INCREDIBLE TOURS FEATURING:
Our week aboard the Rotterdam is as much about the sailing as it is about the places we visit. We travel deep into Norway’s magnificent fjords, where narrow waterways wind between towering mountains, waterfalls, and tiny villages, with the scenery unfolding directly from the ship.
Days ashore are balanced with scenic cruising and time to enjoy the ship, creating a relaxed journey through one of the world’s most beautiful coastal landscapes.
David and Adina Lebor will lead our tour with over two decades of experience leading Jewish groups all over the world.
David and Adina will personally accompany you on the cruise and on the guided tours at each port of call, ensuring you make the most of every destination.
Golden Tours is Israel’s premier travel agency specializing in luxury kosher cruise experiences around the world. With decades of expertise, they offer meticulously curated cruise packages that combine top-tier amenities with a rich and authentic Jewish experience on board. Their cruises feature gourmet Glatt Kosher cuisine prepared fresh daily on the ship under strict Rabbinical supervision.
We are thrilled to partner with Golden Tours on select high-end cruises, bringing our guests world-class itineraries that span the globe. Together, we are proud to deliver unforgettable journeys that blend comfort, kashrut, and meaningful Jewish life at sea.
Glatt Kosher Gourmet Meals prepared by Golden Tours and Holland America Master Chefs
Enjoy three delicious Glatt Kosher meals a day, plus complimentary drinks, tea, coffee, and more—as offered by the cruise line—all under the highest standards of kashrut.
The Holland America Rotterdam
Holland America Line’s Rotterdam is the flagship of the fleet and one of its newest Pinnacle Class ships, entering service in 2021. Carrying approximately 2,650 guests, it combines contemporary design with the traditional elegance and relaxed atmosphere for which Holland America is known.
The ship features comfortable staterooms, spacious lounges, pools, live entertainment venues, and extensive indoor and outdoor viewing areas. Its panoramic Crow’s Nest and open decks provide excellent views while sailing through Norway’s fjords and coastal scenery.
This journey through the Norwegian Fjords combines some of Norway’s most beautiful natural scenery with its historic coastal towns. The itinerary includes Eidfjord, surrounded by the mountains and waterfalls of Hardangerfjord; Olden, set deep within Nordfjord amid glaciers and dramatic peaks; Ålesund, known for its distinctive Art Nouveau architecture; and Bergen, Norway’s historic gateway to the fjords.
Between ports, scenic cruising through Hardangerfjord and Nordfjord provides some of the most impressive landscapes of the journey, with steep mountains, waterfalls and small villages lining the waterways.
Guests traveling from New York should plan to arrive in Amsterdam before Shabbat on Friday, June 18. There are numerous flight options from the New York area to Amsterdam, allowing guests to choose the airline and schedule that works best for them. We recommend spending Shabbat in Amsterdam and staying at a hotel convenient to the Jewish community. Chabad of Amsterdam offers Friday night and Shabbat meals with advance reservations, and there are several kosher restaurants and food options available before and after Shabbat. Guests should make their own flight, hotel and Shabbat arrangements.
You can contact Chabad Amsterdam directly through their website: https://chabadamsterdamcenter.com/en/shabbat/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
On Sunday morning, travel from Amsterdam to the Rotterdam cruise terminal. Trains run from Amsterdam to Rotterdam, and guests can continue by taxi to the cruise terminal. Alternatively, a taxi or private transfer can be arranged directly from Amsterdam to the ship. Please allow plenty of time to arrive at the cruise terminal well before the 3:00 PM departure.
A complete travel package from Israel is available through Golden Tours, including round-trip flights, the 7-night cruise aboard Holland America Line’s Rotterdam, all transfers, and the complete Golden Tours shore excursion program.
Presale Prices – per person, double occupancy
Interior Stateroom – $5,890
Ocean View Stateroom – $6,490
Verandah (Balcony) Stateroom – $6,790
Suite – $7,690
Presale pricing is limited, subject to availability, and may increase as the sailing fills.
Shore Excursions: A specially arranged Golden Tours shore excursion package is available at an additional cost for guests booking the cruise-only package. The complete shore excursion package is included in the Israel Travel Package.
Rotterdam, the Netherlands’ second-largest city and Europe’s busiest port, is known for its striking modern architecture and innovative design, having been largely rebuilt after World War II. Explore its impressive skyline, excellent museums, and historic Delfshaven, where the Pilgrims departed for the New World in 1620.
Ship departs at 3:00 PM
Enjoy a relaxing day at sea as we sail in comfort aboard the elegant Rotterdam. These unhurried days are perfect for unwinding and enjoying the ship’s amenities—spacious decks, comfortable lounges, enrichment programs, and tranquil ocean views—while preparing for the exciting destinations ahead.
We will dock in the picturesque village of Eidfjord, known for its traditional Norwegian architecture and charming atmosphere. Located on the shores of the fjord that bears its name, this small village is home to only a few hundred residents and has become a popular destination for visitors arriving both by land and by cruise ship.
We will travel along Hardangerfjord and visit the spectacular Vøringsfossen, one of Norway’s most famous waterfalls, plunging approximately 182 meters amid dramatic mountain scenery. We will also visit the Sysendammen Reservoir, which supplies water to the Sima hydroelectric power station and offers beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and glaciers. At the conclusion of our tour, we will return to the ship.
Golden Tours Shore Excursion
We will dock in Olden, a picturesque village surrounded by towering mountains, lush valleys and pristine fjords. From here, we will travel to the spectacular Bøyabreen Glacier, an arm of Jostedalsbreen, the largest glacier in continental Europe. We will enjoy views of the dramatic glacier as it descends the mountainside toward the glacial lake below.
We then continue to the Loen Skylift, one of Norway’s most spectacular attractions. In just five minutes, the cable car climbs to an elevation of 1,011 meters, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding fjords, glaciers and mountains. At the conclusion of our visit, we will return to the ship and continue our cruise.
Golden Tours Shore Excursion
We will dock in Ålesund, one of Norway’s most important ports, beautifully situated on a series of islands along the country’s northwestern coast. From here, we will travel to the famous Trollstigen (Troll Road), one of Norway’s most dramatic mountain roads.
The road winds through steep mountains, lush valleys, towering cliffs, and cascading waterfalls, with spectacular viewpoints along the way. One of the highlights is Stigfossen, an impressive waterfall plunging approximately 320 meters down the mountainside beside the road. After a day of magnificent Norwegian scenery, we will return to the ship and continue to our next destination.
Golden Tours Shore Excursion
Founded in 1070, Bergen is known as the “Gateway to the Fjords” and is beautifully situated between mountains and the sea. We will explore the historic Bryggen district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its distinctive colorful wooden buildings lining the old harbor.
We will then ride the famous Fløibanen funicular to the top of Mount Fløyen, where we will enjoy panoramic views over Bergen and the surrounding fjords and mountains. We will also have time to visit the historic Fish Market and enjoy some last-minute shopping before returning to the ship to prepare for Shabbat, followed by candle lighting, Kabbalat Shabbat, and our festive Friday night dinner.
We will stay on board on Shabbat, enjoying beautiful Shabbat meals, davening, shiurim, and relaxing.
