Tour Type
Cruise Tours
DEPARTURE INFORMATION
Lower Mainland
October 19, 2026 – 19 Days
Vancouver Island
October 18, 2026 – 21 Days
BC Interior
October 18, 2026 – 21 Days
Activity Level 2
GROUP SIZE
TOUR SUMMARY
President’s Cruise on Holland America’s Oosterdam
The 9th President’s Cruise is in the Mediterranean, timed to miss the heat of the summer months and take advantage of the less-crowded tourist sites in the fall. After a few days of highlights in Greece, we board the Oosterdam and cruise west through the Mediterranean to Barcelona. There are several places that Wells Gray has never been to before such as Sarandë, Albania; Valletta, Malta; Messina, Sicily; and Ajaccio, Corsica. Shore excursions are included at every port, hosted by knowledgeable guides, so you don’t have to book any expensive ship tours. There is also guided touring before the cruise in Greece and after in Barcelona. The Oosterdam is a medium-sized ship carrying only 1,800 passengers. What an incredible journey! And the President of Wells Gray Tours, Roland Neave, and his wife Anne will be on board with you!
WHAT’S INCLUDED
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Meals
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46 meals
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44 meals
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43 meals
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Transportation
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Accommodation
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Guides & Gratuities
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Knowledgeable Wells Gray tour director throughout tour & cruise
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Tour Highlights (Included)
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TOUR FARES
| Departure Point | Inside Stateroom Category I | Oceanview Stateroom Category C | Veranda Stateroom Category VA | Neptune Suite Category SA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
$13,995$18,180 |
$14,345$18,875 |
15,435$21,050 |
$19,670$29,430 |
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$14,170$18,355 |
14,520$19,050 |
$15,610$21,225 |
$19,845$29,605 |
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$13,605$17,505 |
$13,955$18,200 |
$15,045$20,375 |
$19,280$28,755 |
- Please add 0.3% GST.
- Other cruise categories including suites may be available.
- There is an additional cost to join this tour from Nanaimo or Comox.
DEPARTURE POINTS & DATES
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Level
Moderate Activity: As a traveller you like a variety of activities and walking up to 2 km with breaks such as a guided walking tour is very doable for you without assistance. You can stand for prolonged periods, negotiate a variety of terrain from cobblestone streets to moderate hills comfortably, board the ship’s tenders, and climb two flights of stairs without assistance. At airports and cruise terminals, you must handle your own luggage and often walk long distances.
You may need to handle your own luggage at hotels if luggage service is not available. You may bring a cane or walking poles if needed. Walkers are not appropriate for this tour. The coaches cannot carry a scooter or motorized wheelchair. The tour director and driver have many responsibilities, so please do not expect them, or your fellow travellers, to provide ongoing assistance. If you are not capable of keeping up with the group or require frequent assistance, the tour director may stop you from participating in some activities or some days of the tour. In extreme situations, you may be required to leave the tour and travel home at your own expense; travel insurance will probably not cover you.
Tour Size
This tour can accommodate up to 40 participants.
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Please book early: Please book early: Cruises are incredibly popular nowadays. Ships are filling up faster and earlier than they once did, so waiting too long to book usually means “Sorry, wait until another year.” Holland America has confirmed a block of staterooms for this cruise and they are normally held until 4 months before sailing (mid-June 2026). However, any unsold staterooms can be taken away from us at any time if the ship or even a category fills. This often occurs on our group cruises, then we must turn away disappointed customers, even though seats are available on the motorcoach. Please don’t delay booking this tour.
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Shore excursions included: On most cruises, shore excursions are a major additional expense during your holiday. For this trip, Wells Gray has arranged a private guided tour at every port: Olympia, Greece; Sarandë, Albania; Valletta, Malta; Messina, Sicily; Naples, Italy; Rome; Ajaccio, Corsica; Villefranche-sur-Mer, France; and Barcelona, Spain. Gratuities to drivers and guides are included. If you are comparing prices, please keep in mind that these nine tours with admissions and some meals are worth about US$2,000 if booked on the ship.
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Documentation: A passport is required with an expiry date at least 3 months after you return to Canada. A visa is not required for a Canadian to enter any of the countries on this tour.
