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Cruise · Holland America Line · 20 nights

20-day England, France, Iberia & Italy with Malta overnight

  • Cruise to 16 ports across 8 countries in Europe
  • Sail aboard the modern Holland America ship Rotterdam
  • Enrichment programs and port talks included
From
$5,714 pp twin share
20 nights
Cruise Snapshot
20 Nights

Immerse yourself in the rich history and diverse cultures of Europe on this 20-night cruise, exploring 16 ports across 8 countries

  • Discover iconic destinations like Rotterdam, Bruges, Normandy, Bordeaux and the Basque Country
  • Experience the vibrant architecture, cuisine and entertainment aboard the modern Holland America ship
  • Enjoy enrichment programs and port talks to deepen your understanding of the regions visited

Trip Details

Departs
22 October 2028
Returns
11 November 2028
Embarks
Operator
Holland America Line

20-night Europe cruise from Rotterdam, The Netherlands to Civitavecchia (for Rome), Italy aboard Rotterdam.

Calling at Zeebrugge, Portsmouth, Cherbourg, Le Verdon, Bilbao, Leixoes, Lisbon, Seville, Gibraltar, Barcelona, Mallorca, Valletta, Messina, Naples and Civitavecchia, with 4 days at sea. 16 ports of call across The Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Portugal, Malta and Italy.

Rotterdam is a Holland America Line Pinnacle-class ship that entered service in 2021, the seventh ship in the line's history to carry the name. Carrying around 2,670 guests, she features the World Stage theatre, Music Walk live-music venues and Holland America's signature dining line-up.

Stateroom categories range from Interior to Neptune Suite.

When & how much

Departures & Pricing

Departs
22 October 2028
Returns 11 November 2028
Returns
11 November 2028
Duration
20 nights
From pp twin share
$5,714 pp
  • 22 Oct 2028 - 11 Nov 2028
    from $4,814 pp twin share *
Additional Pricing Information
  • Interior from $4,814 pp twin share
  • Ocean View from $5,634 pp twin share
  • Verandah from $6,384 pp twin share
  • Vista Suite from $7,884 pp twin share
  • Neptune Suite from $13,134 pp twin share

* Prices and category availability are subject to change without notice.

Upgrades, transfers, accommodation and more can be quoted on enquiry — call 1300 414 198.

Life in transit

Rotterdam

Rotterdam
Details · Holland America Line
Rotterdam

Rotterdam is a Holland America Line Pinnacle-class ship that entered service in 2021, the seventh ship in the line's history to carry the name. Carrying around 2,670 guests, she features the World Stage theatre, Music Walk live-music venues and Holland America's signature dining line-up.

Guests
2,668
Crew
1,053
Gross tonnage
99,935
Speed
18 knots
Length
299.79 m
Launched
2021
Deck plans
12
Rotterdam · Deck plans

Deck 12 — Observation Deck

Rotterdam — Deck 12 — Observation Deck deck plan

Source: Holland America Line, captured 5 August 2026. Deck plans are provided by the cruise line and are subject to change at any time.

Day by day

Itinerary

  1. 1

    Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Departs 05:00 pm.

    The largest port in Europe, Rotterdam is an intriguing mix of the old and the new. The city's lineage is ancient - Count Willem III granted city rights to the sleepy fishing village on the Rotte in 1328, yet much of the city dates from the six decades following the end of World War II. An important industrial center and a major European port, Rotterdam was among the first targets of the Nazi blitzkrieg against the West. On May 14, 1940, the German Luftwaffe firebombed the city, Rotterdam was gutted. The post-war years saw a slow rebuilding but by the early 1960s the maze of port facilities extended all the way to the North Sea. Today, this city of over half a million is the economic powerhouse, not just of the Netherlands but of Northern Europe.The Nazi bombardment of 1940 gutted most of the old city. As a result, Rotterdam's architecture is an intriguing mix of old and new: modern glass skyscrapers often stand adjacent to 19th- and 18th-century buildings.

  2. 2

    Zeebrugge (for Brussels/Bruges), Belgium

    Arrives 07:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

    Zeebrugge is your gateway to Brussels. The capital of Belgium, Brussels is really two cities in one. Old Brussels is a city of superb Baroque architecture with ornate guildhalls, cobbled lanes and one of the finest squares in Europe. New Brussels is the modern city, the capital of the European Union, the home of NATO and the seat of the European Atomic Energy Community. It is a city of fascinating contrasts.

  3. 3

    Portsmouth, England, UK

    Arrives 07:30 am, departs 09:00 pm.

  4. 4

    Cherbourg, France

    Arrives 07:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

    Perched at the crossroads of France and Great Britain, it's no surprise that this piece of real estate was a prize among its many conquerors. Romans, Vikings, Saxons and Normans all fought over this strategic port on the English Channel. Cherbourg's port was once again the center of conflict when German forces captured it during World War II. Liberated by American forces in 1944, Cherbourg serves as your gateway to the historic Normandy landings of D-Day. And there's more to explore-medieval villages, a rugged countryside, charming city sights and castles and churches are all reminders that Cherbourg is a fascinating city worth discovering.

