Windstar Cruises is giving eclipse chasers another reason to look to the sea. Its flagship sailing yacht, Wind Surf, will head for the path of totality during the solar eclipse of 2 August 2027.
The 342-guest ship will leave Athens on 27 July for a nine-night round-trip cruise. Its key moment will come at sea near Malta. There, Wind Surf is due to move into the Moon’s narrow shadow for close to three minutes of totality, if weather and sea conditions allow.
One important point for travellers: Malta itself is not in the path of totality. Valletta will see a deep partial eclipse. Wind Surf’s planned sea position is what should put guests under the full shadow.
If the skies play along, the show will be hard to beat. Daylight will fade. The Sun will vanish behind the Moon. The horizon may glow while stars and bright planets appear overhead. Even the most devoted pool-deck regular may decide the cocktail can wait.
The 2027 eclipse is a rare prize for Europe. NASA says the path of totality will cross southern Spain, then sweep across North Africa and parts of the Middle East. Published eclipse tables place the next total eclipse to reach southern Spain in 2053 — quite a gap between drinks.
That gives Windstar a strong hook, but the cruise is more than a date with the sky. Wind Surf will sail from Athens to Monemvasia, then on to Syracuse in Sicily. It will also visit Valletta and Gozo before calling at Gythion and returning to Piraeus on 5 August.
It is a neat mix. Monemvasia brings a walled old town perched beside the sea. Syracuse offers Greek and Roman heritage. Valletta adds forts, stone streets and a grand harbour. In other words, there is plenty to see before everyone starts staring upwards.
According to Windstar’s eclipse program, guests will receive eclipse glasses, while astronomer-led talks and deck briefings are planned along with themed events around the big day.
A ship also has one useful edge over a fixed resort: it can move. That may help the captain seek a better viewing position within the planned operational area. It cannot, of course, order the clouds to clear. Even at sea, Mother Nature keeps the final say.
A Refreshed Wind Surf Takes Centre Stage
Wind Surf should look fresher for the occasion. Windstar is completing a US$7.5 million, two-stage refurbishment of the yacht. The first stage refreshed its top suites and key public rooms, including Amphora, Compass Rose, the pool deck, the lobby, the Yacht Club coffee bar, and the boutique.
The second stage is due to finish in December 2026. Remaining rooms will gain new furniture, bedding, carpets, interactive televisions, art and décor. That means guests on the 2027 cruise should see the renewed Wind Surf from bow to stern.
For travel advisers, the appeal is clear: a small ship, famous ports and a rare event that cannot simply be moved to next Tuesday.
For guests, it may be one of those travel moments that needs no filter, no sales pitch and, for three remarkable minutes, very little conversation.
Windstar is marketing the Total Solar Eclipse from Greece and Malta cruise for 27 July to 5 August 2027. Australian travellers can check current fares and availability with Windstar Australia on 1300 749 875 or through their preferred travel adviser.
By: Christine Nguyen – © 2026.
Read Time: 3 minutes.
Author Bio:
Christine’s story is one of quiet courage, told without fuss and lived with remarkable grace. She arrived in Australia as a young refugee from Vietnam, carrying little more than hope, family, and a curiosity that refused to be extinguished. Sydney became home, built patiently, brick by careful brick.
She studied Tourism at TAFE and soon found her place in inbound travel, working with one of the city’s leading destination companies. Christine loved showing visitors the Australia that lives beyond postcards, warmer, truer, and far more interesting.
When the sea began to whisper, and life asked for a gentler rhythm, she listened. Designing brochures, writing blogs, she discovered storytelling waiting quietly inside her.
Today, at Global Travel Media, Christine writes with warmth and wisdom, reminding us, softly and persuasively, why travel still matters.
