10 Day Riviera Retreat with Holland America

Set sail on a 10-day Mediterranean adventure with Holland America’s Riviera Retreat cruise, and immerse yourself in the captivating cultures, stunning landscapes, and rich histories of this iconic region. From the glamorous French Riviera to the picturesque coastlines of Spain and Northern Africa, this journey offers the perfect blend of relaxation and exploration. Experience world-class amenities aboard the elegant ship, indulge in gourmet dining, and discover charming ports filled with unique experiences. Whether you’re exploring ancient ruins or savoring local cuisine, this cruise promises unforgettable memories at every stop. Don’t miss the chance to traverse the Mediterranean in style!

Verandah Stateroom From $5,371 CAD per person 
*price includes Have It All package 

HAVE IT ALL INCLUDES

Shore Excursion Credits:  The longer you cruise, the more you can explore. Receive Shore Excursion Credit to apply towards a variety of adventures and experiences.

Beverage Package: Choose from a large selection of wine, beer, spirits and cocktails, plus non-alcoholic options like sodas, specialty coffees and more – with beverage service charges on us.

Specialty Dining: Enhance your cruise with award-winning specialty dining at Pinnacle Grill, Canaletto or Tamarind. Restaurant availability is based on cruise ship.

WiFi:  Stay connected throughout your journey. Surf the web, use social media, check email and send messages to friends and family.

July 20, 2025  Barcelona, Spain 

On the northeast coast of Spain, overlooking the Mediterranean, Barcelona is a vibrant port city, packed with centuries of iconic art and architecture—Gaudí and Picasso both called it home—and lined with sunny white-sand beaches. Explore the Catalan capital's tourist attractions and historic neighborhoods, Modernisme and world-renowned art museums, galleries and local crafts shops—some of which are centuries old and stock traditional Catalan wares. After you see the sights, there are lively tapas bars around every corner where you can stop for a drink, a café amb llet (Catalan for espresso with steamed milk) or a snack, no matter the hour. Green spaces for picnics, long walks and respite from the hustle and bustle are scattered throughout Barcelona's attractions: There's Gaudí's mosaic-decorated park, a neoclassical maze at the Laberint d'Horta, as well as plenty of high places (mountains, monuments and edifices) where sightseeing visitors can take in the view. A short trip from Barcelona by car or train, luxury outlets, cava wineries, a mountaintop abbey and the sandy beaches of the Mediterranean coast await.

July 21, 2025 Cannes, France

The French Riviera is ritzy, but sun-drenched Cannes, France takes it to a new level. Every year in May, hordes of celebrities and their associates descend for its world-renowned film festival. If your France cruise happens to be at this time of year, expect a frenzy of flash bulbs and fancy dress, which is truly something to witness. But Cannes bubbles with year-round glamor. A simple stroll along La Croisette will show you why the city is a top choice among well-to-do vacationers. Lavish hotels, designer shops, and yachts bobbing in turquoise marinas line this walkway. But long before it was a celebrity playground, Cannes was a simple fishing town. You can see vestiges of its rustic past throughout the city. Le Suquet Village oozes old world charm, topped with the 11th Century Tour du Mont Chevalier watchtower. Vieux Port is the entry to winding cobblestone streets that date back to medieval times. Relax with a café au lait and baguette in the cool shade of the Square Mistral or view a collection of antiquities housed in a castle. When it comes to things to do in Cannes, France, snagging a spot on one of its public beaches, such as Plage du Casino or Plage Macé is a good idea. France cruises to this stunning region fill up fast, so plan accordingly.

July 22, 2025 Portofino, Italy

We take you to unique ports of call and seldom-seen gems on board perfectly sized ships that get closer to it all. Explore like a local across iconic cities and enchanting villages. Deepen your understanding of the people and places you visit with exclusive Exploration Central® programs. Stories from locals, insider travel tips, cooking demonstrations and more give more insight into every amazing cruise port. As you watch the scenery roll by, feel like you have the ship all to yourself with our spacious decks and public areas. Go into the heart of every cruise port of call for an enriching experience you’ll never forget.

