Holland America’s New Flagship Rotterdam VII Closer to Completion for 2021 Premiere

NEW YORK, NY – Feb. 9, 2021: Holland America Line released a video today detailing the progress being made on its newest flagship, Rotterdam. This is the seventh ship of Holland America Line to bear the iconic name. The third in the Pinnacle Class series, Rotterdam will carry 2,668 guests, measure 99,500 tons and feature highly successful amenities and innovations introduced with her sister ships, including the 270-degree surround screen World Stage, Rudi’s Sel de Mer and Grand Dutch Café. Delivering the best of everything, Rotterdam celebrates live music with an exclusive collection of world-class performances each night – from Lincoln Center Stage and B.B. King’s Blues Club to Rolling Stone Rock Room and Billboard Onboard. 

Holland America’s new flagship, Rotterdam. It is the seventh Holland America Line ship to bear this name. It will premiere in August 2021.

Throughout the ship, Rotterdam also will showcase Holland America Line hallmarks that drive one of the highest guest repeat rates in the industry: exquisite cuisine guided by eight of the world’s leading chefs; gracious, award-winning service; and superbly appointed staterooms and suites, including family and single accommodations.

Rotterdam is the 17th ship constructed for Holland America Line by Italian shipyard Fincantieri, which most recently built Nieuw Statendam. Naming details have not been finalized and will be announced later.

Rotterdam VII will become the company’s new flagship replacing Rotterdam VI which was sold in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic. The former Rotterdam VI was sold to U.K. cruise operator Fred Olsen Cruises and has been renamed Borealis.

Holland America’s Rotterdam VI has been sold to British cruise operator Fred Olsen Cruises and will now sail as the Borealis.

“The first ship for Holland America Line was the original Rotterdam, the company was headquartered in the city of Rotterdam for many years, and the name has been a hallmark throughout our history since 1872 … so clearly the name is powerful and symbolic,” said Gus Antorcha, Holland America Line’s president. “With the current Rotterdam leaving the company, we knew we had a unique opportunity to embrace the name as our new flagship and carry on the tradition of having a Rotterdam in our fleet. Seven is a lucky number, and we know she’s going to bring a lot of joy to our guests as she travels across the globe.”

The History of the Name Rotterdam

Holland America Line’s first ship was Rotterdam, which sailed its maiden voyage from the Netherlands to New York Oct. 15, 1872, and led to the founding of the company on April 18, 1873. Rotterdam II was built in 1878 for British Ship Owners Co. and purchased by Holland America Line in 1886. Rotterdam III came along in 1897 and was with the company until 1906. The fourth Rotterdam joined the fleet in 1908 and also served as a troop carrier when World War I ended. Following the war it made regular cruises from New York to the Mediterranean.

Holland America’s Rotterdam V a.k.a. “The Grand Dame” is now a hotel ship and tourist attraction in the Netherlands’ city of Rotterdam

Rotterdam V, also known as “The Grande Dame,” set sail in 1959 and began sailing transatlantic crossings with two classes of service. It later converted to a one-class ship in 1969. She sailed with Holland America Line for 38 years until 1997, including several Grand World Voyages, and currently is a hotel and museum in the city of Rotterdam. Rotterdam VI, the most recent to cruise for Holland America Line, was introduced in 1997 and the first ship in the R Class.

Rotterdam Cruises

The newest flagship is set for a Premiere Voyage in Europe on August 1, 2021. After spending the Summer and Autumn  of 2021 in Europe. In the Winter of 2021-2022 the Rotterdam will be sailing Caribbean Cruises. In October 2022 to celebrate Holland America Line’s Sesquicentennial the ship will make a special 150th Anniversary Transatlantic Crossing from the U.S. to Europe. For more information please go to www.HollandAmericaLine.com.