At least 25 ocean cruise ships and more than a dozen Nile river boats are scheduled to be in or near the path of totality on 2 August 2027. Ships in the Atlantic, the Strait of Gibraltar and the Alboran Sea get about 4½ to 5 minutes of totality; ships off Tunisia and Libya get about 5¾ to 6 minutes; boats moored at Luxor on the Nile get about 6 minutes 20 seconds. No ocean cruise we found will be in the Red Sea that day. Several astronomy-hosted sailings were already sold out or waitlisted when we checked on 22 October 2026, and a few itineraries put the ship somewhere that sees only a deep partial eclipse.
Last updated: 22 October 2026. Itineraries, positions and availability were checked on that date on the cruise lines' and tour operators' own pages (or a booking agency where the line's page could not be read). Cruise lines can change itineraries; confirm with them before you book.
Which cruise ships will be in the path of totality on 2 August 2027?
The table lists every ocean sailing we could confirm that is marketed for the eclipse, grouped by the sea the ship will be in. The "where" column is what the cruise line says; the "totality there" column is our own check of that place against the path (computed with skyfield and NASA's DE421 ephemeris, like the rest of our 2027 eclipse destination guides). Where a line only says "at sea", the ship can still sail to the centre line, so we give the range for that stretch of sea.
2027 eclipse cruises: ocean ships, checked 22 October 2026
| Ship (line) | Sailing in 2027 | Where on 2 August, as the line states it | Totality there (our calculation) | Status on 22 Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic and the Strait of Gibraltar | ||||
| Nieuw Statendam (Holland America Line) | 28 days, 9 Jul from Dover or 10 Jul from Rotterdam, round trip | Off Morocco's western coast | About 4 min 40 s near the centre line | Not stated |
| Spirit of Adventure (Saga) | 16 nights, 25 Jul, Dover round trip | At sea off the coast of Morocco | About 4 min 40 s near the centre line | Not stated |
| Borealis (Fred. Olsen) | 14 nights, 27 Jul, Liverpool round trip | At sea between Lisbon and Madeira | About 4 min 27 s on the centre line; Madeira itself is outside the path | "Last few cabins" in two grades |
| Resilient Lady (Virgin Voyages, adults only) | 11 nights, 28 Jul, Barcelona round trip | At sea on the way to Funchal | About 4 min 27 s on the centre line; Funchal itself is outside | "Limited availability" |
| Carnival Miracle (Carnival) | 11 days, 29 Jul, Dover round trip | "Solar Eclipse Scenic Cruising" day before Lisbon; position not stated | Depends on the position: Lisbon itself sees only 92.6% | Not stated |
| Queen Victoria (Cunard) | 14 nights, 23 Jul, Southampton round trip | In port at Tangier | About 4 min 50 s | Not stated |
| Ambition (Ambassador, adults only) | 19 nights, 27 Jul, Dundee round trip | In port at Gibraltar | About 4 min 27 s | Balcony cabins sold out |
| AIDAcosma (AIDA) | 7, 11 and 14 nights from Palma (24 and 31 Jul) and Civitavecchia (27 Jul) | Gibraltar, listed as an eclipse passage | About 4 min 27 s | Bookable through agencies |
| Balmoral (Fred. Olsen) | 11 nights, 28 Jul, from Southampton | Docked in Cádiz | About 2 min 54 s (Cádiz is near the northern edge) | Not stated |
| Mariner of the Seas (Royal Caribbean) | 7 nights, 30 Jul Lisbon to 6 Aug Barcelona | At sea (Casablanca on 1 Aug, Gibraltar on 3 Aug) | About 4 min 40 s west of the Strait to 5 min in the Alboran Sea | Bookable through agencies |
| Sky Princess (Princess) | 14 days, 24 Jul, Southampton round trip | At sea (Cartagena on 1 Aug, Cádiz on 3 Aug) | Up to about 5 min in the Alboran Sea | Bookable through agencies |