July 23, 2025 Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Italy

The Renaissance-era port city of Livorno, Italy, gateway to Pisa, Florence and the rest of the attractions of Tuscany, is characterized by its solid 16th-century Fortezza and the charming canal network known as Venezia Nuova. It’s also famous for cacciucco, a spicy fish stew.

To the north of Livorno, not far from the mouth of the river Arno, lies Pisa, an attractive university city best known for its Leaning Tower. Some 60 miles to the east, and also set on the Arno, is Florence, Tuscany's capital. The concentration of artistic treasures and cultural things to do in Tuscany, from museums and cloisters to bridges and chapels, is second to none—but there is lots more besides sightseeing in Florence. The food and drink culture in Florence takes in tripe stands and hole-in-the-wall wine bars as well as embracing gourmet restaurants and plenty of down-to-earth family-run trattorias. The shopping scene offers the designer stores of Via Tornabuoni and Via Roma, but there are plenty of quirky, independent boutiques too. And then there is Florence’s traditions of leather work, marbled paper, book-binding and furniture restoration. Explore the sights of the arty Oltrarno neighborhood for artisan workshops, great cafés, bars and restaurants and an authentically Florentine atmosphere.

July 24, 2025  Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy

When you embark on a cruise to Rome with Holland America Line you experience its bustling modernism along with its rich history. You can walk in the footsteps of emperors, have coffee in Renaissance piazzas and see contemporary art all in one afternoon. Your sightseeing time in Rome begins at the nearby port of Civitavecchia, a seaside town with roots that stretch back to the Etruscan era. Take note of the Forte Michelangelo (both Bramante and Michelangelo had a hand in its design), and the lungomare, a lively stretch along the sea with beach clubs, bars and restaurants.

Once in the Eternal City you can fill your day with museums, churches, archaeological sites, traditional trattorias, artisan shops and, of course, gelato. The Colosseum and the Vatican Museums are Rome's superstar attractions, but there are plenty of quieter gems to explore. For food lovers there are the markets in Campo de' Fiori or the slightly farther flung Testaccio. The hip neighborhood of Monti, next to the Colosseum, has a vibrant piazza scene and boutique shopping, while the Villa Borghese offers a green oasis with a view towards Saint Peter’s Basilica and the masterpiece-filled Galleria Borghese. Although Rome might not have been built in one day, you'll certainly be able to see its highlights on our Rome cruises along with the top things to do there in 24 hours.

July 25, 2025  Cruising Strait of Messina 

The Strait of Messina is the narrow waterway between Sicily and Calabria, the southernmost region on the Italian peninsula. Despite its relatively short length, the Strait of Messina is endowed with many unique qualities, making it one of the more dramatic passages in the Mediterranean. Its narrowest point—less than three kilometers (two miles)—creates a natural bottleneck and a distinct sheltered marine ecosystem; it is also a significant migration point for numerous species of birds. Noted for its large numbers of raptors and storks, the strait is one of the most popular and important bird-watching locations in Europe. Whales also swim along the length of the strait, adding to the area’s remarkable biodiversity.

The Strait of Messina figures prominently in Greek mythology, most notably as the site of Scylla and Charybdis, mythical monsters of the sea that were embodied in rocky shoals on the Calabrian side and a whirlpool on the Sicilian side. These natural hazards would later lead to the phrase “between a rock and a hard place,” in English. For travelers today, however, sailing the strait is an easy decision, with its opportunities to spot wildlife in the shadow of Mount Etna.

July 26, 2025 Valletta, Malta

The ancient city of Valletta is teeming with historic monuments, churches and gardens. At just one-third of a square mile in area, Europe's southernmost capital is one of the easiest to explore on foot. Given Malta's strategic location and succession of rulers including the Romans, Normans, Sicilians, Spanish, Knights of St. John, French and British, it’s somewhat surprising to see Valletta so well preserved. The city dates back to the 16th century and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980. Extensive restorations of historic buildings are underway, including the rebuilding of the city entrance to mark Valletta's recognition as the European Capital of Culture in 2018. Decades of British rule mean that English remains an official language, along with the local Maltese language, plus a curious mix of Italian vocabulary and Semitic roots. As Malta lies just 50 miles south of Sicily, Italian influences dominate the cuisine and culture. Even so, the Maltese do value their own traditions, such as the folk music known as Għana, which features strong yet poetic male vocals over slow guitar music.

