As the travel industry continues to count down to Monday’s total solar eclipse, Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruises have announced new activities in store for guests taking a cruise during the big event.
Royal Caribbean, which had previously announced a Total Eclipse Cruise headlined by multi-platinum selling band DNCE, now reports that Bonnie Tyler will join the concert, singing “Total Eclipse of the Heart” as a duet with the band about an hour ahead of the eclipse being in totality for guests onboard.
The seven-night cruise will set sail August 20 from Orlando (Port Canaveral), Florida, onboard the Oasis of the Seas to a number of destinations in the eastern Caribbean: Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; and Nassau, Bahamas. The ship will position itself at an optimal eclipse-viewing spot August 21, at which time the ship will play host to a deck party and the concert.
Seven other Royal Caribbean ships will be sailing to the Caribbean during the eclipse on itineraries ranging from three to nine nights, offering guests partial views of the event. They are: Allure of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Empress of the Seas, Enchantment of the Seas, Grandeur of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas and Majesty of the Seas.
Princess Cruises to Sail Six Ships in Alaska
Meanwhile, in Alaska, Princess Cruises will be sailing six ships during the event, offering guests special viewing parties as part of the cruise line’s Stargazing with Discovery at Sea program.
During the event guests onboard the Coral Princess, Emerald Princess, Grand Princess, Island Princess, Ruby Princess and Star Princess will be able to view approximately 54 percent of the eclipse, Princess reports. Guests will be provided with specially-branded Science Channel / Discovery at Sea eclipse glasses for safe viewing, as well as educational background on what causes the eclipse.
The expert commentary during the event will be arranged through the cruise line’s partnership with Discovery Communications. Discovery at Sea Science Channel Ambassador and astrophysicist Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi will lead the programming, which will also include branded posters, Camp Discovery Youth & Teen Center solar projector building projects and specialty Eclipse Cookies.
Princess Cruises introduced Discovery at Sea in 2015, offering experiences based on Discovery brands and programming like Shark Week and Mythbusters.
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