  5. 5

    At Sea

  6. 6

    Le Verdon (for Bordeaux), France

    Arrives 08:00 am, departs 07:00 pm.

    Lying on the south bank of the Garonne estuary, Le Verdon is your gateway to what is arguably the finest wine-producing region in the world: the vineyards surrounding Bordeaux. Though the city has long been an important trading center, the foundation of its prosperity has always rested on the wine trade. That trade began in the Middle Ages, when Bordeaux shipped Claret to England in exchange for British wool. While Bordeaux itself is a charming city that boasts superb examples of 18th-century neo-classical architecture, wine lovers are seldom able to resist the lure of the fine wine estates of the Medoc.

  7. 7

    Bilbao, Spain

    Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

    Bilbao used to be off the beaten track, but Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Museum literally put Bilbao on the map. The city offers impressive, 19th-century buildings and bridges and is the gateway to the Basque country.Perched on the hills above the rust-colored waters of the Nervion River, Bilbao is a thriving port and the commercial heart of Spain's Basque country. The city dates back to the Middle Ages - it was granted city status by Don Diego Lopez de Haro, Lord of Biscay, in 1300 - but it was the 19th century and the Industrial Revolution that cemented Bilbao's economic status. Among the city's charms are the jumble of bars and restaurants found in Siete Calles, the city's old quarter. The Gran Via and the Alameda Mazarredo are graceful, wide 19th-century boulevards. And while the port still bustles with maritime traffic, the undulating lines of Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Museum attest to Bilbao's cultural vitality in the 21st century.

  8. 8

    At Sea

  9. 9

    Leixoes (Porto), Portugal

    Arrives 07:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.

  10. 10

    Lisbon, Portugal

    Arrives 07:00 am, departs 04:00 pm.

    Draped across seven hills, Lisbon was once the center of a vast maritime empire that stretched from the west coast of Africa to the Spice Islands of the East Indies. Then, on November 1, 1755, a violent earthquake destroyed two-thirds of the city in the space of 10 minutes. Only the Alfama, the old Moorish quarter, survived. Today, Lisbon is a stately city of Neoclassical buildings and wide plazas.

  11. 11

    Seville (Cadiz), Spain

    Arrives 12:00 pm, departs 09:00 pm.

    Mention Spain and the images that inevitably spring to mind are images of Andalusia - shadows falling across the bullring, the staccato rhythms of flamenco, the waft of orange blossoms from a Moorish garden. Cadiz is your gateway to this storied land and the city of Seville. Visit Seville's massive Alcazar fortress, modeled on the legendary Alhambra Palace of Granada. See the city's cathedral, a 15th-century Gothic masterwork that boasts a Moorish patio, fountain and minaret. Seville is also the legendary home of Don Juan, Bizet's Carmen and Rossini's Barber of Seville.Cadiz is one's of Europe's oldest inhabited cities, dating from 1100 B.C., and your gateway to Seville and Andalusia.

  12. 12

    Gibraltar

    Arrives 08:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.

    The Rock crouches over the sea like an ancient stone beast, looking Sphinx-like to Africa. Beneath the white cliffs of this natural fortress grows a profusion of palm, pine, and cypress. No fewer than 600 varieties of flowers thrive here, some not found anywhere else on Earth. Gibraltar's stunning setting is matched by its history - five countries have battled for 13 centuries to control the passage between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. The result made for a cultural melting pot. Veiled Moroccan women in caftans and vacationing Englishmen and Spaniards stroll along the narrow, steep lanes. The locals revert to a liquid Spanish when talking among themselves. And visitors to a 15th-century cathedral pass through a blue-tiled courtyard, once part of a 13th-century mosque.Helmeted bobbies, pillar-boxes and pubs make for a bit of Britain in the Mediterranean. Gibraltar is a fascinating place, from its caves and batteries to the Barbary apes gamboling on the slopes of the Rock.

  13. 13

    At Sea

  14. 14

    Barcelona, Spain

    Arrives 07:00 am, departs 09:00 pm.

    The 1992 Summer Olympics revealed to the world what Europeans and seasoned travelers already knew - Barcelona is one of the world's greatest treasures. Vibrant and earthy, commercial and cultural, this city of two million residents is the capital of Spain's autonomous region of Catalonia. Stroll along the wide, tree-lined promenades of Las Ramblas and marvel at the spires of Gaudi's Basilica La Sagrada Familia. Or visit the former Olympic Ring on the hill of Montjuic - also home to world-class parks, fountains and museums. Barcelona, which nurtured such artistic giants as Picasso, Dali, Miro and Casals, is definitely a traveler's paradise.

  15. 15

    Mallorca (Palma), Spain

    Arrives 08:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.

