Holland America Line
Cruise line with a proven “Tradition of Excellence”
Holland America may be one of the oldest names in cruising, celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2023, but it believes in keeping up with the times.
Its fleet now stands at 11 ships offering nearly 500 cruises from more than 25 North American home ports. The latest to arrive was Rotterdam in July 2021 – the line’s third Pinnacle Class ship and the seventh to bear this famous name.
Rotterdam became the newest ship – and the seventh the bear the name – in the Holland America Line fleet in July 2021
It is all a far cry from 1873 when the line was founded as the Netherlands-America Steamship Company, later providing service to the Americas and consequently a name change to Holland America Line.
The company’s first ocean liner was the original Rotterdam, which sailed its maiden voyage from the Netherlands to New York City on 15 October, 1872.
Holland America excels in service, amenities and special programmes. Known for consistent and attentive service, its ships have one of the highest staff-members-to-guest ratios. Spacious staterooms average 25 percent larger and verandahs twice as large as those on other lines’ ships.
Menus are among the most extensive at-sea. Dining choices include formal elegance, alternative specialty dining in the Pacific Northwest-themed Pinnacle Grill, Italian cuisine in Canaletto restaurant, casual fare and complimentary 24-hour room service.
Itineraries range from two to 108 days and visit all seven continents, including new Australia/New Zealand and Asia sailings, a world cruise and popular sailings to several ports in the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico and Europe.
Fleetwide Signature of Excellence enhancements feature new programmes and amenities including the Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine magazine – a state-of-the-art onboard show kitchen where more than 60 celebrated guest chefs and culinary experts will provide cooking demonstrations and classes – Explorations Cafe powered by the New York Times, teens-only activity areas and all new cabin amenities highlighted by flat-panel TVs and plush-top Mariner’s Dream Beds.
Holland America Line has been headquartered in Seattle since 1983. After being bought by the Carnival Corporation in 1989, the company embarked upon a shipbuilding path that has seen the introduction of 16 new vessels. Its current fleet of 11 ships sails to all seven continents.
In December 2018, Nieuw Statendam joined the fleet and was named by Oprah Winfrey two months later in Fort Lauderdale.
The first Statendam sailed in 1898, and is the sixth in the company’s history to carry the name.