| AIDAstella (AIDA) | 10 nights, 29 Jul, Palma round trip | At sea | Depends on the position (not stated by AIDA) | Bookable through agencies |
| Alboran Sea and western Mediterranean | ||||
| Celebrity Xcel (Celebrity) | 7 nights, 31 Jul, Barcelona round trip | At sea, "Solar Eclipse (Cruising)" (Palma on 1 Aug, Tangier on 3 Aug) | About 5 min in the Alboran Sea | Bookable through agencies |
| Celebrity Ascent (Celebrity) | 11 nights, 26 Jul, Civitavecchia round trip | At sea (Málaga on 1 Aug, Cagliari on 3 Aug) | About 5 min in the Alboran Sea, about 5¼ min off Algeria | Bookable through agencies |
| Enchanted Princess (Princess) | 14 days, 24 Jul, Civitavecchia round trip | At sea "over the Mediterranean" (Gibraltar on 1 Aug) | About 5 min in the Alboran Sea | Bookable through agencies |
| Le Boréal (Ponant, Smithsonian Journeys) | 30 Jul to 6 Aug, Lisbon round trip | At sea off Spain's southern coast; Málaga later that day | About 5 min on the centre line | Waitlist |
| Central Mediterranean: Tunisia, Malta and Libya | ||||
| Oosterdam (Holland America Line) | 14 days, 31 Jul, Piraeus round trip | Off Tunisia's eastern coast | About 5 min 45 s on the centre line | Not stated by the line |
| Carnival Sunshine (Carnival) | 10 days, 25 Jul Barcelona to 4 Aug Civitavecchia | At sea (La Goulette, Tunis, on 1 Aug) | About 5¾ min off eastern Tunisia; La Goulette itself sees only 97% | Bookable through agencies |
| Azamara Onward (Eclipse Tours charter) | 27 Jul Barcelona to 6 Aug Civitavecchia | At sea, southern Mediterranean (La Goulette on 1 Aug) | About 5¾ to 6 min, depending on how far east | "Limited availability" |
| Star Legend (Windstar, Eclipse Tours charter) | 28 Jul Rome to 5 Aug Athens | At sea, southern Mediterranean | About 5¾ to 6 min, depending on how far east | Waitlist only |
| Wind Surf (Windstar) | 9 nights from 27 Jul, Piraeus round trip | At sea after Gozo (1 Aug) | About 5 min 54 s on the centre line south of Malta; Malta itself sees only 97% | Not stated |
| Seabourn Ovation (Seabourn, 5 voyages) | From 15 Jul (Barcelona) or 23 Jul (Monte Carlo) | "Solar Eclipse Viewing" on 2 Aug after Valletta on 1 Aug; location not stated | About 5 min 54 s on the centre line south of Malta | Not stated |
| Seven Seas Grandeur (Regent) | 9 nights, 29 Jul Barcelona to 7 Aug Civitavecchia | "Solar Eclipse At Sea" after Valletta (1 Aug) | About 5 min 54 s on the centre line south of Malta | Sold out (agency listing) |
| Sea Cloud II (Harvard and Yale alumni charters) | 28 Jul Piraeus to 7 Aug Valletta | About 12 nautical miles off the African coast, on the centre line | About 6 min off Libya | Not stated |
| Oceania Allura (VACAYA charter) | 27 Jul Trieste to 6 Aug Barcelona | At sea on the path (Gozo on 1 Aug, La Goulette on 3 Aug) | About 5¾ to 6 min, depending on the position | Sold out, waitlist |
Durations are our skyfield calculation for the stated port or for the centre line in that sea; published figures (for example Space.com's) differ from ours by a few seconds either way, because of the exact point used and the Moon's uneven edge. "Bookable through agencies" means the sailing is on sale in booking agencies' listings; we did not see availability on the line's own page. A ship that is "at sea" can usually reach the centre line, but the captain decides on the day.
Three other ships are worth knowing about. P&O's Britannia ("Mediterranean Islands", 30 July from Southampton) will be in Cádiz, inside the path, on 2 August without marketing the eclipse, while Hapag-Lloyd's Europa 2 will be in Bonifacio, Corsica, outside it. Silversea says Silver Shadow will be near Lampedusa and see "99%" of the eclipse; by our calculation Lampedusa gets 99.8%, which is a deep partial eclipse, not totality, so that ship needs eclipse glasses for the whole event.
