Discover the Northern Lights and Solar Eclipses on Holland America Cruises in 2026

Starting July 31, Holland America Line (HAL) will offer European cruises for 2026 that focus on celestial events. Passengers can witness natural phenomena such as the Northern Lights, a solar eclipse and the summer solstice above the Arctic Circle.

holland america rotterdam in rotterdam netherlands — Rotterdam in Rotterdam (Photo courtesy of Holland America)

According to Beth Bodensteiner, HAL’s Chief Commercial Officer, these voyages are inspired by the cruise line’s successful 2024 eclipse itineraries.

“After the excitement and success of our 2024 eclipse cruises, we knew our guests were looking for additional opportunities to have a front-row seat to some of the world’s most extraordinary natural spectacles,” Bodensteiner announced.

“Our team has curated a series of cruises that not only deliver on that front, but also offer guests in-depth exploration of exciting destinations and the first-class onboard experience we are known for,” she added.

Four ships – Zuiderdam, Nieuw Statendam, Oosterdam and Rotterdam – will take guests on a variety of heavenly cruises from June through October 2026.

Summer Solstice Cruise

Experience the longest day of the year on a 14-day cruise aboard Nieuw Statendam, departing from Dover or Rotterdam on June 13, 2026. The cruise sails above the Arctic Circle to Honningsvåg, Norway, one of the northernmost cities on Earth. Stops include Lerwick in the Shetland Islands in the United Kingdom and Honningsvåg, Tromsø, Leknes, Trondheim, Maloy and Eidfjord in Norway.

3 Solar Eclipse Cruises

reykjavik iceland — (Photo courtesy of Pixabay/MoreToTheShell)

Zuiderdam will depart Boston on July 18, 2026. The 35-day voyage will take passengers to the west coast of Iceland, where they will have the best view of the expected solar eclipse. The ship will visit ports in Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Iceland, Reykjavik, Greenland and Canada.

Nieuw Statendam offers a 28-day roundtrip cruise from Dover or Rotterdam, featuring views of the solar eclipse from the northwest coast of Iceland. The July 25, 2026 itinerary visits Scotland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland and Norway.

A third and final eclipse cruise will depart on August 9, 2026 via Oosterdam. The 13-day Mediterranean voyage will view the eclipse in Spanish waters as the ship sails between the cities of Barcelona and Alicante.

Guests visit these two cities, including Corsica and Ajaccio in France, Civitavecchia in Rome, Bari (Puglia) in Italy and Koto in Montenegro.

2 Northern Lights Cruises

new Statendam — Nieuw Statendam (Photo courtesy of Cruise Radio)

Rotterdam and Nieuw Statendam offer vacationers the opportunity to see the infamous Northern Lights.

Rotterdam will sail from Rotterdam to Amsterdam on October 4, 2026, visiting the Shetland Islands and Norway during her 14-day Arctic voyage.

On October 16, 2026, Nieuw Statendam will depart for a 15-day Northern Lights cruise from Rotterdam or Dover, visiting many of the same ports as Rotterdam’s October 4 voyage.

Passengers who have booked a ticket can expect lectures by scientific experts, themed activities and equipment (such as eclipse glasses) to view natural phenomena.