After booking a solar eclipse cruise, some passengers were worried they wouldn't see the eclipse, but Royal Caribbean has stepped in to clarify and adjust the plans.
The August 6, 2026, sailing aboard Liberty of the Seas was marketed as a special voyage to witness the total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026.
However, according to guests, the original itinerary meant they would only "experience 94-96% [totality], which [would not] even be close to a total eclipse experience."
After receiving complaints, the cruise line adjusted the ship’s route to ensure passengers were positioned directly in the path of totality. The cruise line changed the itinerary for a once-in-a-lifetime sailing.
(Credit: plasmid732/Reddit)
"We're looking forward to welcoming you onboard Liberty of the Seas TOTAL Solar Eclipse & Spanish Flair cruise later this year! As we prepare for our upcoming adventure, we wanted to share an update to our itinerary," the letter sent to booked passengers reads.
Continuing, it says, "To give everyone the best possible total solar eclipse viewing experience during our sailing, we'll adjust our route after our visit to Gigón, Spain. Instead of stopping in Lisbon, Portugal, we'll head directly to Vigo, Spain, which places us in route to the optimal viewing area."
Cutting Lisbon was an important and necessary change for this special sailing. Had Liberty of the Seas kept the Portuguese port of call on the itinerary, the visit would have been extremely short and largely impractical for guests hoping to explore the city.
Other Changes to Liberty of the Seas' Solar Eclipse Itinerary
(Credit: plasmid732/Reddit)
Axing Lisbon wasn't the only change made to the 9-night European voyage aboard Liberty of the Seas.
Initially, the Freedom Class ship was scheduled to visit La Coruña on Aug. 11, followed by a day at sea before calls in Lisbon and Vigo. However, the revised itinerary now has the ship sailing directly from Gijón to Vigo, with the solar eclipse viewing taking place at sea on Aug. 12.
Additionally, the visit to La Coruña has been moved to after the eclipse viewing. The reshuffled schedule has allowed the cruise line to add an extra port to the itinerary — Le Havre (Paris), France — on Aug. 15.
"[W]e are now able to offer a more rewarding and unhurried visit to Paris," the letter adds, "In Le Havre, make your way over to Paris and see why it's the European center for excellence in cuisine, architecture, fashion, and the fine arts...Whatever you decide to do, it will be an amazing time, as you will still be on a high with that Solar Eclipse afterglow."
This is the updated solar eclipse 2026 cruise itinerary on Liberty of the Seas:
- Aug. 7, 2026: Southampton, England (Depart 5:00 p.m.)
- Aug. 8, 2026: Cruising
- Aug. 9, 2026: Bilbao, Spain (8:00 a.m. — 6:00 p.m.)
- Aug. 10, 2026: Gijón, Spain (9:00 a.m. — 6:00 p.m.)
- Aug. 11, 2026: Vigo, Spain (10:00 a.m. — 7:00 p.m.)
- Aug. 12, 2026: Solar Eclipse (Cruising)
- Aug. 13, 2026: La Coruña, Spain (7:00 a.m. — 6:00 p.m.)
- Aug. 14, 2026: Cruising
- Aug. 15, 2026: Paris (Le Havre), France (8:00 a.m. — 9:00 p.m.)
- Aug. 16, 2026: Southampton, England (Arrive 5:30 a.m.)
"Woot Woot! I’m just so glad they listened!"
The change has been met with widespread excitement online. Passengers expressed relief that Royal Caribbean listened to feedback, while other cruise enthusiasts chimed in with excitement over the rare celestial event getting the spotlight it deserved.
"That's actually really awesome and I'm glad to hear the company was receptive to feedback," one Redditor commented.
Someone else added, "I’m not on this cruise but this is an incredible success story of a massive corporation listening to feedback from their customers. This is something other companies should take note of."
Solar Eclipse Cruise 2026: A Rare Viewing Opportunity at Sea
Witnessing a total solar eclipse is an extremely rare event, and it's even more special if you're at sea!
The total eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026, will be Europe's first total solar eclipse since 1999. As such, destinations along the path of totality are already preparing for a major tourism surge — cruises included.
Along with Royal Caribbean, cruise lines like Carnival, Atlas Ocean Voyages, Albatros Expeditions, Holland America, HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions), Princess Cruises, and Virgin Voyages are offering unique itineraries that allow passengers to witness the eclipse from the water.
Read more: Carnival just added a solar eclipse cruise, and it's the hot trend for 2026