    Palma is the capital city of the island of Mallorca, which is one of Spain's Balearic Islands. The city is tucked into the protected Bay of Palma, creating an impressive view from the Mediterranean Sea with its imposing Gothic Cathedral towering above the old town and remnants of medieval walls that testify to its ancient history. Mallorca has a varied history, from the Roman occupation in the 2nd century to Moorish control from the 9th to the 13th century. Later reconquered by the Spanish kings, it rose to wealth and power due to its strategic position along the seagoing trade routes between Africa and Europe.Today, Palma is the largest city, and also the main tourist area, with beaches on either side of the city that overflow with resort hotels. If you venture beyond these environs, the island's natural beauty abounds, and life continues in a predictably underdeveloped atmosphere of simplicity. This aspect has long been an attraction for writers, painters and musicians that find inspiration here.Two main languages are spoken on Mallorca - Castilian Spanish and the Balearic dialects of Catalan - hence the different versions of names and spellings throughout the Balearic Islands.

  16. 16

    At Sea

  17. 17

    Valletta, Malta

    Arrives 08:00 am.

    Malta is the largest in a group of seven islands that occupy a strategic position between Europe and Africa. The island's history is long and turbulent. Everyone from the Normans to the Nazis have vied for control of this small, honey-colored rock. For centuries the island was the possession of the knightly Order of St. John - the Knights Hospitaller. Valletta, Malta's current capital, was planned by the Order's Grandmaster Jean de la Valette to secure the island's eastern coast from Turk incursions. Founded in 1566, Valletta's bustling streets are lined with superb Baroque buildings and churches.Malta has a long history: the megalithic stone temples at Gozo may be the oldest freestanding structures on Earth. Malta has two official languages, Maltese (constitutionally the national language) and English. Malta was admitted to the European Union in 2004 and in 2008 became part of the eurozone.

  18. 18

    Valletta, Malta

    Departs 05:00 pm.

    Malta is the largest in a group of seven islands that occupy a strategic position between Europe and Africa. The island's history is long and turbulent. Everyone from the Normans to the Nazis have vied for control of this small, honey-colored rock. For centuries the island was the possession of the knightly Order of St. John - the Knights Hospitaller. Valletta, Malta's current capital, was planned by the Order's Grandmaster Jean de la Valette to secure the island's eastern coast from Turk incursions. Founded in 1566, Valletta's bustling streets are lined with superb Baroque buildings and churches.Malta has a long history: the megalithic stone temples at Gozo may be the oldest freestanding structures on Earth. Malta has two official languages, Maltese (constitutionally the national language) and English. Malta was admitted to the European Union in 2004 and in 2008 became part of the eurozone.

  19. 19

    Messina, Italy

    Arrives 08:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.

  20. 20

    Naples, Italy (for Capri & Pompeii)

    Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

    Italy's third-largest city, Naples is a bustling metropolis famed for it stately buildings, crowded streets, pizza - and notoriously bad traffic. However, this beautiful city is rich in centuries-old culture and customs. Naples is also your gateway to the Isle of Capri, the fabled Amalfi Coast and the ruins of Pompeii, buried in ash by the cataclysmic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Naples boasts an ideal location, with both the ruins of Roman cities and the stunning Amalfi Coast in easy reach.

  21. 21

    Civitavecchia (for Rome), Italy

    Arrives 07:00 am.

    Your gateway to the Eternal City, Civitavecchia has served as Rome's seaport since the 13th century. The port has a long and venerable history. The emperor Trajan built a pleasure villa near the modern city, while Bernini and Michelangelo designed the harbor fortifications.Yet the Eternal City eternally beckons. The ancient capital of the Western World and the center of Christianity for nearly 2,000 years, Rome provides an inexhaustible feast. Visit the ruins of the Forum, view the splendors of the Sistine Chapel, or climb the Spanish Steps, once the heart of Rome's Bohemian Quarter.Rome has been a magnet luring the world's greatest artists, architects, and philosophers since the days of the Caesars.

What you get for the price

Inclusions & exclusions

What’s included

  • Dining in the main Dining Room and casual venues
  • Live music venues and nightly entertainment
  • Fitness centre and swimming pools
  • Enrichment programme and port talks
Where you’ll stay

Accommodation

Rotterdam is a Holland America Line Pinnacle-class ship that entered service in 2021, the seventh ship in the line's history to carry the name. Carrying around 2,670 guests, she features the World Stage theatre, Music Walk live-music venues and Holland America's signature dining line-up.

Stateroom categories available on this sailing: Neptune Suite, Vista Suite, Verandah, Ocean View and Interior.

From the operator

Common questions about this voyage

How long is this journey?
This itinerary runs for 21 days and 20 nights.
When can I travel?
Departures are currently scheduled between 22 Oct 2028 and 11 Nov 2028, subject to live availability.
What is generally included?
Inclusions typically cover guided touring and selected experiences, with exact details listed in the itinerary.
What style of accommodation is used?
Accommodation is pre-arranged as part of the journey, with specific properties shown in the trip details.
Ready to lock in?

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From (twin) $5,714 pp
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