21 nights · Italy · Departs Trieste (Italy) · Visiting Zadar, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Corfu Island, Messina, Naples, Civitavecchia-Rome, Barcelona, Malaga, Tangier, Almeria, Cagliari, Livorno, Ajaccio, Marseille · Aboard Holland America on the ms Oosterdam
Image courtesy of Holland America ©
| Cruise line | Holland America |
|---|---|
| Ship | ms Oosterdam |
| Duration | 21 nights |
| Port calls | 16 |
| Departures | 1 sailings |
| From fare | $3,994 per person |
| Year built | 2003 |
| Guests | 2429 |
| Cabins | 1012 |
| Crew | 817 |
| Length | 285 m |
| Beam | 32 m |
| Cruising speed | 22.0 kn |
Trieste rewards travellers who look beyond the waterfront. At the head of the Adriatic, this Italian city carries the marks of centuries under Habsburg rule. Start in Piazza Unità d’Italia, one of Europe’s largest seafront squares, opening directly onto the sea. Visit Miramare Castle, built for Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian, then order espresso in a city shaped by its coffee trade. Trieste is compact and cosmopolitan, with a Roman theatre and grand cafés recalling its Central European past.
Zadar pairs a compact old town with a clear Adriatic setting. Roman streets, Venetian gates and medieval churches tell the story of a city shaped by centuries of trade. On the seafront, the Sea Organ turns waves into music through stone pipes. Nearby, the Sun Salutation gathers solar energy and shines after dark. Beyond the walls, Nin’s salt pans and the island-dotted coast reward a closer look.
Spend a day inside Dubrovnik’s UNESCO-listed Old Town, best explored on foot. Walk the city walls for close views of fortifications, roofs, and harbor. Then follow Stradun to Rector’s Palace and the Franciscan monastery. Book wall access in advance during busy months, and start early in summer. Mount Srđ offers a higher view, reached by cable car or road. Leave time for side lanes; their quieter corners reveal the city’s daily rhythm.
At the head of Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor, the old town sits beneath steep mountains. Enter through the Sea Gate and follow stone lanes to St Tryphon’s Cathedral. Venetian-era walls frame squares, churches, and cafés within a compact UNESCO-listed center. For a broader view, climb toward San Giovanni Fortress; the steps are demanding. Take water and allow time for the ascent, especially in summer heat. From the harbor, the bay’s changing light makes a memorable arrival and departure.
Corfu rewards visitors who look beyond the beach resorts. Its Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, bears the marks of centuries of Venetian rule. Walk the arcaded Liston, then climb to the Old Fortress for views across the rooftops and Ionian Sea. Beyond town, cypress-lined roads lead to Paleokastritsa’s coves, while the Achilleion palace recalls an imperial past. Allow time for lunch; Corfiot cooking pairs Ionian seafood with Italian and Greek influences.
Messina faces Calabria across the narrow Strait of Messina, with mainland Italy visible from its waterfront. At noon, figures move across the cathedral’s clock tower, a daily spectacle best seen from the square. Nearby, Montorsoli’s 16th-century Fountain of Orion rewards a closer look. Excursions reach Taormina and Mount Etna, but Messina’s compact center also merits an unhurried walk.
Naples puts its history within reach: the port opens onto a compact city framed by Mount Vesuvius and the bay. UNESCO-listed streets lead to churches, palaces and the everyday theatre of southern Italian life. At the National Archaeological Museum, mosaics and objects from Pompeii and Herculaneum bring the Roman world sharply into focus. Stay close for Neapolitan pizza, or use Naples as a springboard to Pompeii, Herculaneum and Capri.
Your ship docks at Civitavecchia, Rome’s seaport, about 50 miles northwest of the capital. Rome’s great monuments are within reach, but the port town rewards a closer look. Walk the waterfront to Forte Michelangelo, a 16th-century fortress begun under Pope Julius II; explore the old streets and market. Prefer a quieter day? The town’s seafront and nearby beaches offer an easy change of pace. Choose Rome for art and antiquity, or Civitavecchia for coastal life beyond the terminal.
