Holland America Line enriches Solar Eclipse cruises with astronomy experts

As astronomical wonders continue to capture global attention, Holland America Line announces the addition of astronomy experts to its three 2026 solar eclipse cruises. A total solar eclipse will be visible on the 12th of August 2026, and guests aboard Nieuw Statendam, Oosterdam and Zuiderdam will have exclusive access to lectures, presentations and tips on how to make the most of their eclipse viewing. 

Boston University Professor Meers Oppenheim will be aboard Zuiderdam’s 18-day Voyage of the Vikings: Solar Eclipse cruise; University of California San Diego Professor Adam Burgasser will join guests on Oosterdam for the 13-day Mediterranean Solar Eclipse cruise; and Tom Vassos, former professor at University of Toronto, will be aboard Nieuw Statendam’s 28-day Legendary Solar Eclipse with Greenland and Scotland cruise. 

These distinguished experts will provide guests with exclusive insight into one of nature’s most extraordinary spectacles, offering lectures, a special Q&A session and real-time commentary as the three ships position in the path of totality during the solar eclipse. With their varied backgrounds and expertise, each expert may host additional Q&A sessions and activities about astronomy topics beyond the solar eclipse during their time on board. 

Zuiderdam’s 35-day Legendary Voyage of the Vikings: Solar Eclipse cruise departs on the 18th of July 2026, and sails round-trip from Boston, Massachusetts. An 18-day segment of the sailing is available to book, as well, sailing from Rotterdam, the Netherlands, to Boston on the 4th of August 2026. The ship will position off the coast of Iceland in the path of totality for the solar eclipse. 

Meers Oppenheim has been a Professor of Astronomy at Boston University for more than 25 years and is currently the associate director of the BU Center for Space Physics. He studies phenomena that occur within our solar systems and has expertise in ionospheric and solar plasmas, as well as the physics of meteors. He also enjoys teaching both introductory astronomy for non-scientists, astronomy majors and graduate classes. 

The 13-day Mediterranean Solar Eclipse cruise aboard Oosterdam sails from Lisbon, Portugal, to Piraeus (Athens), Greece, departing on the 9th of August 2026. The ship will sail off the coast of Spain in the path of totality for the solar eclipse.

Dr. Burgasser is an award-winning professor of physics at the University of California, San Diego and an observational astrophysicist investigating the lowest-mass stars, coldest brown dwarfs and exoplanets. He is an author, conducts educational research in physics and is a champion for improving equality and inclusion in the sciences.

Guests aboard Oosterdam will have the opportunity to hear about the latest astrophysics research and the connections between astronomy and Mediterranean history as Professor Burgasser will be delivering additional science lectures during the cruise. 

Nieuw Statendam is sailing a 28-day Legendary Solar Eclipse with Greenland and Scotland cruise featuring the total solar eclipse. The round-trip Dover, England, voyage departs on the 24th of June 2026 and will be positioned off the coast of Iceland in the path of totality on the 12th of August 2026.

An accomplished science communicator, Vassos has taught courses at several universities around the world, including more than 35 years at the University of Toronto. He is an astronomer, author, member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and founder of Cosmologists Without Borders.

Additional enrichment on the solar eclipse cruises includes providing specialised protective equipment (safety glasses) for safe viewing, themed activities and themed culinary offerings throughout the day of the solar eclipse.