Holland America Line announced that when Rotterdam is named in spring 2022, Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands will be the ship’s godmother, to carry on a tradition with the royal family of the Netherlands that began in the 1920s.
Holland America Line’s connection to reigning house of the Netherlands goes back to when Prince Hendrik launched Statendam III in 1929. Since then, members of the Dutch Royal Family have launched 11 more Holland America Line vessels, including Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet who named Prinsendam (1972), Nieuw Amsterdam III (1983), Rotterdam VI (1997) and Oosterdam (2003).
“We are deeply grateful that Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet will once again act as godmother to a Holland America Line ship, carrying on a long tradition with the Royal Family that continues to honor our Dutch roots,” said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line.
“Rotterdam will be named in Rotterdam next year, celebrating its namesake city and our historic connection with the Netherlands. We look forward to commemorating the occasion where it all started for Holland America Line.”
Additional members of the Dutch Royal Family who are godmothers include Queen Máxima, who named Koningsdam in 2016 and Nieuw Amsterdam in 2010. Then-Queen Beatrix served as Eurodam’s godmother in 2008. Rotterdam V was launched in 1958 by Queen Juliana. Then-Princess Beatrix named Statendam IV in 1957 and Princess Margriet in 1960. Nieuw Amsterdam II was launched by Queen Wilhelmina in 1937.
Rotterdam’s maiden cruise departs 20OCT 2021 from Amsterdam, and embarks on a 14-day transatlantic journey to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. During its inaugural Caribbean season from NOV 2021 to APR 2022, Rotterdam will sail a variety of five- to 11-day itineraries that span the southern, western, eastern and tropical regions, all roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale. In mid-APR 2022, the ship makes a 14-day Atlantic Ocean crossing back to Europe to spend the summer in Norway, the Baltic, British Isles and Iceland, all sailing roundtrip from Amsterdam.
The date for naming the ship in Rotterdam will be announced in the coming months.
For more information, visit Holland American Line's web site.