Barcelona is a Mediterranean port city built on Roman foundations, with Gothic lanes and striking modernist architecture. La Rambla runs from Plaça de Catalunya towards the waterfront and the old town. Gaudí’s Sagrada Família and Park Güell show the city at its most distinctive. Set aside time for a market lunch and a walk through El Born, where medieval streets meet lively cafés. Barcelona’s beaches offer a welcome pause between visits.
Málaga is more than a gateway to Andalusia; it is a port city with a confident life of its own. In the old centre, the Roman Theatre sits below the Moorish Alcazaba, while the cathedral rises above nearby streets. Visit the Picasso Museum or his birthplace, then try grilled sardines and local wine at a pavement table. The Mediterranean is close: city beaches, Atarazanas Market and palm-lined promenades make lingering easy.
Tangier faces Spain across the Strait of Gibraltar, where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic. Walk its medina’s steep lanes past whitewashed houses and shops selling leather, ceramics, and spices. At the Kasbah, find sea views and the former sultan’s palace, now a museum. Beyond the old walls, cafés and boulevards recall the city’s international past. Visit the American Legation, the first U.S. diplomatic property abroad. Or drive to Cap Spartel, where Atlantic and Mediterranean waters meet.
Almería rewards travelers who look beyond its sunlit waterfront. The city’s Alcazaba, among Spain’s largest Moorish fortresses, rises above whitewashed lanes and the port. From its ramparts, gardens and stone walls frame broad views across the city and Mediterranean. The cathedral’s fortress-like exterior recalls centuries when coastal raids threatened the shore. Allow time for the Central Market. Beyond the city, Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park offers volcanic cliffs, quiet coves, and clear water.
Cagliari rewards those who look beyond the waterfront. Sardinia’s capital rises above the Gulf of Angels, its old Castello quarter perched over a working port. Walk the bastions for broad views, then explore the Roman amphitheatre carved into limestone. Below town, Poetto’s long beach meets salt lagoons where flamingos feed. Return for fregola with seafood or bottarga, the island’s prized cured mullet roe.
Your ship docks at Civitavecchia, Rome’s seaport, about 50 miles northwest of the capital. Rome’s great monuments are within reach, but the port town rewards a closer look. Walk the waterfront to Forte Michelangelo, a 16th-century fortress begun under Pope Julius II; explore the old streets and market. Prefer a quieter day? The town’s seafront and nearby beaches offer an easy change of pace. Choose Rome for art and antiquity, or Civitavecchia for coastal life beyond the terminal.
Livorno rewards those who look beyond the cruise terminal. Its canals, built in the style of Venice, wind through historic Venezia Nuova. The seafront promenade leads to Terrazza Mascagni, where black-and-white paving frames the sea. At Mercato Centrale, locals shop beneath a vast iron-and-glass roof. Try cacciucco, the city’s rich fish stew. Florence and Pisa are within reach, but Livorno merits time of its own.
Ajaccio brings Corsica’s character within easy reach of the quay. France’s island capital pairs a sheltered gulf with pastel façades, a lively old town and mountain ridges above the harbor. Napoleon Bonaparte was born here in 1769; his birthplace is now a museum. From Place Foch, browse the market before following narrow lanes to the cathedral and waterfront cafés. Allow time for a swim or a scenic drive along the coast, where coves and clear water reward exploration.
Marseille is France’s oldest city, founded by Greek settlers around 600 BC, and it still faces the Mediterranean with confidence. Begin at the Vieux-Port, where fishing boats share the waterfront with cafés and ferries bound for nearby islands. Climb to Notre-Dame de la Garde for sweeping views, or explore Le Panier’s narrow lanes and lively squares. The Calanques’ limestone coves lie beyond the city; local markets bring Provençal flavors closer.
Barcelona is a Mediterranean port city built on Roman foundations, with Gothic lanes and striking modernist architecture. La Rambla runs from Plaça de Catalunya towards the waterfront and the old town. Gaudí’s Sagrada Família and Park Güell show the city at its most distinctive. Set aside time for a market lunch and a walk through El Born, where medieval streets meet lively cafés. Barcelona’s beaches offer a welcome pause between visits.
Published September 16, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
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