WELCOME, ROTTERDAM

Holland America Line’s newest ship Rotterdam is set to get the royal treatment at a naming ceremony in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on May 30, 2022. Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands will be the ship’s godmother, carrying on a Dutch royal tradition that began in the 1920s. Rotterdam’s special seven-day Rotterdam Naming Celebration cruise sails roundtrip from Amsterdam, departing 29 May and also visits Kristiansand, Stavanger and Flåm, with scenic cruising in Sognefjord, the largest and deepest fjord in Norway. “Our new Rotterdam is a spectacular ship, and we are thrilled to have its naming ceremony scheduled with a celebratory cruise that allows our guests to join the festivities and officially welcome her to the fleet,” said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line. “Our history is deeply rooted in the Netherlands, and it was only fitting to name our newest Rotterdam in the city of Rotterdam with a royal godmother to honour our Dutch roots. We are deeply grateful that Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet will once again act as godmother to a Holland America Line ship.” Holland America Line’s connection to The House of Orange goes back almost a century to Prince Hendrik launching Statendam III in 1929. Rotterdam was delivered by the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy on July 30, 2021. Beginning in May 2022, the ship will explore Europe, heading to Norway, the Baltic, British Isles and Iceland, all sailing roundtrip from Amsterdam.