Deeptesh Ghosh
Monday, July 29, 2024
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Holland America Line is unveiling a new series of cruises that will transport guests to top European destinations to experience extraordinary celestial events. Starting July 31, travelers can book one of these special Celestial Cruises to witness the Northern Lights, a total solar eclipse, or a summer solstice above the Arctic Circle, perfect for those looking to fulfill their bucket-list dreams.
“After the excitement and success around our 2024 eclipse cruises, we knew our guests were looking for additional opportunities to get a front-row seat for some of the world’s most special natural spectacles,” said Beth Bodensteiner, chief commercial officer for Holland America Line. “Our team has put together a lineup of cruises that not only deliver on that front, but also give guests in-depth exploration of exciting destinations and the premium onboard experience for which we’re known.”
Three Solar Eclipse Cruises Offer Total Viewing
Following two highly successful solar eclipse sailings in 2024, three ships from the fleet will be positioned under the path of totality for the August 12, 2026, total solar eclipse. Oosterdam will take guests to witness the eclipse off the eastern coast of Spain, Nieuw Statendam will explore Northern Europe, sailing off the western coast of Iceland for the eclipse, and guests can sail aboard Zuiderdam on the popular Voyage of the Vikings.
Voyage of the Vikings: Solar Eclipse
- Date: July 18, 2026
- Duration: 35 days
- Ship: Zuiderdam
- Departure: Roundtrip from Boston, Massachusetts
- Path of Totality: Off the western coast of Iceland, just before arriving at Grundarfjørdur
- Ports of Call: Portland, Maine; Sydney, Corner Brook, Red Bay, St. Anthony, St John’s, and Halifax, Canada; Paamiut (Frederikshåb), Nanortalik, and Qaqortoq (Julianehåb), Greenland; Reykjavik (overnight), Seydisfjördur, Húsavík, and Grundarfjørdur, Iceland; Eidfjord, Norway; Rotterdam, Netherlands (overnight); Dún Laoghaire (Dublin), Ireland; and Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Scandinavian Solar Eclipse with Greenland and Scotland
- Date: July 25, 2026
- Duration: 28 days
- Ship: Nieuw Statendam
- Departure: Roundtrip from Dover, England, or roundtrip from Rotterdam
- Path of Totality: At sea off the northwest coast of Iceland
- Ports of Call: Kristiansand, Eidfjord, and Stavanger, Norway; Seydisfjördur, Djúpivogur, Akureyri, Isafjördur, Grundarfjørdur, Heimaey, and Reykjavik, Iceland; Paamiut (Frederikshåb), Nuuk (Godthåb), Nanortalik, and Qaqortoq (Julianehåb), Greenland; Runavík, Faroe Islands; Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Invergordon (Inverness), and South Queensferry (Edinburgh), Scotland (overnight).
Mediterranean Solar Eclipse with Barcelona Overnight
- Date: August 9, 2026
- Duration: 13 days
- Ship: Oosterdam
- Departure: From Lisbon, Portugal, to Piraeus (Athens), Greece
- Path of Totality: At sea off the coast of Spain between Alicante and Barcelona
- Ports of Call: Alicante and Barcelona (overnight), Spain; Ajaccio, Corsica, France; Civitavecchia (Rome) and Bari (Puglia), Italy; and Kotor, Montenegro.
Inaugural ‘Northern Lights’ Cruises aboard Rotterdam and Nieuw Statendam
As 2026 is predicted to be a highly active period for auroras, a growing number of travelers plan to prioritize seeing them on vacation. Guests seeking to pair that adventure with an in-depth exploration of Norway can do so on one of two Northern Lights cruises aboard Rotterdam and Nieuw Statendam. The cruises feature an overnight in Alta, also known as “The City of the Northern Lights,” and spend five days above the Arctic Circle.
Arctic Journey and Northern Lights (Rotterdam)
- Date: October 4, 2026
- Duration: 14 days
- Ship: Rotterdam
- Departure: From Rotterdam to Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Ports of Call: Nordfjordeid, Trondheim, Narvik, Tromsø, Alta (overnight), Åndalsnes, and Bergen, Norway; and Lerwick, Shetland Islands.
Arctic Journey and Northern Lights (Nieuw Statendam)
- Date: October 16, 2026 (15 days) or October 17, 2026 (14 days)
- Ship: Nieuw Statendam
- Departure: From Dover to Rotterdam (15 days) or roundtrip from Rotterdam (14 days)
- Ports of Call: Ålesund, Trondheim, Narvik, Tromsø, Alta (overnight), Åndalsnes, and Bergen, Norway; and Lerwick, Shetland Islands.
Summer Solstice Above the Arctic Circle
For guests seeking the maximum amount of daylight on the longest day of the year, Nieuw Statendam will take cruisers above the Arctic Circle to celebrate the summer solstice in Honningsvåg, Norway — one of the northernmost cities on the planet.
Arctic Circle Crossing: North Cape Solstice
- Date: June 13, 2026
- Duration: 14 days
- Ship: Nieuw Statendam
- Departure: Roundtrip from Dover or Rotterdam
- Ports of Call: Eidfjord, Maloy, Trondheim, Leknes, Tromsø, and Honningsvåg, Norway; and Lerwick, Shetland Islands.
