-
Cruises
All Cruises
Cruise deals
From Australia
International
Don't Miss OutHot Offers
The best-selling holidays right now, at prices that won't last.
Browse Hot Offers -
Tours
All Tours
By region
Curated lists
Travel With CompanySocial Getaways
Small-group trips designed for over 60s who love good company on the road — new friends, shared adventures, no single supplements.
Browse Over-60 Getaways -
Destinations
All Destinations
Australia & Pacific
America
Not Sure Where to Start?Book a Call
Speak with one of our friendly travel specialists — no pressure, just honest advice to help you find the right holiday.
Browse Request a call with a travel expert - Social Getaways
- Solo Holidays
- Hot Offers
- Wishlist 0
Immerse yourself in the wonders of Italy's boot, the Greek isles, and Venice on this 21-night cruise aboard the modern Rotterdam
- Explore ancient ruins, medieval towns, and stunning coastlines across Italy, Montenegro, Croatia, and the Greek isles
- Enjoy onboard entertainment, dining, and enrichment programmes on the newly launched Rotterdam ship
- Discover the cultural and scenic highlights of the Adriatic, from Capri and Pompeii to Kotor and Dubrovnik
Trip Details
- Departs
- 11 November 2028
- Returns
- 2 December 2028
- Embarks
- Operator
- Holland America Line
21-night Europe cruise from Civitavecchia (for Rome), Italy to Istanbul, Turkey aboard Rotterdam.
Calling at Naples, Messina, Kotor, Split, Zadar, Trieste, Dubrovnik, Corfu, Athens, Santorini, Mykonos, Kusadasi, Thessaloniki and Istanbul, with 5 days at sea.
Rotterdam is a Holland America Line Pinnacle-class ship that entered service in 2021, the seventh ship in the line's history to carry the name. Carrying around 2,670 guests, she features the World Stage theatre, Music Walk live-music venues and Holland America's signature dining line-up.
Stateroom categories range from Interior to Neptune Suite.
Departures & Pricing
- 11 Nov 2028 - 02 Dec 2028
from $4,524 pp twin share *
- Interior from $4,524 pp twin share
- Ocean View from $5,724 pp twin share
- Verandah from $6,394 pp twin share
- Neptune Suite from $12,994 pp twin share
* Prices and category availability are subject to change without notice.
Upgrades, transfers, accommodation and more can be quoted on enquiry — call 1300 414 198.
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is a Holland America Line Pinnacle-class ship that entered service in 2021, the seventh ship in the line's history to carry the name. Carrying around 2,670 guests, she features the World Stage theatre, Music Walk live-music venues and Holland America's signature dining line-up.
- Guests
- 2,668
- Crew
- 1,053
- Gross tonnage
- 99,935
- Speed
- 18 knots
- Length
- 299.79 m
- Launched
- 2021
- Deck plans
- 12
Deck 12 — Observation Deck
Source: Holland America Line, captured 5 August 2026. Deck plans are provided by the cruise line and are subject to change at any time.
Itinerary
- 1
Civitavecchia (for Rome), Italy
Departs 05:00 pm.
Your gateway to the Eternal City, Civitavecchia has served as Rome's seaport since the 13th century. The port has a long and venerable history. The emperor Trajan built a pleasure villa near the modern city, while Bernini and Michelangelo designed the harbor fortifications.Yet the Eternal City eternally beckons. The ancient capital of the Western World and the center of Christianity for nearly 2,000 years, Rome provides an inexhaustible feast. Visit the ruins of the Forum, view the splendors of the Sistine Chapel, or climb the Spanish Steps, once the heart of Rome's Bohemian Quarter.Rome has been a magnet luring the world's greatest artists, architects, and philosophers since the days of the Caesars.
- 2
Naples, Italy (for Capri & Pompeii)
Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.
