HAL-Holland America Line has opened bookings for a new series of Mediterranean voyages aboard MS Rotterdam. The autumn 2027 schedule marks the first time the vessel will operate an extended Mediterranean programme.
The deployment will include five cruises across both the Western and Eastern Mediterranean, followed by a 14-day transatlantic repositioning crossing to the Caribbean/USA.
The programme features voyages ranging from 10 to 11 days, calling at a combination of established destinations and historic coastal ports. Among the scheduled ports of call are Lisbon, Naples, Kotor, Rhodes and Alexandria. At the same time, selected itineraries will also include scenic navigation through the Strait of Messina and past the volcanic island of Stromboli. Guests will have the option of combining consecutive sailings to create longer Mediterranean B2Bs before the season concludes with a 14-day crossing from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale.
HAL representatives noted that MS Rotterdam has long been one of the fleet's most popular vessels and that its introduction to Mediterranean waters reflects strong guest demand for both the ship and the region. The deployment will also allow the flagship to make inaugural visits to several prominent Mediterranean ports.
Alongside the onboard experience, the itineraries offer access to a wide range of shore excursions. These include visits to the archaeological site of Ephesus from Kusadasi, tours of Pompeii from Naples, and explorations of Kotor’s medieval old town. The programme has been designed to provide a balance between guided sightseeing and more immersive destination-focused experiences.
The addition of MS Rotterdam further expands HAL's European 2027–2028 schedule. Together with the fleetmates Nieuw Statendam, Oosterdam and Zuiderdam, Rotterdam will contribute to a schedule of 20+ Mediterranean sailings extending through autumn and winter. The itineraries emphasize longer port stays and a mix of major cultural centres and less-frequented destinations, reflecting growing interest in off-season European cruising.
The season begins on October 17th, 2027, with the 10-day Around the Iberian Peninsula: Spain & Portugal voyage from Rotterdam to Barcelona. Ports of call include Portsmouth, Le Verdon-sur-Mer, Bilbao, Cartagena, Valencia, and Lisbon.
On October 27th, 2027, the ship will sail the 11-day Mediterranean Splendor: Spain, Italy & Greece itinerary from Barcelona to Athens, visiting Palma de Mallorca, Marseille, Livorno, Civitavecchia, Naples, Corfu and Kotor.
A 10-day roundtrip from Athens, Greek Isles: Istanbul Overnight with Mykonos & Rhodes, departs on November 7th, 2027, and includes calls at Mykonos, Rhodes, Kusadasi and an overnight stay in Istanbul.
The 11-day Greek Isles: Egypt & The Holy Land voyage follows on November 17th, 2027, also sailing roundtrip from Athens. The itinerary includes Alexandria, Limassol, Antalya, Kusadasi, Rhodes and an overnight call in Haifa.
The final regional sailing, Mediterranean Splendor: Italy with Rome Evening Stay, departs Athens on November 28th, 2027. The voyage calls at Kotor, Valletta, Messina, Naples, Civitavecchia and Livorno, while also featuring scenic cruising through the Strait of Messina and past Stromboli.
The Mediterranean season concludes with the 14-day Cultural Crossing with Spain and Morocco, departing Barcelona on December 8th, 2027. The transatlantic voyage includes calls at Valencia, Alicante, Málaga and Tangier before arriving in Fort Lauderdale.