Where exactly is totality at sea, and for how long?
The Moon's shadow starts in the mid-Atlantic, passes north of Madeira, crosses the Strait of Gibraltar at about 10:47 CEST, runs along the North African coast past Sfax and Benghazi, crosses Egypt over Luxor and leaves the Red Sea coast at Jeddah. The longer the ship sails east, the longer and higher the eclipse: the Sun is 30° up west of Gibraltar and more than 80° up over the Red Sea. Our article on why the 2027 eclipse lasts up to 6 minutes 23 seconds explains why the shadow slows down as it moves east. The map and table show the places cruise itineraries mention.
Totality at sea and in cruise ports on 2 August 2027
| Place | Totality | Greatest eclipse (UT) | Sun altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic, Lisbon–Madeira route (centre line) | 4 min 27 s | 08:39 | 30° |
| Atlantic off western Morocco (centre line) | 4 min 42 s | 08:44 | 35° |
| Cádiz (port) | 2 min 54 s | 08:47 | 37° |
| Gibraltar (port) | 4 min 27 s | 08:48 | 38° |
| Tangier (port) | 4 min 50 s | 08:47 | 38° |
| Málaga (port) | 1 min 50 s | 08:49 | 39° |
| Alboran Sea (centre line, 3°W) | 5 min 00 s | 08:51 | 41° |
| Off Algeria (centre line, 2°E) | 5 min 16 s | 08:57 | 46° |
| Off eastern Tunisia (centre line) | 5 min 46 s | 09:13 | 57° |
| South of Malta (centre line, 14°E) | 5 min 54 s | 09:18 | 60° |
| Gulf of Sidra, off Libya (centre line) | 6 min 07 s | 09:29 | 66° |
| Red Sea (centre line) | 6 min 20 s | 10:14 | 81° |
| Funchal, Madeira (port) | Partial only (97.1%) | 08:35 | 26° |
| Lisbon (port) | Partial only (92.6%) | 08:45 | 35° |
| Palma de Mallorca (port) | Partial only (89.3%) | 08:59 | 46° |
| La Goulette, Tunis (port) | Partial only (97.0%) | 09:10 | 55° |
| Valletta, Malta (port) | Partial only (97.3%) | 09:18 | 60° |
| Lampedusa | Partial only (99.8%) | 09:15 | 58° |
Computed by Tember with skyfield and the DE421 ephemeris; times are the moment of greatest eclipse at that place, in UT (add 2 h for Spain, Gibraltar and Malta, 1 h for Tunisia, 2 h for Libya; Morocco has used GMT since 20 September 2026). Cross-checks: Space.com gives Gibraltar 4 min 25 s, Tangier 4 min 50 s, Sfax 5 min 41 s and Benghazi 6 min 7 s, and Orbital Radar gives Valletta 97%, all within a few seconds or a fraction of a point of ours.
Three things stand out for cruise passengers. Malta, Gozo, Tunis (La Goulette) and Lampedusa are all outside the path: the northern edge passes about 108 km (58 nautical miles) south of Valletta, so a ship that stays in port sees a partial eclipse. Cádiz is inside but close to the edge, so a ship docked there gets under 3 minutes, against 4½ minutes at Gibraltar a few hours' sail away; our Cádiz and Tarifa eclipse guide maps that edge in detail. And Morocco changed its clocks: since 20 September 2026 it has used GMT all year, so in Tangier totality comes at about 08:47 local time, not the "around 09:45" some cruise articles from August 2026 still give.
Will the weather be clear for an eclipse at sea?