Italy's third-largest city, Naples is a bustling metropolis famed for it stately buildings, crowded streets, pizza - and notoriously bad traffic. However, this beautiful city is rich in centuries-old culture and customs. Naples is also your gateway to the Isle of Capri, the fabled Amalfi Coast and the ruins of Pompeii, buried in ash by the cataclysmic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Naples boasts an ideal location, with both the ruins of Roman cities and the stunning Amalfi Coast in easy reach.
- 3
Messina, Italy
Arrives 08:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.
- 4
At Sea
- 5
Kotor, Montenegro
Arrives 08:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.
Kotor lies at the head of Boka Bay. Bordered by towering limestone cliffs, the winding bay is actually Southern Europe's longest and most dramatic fjord. The port itself is a medieval gem: its narrow, asymmetrical streets are lined with ancient stone houses, old palaces, and churches dating from the 12th century. Kotor is also your gateway to the cultural and scenic wonders of Montenegro, from the old royal capital at Cetinje to the marshes and wildlife of Lake Skadar National Park.Kotor is renowned for its nightlife: the streets of the old port are lined with pubs, taverns and cafés. The city is also host to a renowned summer carnival.Kotor is an anchorage port. Passengers transfer to shore via ship's tender.
- 6
Split, Croatia
Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.
Pine-clad hills, secluded coves, beaches - Split and the Dalmatian Riviera have been premier destinations on the Adriatic since the days of the Roman emperors. In fact, medieval Split was built within and around the palace complex built for the emperor Diocletian in his retirement. (The complex included both a villa and a castrum - a Roman camp capable of garrisoning three legions!) The charms that soothed an emperor are still evident today. The Dalmatian Riviera offers the traveler a heady blend of natural beauty and fascinating cultural sites.Diocletian abdicated in 305 A.D. During his reign, the emperor ruthlessly persecuted Christians. Ironically Split's St Dominius' Cathedral occupies his mausoleum.
- 7
Zadar, Croatia
Arrives 08:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.
Is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Croatia. It is situated on the Adriatic Sea, at the northwestern part of Ravni Kotari region.
- 8
Trieste (for Venice), Italy
Arrives 07:00 am.
Tucked in the country's northeast corner on the Adriatic Sea and once the flourishing port of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Trieste became a largely forgotten borderland after World War I. But today, those who visit find a blend of cultures and languages of Europe, with a rich literary legacy - a city that's lured great authors from Ranier Maria Rilke to James Joyce. Waves from the Adriatic lap its elegant promenades. It lies below the Karst, limestone cliffs that are a popular destination for nature lovers and where vineyards produce wines that taste of sea and stone. Legend has it Jason and the Argonauts - with the golden fleece - sailed in from an underground river. A well-preserved Roman theater, that once seated up to 6,000 spectators, is testimony that in antiquity, this was a thriving city. Gilded mosaics in San Giusto Cathedral are evidence of Byzantine influence. Trieste offers endless opportunity for exploration not only in the town and surroundings, but also to neighboring Slovenia and not so far distant Venice.
- 9
Trieste (for Venice), Italy
Departs 09:00 pm.
Tucked in the country's northeast corner on the Adriatic Sea and once the flourishing port of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Trieste became a largely forgotten borderland after World War I. But today, those who visit find a blend of cultures and languages of Europe, with a rich literary legacy - a city that's lured great authors from Ranier Maria Rilke to James Joyce. Waves from the Adriatic lap its elegant promenades. It lies below the Karst, limestone cliffs that are a popular destination for nature lovers and where vineyards produce wines that taste of sea and stone. Legend has it Jason and the Argonauts - with the golden fleece - sailed in from an underground river. A well-preserved Roman theater, that once seated up to 6,000 spectators, is testimony that in antiquity, this was a thriving city. Gilded mosaics in San Giusto Cathedral are evidence of Byzantine influence. Trieste offers endless opportunity for exploration not only in the town and surroundings, but also to neighboring Slovenia and not so far distant Venice.
