A ship fit for a Princess

HOLLAND America Line has held the naming ceremony for its new ship Rotterdam with godmother Princess Margriet of the Netherlands.

Esteemed guests joined her to officially welcome the new flagship to Holland America, including the ship’s Captain Werner Timmers and Group President Jan Swartz, who are pictured with the Princess.

The eighth in line to the Dutch throne was welcomed at the ship’s gangway with a traditional floral bouquet presented by seven-year-old Nora van Dijk, daughter of Nathalie van Dijk, a member of the Holland America team for 15 years.

Following the ceremony, a gala luncheon was held on board, followed by a gala dinner and the opportunity for guests to pour champagne over Rotterdam's bell - a Holland America tradition when welcoming a new ship to the fleet.

“Our heritage is rooted here in the Netherlands, and we are deeply honoured to have Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet as godmother of her fifth Holland America Line ship,” said the cruise line’s President Gus Antorcha.

“After a challenging couple of years, we are excited to celebrate this memorable moment in our company’s history.”

Antorcha said when Rotterdam was delivered last year, Holland America postponed her naming ceremony so it could be held in the city the ship is named after.

Holland America has a history of “royal namings”, with the cruise line’s connection to the Monarchy of the Netherlands going back nearly a century to Prince Hendrik, who launched Statendam III in 1929.

Since then, members of the House of Orange-Nassau have launched 11 more Holland America vessels throughout the years.

Princess Margriet herself has named Prinsendam (1972), Nieuw Amsterdam II (1983), Ro erdam VI (1997) and Oosterdam (2003).