Virgin Voyages has revealed the onboard programme for its two Solar Eclipse Voyages taking place in August 2026.
*All details correct at time of publish (20 July 2026)
The adults-only cruise line will operate European itineraries on Valiant Lady and Scarlet Lady, with both ships positioned in the path of totality for the solar eclipse on August 12.
The sailings are:
- Solar Eclipse: Iceland & British Isles: A 15-night voyage roundtrip from Portsmouth onboard Valiant Lady, departing August 5. The itinerary calls at Dublin, Glasgow, Liverpool, Belfast, Siglufjörður, Ísafjörður, Reykjavik and Edinburgh. Prices start from £2,052 per person.
- Solar Eclipse: Barcelona to Rome: A 12-night voyage onboard Scarlet Lady, departing Barcelona on August 10. The itinerary calls at Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza, Cannes, Ajaccio, La Spezia for Tuscany / Cinque Terre, the Amalfi Coast, Catania and Rome. Prices start from £2,016 per person.
Onboard Happenings
Both voyages will offer Sailors (guests) the opportunity to experience around two minutes of totality from the open ocean, accompanied by expert astronauts, astrophysicists, photographers and scientists.
The speakers, including physicist, comedian and TV presenter Dara Ó Briain, will host talks, presentations and Q&A sessions throughout the voyages.
The at-sea programming includes:
- Out of This World: Living in Orbit – From building the International Space Station to spacewalking to the overview effect (a change in perspective astronauts describe after seeing Earth from space), NASA astronauts open up about life in orbit.
- Virgin Galactic: Ask an Astronaut – Will Whitehorn, architect of Virgin’s commercial spaceflight programme, and Virgin Galactic astronauts come together for an open Q&A on the process of leaving the atmosphere.
- Solar Eclipse 101 – A solar physicist explains what happens during totality and how to watch it safely.
- Eclipse Photography Masterclass – A cosmic photographer covers how to capture the corona, Baily’s beads and the diamond ring effect on a phone.
- Cosmic Pause: Eclipse Energy Session – A dharma teaching on light and shadow followed by an energy transmission session, timed to the eclipse ‘for Sailors looking for an inner experience to match the celestial one’.
- Designated Eclipse Watch Zones – Totality experienced three ways: in silence, with a live musical score or with real-time expert narration as the sky goes dark.
All guests will receive eclipse-viewing glasses. The programme will also include themed food and drink, musical performances and wellness sessions.
Shore Things: celestial experiences on the ground
Virgin Voyages has also developed a collection of eclipse-themed Shore Things (shore excursions) in select ports.
Highlights include:
- Belfast – Eclipse Countdown: Stars & Cider – An immersive visit to the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, followed by a cider tasting at Long Meadow among the orchards.
- Mallorca – Mallorca Caves: Eclipse Countdown – A descent into the Genova Caves with a specialist guide weaving astronomy into island lore, followed by a taste of Mallorcan culture.
- Ibiza – Eclipse Afterglow: Ibiza Sound & Soul – Yoga in the gardens of Jardines de Palermo, followed by a soothing sound bath.
- Isafjordur – Eclipse Afterglow: Troll Peninsula Drive & Soak – A scenic coastal drive along the Troll Peninsula, via waterfalls, a reservoir and historic fishing huts, ending in a geothermal soak beneath Arctic skies.
SJ Walker, UK Director of Sales at Virgin Voyages, said: “These voyages give our First Mates (travel agents) a genuine once-in-a-lifetime experience to offer their clients.
“Seeing a total solar eclipse from the open ocean is already incredibly special, but combining it with insights from astronauts, astrophysicists and spaceflight experts makes this a real bucket-list sailing.
“With a choice of a no-fly departure from Portsmouth or a Mediterranean itinerary from Barcelona, there are two very different ways for Sailors to experience the moment.
“For First Mates, it is a brilliant opportunity to start a conversation with clients looking for something memorable, unusual and only available for a very limited time.”
The Solar Eclipse Voyages form part of Virgin Voyages’ Marvellous Collection, which features limited-edition itineraries and onboard programming centred around particular events and destinations.
First Mates can access resources, training and booking tools through Seacademy at sellvv.co.uk.
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