Atlas adds stargazing and astronomy workshops plus eclipse cruises

During the total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026, World Navigator will be in the Arctic off Patreksfjordur, Iceland, and World Traveller will be in the Mediterranean off Palma de Mallorca, ensuring optimal viewing centered in the path of totality for each location.

Stargazing and astronomy workshops

On the cruises with stargazing and astronomy workshops, passengers will have the chance to view the galaxy with advanced telescopes on deck, while talks and lectures will cover topics ranging from the birth of the universe to the latest astronomical discoveries.

Astronomers Jonathan Ward, left, and Charles Barclay will bring their knowledge and insights about the cosmos to four Atlas Ocean Voyages expeditions

Featured on three expeditions in 2024 aboard World Navigator, the workshops will be led by astronomer Jonathan H. Ward, author of space history books and an astrophotographer. His most recent book, 'Through the Glass Ceiling to the Stars,' was written with astronaut Eileen Collins while 'Bringing Columbia Home: The Untold Story of a Lost Space Shuttle and Her Crew' was optioned for development as a feature film and awarded the Space Hipsters Prize for Best Space and Astronomy Book of 2018.

Ward will be aboard World Navigator's Sept. 12 eight-night cruise from Reykjavik to Amsterdam, the Sept. 20 10-night cruise from Amsterdam to Lisbon and the Oct. 14 13-night voyage from Las Palmas to Rio De Janeiro.

Astronomer Charles Barclay will lead the World Voyager expedition departing on June 10, 2025, for 12 nights from Leith (Edinburgh) to Trondheim. He is a past VP of the Royal Astronomical Society and directed the Blackett Observatory in Wiltshire for 25 years. Barclay received the Royal Astronomical Society's 2023 Service Award for his outstanding contribution to astronomy education.

Additional stargazing and astronomy workshop expeditions to Northern Europe in 2025 will be announced soon.

2026 eclipse expeditions

Sailing roundtrip Reykjavik on Aug. 9, 2026, World Navigator will mark the Aug. 12 solar eclipse in Patreksfjordur, Iceland, while World Traveller will sail the Mediterranean between Palma de Mallorca and Banyuls Sur Mer, France on a weeklong cruise from Barcelona to Monte Carlo departing Aug. 11.

Both journeys will feature astronomers, lectures and advanced telescopes on deck.

Atlas anticipates these expeditions will sell out quickly.