July 27, 2025 La Goulette (Tunis), Tunisia

Tunis, the vibrant capital of Tunisia, offers an exciting blend of rich history, stunning architecture, and a lively cultural scene. As your cruise ship docks in the port of Tunis, you’ll be just a short distance from the ancient ruins of Carthage, where you can explore the remnants of one of history's most influential civilizations. The Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a maze of narrow streets lined with traditional markets, offering local crafts, spices, and textiles. You can also visit the Bardo Museum, home to impressive Roman mosaics, or stroll along the beautiful Mediterranean coastline. Whether you’re discovering the ancient past or immersing yourself in the lively atmosphere of modern Tunis, this port offers an unforgettable experience.

July 28, 2025 - Day at sea 

A day at sea on the Oosterdam is a perfect mix of relaxation and excitement. You start your morning with a delicious breakfast while enjoying ocean views, then spend the day lounging by the pool, indulging in spa treatments, or attending fun activities like dance classes or cooking demonstrations. For a more active experience, you can hit the gym or take a walk on the deck. The afternoon is filled with entertainment, from live music to insightful lectures, while you sip a refreshing drink at one of the bars. As evening falls, enjoy a gourmet dinner, followed by Broadway-style shows or a visit to the casino, ensuring that your day is as leisurely or lively as you desire.

July 29, 2025 Gythion (Sparta), Greece

Once the port of ancient Sparta, this lovely fishing town draws its name from gi theon, which means "land of the gods" in Greek. It’s the entryway to the rugged, mountainous realm of the Spartans—the fiercely independent people who rejected foreign rule time and time again, and fought vicious internal feuds as well. As legend has it, a splinter group from Sparta settled among the olive trees and giant prickly-pear cactuses of the Mani Peninsula, where they built their distinctive, austere fortified towers. The region's bloodthirsty people became known as Maniots, meaning “of the dry, barren place.” (The folk etymology is more fun: It maintains that the name stems from the ancient Greek word mania.) Unable to quell the Maniots' fighting spirit, the Ottoman Turks largely left them alone—which turned out to be a grave tactical error. The defiant region became the cradle of the War of Greek Independence (1821–1832). Today Gíthion (also called Githio) presents a gentler aspect, with its lush hills, splendid beaches and neoclassical houses. It's a great base from which to explore the mysterious Mani’s stark landscapes, brooding villages and numerous churches, relics of the area’s intense religious fervor.

July 30, 2025 Piraeus (Athens), Greece

No modern metropolis is more steeped in myth than Athens, Greece. From the gritty port of Piraeus—gateway to Greece’s fabled isles—to the Parthenon—eternal symbol of Western civilization—Athens has attracted adventurers and classicists for centuries. This heritage is still very much alive for modern visitors sightseeing in Athens: ancient stadiums and temples dwell alongside apartment blocks, modern performances are staged in the marble amphitheaters where Greek drama was born and millennia-old monuments are scattered in the archaeological park that circles the Acropolis.

One of the world’s oldest maritime powers, Athens is blessed with a balmy climate and stunning coastline. The seaside suburbs of Athens are scalloped with sandy beaches, fancy yacht clubs and glamorous beach bars. While the Athenian lifestyle is known for late-night dinners and dancing until dawn, the city shines brightly by day in the bustling markets, lively cafés and fascinating museums that illuminate Greece's past and present. Contemplate the magnitude of all that culture and ancient tourist attractions while marveling at the sun setting into the Aegean or rising over the Acropolis.

Holland America's Oosterdam

With a mix of well known and less common ports this is the ideal way to spend your summer in the Mediterannean - reach out to your travel agent today!