Usually, but not everywhere equally. Jay Anderson's Eclipsophile analysis for 2027 calls the waters of the Alboran Sea and the Strait of Gibraltar "cloudier than any other region along the western track", because cool sea water feeds fog and low stratus that normally burns off during the morning, and the easterly Levanter can blow for days. Further east the odds improve: Sfax has "the lowest average cloud amount along the western part of the track", and some Libyan and western Egyptian sites have "seen no August cloud on eclipse day whatsoever in the past 23 years". Over the Red Sea, cloudiness rises by "over 40 percent" between Berenice and Jeddah. A ship's great advantage is that it can move away from a fog bank on the morning of the eclipse; a ship tied up in port cannot. Watching from land instead? Our guide to the 2027 eclipse in every Spanish city lists the clearest summer skies in Spain.
Do Nile cruises see the total eclipse?
Yes, if the boat is between Sohag and Kom Ombo at midday on 2 August. Luxor, where most Nile cruises start or stop, gets about 6 min 20 s, close to the eclipse's maximum of 6 min 23 s just southeast of the city. The southern edge of the path crosses the Nile about 24 km south of Kom Ombo, so Aswan sees only a partial eclipse (99.9% by our calculation): a boat that spends eclipse day at Aswan misses totality. In Egypt, totality comes at about 13:02–13:08 local time (summer time, UTC+3), with the Sun almost overhead, which makes deck shade and water as important as glasses. Our Luxor eclipse guide covers the city, the weather and viewing sites.
Totality along the Nile on 2 August 2027
| Town | Totality | Greatest eclipse (Egypt, UTC+3) | Sun altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sohag | 6 min 22 s | 13:02 | 81° |
| Qena | 6 min 10 s | 13:05 | 81° |
| Dendera | 6 min 13 s | 13:05 | 81° |
| Luxor | 6 min 20 s | 13:05 | 82° |
| Esna | 5 min 47 s | 13:06 | 82° |
| Edfu | 5 min 32 s | 13:07 | 82° |
| Kom Ombo | 3 min 29 s | 13:08 | 83° |
| Aswan | Partial only (99.9%) | 13:08 | 83° |
Computed by Tember (skyfield, DE421) for each town centre; local time is Egyptian summer time (UTC+3), which Egypt's 2023 law applies from the last Friday of April to the last Thursday of October.
Which Nile eclipse cruises are still available?
Most of the charters hosted by astronomers were full when we checked on 22 October 2026. All of these say the boat will be in or near Luxor (or, for Viking and Gebeco, between Qena, Luxor, Esna and Edfu, which are all inside the path):
- Sky & Telescope with Insight Cruises: eight Nile ships (including Uniworld's River Tosca and AmaWaterways' AmaDahlia), 23 July to 13 August depending on the ship; all sold out or waitlisted except Nile Plaza, "nearly sold out".
- Smithsonian Journeys, MS Tulip, 28 July to 7 August: waitlist.
- Scientific American with Academic Travel Abroad, M/S Tamr, 29 July to 7 August: sold out, waitlist.
- Harvard Alumni Travels, Sanctuary Nile Adventurer, 28 July to 4 August: some cabin categories sold out.
- City and Sea, M/S City and Sea Adonis: the 27 July "Grand Egypt" trip is sold out; the 30 July "Majestic Egypt" trip was bookable.
- Viking, "Total Eclipse on the Nile", 12 days from Cairo on four ships departing 25 to 29 July: availability not shown.
- Gebeco (German-language), 29 July to 7 August, and On The Go Tours, 29 July to 8 August: bookable.
- Smaller dahabiya trips (Luxor Travels, 1–5 August, "only 5 cabins remaining"; Mara House, dahabiya Hathor, 27 July to 8 August) were also on sale.
Be careful with anything that watches the eclipse from Cairo, Giza or Saqqara: we found one "eclipse dahabiya" package whose only viewing stop is Saqqara, which its own page puts at "almost 95%". That is a partial eclipse, and you would need to keep certified eclipse glasses on the whole time.
Prefer to watch from land? Our roundup of Egypt eclipse tours for 2027 lists which tours are still bookable and where each one watches totality.
Can I see the total eclipse from a Red Sea cruise?
