13 nights · Italy · Departs Trieste (Italy) · Visiting Dubrovnik, Kotor, Corfu Island, Piraeus-Athens, Santorini Island, Mykonos Island, Kusadasi, Thessaloniki, Istanbul · Aboard Holland America on the ms Rotterdam
Image courtesy of Holland America ©
| Cruise line | Holland America |
|---|---|
| Ship | ms Rotterdam |
| Duration | 13 nights |
| Port calls | 10 |
| Departures | 1 sailings |
| From fare | $1,979 per person |
| Year built | 2021 |
| Guests | 3218 |
| Cabins | 1340 |
| Crew | 1025 |
| Length | 297 m |
| Beam | 34 m |
| Cruising speed | 24.0 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Thessaloniki rewards travelers who look beyond the waterfront. Greece’s second-largest city layers Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman history into a lively modern center. Walk the seafront to the White Tower, then explore Byzantine churches and monuments recognized by UNESCO. The Roman Rotunda and Arch of Galerius reveal the city’s imperial past. Make time for Ladadika’s tavernas and Modiano Market, where northern Greek flavors take the lead.
Istanbul makes a compelling first impression: minarets rise above the Bosphorus, while ferries cross between Europe and Asia. On the historic peninsula, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace place centuries of empire within walking distance. Istanbul rewards curiosity beyond its landmarks. Browse the Grand Bazaar, linger over Turkish coffee, then take a ferry to the Asian shore. Allow time for traffic and queues; the city’s scale is part of the experience.
Published August 21, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
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