Ships, zero crowds: How sailing solved the problem for eclipse watchers

Atlas Ocean Voyages turned total eclipse chasing into an open-water experience this week, avoiding the traffic, parking and weak cell service that typically plague land-based viewing. Guests aboard three Atlas expedition yachts gathered on decks as the ships held positions along different stretches of ocean: World Traveller near Palma de Mallorca en route to Ibiza, World Navigator off Patreksfjörður, Iceland, and World Voyager between Scoresby Sund and Ísafjordur in the North Atlantic. Atlas planned the positioning more than two years in advance and brought an onboard astronomer to educate guests in the days before totality. Next year’s voyages are already booked, according to the company’s materials.