Only from the southern half of Egypt's Red Sea coast, and we found no ocean cruise ship positioned there for 2 August 2027. The path covers the sea from roughly Marsa Alam to Jeddah, with about 6 min 20 s on the centre line. Hurghada (98.6%) and Safaga (99.6%) are just outside the path, so a resort or boat that stays there sees a partial eclipse. Marsa Alam gets about 5 min 28 s, and the reef islands further south about 6 minutes. The one sea-based trip we found is a dive liveaboard run by DUNE with Geosub that plans to watch from an island off Wadi Gemal, south of Marsa Alam. On the Saudi side, Jeddah gets about 5 min 58 s; our eclipse planner helps you compare the places in the path.
What does a 2027 eclipse cruise cost?
From about £2,500 to more than $35,000 per person, depending on the ship and the length. Examples of "from" fares per person in a shared cabin, read on the operators' pages on 22 October 2026:
- Fred. Olsen Balmoral, 11 nights from Southampton: from £2,549.
- Ambassador Ambition, 19 nights from Dundee: inside cabins from £2,999.
- Eclipse Tours on Azamara Onward: from $4,499 plus about $445 port charges; on Windstar Star Legend, from $4,999 plus about $445 (waitlist).
- Saga Spirit of Adventure, 16 nights: from £7,663.
- Ponant Le Boréal with Smithsonian Journeys: from $11,070 (waitlist).
- Sea Cloud II alumni charter: from $16,990.
- Nile: Sky & Telescope's charters from $2,950 (Hamees) to $11,475 (Sphinx); On The Go Tours from £6,310.
Prices for the big ships (Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Princess, Carnival, AIDA) change daily and differed by hundreds between agencies, so we don't quote them. The real scarcity is in the small, astronomer-hosted charters, several of which were sold out 9 months ahead. If you are organising a group, our bulk eclipse glasses page explains how to equip everyone on board.
What should I check before booking an eclipse cruise?
- Where is the ship at about 08:40–10:20 UT on 2 August? Ask for a port name or a sea area, then check it against the tables above. "In view of the eclipse" can mean a partial eclipse.
- Port or sea? In port, the ship can't move away from cloud or fog. At sea, the captain can chase clear sky and the centre line.
- How long is totality there? Cádiz under 3 minutes, Gibraltar about 4½, the central Mediterranean about 6, Luxor about 6 min 20 s.
- Which clock? Ships keep their own time. Morocco now uses GMT, Spain and Malta CEST, Egypt UTC+3. Plan in UT if in doubt.
- Who hosts it? An astronomer on board helps with timing and safety, but check names on the operator's own page: two charter pages list the same guest speaker on two different ships on the same day.
- Glasses for everyone. The partial phases last about 2¼ to 2¾ hours. Few lines say whether glasses are included, and quality varies; bring your own CE and ISO 12312-2 certified pair and check it with our guide to fake and non-compliant eclipse glasses.
Do I need eclipse glasses on a cruise ship?
Yes, for every minute except totality itself. On a ship inside the path you can take your glasses off only when the Sun is completely covered, and must put them back on at the first flash of sunlight. On a ship outside the path, such as one that stays in Valletta or Tunis, you keep them on the whole time. Never look through binoculars or a camera viewfinder without a proper solar filter on the front. Sunglasses are no substitute, however dark they look. Our guide to using eclipse glasses safely and the eclipse glasses FAQ cover the details. Tember glasses are certified to EN ISO 12312-2 and come in packs of 4 to 100. See the glasses.
Frequently asked questions
Which cruises will see the total solar eclipse in 2027?
We confirmed at least 25 ocean ships for 2 August 2027, including Holland America's Nieuw Statendam and Oosterdam, Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas, Celebrity Xcel and Ascent, Princess's Sky Princess and Enchanted Princess, Cunard's Queen Victoria (in Tangier), AIDAcosma (in Gibraltar), Fred. Olsen's Borealis and Balmoral, and smaller ships from Seabourn, Windstar, Regent, Azamara, Ponant and Sea Cloud. On the Nile, more than a dozen boats will be at or near Luxor.
Where is the best place to see the 2027 eclipse from a ship?
