Mediterranean Cruise Special!
Enjoy exotic adventures that reveal new landscapes and cultures. Explore lands that rim the sea where civilization began. Where the fine art of living has been perfected. Ashore you'll venture to sights such as the Acropolis or the Vatican. Enjoy simple pleasures like fresh bread dipped in estate-pressed olive oil. The Mediterranean is awaiting you.
12 Day Mediterranean & Adriatic Dream
onboard Westerdam
Mediterranean Cruise Itinerary:
Day 1 - Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy
Day 2 - Strait of Messina Cruising & Messina, Italy - 1pm to 10pm
Day 3 - Valletta, Malta - Arrives at 8am
Day 4 - Valletta, Malta - Departs at 6am
Day 4 - Mgarr (Victoria) Gozo, Malta - 8am to 5pm
Day 5 - Cruising
Day 6 - Kerkita (Corfu), Greece - 8am to 4pm
Day 7 - Dubrovnik, Croatia - 10am to 11pm
Day 8 - Kotor, Montenegro - 8am to 6pm
Day 9 - Korcula, Croatia - 8am to 5pm
Day 10 - Split, Croatia - 8am to 5pm
Day 11 - Koper, Slovenia - 8am to 6pm
Day 12 - Venice, Italy - Arrives at 8am (overnight)
Day 13 - Venice, Italy
2017 Dates:
October 2
From $2179 US
Mediterranean Cruise Highlights:
Rome, Italy - Step off the cruise ship, linger at a sidewalk cafe in the early evening and take in the pageant: the taste of your cappuccino, the kiss of warm air, the immaculately attired locals just getting their evenings started. Rome is nicknamed the Eternal City, and rightly so, for the array of icons - the Colosseum, the Pantheon, Castel Sant'Angelo, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica - and for the role it played shaping the Western world. But there is perhaps a less-recognized genius in the way the city embraces the sensual side of life, as if to acknowledge there's no eternity like the present.
Messina, Italy - Gateway to Mt. Etna, the awe-inspiring and still-active volcano, the seaport of Messina is the third-largest city in Sicily. Known for its fine cathedral, museums and for its rich Sicilian wines, Messina and the surrounding area was also the location for much of the Godfather series of films. An afternoon or a day in Messina can include a drive up to the windswept side of Mt. Etna (hold on to your hat - it is seriously windy here!) or to the shop-lined streets of Taormina. Many stores sell Sicilian ceramics, with colorful hues painted on volcanic earthen pottery, pieces created in the same way that they have been for centuries. Look also for jewelry and crafts made from beautiful black volcanic glass, collected from the slopes of Etna. Don't miss a chance to taste the wines of the region, which are gaining fame worldwide for their rich body and incomparable flavor. The 62-acre San Michele Estate, within driving distance of the port, creates wines that take advantage of the location's unusual, sheltered microclimate and volcanic soil.
Valletta, Malta - The ancient city of Valletta is teeming with historic monuments, churches and gardens. At just one-third of a square mile in area, Europe's southernmost capital is one of the easiest to explore on foot.Given Malta's strategic location and succession of rulers including the Romans, Normans, Sicilians, Spanish, Knights of St. John, French and British, it's somewhat surprising to see Valletta so well preserved. The city dates back to the 16th century and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980. Extensive restorations of historic buildings are underway, including the rebuilding of the city entrance to mark Valletta's recognition as the European Capital of Culture in 2018. Decades of British rule mean that English remains an official language, along with the local Maltese language, plus a curious mix of Italian vocabulary and Semitic roots. As Malta lies just 50 miles south of Sicily, Italian influences dominate the cuisine and culture. Even so, the Maltese do value their own traditions, which feature strong yet poetic male vocals over slow guitar music.
Mgarr / Gozo, Malta - The lesser-known sister of Malta in the Maltese archipelago, Gozo is a 67-square-kilometer island full of ancient history. Standing atop the island is a medieval citadel, marking the spot where the earliest settlers lived as far back as the Bronze Age. Today, it's the centerpiece of the island's biggest settlement, Victoria, which is known to its 6,000 residents as Ir-Rabat. Outside the capital, crystal clear waters and red sandy beaches attract swimmers and snorkelers, while the ruins of gantija are one of the Mediterranean's historical highlights. Stunning rock formations and a patchwork of salt pans are among the island’s other intriguing natural attractions. The best way to explore is by the cheap modern taxis that line up at the port. You'll quickly discover that food is a passion and a pleasure of Gozitan life. Try the local specialty ftira, a breadlike snack typically served with toppings and eaten as a pizza or tart. Fruit conserves of lemon, fig, orange or prickly pear are common, along with a variety of locally produced oils and sea salts. You won’t go hungry on Gozo.
Corfu, Greece - Fortresses flank your entrance to this most beautiful of the Ionians. Lose yourself in the Venetian old town or head north for dramatic seascapes.
