We cruised the western Mediterranean in waters where great civilizations flourished and clashed for thousands of years. We walked on sites where Phoenician sailors established colonies almost three thousand years ago, where Roman cities were destroyed two thousand years ago, and where knights returned from the crusades and built churches and forts almost one thousand years ago. It was a cruise through history as ten days passed aboard the m/s Noordam, Holland America Line’s newest addition to its fleet. Noordam, which means north in Dutch, is sailing the Mediterranean from May to September before it resumes a Caribbean cruise schedule out of New York City, where the company has been operating cruises for the past 130 years.

The cruise industry is a competitive one as there are lots of offerings. The trip on the m/s Noordam rates high for many reasons, beginning with the itinerary which included places of interest and enchantment. Beginning in Monaco and ending in Naples, we trekked through Barcelona, Florence, Tunisia, and Malta, to name several of the destinations. The ports were rich in history and diversity ranging from Monaco’s famed Oceanographic Museum to the ruins of Carthage in North Africa. The island of Malta turned out to be the biggest sleeper of all—already discovered by Steven Spielberg who filmed many of his recent movies in a refurbished fort cum studio at the entrance of the harbor.

Life on board was smooth sailing for the almost two thousand passengers. The experience resulted in a remarkable vacation on and off the ship. Although our stateroom was adequate, the food was extraordinary. I was a big fan of the Asian Bar, with an endless supply of sushi and Filipino specialties, (most of the staff is Indonesian but the kitchen crew is Filipino). I ate my breakfast from the Asian Bar, noticing how slim the Asian passengers were. The heck with eggs, pancakes, and bagels, my bowl of rice topped with shrimp and tofu, eased my gastronomic guilt the rest of the day—specifically when it came to the scrumptious desserts. We ate casual lunches, often poolside, and excellent dinners in the Vista Dining Room, but our dinner in the elegant Pinnacle Grill (reservations only) rivals any four star restaurant in both service and cuisine.

We were traveling with our 4-½ year old daughter, who had “the best vacation” at Club HAL, designed for three to seven year olds. No matter how hard we tried to explain early civilization based on our excursions to Carthage and Pompeii, Lucy’s favorite part of the cruise, hands down, was Club HAL. Life on board the ship was pleasing for both parent and child on the Lido deck with pools and hot tubs, and even allowed one parent to slip away to the Elemis Greenhouse Spa or very well equipped gym.

Our first stop was Monaco, where we visited the famous casino in Monte Carlo and felt like we were right out of a James Bond movie. The casino on board wasn’t quite as elaborate, but there was a lot of energy in there. People rolled the dice and pulled the levers hoping the results would send them running to the on board shops which sold everything from amber to crystal and offered local wares we might have overlooked in port. For quiet time, the Explorer’s Lounge offered a great library and Internet café. The nightly entertainment on board was varied and very good.

We benefited by taking excursions in most of the ports. They were arranged through the ship and though they were all thorough, some were better than others. We fell in love with Barcelona but know we have to go back someday because our tour guide’s English was hard to follow. After we left the tour, we went to the Picasso Museum on our own for an unforgettable experience. And, we never could have learned so much at Carthage and Pompeii had we tried to go it alone.

Our concerns that the Noordam might be too big and impersonal were unfounded. The great attention to detail made the experience intimate. Traveling on a big ship worked to our advantage because it had so much to offer in terms of amenities, activities, food, and a fabulous itinerary. The cruise was relaxing, rewarding, and an experience we highly recommend for unique family travel.