Sarah Bretz, ContributorVirgin Voyages has announced its first-ever Eclipse Voyages as part of a new series of itineraries called the Marvelous Voyages.
Eclipse Voyages
Stefanie Waldek, a freelance space and travel journalist who writes for Space.com and Travel + Leisure, explained, “A total solar eclipse is one of the most spectacular astronomical phenomena to witness, right up there with the aurora. There’s a reason eclipse chasers travel the world to see them! During the 2026 total solar eclipse, much of the path of totality is over the sea, which makes cruising one of the best ways to catch the show.”
Virgin Voyages’ Eclipse Voyages are set for August 2026, giving guests the opportunity to cruise towards the path of totality. The 12 and 15-night itineraries will include stops in Dublin, Glasgow, and Reykjavik aboard Valiant Lady, and the Amalfi Coast, Mallorca, and Cannes on Scarlet Lady.
The cruise line will host special onboard events and appearances for these special celestial voyages. Grandstands outfitted with telescopes and binoculars will transform the ship’s upper decks into observation viewing spaces, with astronomers on standby. New moon ceremonies, starry symphonies, and cosmic culinary creations — like Milky Way milkshakes — round out the special programming. Passengers will also snag a pair of solar eclipse glasses and a commemorative guide as fun takeaways.
Marvelous Voyages
Virgin Voyages’ new Marvelous Voyages include six other sailings between March and August 2026, ranging from eight to 16 nights. Spanning Iceland to Istanbul and the British Isles to The Baltics, the Marvelous Voyages promise wonder and excitement, all with the comforts that Virgin Voyages guests love. 12 new ports are on the docket with highlights that include Salerno (Amalfi Coast, Italy), Edinburgh (Scotland), Stockholm (Sweden), Hamburg (Germany), Oslo (Norway), Tangier (Morocco), and eventually Greenland.
“We already sail to more than 100 international ports, but our itineraries are ever-evolving based on what our Sailors and travel partners are asking for,” said Michelle Bentubo, Chief Operating Officer at Virgin Voyages. “We’ve graduated from only offering short Caribbean escapes and weekender voyages to give our Sailors longer itinerary options up to 14 nights at more ports around the world. Our Marvelous Voyages, paired with Brilliant Lady’s epic itineraries across all four corners of the US, just shows the growth and strength of this monumental brand and the choice we are committed to offering.”
Booking
Loyalty members will have first dibs on these unique adventures, with inventory opening for booking from August 14-21, depending on loyalty status. General inventory will be released between August 21st and September 18th.
Comments
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