We had just returned from our Transpacific cruise in the fall of 2025 when our travel agent, Stormi Kiesow, reached out. Were we interested in putting down a refundable deposit on a solar eclipse cruise to Iceland? Iceland was buried somewhere on our travel list. We had not considered doing an Iceland cruise and definitely had not considered seeing Iceland during a total solar eclipse!
If we had tried to book it ourselves at the time, we would have discovered that the only cabin available on the cruise line’s website was the penthouse suite (a bit out of our budget and interest). Many large travel agencies reserve blocks of cabins across multiple cruise lines and itineraries. It’s not a hold on a specific cabin, but on a number of cabins in a given class at a set price. For example, an agency might hold 20 balcony cabins on a sailing. The cruise line takes those 20 out of what it can sell, so the website may show the cruise as sold out while the agency still has space.
🧭 Travel Tip: If you have your heart set on a cruise that appears to be booked on the cruise line’s website, try reaching out to a large travel agency to see if they have any holds still available.
Stormi was reviewing Expedia’s available holds and thought of us. This is how Mark and I found ourselves on Celebrity Silhouette cruising around Iceland, crossing the Arctic Circle, and seeing a total solar eclipse in August 2026.
At first glance, our cabin was not the one we would have picked. We would have preferred a balcony, or at least an ocean view midship. Our cabin was about as forward as it could be. It also had a charming built-in alarm clock (with both noise and vibration) whenever the anchor was lowered or raised. Luckily, the lowering lined up with our actual alarm clock. The cabin, however, felt more spacious than a standard ocean view with its large window nook overlooking the helipad. Almost cozy. On the day of the eclipse, the cabin really shone! The helipad was reserved for the suite guests (not the riffraff like us). While the elite stood shoulder to shoulder on the helipad in 37°F weather watching the eclipse for two hours, Mark and I were warm and toasty in comfy chairs with a table full of snacks, looking at the same view.
Without Stormi thinking of us, we would not have seen the eclipse in Iceland or crossed the Arctic Circle.
🧭 Travel Tip: Form a relationship with your travel agent. They should know where, how, and when you want to travel. The more they know, the more opportunities they can send your way.
If you are looking for an unexpected adventure, Stormi would be happy to help. If you reach out to her, tell her Mark and Tina from Off the Forkin’ Path said hi! Full disclosure: Stormi may send a little something our way if you mention us, but we’d recommend her either way.
That sounds like a very special experience!