Virgin's solar eclipse cruises part of new 'Marvelous Voyages' collection

'During the 2026 total solar eclipse, much of the path of totality is over the sea, which makes cruising one of the best ways to catch the show,' according to Stefanie Waldek, a freelance space and travel journalist who writes for Space.com and Travel + Leisure.

Longer itineraries

Virgin's eclipse voyages are set for August 2026. These 12- and 15-night itineraries with stops including Dublin, Glasgow and Reykjavik aboard Valiant Lady, and the Amalfi Coast, Mallorca and Cannes on Scarlet Lady, with special onboard events and appearances.

Space explorers and scientists will share the magic of the cosmos. Galactic grandstands outfitted with telescopes and binoculars will transform the ship’s upper decks into observation viewing spaces with astronomers on standby. New moon ceremonies, starry symphonies and cosmic culinary creations, like Milky Way milkshakes, round out the special programming.

Sailors will also snag a pair of solar eclipse shades and a commemorative guide as a takeaway.

Dozen new ports

The new 'Marvelous Voyages' include six other sailings between March and August 2026, ranging from eight to 16 nights. Spanning Iceland to Istanbul, the British Isles to the Baltics, they add 12 new ports to Virgin's lineup. Among them are Salerno (Amalfi Coast, Italy), Edinburgh, Stockholm, Hamburg, Oslo,Tangier (Morocco) and Greenland.

Loyalty members will have first dibs on these adventures, with sales opening Aug. 14-21 depending on loyalty status. General bookings will open between Aug. 21 and Sept. 18.

Record 2025 bookings

Virgin Voyages said it's experiencing record bookings for 2025 after a sold-out 2024 summer season in the Mediterranean and Caribbean.

'We already sail to more than 100 international ports, but our itineraries are ever-evolving based on what our sailors (passengers) and travel partners are asking for,' said Michelle Bentubo, chief operating officer, Virgin Voyages. 'We’ve graduated from only offering short Caribbean escapes and weekender voyages to give our sailors longer itinerary options up to 14 nights at more ports around the world.'

Bentubo added that the 'Marvelous Voyages,' paired with Brilliant Lady’s debut season across all four corners of the US, 'just shows the growth and strength of this monumental brand and the choice we are committed to offering.'