Holland America has unveiled plans for a 42-night round-trip cruise from North America to the Mediterranean, inspired by a similar voyage the company offered in 1925. The "Ultimate Mediterranean & Atlantic Passage" itinerary is set to commence on November 9, 2024, and will provide North American travelers an extensive tour of the Mediterranean without the need for a transatlantic flight.
The voyage will start in Fort Lauderdale, and the 1,432-passenger Volendam will make stops at 16 ports across nine countries. These include multiple stops in Israel and Egypt, allowing passengers to visit iconic Holy Land sites and famous landmarks such as the pyramids. Other stops include Horta and Ponta Delgada in Portugal's Azores archipelago, Tangier in Morocco, and Livorno and Civitavecchia in Italy, the gateway ports for Pisa and Rome.
They will also make day stops at Naples and Catania in Italy, the latter being on the island of Sicily. The itinerary also includes Piraeus, the port for Athens, Greece; La Goulette, Tunisia, the port for Tunis; Gibraltar; Cadiz, Spain; and Casablanca in Morocco. The cruise will conclude on December 21 in Fort Lauderdale after a return trip across the Atlantic.
The 1925 version of the itinerary was similar, but it began and ended in New York City. The new itinerary has been tweaked to closely resemble the original, with nine of the original 15 stops included in the new itinerary.
Fares for the new 42-night itinerary start at $5,189 per person, not including taxes, fees, and port charges of up to $435 per person.
