Sunshine Expeditions LLC

A Cruise Built Around a Rare Moment 

From the start, it was obvious this would not be an ordinary Princess cruise. The sailing had been planned around the August 12 total solar eclipse, with Sky Princess positioned off the coast of Spain to give passengers the opportunity to experience totality from the sea.

Welcome aboard Sky Princess for a voyage unlike any other – our 2026 Solar Eclipse cruise begins in Southampton.

Before eclipse day arrived, we had time to settle into the ship and begin exploring Europe. Our first port of call was Cherbourg, France. 

Cherbourg, France – and a Connection to Titanic 

Cherbourg has a long maritime history, which made it an especially fitting first stop on this voyage. One of the places we visited was the Titanic exhibition at La Cite de la Mer. Cherbourg has a direct connection to Titanic because the ship called there during her maiden voyage in April 1912.

Cherbourg made an appropriate beginning to a trip that would combine maritime history, European
destinations and one of nature’s most extraordinary events.

Bilbao, Spain
Bilbao gave us our first taste of Spain on the voyage. It was also our final port before eclipse day,
which meant the anticipation aboard Sky Princess was continuing to build.

Totality and the Diamond ring effect aboard Sky Princess on August 12, 2026 – the moment we had crossed the Atlantic to experience.

Arriving in Malaga, Spain, aboard Sky Princess.

Malaga, Spain
Our next major stop was Malaga, where the Mediterranean setting immediately gave the cruise a
different feeling. The harbor approach provided a beautiful introduction to the city, with the
coastline, mountains, waterfront and lighthouse all visible from the ship.

Cartagena, Spain
From Malaga, we continued to Cartagena. The city combines waterfront scenery, historic
architecture and centuries of Mediterranean history, all within easy reach of the ship.

One of the things we enjoy most about cruising is being able to experience places like Cartagena
without constantly packing and unpacking.

Our day in Cartagena during the Sky Princess Solar Eclipse voyage.

Gibraltar
Our next stop brought us to one of the most recognizable landmarks on the itinerary: Gibraltar. The Rock of Gibraltar dominates the landscape, and its location is as interesting as the landmark itself.

Lisbon, Portugal
From Gibraltar, we continued to Lisbon, one of the destinations we had especially been looking
forward to visiting. Historic neighborhoods, tiled buildings, hills, river views, cafes and trams give
the city its own unmistakable character.

La Coruna, Spain
After Portugal, Sky Princess turned north again and called at La Coruna, Spain. By this point in the cruise, the journey had become much more than an eclipse sailing.

We had traveled through several distinct regions of Europe, explored cities with very different personalities and enjoyed the rhythm of sea days between the ports.