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Currency & expenses: As this tour has been planned and priced 11 months before departure, it is possible that exchange fluctuations between the Canadian dollar and the Euro could affect the fare, in which case you will be notified of the increase or decrease. Your purchases on the ship are charged in US dollars. The Euro is used in all countries visited except Albania which uses the Lek, but Euros are widely accepted in tourist areas. As of January 2026, one Euro costs C$1.63. You should order Euros from your bank 1-2 weeks before departure, or plan to use ATMs. Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere.
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Gratuities: are included for the local guides and coach drivers for the Wells Gray shore excursions. If you buy a shore excursion on the ship or at the dock, bring cash for gratuities. The standard crew gratuities on board the ship are included, but a gratuity is normally charged extra for your purchases such as drinks or spa. Gratuities to the Wells Gray tour director and Canadian drivers are not included and left to your discretion.
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Flight seating: We are unable to take requests for window or aisle seating on the planes. The airline will not accept them, as group seating is assigned as a block. If this is important to you, we suggest you take the “No Flight” option with a fare reduction of $1,500 and book your own flight which allows seat selection. See our Terms & Conditions for further detail.
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Flight upgrades: Please enquire about current prices for upgrades on the flights from Vancouver to Athens and return from Barcelona. Premium economy and business class may be available.
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Flight delays or cancellations: In the event flights are delayed or cancelled by airlines due to weather or other reasons, there may be additional costs to you. Wells Gray Tours will not pay for hotel rooms and meals during the delay. Most travel insurance policies cover expenses incurred for flight delays.
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Food Allergies: You must notify us no later than at final payment if you have a food allergy. During the pre-cruise and post-cruise touring and the included shore excursions, some restaurants may not be able to satisfy all food allergies. An allergy causes medical distress, a preference does not. Most food allergies can be handled at meals on the ship, but you may have to order 24 hours in advance. For some allergies, please consider bringing your own snacks or food items so you are not dependent on what restaurants are able to serve.
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Payments: A deposit of $800 per person is requested at the time of booking and balance is due July 14, 2026. By paying the deposit, you agree to the Terms & Conditions, Activity Level and Cancellation Policy outlined. Payments can be made by online banking or cheque (3% discount on tour fare), or by Visa or Mastercard.
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Cancellation Policy: Up to June 12, 2026, the cancellation charge is $100 per person. From June 13 to July 14, the cancellation charge is $300 per person. From July 15 to August 14, the cancellation charge is 40% of the tour fare. From August 15 to September 14, the cancellation charge is 80% of the tour fare. After September 14, there is no refund.
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Itinerary and Fare Changes: Our many suppliers may notify us about changes to the itinerary prior to departure and sometimes during the tour. We do our best to substitute a similar service if something cancels, but occasionally the only alternative is to provide a refund for the missed activity. Please note that if we are forced to cancel a tour component due to an issue beyond our control, the current penalties still apply if you choose to cancel the entire tour. Fuel surcharges and changes to taxes, currency exchange rates, or other tour costs can occur at any time, therefore Wells Gray Tours reserves the right to increase fares due to such changes up to departure. Port times are subject to change.
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Travel Insurance: A Comprehensive Insurance policy is available through Wells Gray Tours and coverage is provided by Travel Guard. Policies purchased at deposit include a waiver of the pre-existing condition clause for medical and cancellation claims, otherwise policies can be purchased no later than at final payment. Medical questionnaire is not needed. Please contact us for details. If you have your own travel insurance, please read the policy carefully to be sure that you are adequately covered for medical, cancellation, interruption, and luggage. Please do not travel to Europe or on a ship without medical insurance as a minimum.
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Photo Credits: Unsplash (Acropolis), Holland America Line (Oosterdam), Adobe Stock (Valletta, Malta, Acropolis close-up), Pixabay (Naples).
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Experience Points or E-points: This tour earns 270 e-points. Each time you travel on a Wells Gray tour, you earn epoints that are added to your account after the tour returns. One e-point equals $1. Redeem your earned points on select tours or accumulate enough points to earn a free tour! Redemptions offered until July 14, 2026.
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Consumer Protection BC Licences: Kamloops 178, Vernon 655, Kelowna 588, Penticton 924, Victoria 65842