On this day, the moon will shimmy directly between the Earth and the Sun, casting its shadow across parts of Iceland, Greenland, and Spain. And while watching this rare cosmic ballet from your garden with a pair of cardboard glasses is perfectly acceptable, we'd like to suggest a more comfortable front-row seat. Something with a cocktail, perhaps a hot tub, and an unbeatable view of the horizon.

Welcome aboard Celebrity Apex, your floating observatory for one of the universe’s greatest shows — the total solar eclipse of 2026.

Why watch from a ship when you could fight strangers for a patch of grass on land?

Here’s the thing about solar eclipses: they’re elusive creatures. You can book a hotel, plan your viewing spot, and pack a picnic, only to find yourself staring at an impenetrable cloud bank while the cosmos does its thing behind the scenes. On land, you’re at the mercy of the weather. At sea? You’ve got the ultimate superpower, mobility.

Celebrity Apex’s Mediterranean sailing departs from Southampton and loops its way south, hugging the Iberian coast before heading into Spanish waters right in the path of totality. If the skies decide to play hard to get in one location, the ship can adjust course for a clearer view, something your picnic blanket simply cannot do.

La Coruña: Where the shadow falls

While the eclipse itself will be the headline act, the supporting cast isn’t too shabby either. One of the key ports on this 14-night sailing is La Coruña, a handsome Spanish city jutting out into the Atlantic with more Roman ruins than your local museum and enough seafood to impress Neptune himself.

Here, you can visit the Tower of Hercules (which sounds mythic and is, in fact, a functioning Roman lighthouse), explore medieval streets with a chocolate churro in hand, and then return to the ship for what may be the most dramatic twilight show you’ve ever witnessed, no special effects or Instagram filters required.

A cruise route as glamorous as the skies above

The route is as delicious as the destination: Lisbon’s cobbled charm, Barcelona’s Gaudí-lined avenues, Bilbao’s cultural cool. Add stops in Ibiza, Malaga, and Palma de Mallorca for good measure, and you’ve got an itinerary that pairs high culture with a high seasonal UV index.

And those all-important sea days? Think of them as a relaxing interlude: a chance to enjoy the spa, sip something sparkly on the Magic Carpet (Celebrity’s cantilevered bar deck), or lounge within an actual rooftop garden (replete with living plant life) as the ocean does its blue, undulating thing.

What it’s like onboard Celebrity Apex

Celebrity Apex is part of the cruise line’s sleek Edge Series, known for spaces that feel more boutique hotel than ocean liner. Staterooms are designed to let the outside in (Infinite Verandas, we salute you), and dining is more "Michelin-star-in-the-making" than "buffet bloat".

There are art installations, live music, world-class spa treatments, and more restaurants than you can realistically try in a fortnight unless you’re very ambitious and/or travelling with an elasticated waistband.

Cruise Collective’s Eclipse Recommendation

We’re often asked where the best place is to see something extraordinary: the Northern Lights, ancient ruins, a flamingo with particularly good posture. This time, the answer’s easy. Watching the 2026 total eclipse from the open sea, with an expert crew who can manoeuvre for the best vantage, and a ship designed to make every moment feel special, is a no-brainer.

Even better? Cruise Collective members can lock in exclusive savings by calling ‭0344 472 0202‬ quoting the code CCSOLAR26 when booking.

Because if you’re going to stare at the Sun being swallowed by the Moon, it might as well be from a sun lounger with a drink in hand, a stargazing plan in pocket, and someone else doing the driving.