Gourmet Flyer On August 12, 2026, at 8:33pm local time in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Spain on board the cruise ship Enchanted Princess, I observed one of the greatest celestial events – a total solar eclipse. Not only was it an enriching scientific encounter, but it was also one of the most memorable moments among all my journeys around the World. Moreover, the icing on the cake was that a cruise ship offered the best vantage point to enjoy this magical phenomenon without any obstructions. And I was lucky enough to see this unfold in the comfort and privacy of my own balcony. I feel so blessed to be able to witness this astronomical event and would like to share with you a recap of the entire experience.
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First Day of the Cruise
My wife and I boarded the Enchanted Princess at the Civitavecchia (Rome) cruise port on August 4, 2026. When we first approached our stateroom, we immediately felt something special – the digital panel outside our door was displaying space-themed graphics. We immediately felt that excitement in the air and were already looking forward to the solar eclipse, which would be on day nine of this journey.
Once we stepped inside our room, we were greeted by a letter from the captain which outlined the details of the special event as well as a series of other related highlights. It was quite impressive that Princess has made significant planning to make this not just a viewing of a celestial phenomenon, but a truly special occasion for its passengers.
Certified Glasses
On the night before this epic encounter, our room steward delivered two pairs of certified solar eclipse glasses along with a sheet of safety information. In case you don’t know, looking at the sun directly can cause serious and permanent eye damage. I wasn’t sure whether the cruise line would be providing these glasses, so I purchased them ahead of time and brought them with me. It worked out well so that I could save these brand new and unused Princess glasses as souvenirs.
TIP: ISO 12312-2 certified filters are required for your smart phone or camera to avoid permanent damage to the image sensor. Also, pictures taken without the proper filters will typically be over-exposed. Lastly, be warned that a regular UV filter does not offer enough protection.
August 12, 2026
Around mid-afternoon, the captain announced an update to the ship’s position as we were getting close to the path of total eclipse. All the lounge chair on the Lido (pool) and Sun Decks would be removed by 4pm to make room for the occasion. The captain would be steering the ship to a position such that the sun would be facing the starboard (right) side. That meant we lucked out, as that’s the side our balcony was on! I was able to take some very nice pictures without having to elbow my way through the crowd.
TIP: If you are traveling with friends or family and will have two balcony cabins, book one on each side of the ship.
Although the moon did not begin to cover the sun until 7:39pm as announced, numerous people were on the starboard side of deck 16 and 17 as early as 5pm to snag the most favorable spots. Those who wished to watch the event in an air-conditioned space quickly occupied all the window tables on the right-hand side of the buffet.
This was me on the Lido deck taking pictures and also testing my own pair of certified glasses.
The moon started its path between the sun and the earth at 7:39pm which initially created the appearance of a small bite on the sun at the three o’ clock position. In about 40 minutes’ time, the sun began to take the shape of a crescent moon under a warm and deep orange sky. At this time, as we closely approach totality, we could hear and feel the excitement and electrifying atmosphere radiating from the right-hand side of the ship.
At 8:33pm local time at Lat. 39°00’ N Long. 003°59’E the epic total solar eclipse manifested in front of over 5,000 pairs of dazzled eyes on the Enchanted Princess. There were lots of cheering and clapping, screaming and shouting. But there were also many people who enjoyed this moment in the silence of their own minds, holding their loved ones close to their hearts, embracing this memory that they knew they would remember and cherish for a lifetime.
This moon completely covered the sun for only a little over two minutes and the sun slowly reappeared. The extra icing on the cake was the very rare occasion that total eclipse occurred at sunset, and we were able to observe a crescent moon-shaped sun slowly disappearing below the horizon.
Conclusion
If this article on the Enchanted Princess total solar eclipse cruise gets you all excited and you can’t wait to experience this enriching and breathtaking phenomenon, let me give you a bit of good news. The next total solar eclipse is just less than a year away, on August 2, 2027, and can be observed in many regions near Southern Spain and North Africa. So, go start planning now and feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