- 10
At Sea
- 11
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Arrives 08:00 am, departs 11:00 pm.
Dubrovnik is a beautiful stone jewel hugging the Adriatic Sea. This picture-perfect medieval walled city offers ancient stone buildings, narrow cobbled streets and fortified ramparts rising above red-tiled rooftops. Stradun is the city's focal point and main artery while Dubrovnik's streets are blessedly free of vehicular traffic. Despite the heavy damage inflicted by shelling in the early '90s, Dubrovnik has been restored to its pre-war beauty. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the old city remains the pride of the Republic of Croatia.For six centuries Dubrovnik was an independent republic - an oligarchy ruled by patrician families. The Republic was overthrown by Napoleon in 1808.Note: All passengers must carry an original photo I.D. when going ashore: photocopies are not accepted.On occasion, Dubrovnik will be an anchorage port; passengers transfer to shore via ship's tender.
- 12
Kotor, Montenegro
Arrives 08:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.
Kotor lies at the head of Boka Bay. Bordered by towering limestone cliffs, the winding bay is actually Southern Europe's longest and most dramatic fjord. The port itself is a medieval gem: its narrow, asymmetrical streets are lined with ancient stone houses, old palaces, and churches dating from the 12th century. Kotor is also your gateway to the cultural and scenic wonders of Montenegro, from the old royal capital at Cetinje to the marshes and wildlife of Lake Skadar National Park.Kotor is renowned for its nightlife: the streets of the old port are lined with pubs, taverns and cafés. The city is also host to a renowned summer carnival.Kotor is an anchorage port. Passengers transfer to shore via ship's tender.
- 13
Corfu, Greece
Arrives 08:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.
The lush and verdant island of Corfu lies in the Ionian Sea, midway between Greece and Italy. The island has a long and colorful history. First colonized by the city-state of Corinth, Corfu has been ruled by the Romans, the Venetians, the French and the English. Corfu Town boasts fortresses bearing the insignia of the Venetian Republic, an esplanade lavishly planted by the French during the Napoleonic Wars, and an English cricket pitch. The island also offers some of the finest coastal scenery in the entire Mediterranean.Corfu's old town is a mixture of the medieval and the modern. The Esplanade, planted with palms and eucalyptus by the French, leads to the English cricket pitch.
- 14
At Sea
- 15
Athens (Piraeus), Greece
Arrives 07:00 am, departs 04:00 pm.
The past maintains a vibrant presence in the cradle of Western civilization. Atop the Acropolis, the serene Parthenon sails above the commotion of the modern city. The tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides were performed in the Theater of Dionysus at the foot of the Acropolis. On Pnyx Hill, citizens of a fledgling democracy gathered to cast their votes on Athens' destiny. Then there is the hustle and bustle of the modern city, a metropolis of 4.5 million that spreads out from the foot of Mt. Lycabettus and across the plain. Packed with busy shops and lively tavernas, modern Athens is a colorful counterpoint to classical Greece. Piraeus is the port city for Athens and has been Athens' port of entry for over two millennia.
- 16
Santorini, Greece
Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.
Did the catastrophic volcanic eruption that ravaged Santorini circa 1600 B.C. destroy Crete's ancient Minoan civilization - and give birth to the myth of Atlantis? In 1967, archaeologists on Santorini unearthed the remains of a Bronze Age city that may have been home to as many as 30,000 people. Whether the Lost Continent of Atlantis is rooted in myth or reality, an undisputed fact remains. The eruption created a caldera - and one of the most dramatic land and seascapes in the entire Mediterranean. On Santorini, whitewashed buildings cling to vertiginous cliffs that plunge to a turquoise sea. Part of the Cyclades Archipelago, the three-island group of Santorini, Thirasia and uninhabited Aspronisi present the traveler with unforgettable vistas.The island has had a number of names throughout history - from Strongyle or "Round" to Thera in honor of an ancient hero. Santorini is more recent and stems from the island church dedicated to St. Irene - Santa Rini to foreign sailors.Note: Santorini is an anchorage port: passengers transfer to shore via shore tender.
