Holland America Line will sail its flagship Rotterdam on five Mediterranean itineraries in the Northern Hemisphere autumn 2027 for fewer crowds and cooler temps with bookings now open.
It will be the first time HAL’s Rotterdam has sailed a series of Mediterranean cruises and the five voyages span both the Western and Eastern Mediterranean from October to December 2027.
The 10- and 11-day sailings call at major ports from Lisbon and Naples to Kotor, Rhodes and Alexandria, with select itineraries adding scenic cruising through the Strait of Messina and past the active Stromboli volcano.
Sailings can be combined into longer journeys and the season closes with a 14-day transatlantic crossing from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale, departing 8 December 2027.
The late-season Mediterranean program opens on 17 October 2027 with the 10-day Around the Iberian Peninsula from Rotterdam to Barcelona cruise, calling at Portsmouth, Le Verdon-sur-Mer (Bordeaux), Bilbao, Cartagena, Valencia and Lisbon.
From 27 October, the 11-day Mediterranean Splendor itinerary cruises from Barcelona to Athens via Palma de Mallorca, Marseille, Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Civitavecchia (Rome), Naples (Pompeii), Corfu and Kotor.
A 10-day Greek Isles voyage departs 7 November as a roundtrip from Athens, taking in Mykonos, Rhodes, Kusadasi (Ephesus) and an overnight in Istanbul.
The 11-day Greek Isles: Egypt & The Holy Land sailing departs 17 November, also roundtrip Athens, calling at Alexandria (Cairo), Limassol, Antalya, Kusadasi, Rhodes and an overnight in Haifa (Tel Aviv).
The 28 November departure is a 10-day Mediterranean Splendor cruise from Athens to Barcelona, with stops at Kotor, Valletta, Messina, Naples, Civitavecchia (Rome) and Livorno (Florence/Pisa), plus scenic cruising in the Strait of Messina.
The itineraries are built around off-peak travel with more time ashore, extended port stays and a mix of major and less-visited destinations.
Shore excursions range from guided city tours to deeper experiences, including the ancient ruins of Ephesus from Kusadasi, Pompeii from Naples and the medieval Old Town of Kotor in Montenegro.
Holland America Line Vice President of Revenue Planning Paul Grigsby said: “We know how much our guests love sailing on Rotterdam, and the Mediterranean is always in high demand.”
“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.”
The Rotterdam sailings sit within a broader fall 2027 to winter 2028 Mediterranean program of more than 20 sailings across Nieuw Statendam, Rotterdam, Oosterdam and Zuiderdam, reflecting sustained demand for Europe beyond the traditional summer months.
KARRYON UNPACKS: Late-season Mediterranean cruising keeps growing as Australians chase fewer crowds and cooler ports and a flagship debut gives advisors new options for repeat Med clients. With sailings combinable and a transatlantic finale, there’s room to build longer, higher-value bookings.
