Spain, France & Portugal with Total Solar Eclipse
Roundtrip from Southampton departing 8th August 2026