Dubrovnik, Croatia - Today Dubrovnik, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a walled medieval city of cobblestone lanes, red terra cotta roofs and clustered buildings, perched high above the Adriatic Sea. Take a walking tour through the ages, past the Baroque St. Blaise Church, the Renaissance Sponza Palace, the Gothic Rector's Palace and other architectural gems. For spectacular city views, ride a newly restored funicular to the top of Srdj Hill. Cruise along the city walls and on to the Fort of St. Lawrence and Lokrum Island, where Richard the Lionhearted was a castaway. Head out to the Konavie Valley and learn to make traditional silk thread, or sample the region's finest wines in Komaji.
Kotor, Montenegro - Cruising into the Bay of Kotor, you'll be wowed by the dramatic beauty of this coastal Montenegrin town. Dreamy seafront villages are set to a backdrop of mountains plummeting into the Adriatic Sea, while the stone labyrinth of the Old Town is filled with medieval architecture and historic monuments - as well as the narrowest street in the world. The area only became part of Montenegro after WWII, and as such has a very different history to the rest of the country. Kotor escaped Ottoman rule and developed as an important Venetian trading post, before being conquered by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, France and Russia. The city pays tribute to this dynamic history with Venetian gates, Napoleon's theater and Austrian prisons all waiting to be discovered. There's a reason it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The cruise ship dock is across the street from the Sea Gate, the main entrance to the Old Town, while a conveniently located taxi stand by the harbor gates allows for easy exploration of the region.
Korcula, Croatia - Croatia's sixth-largest island - once known as Melaina Korkyra (Black Korkyra) because its vast oak forests reminded Greek settlers of Corfu - is covered in pine trees, olive groves and vineyards. As you glide down the Strait of Peljesac, admire the peninsula’s dramatic karst slopes dropping off into the Adriatic Sea and the 19 islets of the archipelago around the canal. Korcula Old Town is the island’s treasured highlight and a UNESCO World Heritage Site candidate. Its stone architecture and historic ambiance reflect almost four centuries of Venetian rule, with towered gates, lion statues, magnificent palazzos and elaborate stonework peppering the charming streets. Venturing out of the Old Town, you will encounter historic villages, picturesque bays, waterfront promenades and welcoming locals. Korcula is one of the last places on earth where knightly games like the Moreska dances are still regularly performed and where medieval fraternities still keep up their centuries-old traditions. The island truly is a treasure trove of history, nature and serenity.
Split, Croatia - In Croatia, the Old Town of Split wraps around the luxurious palace where the Roman emperor Diocletian lived out his last days after abdicating in AD 305. Today, this remarkable white limestone palace, a UNESCO Site, awaits your discovery. Part luxurious villa, part military camp, the palace is enclosed by imposing walls and connected by roads linking the eastern Silver Gate with the Iron Gate to the west. Within: an octagonal domed mausoleum, temples and a monumental court accessing the imperial apartments.
Koper, Slovenia - On the picturesque Adriatic coast of Slovenia, Koper is the country's largest commercial port. Built around a grid of medieval squares and the remains of an ancient city wall, the main square is home to the largest cathedral in Slovenia, the Cathedral of St Nazarius. Tour the Praetor Palace, in the Venetian Gothic style and dating from the 15th century, or the 12th century Carmine Rotunda church.
Venice, Italy - Your eyes deceive you as you get closer. An entire stone city concocted from spires and cupolas seems to float on water. The optics seem off, but by now you're too far charmed to turn back. Cruise to Venice with Holland American Line and start easily. Have a bicerin, a hot mix of espresso, drinking chocolate and whole milk. Then step out into the palatial arcades and outdoor cafes of St. Mark's Square. Ready? Now you can really get going. Venice has 117 islands and a million stories of empire, longing, and glory.
ms Westerdam will soon receive extensive enhancements as part of a $300 million brand initiative. New bar, entertainment and dining venues, plus completely reimagined suites will all debut late April 2017, just as Westerdam embarks on her 2017 Europe Season.
A world of entertainment, plus new music venues coming soon. Nights aboards Holland America Line cruise ships are filled with an abundance of entertainment options, specially curated for each cruise. From live music to the Main Stage Show Lounge, Westerdam guests will enjoy dazzling entertainment options from their very first night on board. As part of the updates coming late April 2017, two new music venues will be added; Lincoln Center Stage, featuring world class musicians performing chamber music, and Billboard Onboard, rocking the house with 50 years of chart topping hits. These venues will join the already popular B.B. King's Blues Club, which brings the best of Memphis blues to sea, and completes our new Music Walk experience on board.
All pricing above is in US Dollars, per person. Port charges & taxes are additional. Pricing is based on two people sharing and subject to availability. The "From" price listed on our website is for the June 28th departure date; other dates may have different pricing, please inquire. All pricing is based on availability and subject to change by the cruise line at any time. For more information please contact one of our Europe Specialists!
