Holland America’s Newest Ship Departs on Maiden Voyage

Holland America Line is continuing its post-COVID return this week, launching its newest ship, Rotterdam. 

Rotterdam, the third Pinnacle Class series ship for Holland America Line, officially launched on Wednesday with a 14-day debut sailing from Amsterdam to Ft. Lauderdale, the first in a series of steps that will eventually see the ship spending November through April in the Caribbean for its inaugural season.

The Caribbean sailings will all include a call at Half Moon Cay, the line’s private Bahamian island.

Aside from being the third in the Pinnacle Class, the ship is Holland America’s 11th in its fleet and the 7th to bear the Rotterdam name.

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.

Holland America previously 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, 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.