17 nights · Massachusetts · Departs Boston (USA) · Visiting Portland ME, Sydney NS, Corner Brook NL, Red Bay NL, Paamiut, Nanortalik, Isafjordur, Akureyri, Eidfjord, Rotterdam · Aboard Holland America on the ms Volendam
Image courtesy of Holland America ©
| Cruise line | Holland America |
|---|---|
| Ship | ms Volendam |
| Duration | 17 nights |
| Port calls | 11 |
| Departures | 1 sailings |
| From fare | $4,634 per person |
| Year built | 1999 |
| Guests | 1718 |
| Cabins | 716 |
| Crew | 647 |
| Length | 237 m |
| Beam | 32 m |
| Cruising speed | 23.0 kn |
Boston rewards visitors who like their history close at hand and their cities easy to explore. From the waterfront, follow the Freedom Trail to landmarks of the American Revolution, including Faneuil Hall. Beacon Hill’s brick streets, the Public Garden and North End cafés reveal distinct sides of the city. Make time for harbor views and New England seafood; Boston’s pleasures are as tangible as its past. Its museums and universities give the compact city a lively, modern edge.
Portland follows the Willamette River, with the Columbia to its north and Mount Hood on the eastern horizon. Begin downtown at Powell’s City of Books, a landmark independent bookstore spanning an entire city block. Visit the Japanese American Historical Plaza beside the waterfront, or head to Washington Park’s International Rose Test Garden. Food carts, craft breweries and seasonal produce give the city its distinctive taste. Allow time for the Columbia River Gorge, whose waterfalls and trails lie east of town.
Sydney is the working harbour at the heart of Cape Breton Island, where Gaelic, Acadian and Mi’kmaq histories meet. Walk the waterfront to see the Big Fiddle, then browse downtown shops and cafés along Charlotte Street. Beyond town, the reconstructed Fortress of Louisbourg brings 18th-century French colonial life into striking focus. Use Sydney as a base for Cape Breton’s coastal roads, where ocean views and small communities invite an unhurried day.
Corner Brook sits on Newfoundland’s west coast, where the Humber River meets the sheltered Bay of Islands. From the harbour, the city rises toward forested hills, with the Long Range Mountains setting a dramatic inland horizon. Explore the Captain James Cook Historic Site, follow riverside trails, or venture to nearby Marble Mountain. Corner Brook rewards curious travellers with rugged scenery and a working city’s unvarnished character.
Red Bay sits on Labrador’s rugged coast, where the Atlantic still sets the pace. In the 1500s, Basque whalers crossed the ocean to hunt right and bowhead whales here. Their remains form one of North America’s most important early industrial sites. Visit the UNESCO-listed archaeological remains and interpretation centre, then look across the harbour toward Saddle Island. Come for the whaling history, sea air and striking sense of distance.
Paamiut lies on Greenland’s southwest coast, between Nuuk and Qaqortoq, beneath steep mountains. Founded in 1742, this small fishing town remains shaped by the sea. Brightly painted homes rise above the harbor, while a handsome wooden church anchors the centre. Watch for whales offshore, then look inland to the fjords and peaks of Sermersooq. Greenland’s towns have no road links, so arrival by ship offers a close-up encounter with life on this remote coast.
Nanortalik, Greenland’s southernmost town, sits on an island where fjords, sea cliffs and steep mountains define the horizon. Its name means “place of polar bears,” and bears still roam the surrounding region. From the harbor, boat journeys reach dramatic Tasermiut Fjord, famed for its granite walls and remote wilderness. Visit the local museum for a glimpse of Greenlandic life, then watch for icebergs and seabirds along the coast.
Ísafjörður is the Westfjords’ principal town, set between a sheltered harbor and steep, often snow-streaked mountains. Walk its compact center to see colorful timber houses, then visit the Westfjords Heritage Museum in the historic harbor district. Its exhibits trace the fishing trade that shaped life along Iceland’s remote western coast. Beyond town, dramatic fjord scenery unfolds along winding roads. With a full day ashore, consider the drive to Dynjandi, one of the region’s most striking waterfalls.
Akureyri sits at the head of Eyjafjörður, Iceland’s longest fjord, with mountains rising beyond its compact harbour. Walk uphill to Akureyrarkirkja, then browse cafés and shops along Hafnarstræti. The town’s botanical garden grows thousands of plant varieties despite its northern latitude. From the waterfront, boats head out to watch whales. Road trips reach Goðafoss and the volcanic landscapes around Lake Mývatn. Akureyri rewards a day spent both in town and beyond.
Eidfjord puts you at the quiet end of Hardangerfjord, where sheer mountains rise from deep, blue water. From the village, roads climb towards Hardangervidda, Northern Europe’s largest mountain plateau, and Vøringsfossen waterfall. See the falls from purpose-built viewing bridges, or remain by the fjord for a gentler day. Orchards and local craft give the village a distinctly western Norwegian character.
Rotterdam is Europe’s largest port, but its appeal extends well beyond the quays. Bold architecture rises beside the Maas, while the city’s maritime past remains close at hand. Cross the Erasmus Bridge for skyline views, explore the striking Markthal, or take a harbour cruise among working vessels. Rotterdam rewards curious visitors with modern design, excellent food, and a Dutch city that refuses to stand still.
Published September 29, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
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