- 17
Mykonos, Greece
Arrives 08:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.
Thanks to its proximity to the mainland, Mykonos was one of the first Greek islands to become an international travel destination. During the late '60s and early '70s, Mykonos was famed as a haunt for the rich. The island's nightlife - then and now - was a glittering whirl of colored lights, music, and parties. But there's another side to Mykonos - the neighboring island of Delos. In classical mythology, Delos was the birthplace of Apollo and his twin sister Artemis. Travelers to Delos can stroll among the island's vast ruins, which include three temples consecrated to the Sun God and the famed Lions Walk.Mykonos town features hip boutiques, restaurants, jewelry stores, souvenirs, taverns and cafés. The island's famed windmills are found just south of the waterfront.
- 18
Kusadasi, Turkey (for Ephesus)
Arrives 08:00 am, departs 11:00 pm.
From the port of Kusadasi on Turkey's Anatolian Coast, one travels into the past. Nearby stand the ruins of ancient Ephesus, a major site of archeological excavation. The city was once a Roman provincial capital and trading center. Ephesus is also home to several of Christendom's holiest sites. St. Paul preached at the Great Theater and the ruins of Ephesus' Basilica cover the tomb of Christ's most beloved disciple, St. John the Apostle.In Kusadasi, whitewashed stone houses rise in tiers behind the market district. The palm-lined esplanade is the center of town life, with thousands of merchants offering wares to rival the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul.
- 19
At Sea
- 20
Thessaloniki, Greece
Arrives 07:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.
- 21
At Sea
- 22
Istanbul, Turkey
Arrives 07:00 am.
Istanbul rises from the Bosphorus, a vision of minarets and domes sparkling in the light. The capital of vanished empires, Istanbul is a true crossroad, the only city on Earth to span two continents. This meeting place of Europe and Asia, of Christian and Muslim, is one of the great adventures a traveler encounters. Browse the stalls of the world's largest bazaar, explore ancient mosques and churches, and gaze at the stunning jewels in the Topkapi Palace.Istanbul has dominated the Straits of Bosphorus for 25 centuries. As Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, it was a metropolis of stunning splendor when the great cities of Europe were mere villages.
Inclusions & exclusions
What’s included
- Dining in the main Dining Room and casual venues
- Live music venues and nightly entertainment
- Fitness centre and swimming pools
- Enrichment programme and port talks
Accommodation
Rotterdam is a Holland America Line Pinnacle-class ship that entered service in 2021, the seventh ship in the line's history to carry the name. Carrying around 2,670 guests, she features the World Stage theatre, Music Walk live-music venues and Holland America's signature dining line-up.
Stateroom categories available on this sailing: Neptune Suite, Verandah, Ocean View and Interior.
Common questions about this voyage
How long is this journey?
When can I travel?
What is generally included?
What style of accommodation is used?
Book this cruise
Send us an enquiry and a consultant will be in touch, or call 1300 414 198 for personal help choosing a departure.
You might also like
21-day around Italy's boot: Greek isles & Venice overnight
- Sail aboard the newly launched Rotterdam ship
- Enjoy enrichment programmes and nightly entertainment
- Indulge in the ship's signature dining experiences
21-day around Italy's boot: Greek isles & Istanbul overnight
- Cruise aboard the elegant Nieuw Amsterdam ship with spacious staterooms
- Enjoy enrichment programmes, live music and refined dining onboard
- Access the Greenhouse Spa and fitness facilities for relaxation
14-day around Italy's boot: Croatia & Venice overnight
- Cruise the Adriatic from Rome to Athens
- Visit iconic destinations in Italy, Croatia, Montenegro and Greece
- Sail on a modern Holland America ship with entertainment and amenities