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Holland America Line has appointed Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands as the godmother of the company’s newest cruise ship, Rotterdam.
Over the years, the Dutch Royal Family have been of vital importance to the Seattle, Washington-based cruise line. In total, the Royals were involved in the launch of 13 Holland America Line cruise ships.
For Princess Margriet, this will be the fifth time she has participated in the nomination of a cruise ship for the cruise line.
Departure on October 20 from Amsterdam
Rotterdam’s maiden voyage will depart on October 20 from the cruise terminal in central Amsterdam on a transatlantic voyage to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.
The Atlantic Sojourn will revisit the history of WWII with a French historian; en route, the ship will call at Zeebrugge, Belgium, Le Havre, France, Weymouth, United Kingdom, and Ponta Delgada in the Azores.
It will spend its inaugural season from November to April in the Caribbean, during which the ship will visit every corner of the region.
Itineraries include 10-day southern and eastern Caribbean cruises, visiting Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao before heading to Amber Cove, Grand Turk, and Half Moon Cay. Other cruises include the Eastern Caribbean visit barbados, Martinique, Saint-Kitts-et-Nevis, Saint-Thomas and Half Moon Cay.
From spring 2022, the ship will reposition itself in Western Europe. She will make a route to Norway, the Baltic, the British Isles and Iceland from Amsterdam.
Also Read: Holland America Line Restarts Operations From San Diego, Calif.
Princess Margriet to baptize Rotterdam
Princess Margriet has again been invited to baptize and become the godmother of one of Holland America’s ships. The Dutch Royal Family has been a vital part of the history of the Holland America Line, with 12 ships named by the Royal Family so far and Rotterdam becoming the 13th.
Prince Hendrik was part of the launch of Statendam III in 1929. Since then, Princess Margriet has appointed Prinsendam (1972), Nieuw Amsterdam III (1983), Rotterdam VI (1997) and Oosterdam (2003).
“We are deeply grateful to Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet to once again act as godmother of a Holland America Line ship, carrying on a long tradition with the Royal Family which continues to honor our Dutch roots”, said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line.“Rotterdam will be named Rotterdam next year, celebrating its namesake city and our historic connection to the Netherlands. We look forward to commemorating the occasion when it all began for Holland America Line.
Also Read: Holland America Shares Latest Rotterdam Construction Photos
Queen Máxima (Koningsdam in 2016 and Nieuw Amsterdam in 2010), Queen Beatrix served (Eurodam in 2008), Queen Juliana (Rotterdam V in 1958) and Queen Wilhelmina (Nieuw Amsterdam II in 1937).
Of SS Rotterdam To New Rotterdam
Holland America’s newest cruise ship and the 7th incarnation of the name will depart on October 20 from the Dutch capital Amsterdam.
The first one Rotterdam, built in 1873, was the very first ship of what would become the Holland-Amerika Lijn, later changed to Holland America Line. The fifth SS Rotterdam, which sailed for Holland America until 1997, has been converted into a hotel in Rotterdam.
The last Rotterdam sailed for the cruise line until last year when she was sold to Fred Olsen Cruise Line and renamed MS Borealis.
Holland America Line’s newest ship was built in the Fincantieri Marghera (Venice) shipyard in Italy and completed his sea trials on the evening of May 6, marking the final phase of its construction. She was finally handed over to Holland America Line on July 30, 2021. The new vessel has a capacity of 2,668 passengers, 99,500 gross tons and a length of 297 meters.
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