Holland America Line has announced year-round cruising in Europe, keeping its ship Nieuw Statendam in the region through winter for the first time. The expanded 2027 to 2028 season introduces a dozen new itineraries across the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, adding more than 70 additional port days compared to the previous year.
The move significantly increases the cruise line’s off-season presence in Europe, with sailings ranging from Christmas market voyages in Scandinavia to relaxed winter departures across the Western and Eastern Mediterranean. A second ship, Zuiderdam, will operate two additional voyages as part of the expanded deployment.
Christmas Markets and Lapland
Holland America’s holiday sailings are designed around Europe’s winter traditions, with overnight and extended port stays built into each itinerary. A 13-day Baltic and Scandinavian Christmas Markets cruise sails roundtrip from Rotterdam or Dover, calling at Kiel as the gateway to Hamburg’s Christmas markets, along with Tallinn, Helsinki and Copenhagen.
Overnight stays in Helsinki and Stockholm allow guests to explore festive city centres after dark. The Helsinki call also provides access to Lapland in the Arctic Circle, widely associated with Santa Claus.
A second 15-day holiday sailing covers the Christmas season with overnights in Hamburg and Copenhagen. That itinerary includes scenic cruising on the Elbe River, a call to Aarhus, and stops along southern Norway including Oslo, Bergen and Stavanger.
Mediterranean at a Slower Pace
Beyond the holiday period, Nieuw Statendam‘s winter and spring sailings shift to the Mediterranean. Itineraries span the Western and Eastern Mediterranean as well as the Canary Islands, connecting ports across Spain, France, Italy and Greece.
Highlighted stops include Valencia, Marseille, Livorno, Naples and Pompeii, with farther east sailings reaching Mykonos, Rhodes, Istanbul and Kusadasi. Several itineraries include overnight port calls, giving passengers more time ashore.
Voyages range from seven to 14 days, with longer Collectors’ Voyages spanning up to 24 days. These can also be sailed back-to-back, allowing guests to combine regions across a broader itinerary.
A Different Side of Europe
Paul Grigsby, vice president of deployment and itinerary planning for Holland America Line, said the expansion would reveal a quieter, more immersive version of the continent.
“Europe continues to be one of the most sought-after destinations for our guests, and as a cruise line with Dutch roots, it’s a region we know incredibly well,” said Paul Grigsby, vice president of deployment and itinerary planning. “Expanding to year-round Europe allows us to showcase a completely different side of the destination — one that is quieter, more immersive and deeply seasonal. From the festive charm of Christmas markets to a cooler and more relaxed Mediterranean region, winter offers a more authentic way to experience Europe.”
The season opens on 20 November 2027 with a 15-day Western Mediterranean sailing roundtrip from Rotterdam, calling at Lisbon, Cadiz, Barcelona, Valencia and Gibraltar. The final listed departure is a 10-day Greek Isles itinerary from Athens on 11 March 2028.
Winter/Spring 2027–2028 Itineraries
- Nov. 20, 2027: 15-Day Western Mediterranean: Lisbon Overnight, roundtrip Rotterdam onboard Nieuw Statendam
- Calls at Lisbon (overnight), Cadiz, Barcelona, Valencia, Cartagena (Murcia), Gibraltar and Dover (London).
- Dec. 5, 2027: 13-Day Baltic & Scandinavian Christmas Markets: Stockholm, roundtrip Rotterdam (Dover option) onboard Nieuw Statendam
- Calls at Kiel (Hamburg), Tallinn, Helsinki (overnight), Stockholm (overnight), Copenhagen and Dover (London), with scenic cruising in the Stockholm Archipelago.
- Dec. 18, 2027: 15-Day Baltic & Scandinavian Christmas Market Holiday, roundtrip Rotterdam (Dover option) onboard Nieuw Statendam
- Includes scenic cruising on the Elbe River and calls at Hamburg (overnight), Aarhus, Copenhagen (overnight), Oslo, Kristiansand, Bergen and Stavanger, with scenic cruising in Hardangerfjord.
- Jan. 2, 2028: 14-Day Canary Island Enchantment with Morocco & Spain, Rotterdam to Barcelona (Dover option) onboard Nieuw Statendam
- Calls at Casablanca, Agadir, Puerto Rosario (Fuerteventura), Las Palmas (Gran Canaria), Santa Cruz de La Palma, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Cadiz (Seville) and Malaga (Granada).
- Jan. 16, 2028: 10-Day Mediterranean Splendor: Spain, France, Italy & Greece, Barcelona to Athens onboard Nieuw Statendam
- Calls at Valencia, Marseille (Provence), Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Civitavecchia (Rome), Naples (Pompeii) and Kotor, with scenic cruising in the Strait of Messina.
- Jan. 26, 2028: 10-Day Greek Isles: Istanbul Overnight with Mykonos & Rhodes, roundtrip Athens onboard Nieuw Statendam
- Calls at Mykonos, Istanbul (overnight), Kusadasi (Ephesus), Kos and Rhodes.
- Feb. 3, 2028: 14-Day Cultural Crossing with Morocco & Spain, Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona onboard Zuiderdam
- Calls at Tangier (Tetouan), Malaga (Granada), Cartagena (Murcia) and Valencia.
- Feb. 5, 2028: 7-Day Greek Isles: Cairo Overnight with Crete & Santorini, roundtrip Athens onboard Nieuw Statendam
- Calls at Alexandria (Cairo) (overnight), Souda (Crete/Chania) and Thira (Santorini).
- Feb. 12, 2028: 7-Day Mediterranean Splendor: Greece, Croatia & Italy, Athens to Rome onboard Nieuw Statendam
- Calls at Corfu, Dubrovnik, Kotor and Naples (Pompeii).
- Feb. 17, 2028: 9-Day Western Mediterranean: Spain, Morocco & Italy, Barcelona to Rome onboard Zuiderdam
- Calls at Valencia, Tangier (Tetouan), Cadiz (Seville), Malaga (Granada), Cagliari and Naples (Pompeii).
- Feb. 19, 2028: 7-Day Western Mediterranean: Italy, France & Gibraltar, Rome to Barcelona onboard Nieuw Statendam
- Calls at Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Genoa and Marseille (Provence), and Gibraltar.
- Feb. 26, 2028: 7-Day Mediterranean Splendor: Spain, Malta & Greece, Barcelona to Athens onboard Nieuw Statendam
- Calls at Alicante, La Goulette (Tunis), Valletta and Souda (Crete/Chania).
- March 4, 2028: 7-Day Greek Isles: Athens Overnight, roundtrip Athens onboard Nieuw Statendam
- Calls at Piraeus (Athens) (overnight), Thira (Santorini), Bodrum, Rhodes and Kusadasi (Ephesus).
- March 11, 2028: 10-Day Mediterranean Splendor: Greece, Malta & Spain, Athens to Lisbon onboard Nieuw Statendam
- Calls at Piraeus (Athens), Mykonos, Valletta, Palma de Mallorca, Alicante, Cartagena (Murcia), Tangier (Tetouan) and Cadiz (Seville).
Holland America Line said guests can book through a travel advisor, by calling the line directly, or via hollandamerica.com.
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