From Delta's solar eclipse flight to $200 sound healing ceremonies, here's how people are splashing out to celebrate the eclipse
Gary Hershorn / Getty
- Visitors are expected to flock to states like Texas and Maine to enjoy solar eclipse views.
- Some are looking for a more unique experience, spending up to $6,000 on tours.
- Others are spending their cash on more spiritual practices like sound healing ceremonies.
Visitors are expected to flock across the US to enjoy the best views of the solar eclipse; some are traipsing their tents and vans across the country and others are booking into hotels.
The "path of totality" — where the moon will appear to block the sun completely — will stretch from Texas to Maine. And choosing the right location is worth it according to some experts.
Southern states like Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Illinois may experience over four minutes of totality, longer than the average solar eclipse in this century.
But some solar eclipse fans want a more unique experience, splashing thousands of dollars on tours, flights, and rituals.
Here is how people are going above and beyond to get the best views:
Delta Air Lines special solar eclipse flights
Delta Air Lines is offering a flight from Austin to Detroit for those eager to view the solar eclipse from 30,000 feet in the air.
The flight has been planned to maximize passengers' eclipse experience, from selecting an aircraft with extra-large windows to determining the precise departure time, Delta said in a press release.
A one-way ticket for the flight started at $749 and went up to $1,150 for those looking for a first-class seat, per CNBC.
The popularity of the first ticket release led the airline to release a second solar eclipse flight, this time from Dallas to Detroit.
A $200 sound healing retreat claims to harness the energy of Mother Earth during the solar eclipse
For those looking for a more spiritual way to enjoy the event, a small business in Vermont offers an 8-hour sound-healing retreat.
The day starts with a talk from an astrologer before launching into a selection of rituals involving herbal ointments (made especially for the eclipse) and sounds from "crystal singing bowls and medicine drums", according to the event's website.
It says the event hopes to provide a "peaceful environment" among the crowds that are expected to visit Vermont.
A $5,000 Texas trip includes viewing the eclipse from a vineyard with private guides on hand
Travel company Smithsonian Journeys offers four different solar eclipse tours in Texas that start at $4,995 and go up to $6,695 for a five-day trip.
In the build-up to the eclipse, customers had private astronomy talks, visited a solar observatory, and hiked through canyons.
The eclipse day itinerary takes place in a vineyard with wine tasting and time in the garden to watch the four minutes of complete darkness with guides available to answer eclipse-specific questions.
Some of the tours end the evening with a riverboat dinner cruise.
A 22-day cruise off the coast of Mexico, with guest lectures from a physicist
Holland America Line's Solar Eclipse Cruise set sail on April 5 and plans to be off the coast of Mexico in the path of totality on April 8.
The ship will be placed in the "perfect location for guests to see the eclipse," said Bill Prince, vice president of entertainment for Holland America Line, on the company's blog.
Despite the eclipse only lasting up to 4 minutes out of the 22-day cruise, the experience is padded with lectures and top tips from University of California San Diego Professor Adam Burgasser.
The price of this cruise isn't publicly available, but the company's other 22-day cruises can cost $3,175 a person.