OOSTERDAM
August 25, 2026 | Mediterranean Cruise – Day 4: Corfu, Greece
Day 4 of our 14-day Mediterranean cruise aboard Oosterdam (Holland America Line) brought us to Corfu, Greece, on August 25, 2026. Following our visit to Kotor, the ship returned to Greek waters for a call at the Ionian island before continuing to Messina, Sicily.
Oosterdam entered service in 2003 as the second of Holland America Line’s four Vista-class ships, following Zuiderdam. Built by Fincantieri at Marghera, Italy, she combined the company’s traditional passenger-ship identity with a larger contemporary design, extensive verandah accommodations and expanded public spaces. Her introduction coincided with Holland America’s 130th anniversary, linking a new generation of ships with the company’s long maritime history.
Her name incorporates the Dutch word “oost,” meaning east, and forms part of a compass-point naming theme shared with Zuiderdam, Westerdam and Noordam. The Vista-class ships became an important part of Holland America’s worldwide cruise operations, with deployments extending beyond Europe to Alaska and other regions. Our August and September 2026 voyage aboard Oosterdam followed a route from Athens to Barcelona, combining Adriatic and Ionian ports with destinations in Italy, France and the western Mediterranean.
Information List
Ship: Oosterdam
Operator: Holland America Line
Builder: Fincantieri, Marghera, Italy
Launched: November 18, 2002
Entered Service: 2003
Christened: July 29, 2003, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Class: Vista Class
Ship Type: Cruise ship
Length: Approximately 936 feet
Beam: Approximately 106 feet
Gross Tonnage: Approximately 82,300 GT
Guest Capacity: Approximately 1,964
Crew: Approximately 800
Passenger Decks: 11
IMO Number: 9221281
Operator During This Voyage: Holland America Line
Cruise: Our 14-day Mediterranean cruise from Athens to Barcelona
Cruise Dates: August 22–September 5, 2026
Embarkation Port: Piraeus, Greece
Disembarkation Port: Barcelona, Spain
Cruise Day: Day 4
Visit Shown: August 25, 2026, Corfu, Greece
History and Features
Construction and Entry Into Service:
Oosterdam was constructed by Fincantieri at its Marghera shipyard near Venice, Italy.
She was launched on November 18, 2002, before fitting-out work continued into 2003.
The ship entered service as Holland America’s second Vista-class vessel, following Zuiderdam.
Princess Margriet of the Netherlands christened Oosterdam in Rotterdam on July 29, 2003.
The naming formed part of celebrations marking Holland America Line’s 130th anniversary.
Westerdam and Noordam subsequently completed the company’s four-ship Vista-class group.
Design and Features:
The Vista-class design emphasized ocean views, verandah accommodations and a broad range of passenger facilities.
Oosterdam retains Holland America’s traditional dark hull and white superstructure.
Her machinery combines diesel engines and a gas turbine to supply electrical power.
Two Azipod propulsion units provide propulsion and maneuverability.
The ship’s public spaces include observation areas, dining venues, lounges and outdoor decks.
Her size and layout support both regional cruises and longer journeys between different cruising areas.
Our 2026 Mediterranean Cruise:
Our 14-day cruise aboard Oosterdam began at Piraeus, the port serving Athens, on August 22, 2026.
August 22 was Day 1 and embarkation day, followed by a day at sea on August 23.
Kotor, Montenegro, was our first port on August 24.
Corfu on August 25 was Day 4 and our second port of call after leaving Piraeus.
The voyage continued to Messina, Sicily, on August 26, followed by an overnight visit to Salerno on August 27–28.
Civitavecchia on August 29 and Portofino on August 30 completed the next portion of our Italian port visits.
We visited Ajaccio, Corsica, on August 31 and Marseille on September 1.
Following a day at sea, the ship called at Gibraltar on September 3.
A final day at sea preceded our arrival in Barcelona on September 5.
This gallery continues the photographic record of the same voyage documented in our Salerno and Ajaccio galleries.
Corfu – August 25, 2026:
Our Day 4 call brought Oosterdam to Corfu, one of Greece’s Ionian islands.
Corfu lies off the northwestern coast of Greece, close to Albania and the entrance to the Adriatic Sea.
The island’s position made it an important location along Mediterranean maritime trading routes.
Corfu Town, also known as Kerkyra, has a distinctive architectural character shaped by Venetian rule and later European influences.
Its fortifications reflect the island’s strategic importance and the efforts made to defend Venetian trading interests.
The Old Town of Corfu was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2007.
The visit followed our previous day in Kotor and came before the voyage continued west toward Sicily.
Our photographs document Oosterdam during this Greek island stop as part of our journey from Athens to Barcelona.
Service:
Oosterdam entered service with Holland America Line in 2003.
Her career has included European and Mediterranean voyages as well as deployments in Alaska and other cruising regions.
The ship’s Vista-class design provides a consistent platform for itineraries combining port visits and days at sea.
Our August 2026 cruise connected Greece and Montenegro with Italian ports before continuing through the western Mediterranean.
Corfu formed part of the opening section of that voyage, between Kotor and Messina.
Legacy:
Oosterdam helped establish the Vista class as a central part of Holland America Line’s fleet.
Her introduction during the company’s 130th anniversary connected modern cruise-ship development with Holland America’s Dutch heritage.
Her name completes the eastern point of the compass theme shared by the four Vista-class sister ships.
Our 2026 voyage adds a firsthand record of life and port visits aboard Oosterdam to the Ocean Liner Photography collection.
OLP Social: Our second port of call brought us back to Greek waters for a visit to the Ionian island of Corfu, between Kotor and Messina on our Athens-to-Barcelona voyage.
