For many of us, cruising Europe conjures up images of long summer days, busy Mediterranean ports and balmy evenings somewhere off the coast of Greece or Italy.

But the team at Holland America Line want travellers to think beyond the traditional European summer, having recently opened bookings for its 2028 Europe season, which will run from January through to early December.

Five ships — Rotterdam, Nieuw Statendam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Volendam and Zuiderdam — will spend time in the region, with itineraries ranging from seven-day escapes to a 48-day Legendary Mediterranean & Atlantic voyage.

And while there is plenty on offer during the warmer months, some of the more interesting options come outside the peak summer season.

“Europe is a destination that changes with every season, and each one offers guests a completely different way to experience it,” Holland America Line vice-president of deployment and revenue planning Paul Grigsby says.

“We build each season around moments travellers can only experience at certain times of year.”

For example, spring sailings coincide with tulip season in the Netherlands, while autumn voyages offer the chance to experience Spain, Italy, Greece and Croatia around harvest time.

During the European winter, Nieuw Statendam will swap the northern chill for milder weather on voyages through Spain, Portugal, Morocco and the Canary Islands. Summer remains the busiest period for the cruise line, with all five ships sailing across Europe, including Norway, Iceland, the British Isles, the Baltic, Greece, Croatia and Turkey.

In fact, the 2028 program includes the highest number of visits to Norway since 2014 and Spain since 2017, as well as a record number of calls to Ireland and the Netherlands.

The Mediterranean will also be a major focus, with seven to 11-day cruises departing from six home ports and visiting destinations across Spain, Italy, Greece, Croatia and Turkey.

Adding to the mix is Nieuw Amsterdam, which will return to Europe for the first time in more than a decade. Many of its Mediterranean itineraries can also be combined back-to-back, allowing travellers to spend longer exploring the region with few or no repeat ports.

There will also be overnight stays, extended calls and late-night departures at selected ports, giving travellers more time to explore once they step ashore.

And with more than 200 UNESCO World Heritage sites accessible across the 2028 program, there should be no shortage of things to see.

Bookings for Holland America Line’s 2028 Europe season are now open. For more information visit hollandamerica.com.