Vickers Vacations

Just 6 seats left! Don't be disappointed, book today.

***update - 14 seats booked, book soon, tour will sell out**

Most of you already know that I'm not happy unless I have 3 to 4 trips booked!

Sooooo I'm going to Spain & hope you will join me.

September 18 to 27, 2027

Experience the Best of Spain
Discover the spirit of Spain—sun-soaked cities, vibrant culture, and unforgettable cuisine.Experience Spain’s rich energy as you journey through Madrid, Seville, Granada, Córdoba, Valencia, and Barcelona. Explore Moorish palaces, feel the rhythm of flamenco, and stand in awe before the Alhambra and the breathtaking Sagrada Família. A special highlight awaits at Bodegas Viña Elena, where the Pacheco family—now in its third and fourth generation—welcomes you for a vineyard tour and a four-course lunch paired with their celebrated Monastrell wines.

$3119.00 per person
(Based on double occupancy)

Must book by 8/3/26
(Price increases $125 p.p.)

2 nights Madrid
2 nights Seville
1 night Granada
1 night Valencia
2 nights Barcelona

Contact me today for more information. Will sell out!
[email protected]

Holland America's beloved flagship is finally getting a chance to shine where it's never sailed before — and the timing couldn't be better for cruisers looking to escape summer crowds.

Holland America Line has announced that Rotterdam, the line's Pinnacle-class flagship, will sail her FIRST-EVER Mediterranean season in fall 2027. Five carefully curated itineraries are now available for booking, all designed to experience the Mediterranean during one of its most pleasant times of year.

Here's what's coming with the new fall 2027 program:

🔹 Ship: Rotterdam (Holland America's flagship, Pinnacle-class, 99,800 gross tons)
🔹 Season: October through December 2027
🔹 FIVE total Mediterranean itineraries
🔹 10 and 11-day voyages plus a 14-day transatlantic
🔹 Spans BOTH Western and Eastern Mediterranean
🔹 Includes scenic cruising through the Strait of Messina past Stromboli volcano
🔹 Bookings are NOW OPEN

The five new itineraries available:

🔹 OCT 17, 2027 — 10-day "Around the Iberian Peninsula: Spain & Portugal"
🔹 Rotterdam (Netherlands) to Barcelona
🔹 Calls at Portsmouth, Bordeaux, Bilbao, Cartagena, Valencia, Lisbon

🔹 OCT 27, 2027 — 11-day "Mediterranean Splendor: Spain, Italy & Greece"
🔹 Barcelona to Athens
🔹 Palma de Mallorca, Marseille, Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Civitavecchia (Rome), Naples (Pompeii), Corfu, Kotor

🔹 NOV 7, 2027 — 10-day "Greek Isles: Istanbul Overnight"
🔹 Roundtrip Athens
🔹 Mykonos, Rhodes, Kusadasi (Ephesus), Istanbul (overnight)

🔹 NOV 17, 2027 — 11-day "Greek Isles: Egypt & The Holy Land"
🔹 Roundtrip Athens
🔹 Alexandria (Cairo), Limassol, Antalya, Kusadasi, Rhodes, Haifa (Tel Aviv overnight)

🔹 NOV 28, 2027 — 10-day "Mediterranean Splendor: Italy with Rome Evening Stay"
🔹 Athens to Barcelona
🔹 Kotor, Valletta, Messina, Naples, Rome (evening), Livorno (Florence/Pisa)
🔹 SCENIC cruising through the Strait of Messina and past Stromboli volcano

🔹 DEC 8, 2027 — 14-day "Cultural Crossing with Spain and Morocco"
🔹 Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale, Florida
🔹 Valencia, Alicante, Málaga, Tangier (Morocco)
🔹 Transatlantic crossing concludes the season

Why a fall Mediterranean cruise is a smart choice:

🔹 SMALLER CROWDS than peak summer at every major port
🔹 More comfortable temperatures (typically 65-80°F in October)
🔹 Lower hotel and flight prices for shoulder season travel
🔹 More authentic local atmosphere as tourists thin out
🔹 Cooler comfortable weather for walking historic cities
🔹 No heat exhaustion at the Vatican, Colosseum, or Acropolis
🔹 Lower cruise pricing than peak season options

What makes Rotterdam special as a Mediterranean ship:

🔹 Pinnacle-class — Holland America's premium ship category
🔹 2,668 guest capacity at double occupancy
🔹 11 dining venues including specialty restaurants
🔹 The famous "Music Walk" entertainment district
🔹 BB King's Blues Club, Billboard Onboard piano bar, Lincoln Center Stage
🔹 Built specifically for refined classic ocean travel
🔹 Beautiful art collection throughout

Holland America's bigger 2027-2028 Europe commitment:

🔹 More than 20 European sailings across the season
🔹 Four ships in Europe: Rotterdam, Nieuw Statendam, Oosterdam, Zuiderdam
🔹 Nieuw Statendam staying in Europe year-round
🔹 Christmas market cruises in Northern Europe
🔹 Canary Islands routes added
🔹 Extra winter Mediterranean sailings

What "Collectors' Voyages" means for the most ambitious cruisers:

🔹 Multiple Rotterdam itineraries can be combined back-to-back
🔹 Extended voyages without repeating ports
🔹 More time to explore deeper destinations
🔹 Some combinations span 21+ days
🔹 Particularly valuable for retirees with flexible schedules
🔹 Often offer better per-night pricing than booking single sailings

The bigger trend Rotterdam's Mediterranean season represents:

🔹 "Coolcation" travel — escaping summer heat for milder seasons
🔹 Rising global temperatures making summer Mediterranean tourism harder
🔹 Shoulder season cruising growing dramatically faster than peak
🔹 Multiple cruise lines extending Mediterranean operations into fall and winter
🔹 More premium cruise lines deploying flagships to Europe year-round
🔹 Demand for fewer crowds at major destinations

Why Holland America is leaning into this shift:

🔹 Holland America has been operating in Europe for over 150 years
🔹 The line's classic cruise heritage fits sophisticated European travel
🔹 Mid-size ships access ports megaships can't reach
🔹 Strong reputation for destination immersion
🔹 Recently announced Year-Round Europe season for Nieuw Statendam
🔹 Capturing growing premium cruise market

Highlight destinations on the new sailings:

🔹 ROME (Civitavecchia) — Evening stays allow for sunset visits to historic sites
🔹 EPHESUS — One of the world's best-preserved ancient cities, near Kusadasi
🔹 ISTANBUL — Overnight stays allow for nighttime mosque visits and Bosphorus dining
🔹 STROMBOLI — Active volcano scenic cruising (rare and dramatic)
🔹 ALEXANDRIA — Gateway to Cairo, the pyramids, and ancient Egyptian history
🔹 TANGIER — Morocco's gateway, rich with culture and history
🔹 KOTOR — Stunning Adriatic fjord-like bay, increasingly popular cruise port

For Holland America loyalists and Mediterranean enthusiasts:

🔹 If you've cruised Holland America's Caribbean offerings, the Mediterranean offers a different experience
🔹 Rotterdam's flagship status means premium amenities and design
🔹 Fall pricing typically beats summer pricing by 20-30%
🔹 Combine sailings for longer immersive voyages
🔹 Limited inventory on inaugural sailings — book early
🔹 The 14-day transatlantic crossing is a unique opportunity

If you've been considering a Mediterranean cruise but wanted something a step above mainstream lines, Rotterdam's fall 2027 Mediterranean season is a strong option. The combination of Holland America's heritage refinement, the flagship's premium amenities, and the cooler shoulder-season conditions creates exactly the kind of trip many cruisers have been hoping for.