Holland America's Ship Rotterdam to Sail in Med For the First Time

Holland America has announced that, for the first time, its flagship Rotterdam will sail in the Mediterranean. Bookings are now open for the fall 2027 schedule, which will include five itineraries across both the eastern and western regions.

The addition of Rotterdam builds onto Holland America’s broader presence in the Mediterranean for fall 2027 through winter 2028, with over 20 sailings available across Nieuw Statendam, Rotterdam, Oosterdam, and Zuiderdam.

Itineraries are designed to provide more time in port, with a mix of popular destinations and less-visited locales alongside extended stays into the evening. The season reflects continued demand for voyages in Europe outside the traditional spring and summer months.

holland america rotterdam — (Credit: Holland America)

Rotterdam‘s 10 and 11-day voyages will call at a mix of destinations including Lisbon, Naples, Kotor, Rhodes, and Alexandria. Select voyages will also include scenic cruising through the Strait of Messina and past Stromboli, one of the world’s most active volcanoes. Sailings can also be combined into longer itineraries, allowing visitors the chance to experience more of the Mediterranean in one trip.

Rotterdam’s Itinerary Highlights

Oct. 17, 2027 — 10-day Around the Iberian Peninsula: Spain & Portugal: Rotterdam, the Netherlands, to Barcelona, Spain with calls at Portsmouth, England; Le Verdon-sur-Mer (Bordeaux), France; Bilbao, Cartagena and Valencia, Spain; and Lisbon, Portugal.
Oct. 27, 2027 — 11-day Mediterranean Splendor: Spain, Italy & Greece: Barcelona to Athens, Greece with calls at Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Marseille, France; Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Civitavecchia (Rome) and Naples (Pompeii), Italy; Corfu, Greece; and Kotor.
Nov. 7, 2027 — 10-day Greek Isles: Istanbul Overnight with Mykonos & Rhodes: Roundtrip Athens with calls at Mykonos and Rhodes, Greece; and Kusadasi (Ephesus) and Istanbul (overnight), Turkey.
Nov. 17, 2027 — 11-day Greek Isles: Egypt & The Holy Land: Roundtrip Athens with calls at Alexandria (Cairo), Egypt; Limassol, Cyprus; Antalya and Kusadasi, Turkey; Rhodes; and an overnight in Haifa (Tel Aviv), Israel.
Nov. 28, 2027 — 10-day Mediterranean Splendor: Italy with Rome Evening Stay: Athens to Barcelona with calls at Kotor; Valletta, Malta; Messina, Sicily; Naples, Civitavecchia (Rome) and Livorno (Florence/Pisa); with scenic cruising in the Strait of Messina and past the Stromboli volcano.
Dec. 8, 2027 — 14-day Cultural Crossing with Spain and Morocco: Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale, Florida with calls at Valencia, Alicante, and Málaga, Spain; and Tangier, Morocco.

Campania, Italy — (Credit: Holland America)

“We know how much our guests love sailing on Rotterdam, and the Mediterranean is always in high demand,” said Paul Grigsby, vice president of revenue planning for Holland America Line. “There’s something really special about seeing the flagship sailing in iconic ports like Bilbao, Naples and Rhodes for the first time, and it’s a moment we’re excited to share with our guests.”