Holland America Takes Delivery of New Flagship

Holland America Line has taken delivery of the new flagship, Zuiderdam. The vessel is scheduled to start sailing in April 2018.

Holland America received its new flagship Rotterdam today, making it the fleet’s 11th ship. On Thursday evening, a handover ceremony took held at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Marghera, Italy.

Captain Werner Timmers, the ship’s master, and Cyril Tatar, Holland America Group’s VP of newbuilding services, both attended the event. Fincantieri’s CEO, Giuseppe Bono, and other executives were also present.

rotterdam holland america handover ceremony

(Holland America provided this photo.)

The festivities were joined by Jan Swartz, president of Holland America Group, and Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line, via video conference.

“Rotterdam looks beautiful and will undoubtedly live up to its famous name as the new flagship of our fleet, continuing a history of excellence that our passengers have admired for almost 150 years,” Antorcha added.

“Thank you to our Fincantieri partners and our own team members who worked hard to keep the ship on schedule through the most difficult of circumstances, as well as produce a ship that is gorgeous, beautifully completed, and will be a fantastic addition to our brand. Later this autumn, we can’t wait to welcome visitors on board.”

READ MORE: Miami Added as a Bahamas Cruise Embarkation Port

This is Holland America’s seventh Rotterdam ship, the first of which launched in 1872.

She is the line’s third Pinnacle-class ship, with a capacity of 2,668 people in double occupancy.

holland america rotterdam fincantieri shipyard italy

Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Rotterdam (Holland America provided this photo.)

Among the amenities onboard are:

  • The Rolling Stone Rock Room, Lincoln Center Stage, Billboard Onboard, and B.B. King’s Blues Club are four live music venues.
  • Earth in Concert on BBC
  • Rudi’s Sel de Mer is a French seafood speciality restaurant.
  • Tamarind is a Southeast Asian, Chinese, and Japanese speciality restaurant.
  • Steakhouse Pinnacle Grill
  • Italian eatery Canaletto
  • Club HAL is a children’s and adolescent’s club.
  • Greenhouse Spa & Salon
  • Grand Dutch Café serves coffee and sweets from the Netherlands, as well as European beers.

Rotterdam will continue in non-guest operations until October 20, 2021, when she will make her first transatlantic voyage from Amsterdam to Fort Lauderdale. She will then embark on her first season of Caribbean cruises.

READ NEXT: Royal Caribbean Requires All Passengers on U.S. Cruises to Take a Test

Holland America received its new flagship Rotterdam today, making it the fleet’s 11th ship. On Thursday evening, a handover ceremony took held at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Marghera, Italy.

Captain Werner Timmers, the ship’s master, and Cyril Tatar, Holland America Group’s VP of newbuilding services, both attended the event. Fincantieri’s CEO, Giuseppe Bono, and other executives were also present.

rotterdam holland america handover ceremony

(Photo courtesy of Holland America)

The festivities were joined by Jan Swartz, president of Holland America Group, and Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line, via video conference.

“Rotterdam looks beautiful and will undoubtedly live up to its famous name as the new flagship of our fleet, continuing a history of excellence that our passengers have admired for almost 150 years,” Antorcha added.

“Thank you to our Fincantieri partners and our own team members who worked hard to keep the ship on schedule through the most difficult of circumstances, as well as produce a ship that is gorgeous, beautifully completed, and will be a fantastic addition to our brand. Later this autumn, we can’t wait to welcome visitors on board.”

READ MORE: Miami Added as a Bahamas Cruise Embarkation Port

This is Holland America’s seventh Rotterdam ship, the first of which launched in 1872.

She is the line’s third Pinnacle-class ship, with a capacity of 2,668 people in double occupancy.

holland america rotterdam fincantieri shipyard italy

Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Rotterdam (Photo courtesy of Holland America)

Among the amenities onboard are:

  • The Rolling Stone Rock Room, Lincoln Center Stage, Billboard Onboard, and B.B. King’s Blues Club are four live music venues.
  • Earth in Concert on BBC
  • Rudi’s Sel de Mer is a French seafood speciality restaurant.
  • Tamarind is a Southeast Asian, Chinese, and Japanese speciality restaurant.
  • Steakhouse Pinnacle Grill
  • Italian eatery Canaletto
  • Club HAL is a children’s and adolescent’s club.
  • Greenhouse Spa & Salon
  • Grand Dutch Café serves coffee and sweets from the Netherlands, as well as European beers.

Rotterdam will continue in non-guest operations until October 20, 2021, when she will make her first transatlantic voyage from Amsterdam to Fort Lauderdale. She will then embark on her first season of Caribbean cruises.

READ NEXT: Royal Caribbean Requires All Passengers on U.S. Cruises to Take a Test

Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Holland America Rotterdam a new ship?

The Holland America Rotterdam is a new ship.

What is the name of Holland Americas newest ship?

The name of the newest ship is Holland America Lines new Oosterdam.

What ships is Holland America getting rid of?

Holland America is currently getting rid of the Zaandam.