On the centre line in the central Mediterranean off Libya, where totality lasts about 6 minutes and August cloud is rare, or on the Nile at Luxor (about 6 min 20 s). In the Strait of Gibraltar and the Alboran Sea totality is shorter (about 4½ to 5 minutes) and morning sea fog is more likely.
Is Malta in the path of totality in 2027?
No. Malta and Gozo see a 97% partial eclipse. The northern edge of the path passes about 108 km south of Valletta, so ships leaving Malta on 1 August sail south to reach totality.
Can you see the 2027 total eclipse from Aswan or Hurghada?
No. Aswan sees about 99.9% and Hurghada about 98.6%, both partial. On the Nile, totality reaches about 24 km south of Kom Ombo; on the Red Sea coast, Marsa Alam is inside the path with about 5½ minutes.
What time is the 2027 eclipse at sea?
Greatest eclipse is at about 08:39 UT on the Lisbon–Madeira route, 08:47 UT in the Strait of Gibraltar (10:47 in Gibraltar and Spain), 09:13 UT off eastern Tunisia, 09:30 UT off Benghazi and 10:05 UT at Luxor (13:05 Egyptian time).
Do cruise ships hand out eclipse glasses?
Some do, but few itineraries say so and the quality is not guaranteed. Bring your own pair marked CE and EN ISO 12312-2 for everyone in your cabin, and check it for scratches before eclipse day.
Sources
- Holland America Line: solar eclipse cruises press release (Nieuw Statendam and Oosterdam positions)
- Royal Caribbean: 7 Night Spain & Morocco Solar Eclipse
- Celebrity Cruises: Xcel, 7 Night Spain & Morocco Solar Eclipse and Ascent, 11 Night Italy & Spain Solar Eclipse
- Carnival: 11-Day Eclipse, Spain, Portugal & France (Carnival Miracle); Carnival Sunshine itinerary (agency listing)
- Princess Cruises: 2027 Europe season; Sky Princess itinerary (agency listing)
- Cunard: Queen Victoria V716N
- Fred. Olsen: solar eclipse cruises (Borealis and Balmoral)
- Saga: Portuguese Gems and the Solar Eclipse
- Virgin Voyages: solar eclipse cruises
- Ambassador Cruise Line: Mediterranean Moments & Solar Eclipse
- AIDA Cruises: Sommer 2027 press release; AIDA eclipse sailings (agency listing)
- Seabourn: 2027–2028 itineraries
- Eclipse Tours #57-C (Windstar Star Legend) and #57-D (Azamara Onward)
- Windstar Wind Surf itinerary (agency listing)
- Regent Seven Seas Cruises: eclipse voyage press release
- Harvard Alumni Travels: Sea Cloud II and Yale Alumni Academy
- VACAYA: 2027 Total Eclipse Med Cruise
- Smithsonian Journeys: A Solar Eclipse at Sea (Le Boréal) and Solar Eclipse over Egypt (Nile)
- P&O Cruises: Britannia B719; Hapag-Lloyd Cruises: Europa 2 EUX2762; Silversea: immersive events
- Sky & Telescope: Luxor 2027
- Scientific American: 2027 solar eclipse Egyptian cruise
- Harvard Alumni Travels: Egypt eclipse 2027
- City and Sea: Grand Egypt tour and Majestic Egypt tour
- Viking: Total Eclipse on the Nile 2027
- Gebeco: Egypt Eclipse 2027; On The Go Tours: Classical Egypt and Luxor Total Eclipse 2027
- Luxor Travels: dahabiya 1–5 August 2027; Mara House Luxor: dahabiya Hathor
- DUNE: Red Sea dive cruise for the total eclipse
- Eclipsophile (Jay Anderson): Total Solar Eclipse 2027 August 2, weather
- Space.com: Where will the 2027 total solar eclipse be visible? (durations used for cross-checks)
- Orbital Radar: 2 August 2027 eclipse in Valletta
- time.is: Morocco changes time zone to permanent GMT (from 20 September 2026)
- Ahram Online: Egypt's summer time rules
- Tember calculation: skyfield with the JPL DE421 ephemeris; coastlines from Natural Earth (public domain)