Holland America’s Statendam Completes Sea Trials, One Step Closer to Debut
by Daniel McCarthy
Holland America's Statendam will join Koningsdam in the line's Pinnacle class. Photo: HAL.
Holland America Line took another step toward debuting Statendam this week, when it completed two sets of sea trails.
The 2,666-guest ship, which is set to debut in December, is highly anticipated. It is expected to be similar to Koningsdam, Holland America’s other Pinnacle-class ship, with a number of elements unique to itself, including details designed by Adam D. Tihany, a hospitality designer who was named one of the greatest American architects by the New York Times, and Bjørn Storbraaten, one of the cruise industry’s most well-renowned designers.
“The sea trials are a highly anticipated milestone for any newbuild because it takes us one step closer to delivery, and we’re thrilled that Nieuw Statendam gave a strong performance out in open water,” said Orlando Ashford, Holland America Line’s president. “There’s a lot of buzz surrounding Nieuw Statendam and the innovations we’re introducing on board.”
The ship is currently set for delivery on Dec. 1, 2018. It will sail the Caribbean in the winter before moving to Northern Europe, Iceland, and the Mediterranean in summer 2019.
