28 nights · Spain · Departs Barcelona (Spain) · Visiting Valletta, Souda-Chania, Santorini Island, Kusadasi, Piraeus-Athens, Alexandria, Rhodes Island, Mykonos Island, La Goulette-Tunis, Cagliari, Palermo, Messina, Corfu Island, Kefalonia Island · Aboard Holland America on the ms Oosterdam
Image courtesy of Holland America ©
| Cruise line | Holland America |
|---|---|
| Ship | ms Oosterdam |
| Duration | 28 nights |
| Port calls | 15 |
| Departures | 1 sailings |
| From fare | $9,269 per person |
| Year built | 2003 |
| Guests | 2429 |
| Cabins | 1012 |
| Crew | 817 |
| Length | 285 m |
| Beam | 32 m |
| Cruising speed | 22.0 kn |
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.
Valletta makes a powerful first impression, its honey-coloured walls rising above Grand Harbour. Founded by the Knights of St John in 1566, Malta’s compact capital rewards exploration on foot. Enter St John’s Co-Cathedral for Caravaggio’s monumental paintings, then follow Republic Street to cafés, palaces and the Upper Barrakka Gardens. From the terraces, watch ferries cross the harbour and look towards the Three Cities. Allow time for steep lanes and quiet side streets.
Souda Bay places you within easy reach of Chania, one of Crete’s most compelling historic towns. A short drive leads to Chania’s Venetian harbour, with its lighthouse, waterfront cafés and narrow lanes. On the Akrotiri peninsula, monasteries and coastal views share the landscape with the Allied war cemetery overlooking Souda Bay. Make time for Cretan cooking, distinguished by fine olive oil, local cheeses and wild herbs.
Few Greek islands make an entrance like Santorini, where whitewashed villages crown a volcanic caldera above the Aegean. Most cruise ships anchor offshore, and tenders land at the old port below Fira. Ride the cable car, or climb the steps, to reach the island’s capital and its celebrated views. Beyond Fira, Oia’s blue domes, the archaeological site of Akrotiri, and volcanic wines reward a longer day ashore.
Kuşadası puts the Aegean within reach, with a lively waterfront and one of Turkey’s most celebrated ancient cities nearby. Ephesus lies about 20 kilometres inland, where marble avenues lead to the Library of Celsus and Great Theatre. Back in town, browse the bazaar, then follow the causeway to Pigeon Island and its historic fortress. The harbour-facing promenade offers an easy place to linger over the Aegean light.
Piraeus is Athens’ working harbour, not a resort port—and that is its appeal. From here, the capital’s ancient landmarks are within reach, while the waterfront keeps its own busy, distinctly Greek character. Visit the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus, then linger over grilled fish in Mikrolimano, a small harbour lined with tavernas. Metro connections make central Athens straightforward. Or stay near the water and watch ferries depart for the islands.
Alexandria rewards travellers who look beyond its famous name. Founded by Alexander the Great, Egypt’s Mediterranean city brings Greek, Roman and modern histories to a lively waterfront. The Bibliotheca Alexandrina recalls the ancient library, while Roman catacombs reveal a city shaped by many cultures. Leave time for seafood beside the harbour and a walk along the Corniche. Here, the past remains part of daily life.
Rhodes pairs a fortified medieval capital with a sunlit Aegean coast. The UNESCO-listed Old Town stands just beyond the harbour, enclosed by formidable walls built by the Knights of St John. Walk its cobbled lanes to the Palace of the Grand Master, then pause over coffee in a shaded square. Beyond the city, beaches and whitewashed Lindos reward a longer outing; an ancient acropolis crowns the bay.
Mykonos rewards an early start: whitewashed lanes, blue-domed churches and waterfront cafés are quieter before the cruise crowds arrive. In Little Venice, old captains’ houses lean over the Aegean, while the island’s windmills stand above the harbor. Beyond town, beaches range from lively Psarou to the broad sands of Elia. Take a short boat ride to Delos, where ancient sanctuaries and marble streets mark one of Greece’s great archaeological sites.
Piraeus is Athens’ working harbour, not a resort port—and that is its appeal. From here, the capital’s ancient landmarks are within reach, while the waterfront keeps its own busy, distinctly Greek character. Visit the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus, then linger over grilled fish in Mikrolimano, a small harbour lined with tavernas. Metro connections make central Athens straightforward. Or stay near the water and watch ferries depart for the islands.
La Goulette is Tunisia’s principal cruise gateway, set on the Mediterranean just northeast of Tunis. The capital’s old medina, Carthage’s ruins and Sidi Bou Said’s white-and-blue lanes are all within reach. Choose Roman history, Ottoman-era streets or cafés overlooking the sea. Plan around traffic: these sights lie in different directions, and each merits an unhurried visit.
Valletta makes a powerful first impression, its honey-coloured walls rising above Grand Harbour. Founded by the Knights of St John in 1566, Malta’s compact capital rewards exploration on foot. Enter St John’s Co-Cathedral for Caravaggio’s monumental paintings, then follow Republic Street to cafés, palaces and the Upper Barrakka Gardens. From the terraces, watch ferries cross the harbour and look towards the Three Cities. Allow time for steep lanes and quiet side streets.
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.
Palermo rewards curious travellers with a vivid mix of Arab-Norman architecture, lively markets and Sicilian cooking. Start at the cathedral, where Norman, Gothic and Baroque details reflect the city’s layered past. Then walk through the Capo market or visit the Palatine Chapel, famed for its Byzantine mosaics. Leave time for pasta con le sarde or arancini; Palermo’s strongest impressions often arrive at the table.
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.
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.
Your first view of Kefalonia may be Argostoli, a working harbor framed by hills and the Ionian Sea. From here, roads lead to traditional villages, the underground lake at Melissani, and the sweeping shore of Myrtos Beach. Argostoli merits a pause for its palm-lined waterfront, lively market, and loggerhead turtles that forage in the harbor. Choose one excursion rather than rushing the island; winding roads make distances longer than the map suggests.
Souda Bay places you within easy reach of Chania, one of Crete’s most compelling historic towns. A short drive leads to Chania’s Venetian harbour, with its lighthouse, waterfront cafés and narrow lanes. On the Akrotiri peninsula, monasteries and coastal views share the landscape with the Allied war cemetery overlooking Souda Bay. Make time for Cretan cooking, distinguished by fine olive oil, local cheeses and wild herbs.
Piraeus is Athens’ working harbour, not a resort port—and that is its appeal. From here, the capital’s ancient landmarks are within reach, while the waterfront keeps its own busy, distinctly Greek character. Visit the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus, then linger over grilled fish in Mikrolimano, a small harbour lined with tavernas. Metro connections make central Athens straightforward. Or stay near the water and watch ferries depart for the islands.
Published August 26, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
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