These 7 Small Ship Cruises Will Travel Along the Solar Eclipse Path of Totality in 2026. AdventureSmith Explorations details why travel via small ship offers the best eclipse viewing opportunities
According to AdventureSmith Explorations, the global leader in small ship adventure cruising, watching celestial events – in particular, the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse – aboard a small ship offers numerous advantages that are unlikely to be experienced any other way.
Aboard one of seven solar eclipse cruises, travelers will have the distinct privilege of viewing this once- in-a-lifetime event reaching remote and pristine areas that larger vessels can’t, and enjoying flexible routing and expert positioning to maximize viewing opportunities.
“Small ship cruises provide an intimate, immersive experience complete with unobstructed horizons, fewer passengers, expert guides, and the perfect blend of sky-watching and wilderness exploration,” said Todd Smith, founder and president of AdventureSmith Explorations.
“For those interested in witnessing the Total Solar Eclipse in 2026, there are a handful of opportunities to do so aboard small ships both in the High Arctic and the Mediterranean depending on travelers’ climate and expedition preferences.”
These seven small ship cruises will put travelers in the path of totality on August 12, 2026:
1. Total Solar Eclipse in the Mediterranean. See the eclipse from Palma de Mallorca, Spain, aboard a luxury French ship. Cruise round-trip from Nice with special guest “eclipse chasers,” or from Barcelona to Nice with world-class experts from Smithsonian Journeys. These nine-day cruises on the 184-guest Le Dumont D’Urville or 264-guest Le Boreal include excursions in every port while sailing the western Mediterranean.
2. Arctic Odyssey Under a Solar Eclipse. Sail the Arctic and explore Svalbard, Eastern Greenland and Iceland in one epic voyage aboard the 114-guest Sea Spirit alongside special guest and astrophysicist Dr. Paul Sutter. This adventure offers the lowest starting price on this list, making it an exceptional value.
3. Spitsbergen – Northeast Greenland. This 14-day expedition affords the opportunity to experience dramatic coastlines and cruise through icy waters in search of iconic Arctic wildlife like polar bears, musk oxen, whales and arctic foxes. Two special departures aim to position travelers in the center of totality within East Greenland’s vast fjord system, Scoresby Sund.
4. Jewels of the Arctic. Enjoy a unique visit to the bird-rich island of Jan Mayen, plus explorations of Svalbard, Greenland and Iceland, aboard the cutting-edge 132-guest Greg Mortimer. Add on the ship’s popular kayaking program to fully experience nature at its wildest with just 19 other paddlers.
5. National Geographic Arctic Odyssey: Iceland, Greenland & Canada. Following the path of early Viking explorers, this journey mixes Arctic wildlife and landscapes with a riveting history that is brought to life by well-preserved ruins and local communities that thrive on the edge of the Arctic. Travel with a diverse team of experts from Reykjavik, Iceland, to St. John’s, Newfoundland, aboard the 148-guest National Geographic Explorer.
6. Iceland to Greenland: Mountains, Glaciers & The Westfjords. Embark on a round-trip journey from Iceland to Greenland with the pioneers that led the first successful total solar eclipse cruise in Antarctica. Experience thrilling heli-flightseeing over remote Greenland from the ship’s state- of-the-art helicopters, and gain expert insights from science journalist and eclipse enthusiast David Baron and eclipse cartographer Michael Zeiler.
7. Expedition to the Edge of the Ice Sheet. Aboard a luxury French expedition ship, follow in the footsteps of the Vikings and Erik the Red as you explore four Arctic regions on one unforgettable voyage. Join special guests, astronauts Claudie and Jean-Pierre Haigneré, and navigate to the remote fjords of North-West Iceland for total eclipse viewing.
In addition to these current seven Arctic cruises and Mediterranean small ship cruises, more are likely to be announced as the total solar eclipse nears. Stay tuned to AdventureSmith’s dedicated page for solar eclipse cruises for the latest offerings.
AdventureSmith has been creating custom travel packages for over 20 years, and has their finger on the pulse of what’s new for small ship cruises worldwide. Actively explore by land and sea, away from tourist crowds.
(These 7 Small Ship Cruises Will Travel Along the Solar Eclipse Path of Totality in 2026. AdventureSmith Explorations details why travel via small ship offers the best eclipse viewing opportunities – AdventureSmith Explorations)
