So here's a question for you:
How much would you pay to spend two minutes and 47 seconds watching one of Mother Nature's rare events, from the best place in the world to see it, in outside temperatures below 40 degrees?
The event is a total eclipse of the sun and people are lining up to see it. What they're paying, so far, is upwards of $2,500 per person. To be fair, the cost is part of a two-
week cruise on a small ship from the United Kingdom, so it's not really like paying $15 a second for an event that might not happen.
That's right. There's no guarantee the passengers on four ships from three cruise lines will see the eclipse, because it will depend on weather conditions, such as fog.
The date is March 20, 2015. The place is somewhere near the Faroe Islands, halfway between northern Scotland and Iceland. The weather is, well…here is The Lonely Planet's description:
"Theatrical meteorology is part of the Faroes’ fascination. Torrential downpours, swirling fogs and vicious storm-force winds are conjured up from nothing as though they were the outcome of witches’ spells. Then miraculously the sun bursts through to 
paint the towering cliffs in dazzling crystal-clear brilliance. Rainfall is very common (280 days per year on average) but unpredictable."
Fortunately (?), the Faroes are subject to "milder temperatures" because they're in the jet stream. None of this discourages people determined to have the best view of an eclipse. Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines sold out the Boudicca (left) at $2,772 per person, then quickly despatched its Black Watch for the same itinerary at $4,000 per person. Neither can be booked online, which indicates both are sold out.
Voyages of Discovery is sending its mv Voyager, and that's fully booked. Cruise and Maritime Voyages still appears to have space on the Marco Polo at $4,000 to $12,000 per customer.
Besides the solar eclipse at 9:47 that morning, there's a bonus that night — the northern lights.
Weather permitting.
Norwegian Sun
7 nights
July 8, 2013
Anchorage, Hubbard Glacier, Icy Strait Point, Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Vancouver
Inside: $249
Cost per day: $35
www.ncl.com