Holland America Names Princess Margriet of the Netherlands Godmother of Rotterdam

When Holland America’s newest ship is named next spring, it will be keeping the cruise line’s long-standing royal tradition alive. 

The line this week announced that Rotterdam will debut with Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands, the third daughter of Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard, as its godmother.

Princess Margriet will join a long list of Dutch royalty to be associated with Holland America Line. The tradition goes back to 11 Holland America Line vessels throughout the years, including Prinsendam in 1972, Nieuw Amsterdam III in 1983, Rotterdam VI in 1997, and Oosterdam in 2003.

Most recently, Holland America invited Queen Máxim to name Koningsdam in 2016 and Nieuw Amsterdam in 2010.

The ship is Holland America’s 11th in its fleet, the 7th to bear the Rotterdam name, and the third in Holland’s Pinnacle Class series. Originally, the ship was set to come into service under the name Ryndam, but Holland America last summer announced that it would be called Rotterdam instead.

Rotterdam is a historic moniker for Holland America—the first ship in the line’s history was called Rotterdam and Holland America has also spent several years headquartered in the Dutch city of Rotterdam.

The ship, which will sail with 2,668 guests, will feature a lot of the same features of its sister ships including the World Stage, Rudi’s Sel de Mer, Grand Dutch Café, Lincoln Center Stage, B.B. King’s Blues Club, and more.

The ship will officially launch with a transatlantic crossing on Oct. 20, 2021, from Amsterdam, Netherlands, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where it will then begin its maiden season in the Caribbean. 

More details on the official naming ceremony will be revealed closer to the debut date next spring.