Holland America Plans New Cruises for 2027 Eclipse

Holland America Line has unveiled new cruise itineraries for summer 2027, giving guests a front-row seat to one of nature’s most captivating spectacles — a total solar eclipse. According to the company’s announcement, bookings are now open for two new eclipse-focused cruises, along with three additional sailings offering views of the Northern Lights.

The total solar eclipse is set to take place on Monday, August 2, 2027, with the path of totality primarily passing over Northern Africa. Holland America plans to position two of its ships — Nieuw Statendam and Oosterdam — in prime viewing locations off the coasts of Morocco and Tunisia, respectively.

“The excitement around viewing a total solar eclipse the past few years has been palpable, and we jumped at the chance to create more itineraries that give our guests the incomparable opportunity of viewing the eclipse at sea,” said Paul Grigsby, Holland America Line’s vice president of deployment.

He added: “When you’re at sea, there is a greater opportunity to witness an eclipse in the clear because the ship can attempt to position itself away from cloud cover, and the view on the horizon means you get more of the shadow coming in and going out. Because of that, these cruises are extremely popular for everyone from professional astronomers to travelers looking to check an eclipse off their bucket list.”

Both sailings will feature special programming, including talks from astronomy experts, themed onboard events, and complimentary eclipse glasses to ensure guests can safely view the event. Onshore excursions will deepen the experience by exploring ancient cultural connections to solar events.

Grigsby explained, “For millennia, civilizations have studied celestial happenings, and that impact is seen even now in many famous landmarks and monuments. We took care to add ports into the itinerary that have some connection to the study of the sun and stars.”

One example is the 28-day Legendary Solar Eclipse & Cosmic Port Explorer aboard Nieuw Statendam, which departs roundtrip from Rotterdam. This itinerary includes 13 ports across Denmark, the UK, France, Spain, Portugal, Gibraltar, and Morocco, with overnight stays in London (Tilbury) and Barcelona. Notable excursions include visits to Montjuïc Hill and Observatory in Barcelona and the Alhambra Palace in Malaga, which incorporates solar-aligned design elements.

Meanwhile, Oosterdam will operate the 14-day Solar Eclipse & Astronomical Discovery voyage departing July 31, 2027, from Piraeus (Athens), Greece. After viewing the eclipse near Tunisia, guests will explore destinations in Malta, Italy, and Greece. Highlights include a stop in Valletta to visit the Royal Malta Observatory and learn about historical astronomical research.

These new offerings join three existing eclipse-themed cruises already open for booking for the 2026 event, including a 28-day Scandinavian Solar Eclipse with Greenland and Scotland, a 35-day Voyage of the Vikings: Solar Eclipse, and a 13-day cruise featuring an overnight in Barcelona and eclipse viewing off Spain’s west coast.

Additionally, Holland America has released three Northern Lights-focused itineraries for late 2027. Sailing in October and November aboard the Rotterdam and Nieuw Amsterdam, these cruises depart from Dover and Rotterdam and call on scenic ports in Norway, offering a chance to witness the aurora borealis in one of the world’s best viewing regions.