Sarah Bretz, ContributorLuxury small-ship cruise line Windstar has announced it will be offering a second solar eclipse cruise in August 2026 aboard Wind Spirit. This comes after the line’s first solar eclipse voyage on Star Pride had such high demand that it sold out.
Setting sail from Rome on August 6, 2026, the 148-guest Wind Spirit will embark on a seven-night Mediterranean Sunset Eclipse cruise, visiting Bastia, Calvi, Alghero, and Mahon, with two full days at sea. On August 12th, the yacht will strategically position itself north of Mallorca, Spain to have a clear view of the horizon for a prime view of the eclipse, weather permitting. An eclipse watch party on deck will bring guests together for the memorable event and eclipse glasses will be provided. The sailing will end in Barcelona on August 13th.
The 2026 solar eclipse path of totality will pass over Spain and Portugal and last for two minutes and 18 seconds. From Mallorca, the sun will be only a few degrees above the western horizon at 8:30 pm when the moon fully covers the sun. This rare evening eclipse with the sun so close to the horizon makes a ship at sea with an unobstructed view of the horizon the ideal place to view it.
“Eclipse cruises are popular because ships at sea can position for clear views,” said Jess Peterson, Windstar’s director of destination experiences and itinerary planning. “Our first cruise to coincide with the 2026 eclipse in Iceland sold out quickly. We then looked at our deployment plans to see what other ships we had nearby the path of totality and the Wind Spirit made sense.”
Before the eclipse, guests aboard Wind Spirit will visit four ports on three Mediterranean islands:
- Bastia, Corsica: Filled with lively, historical neighborhoods and the main port of Corsica, there’s lots to explore in town including 18th century buildings, the central market, a citadel and Jardin Romieu gardens.
- Calvi, Corsica: This scenic town on a bay is a top vacation spot surrounded by fortified walls with a large medieval citadel on top of a hill overlooking the port and scenic beaches. Enjoy beach time in the sun, take a tour to visit Corsica’s vineyards and taste its wines, explore the Corsican countryside or wander Calvi’s streets filled with history and see the home of Christopher Columbus.
- Alghero, Sardinia: Known as “little Barcelona” this is a small ship exclusive. The old town is enclosed by ancient walls and filled with lively shops and restaurants. Scenic beaches are a draw here along with Neptune’s Grotto, a sea cave.
- Mahon, Menorca: Known for being one of the longest and deepest natural harbors in the world, it is laced with white sand beaches. Guests can explore historic churches and palaces, archaeological sites of the Talayotic culture of Menorca, and Sant Patrici Farm, famous for its local cheese.
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Are you planning to watch the solar eclipse from the path of totality next year? Would you consider taking a cruise to witness a rare event like this? Drop us an anchor and let us know!
