When Koningsdam sets sail in April, guests onboard will be part of one of the most important moments in recent Holland America Line history. The flagship of the Holland America Line fleet will carry forward all of the line’s tradition, nautical heritage and signature service and style, all while ushering in a new era of Pinnacle-class cruising. Koningsdam represents a new class of ship for Holland America Line and it will be the line’s most innovative vessel yet.

The new flagship will spend the month of April sailing in the Mediterranean before it makes its way toward Amsterdam to be christened. Guests who sail on one of the ship’s first itineraries will enjoy an incredible experience that blends the new (new ship, new class and new era) with the old as the ship makes its maiden calls at the Mediterranean’s most intriguing and historically important ports.

Koningsdam’s seven-day Premiere Voyage departs roundtrip Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy, on April 8, and will feature calls at Dubrovnik, Crotia; Corfu and Katakolon, Greece; Sarande, Albania; and Naples, Italy.

Step back in time when visiting Olympia and Pompeii.

At Katakolon, guests can journey 2,000 years back in time on a visit to Olympia, where the first Olympic Games were held and the impressive pillars of the Temple of Zeus still stand today. At Naples, guests can visit Pompeii, perfectly preserved since Mount Vesuvius erupted in A.D. 79.

On April 15, Koningsdam will depart on a exciting 24-day Treasures of the Mediterranean Collectors’ Voyage cruise, also roundtrip Civitavecchia, and highlighted by an overnight call at Barcelona.

Barcelona, Spain, has something for everyone to enjoy. With an overnight call guests can wander the city that — if you believe the legends — was founded by Hercules well before Rome. Barcelona is a global capital of commerce, fashion and culture, and you can experience all of it with a walk down world-famous Las Ramblas — a tree-shaded street at the heart of the city. For Gaudi lovers, visits to La Sagrada Familia, the Park Guell and Casa Mila are a must.

Explore Barcelona by night during an overnight call.

To truly immerse yourself in Barcelona’s lively nighttime atmosphere, enjoy a mixed seafood paella dinner at an Andalusian restaurant and an exciting performance of Flamenco. Among the gypsies of Andalusia, the popular dance was once used as an expression of poverty, oppression and grief, but today Flamenco has become a means of expressing happiness. Flamenco features three elements: the song (el cante), the dance (el baile) and the guitar (el toque), and you’ll love how they all come together.

Throughout the cruise Koningsdam also will call at Katakolon, Piraeus (Athens), Rhodes and Iraklion (Crete); Kusadasi (Ephesus), and Istanbul, Turkey; Naples; Palermo, Sicily; Cagliari, Sardinia; Gibraltar; and Cadiz, Malaga, and Cartagena, Spain.

For guests who want to cruise in April, different combinations of the seven-day premiere voyage and 24-day Collectors’ Voyage are available, all roundtrip Civitavecchia, including:

19-day Premiere Voyage & Mediterranean Treasures Collectors’ Voyage that combines Koningsdam’s first cruise and the first portion of the Treasures of the Mediterranean cruise.

12-day Greek & Turkish Treasures cruise featuring the first portion of the 24-day itinerary.

12-day Mediterranean Mosaic cruise departing April 27, including the second portion of the 24-day itinerary.

After a summer spent primarily in the Baltic, Koningsdam will return to the Mediterranean in September, first cruising a 12-day Greek and Turkish Treasures itinerary departing Sept. 30, from Civitavecchia.

With visits to impressive eastern Mediterranean ports in Greece and Turkey, guests will enjoy days full of surprises and discoveries. Calls along the way include Athens, Greece, home to the Parthenon, Acropolis and numerous other ancient Greek sites, as well as and Ephesus, via Kusadasi, Turkey, featuring one of the largest collections of ruins in the eastern Mediterranean. Additional calls make for a perfect 12 days: including Katakolon, Rhodes, Iraklion, Istanbul and Naples.

It’s not all about delicious wines and tapas in Spain. Cities like Cadiz feature incredible architecture.

On Oct. 12, Koningsdam will depart Civitavecchia on a 12-day Mediterranean Mosaic itinerary, featuring calls in the western Mediterranean. Guests will visit Naples, Palermo, Cagliari and Gibraltar, before enjoying Spain with five calls along the coast of the country: Cadiz, Malaga, Cartagena, Valencia and Barcelona.

A 24-day Mediterranean Treasures cruise is available for guests who don’t want to choose between the east and the west, combining both of these itineraries.

Countdown to Koningsdam Video Series
You can get a preview of the ship with our “Countdown to Koningsdam” short video series that, in addition to construction updates, gives guests a sneak peek at the flagship’s interior spaces and entertainment offerings. In the second video of the series Linda Springmann, Holland America Line vice president deployment & itinerary planning, details Koningsdam’s inaugural itineraries.

For an even further look into the new flagship, enjoy the third video in the series, which was just released. Holland America Line Entertainment Director Bill Prince details Koningsdam’s World Stage.

With the View & Verandah promotion going on now, there’s no better time to book your Mediterranean cruise on Koningsdam. We’re offering stateroom upgrades, up to 10 percent off shore excursions and up to 25 percent off Collectors’ Voyages on 2016-2017 sailings when booked by Feb. 29, 2016!

Will you be cruising on Koningsdam when the ship debuts in April? Which ports are you looking forward to most while visiting on the new flagship?