Holland America Line Takes Delivery of Rotterdam

Holland America Line's New Rotterdam Completes Sea Trials

Holland America Line Takes Delivery of Highly Anticipated New Ship Rotterdam from Fincantieri

SEATTLE,Β July 30, 2021Β /PRNewswire/ —Β Holland America Line took delivery ofΒ RotterdamΒ today,Β July 30, 2021,Β officially making it the 11th ship in the fleet. A handover ceremony took place at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard inΒ ItalyΒ the evening ofΒ July 29.

The ceremony was attended by the ship’s master, CaptainΒ Werner Timmers, andΒ Cyril Tatar, Holland America Group’s vice president of newbuilding services.Β Giuseppe Bono, CEO, Fincantieri, and several other executives also attended. Video congratulations were extended byΒ Jan Swartz, president of Holland America Group, andΒ Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line.

Holland America Line Takes Delivery of Rotterdam

Rotterdam looks stunning and will certainly live up to bearing such an iconic name as the new flagship of our fleet, carrying on a tradition of excellence that our guests have loved for nearly 150 years,” said Antorcha. “Thank you to our partners at Fincantieri and our own team members who worked tirelessly to deliver the ship on schedule during what has been the most challenging of times, and also deliver a ship that looks beautiful, is immaculately finished and will be an incredible addition to our brand. We cannot wait to welcome guests on board later this fall.”

Upon delivery, Rotterdam will remain in non-guest operations until its transatlantic crossing Oct. 20, 2021, from Amsterdam, Netherlands, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where it will then begin its maiden season in the Caribbean. Naming details have not been finalized and will be announced at a later date.

AboutΒ Rotterdam

The third vessel in the Pinnacle Class series and the seventh ship to bear the name for Holland America Line,Β RotterdamΒ will carry 2,668 guests and feature highly successful amenities and innovations introduced with her sister ships. Throughout the ship,Β RotterdamΒ will showcase Holland America Line hallmarks that drive one of the highest guest repeat rates in the industry:Β exquisite cuisine guided by seven of theΒ world’s leading chefs; gracious, award-winning service; and superbly appointedΒ staterooms and suites, including family and single accommodations.

Rotterdam delivers the best live music at sea with an exclusive collection of world-class performances nightly at Rolling Stone Rock Room with classic rock hits; Lincoln Center Stage, offering chamber music; Billboard Onboard, where live musicians entertain the crowd with chart-topping hits; and the popular B.B. King’s Blues Club, bringing the best of Memphis music to sea. With the 270-degree LED projection at World Stage, Rotterdam will immerse guests in panoramic visual and sound effects.

In addition to the impressive Dining Room, guests will delight in specialty restaurants Rudi’s Sel de Mer, a French seafood brasserie; Tamarind, exploring traditions of Southeast Asia, China and Japan; Nami Sushi with tasty sushi and Asian spirits; Pinnacle Grill, the ultimate steakhouse at sea; Canaletto with family-style Italian dining; and Club Orange exclusively for guests in the Club Orange program.

Additional culinary venues include Grand Dutch CafΓ© featuring traditional Dutch coffee and treats and European beer; Dive-In, serving up gourmet burgers and fries poolside; New York Deli and Pizza, offering made-to-order sandwiches and pies; and Lido Market, with themed serving stations that revolutionize the buffet experience.

The History of the NameΒ Rotterdam

HollandΒ America Line’sΒ first ship wasΒ Rotterdam, which sailed its maiden voyage fromΒ the NetherlandsΒ toΒ New YorkΒ onΒ Oct. 15, 1872, and led to the founding of the company onΒ April 18, 1873.Β Rotterdam IIΒ was built in 1878 for British Ship Owners Co. and purchased by Holland America Line in 1886.Β Rotterdam IIIΒ came along in 1897 and was with the company until 1906. The fourthΒ RotterdamΒ joined the fleet in 1908 and also served as a troop carrier when World War I ended. Following the war it made regular cruises fromΒ New YorkΒ to the Mediterranean.

Rotterdam V, also known as “The Grande Dame,” set sail in 1959 and began sailing transatlantic crossings with two classes of service. It later converted to a one-class ship in 1969. She sailed with Holland America Line for 38 years until 1997, including several Grand World Voyages, and currently is a hotel and museum in the city of Rotterdam. Rotterdam VI, the most recent to cruise for Holland America Line, was introduced in 1997 as the first ship in the R Class.

Rotterdam VII is the 17th ship constructed for the brand by Italian shipyard Fincantieri.

For more information about Holland America Line, consult a travel advisor, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visitΒ hollandamerica.com.

SOURCE Holland America Line

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