Names Of Holland America's Vista Series Ships Reflect Deep Roots In Shipping Tradition



Seattle, December 6, 2002 -- In the 130-year-history of Holland America Line, there are many traditions and practices. When the ms Zuiderdam, ms Oosterdam, and ms Westerdam enter service they will carry on the storied tradition of naming passenger ships with the "dam" suffix. Coupled with the "dam" ending has been a famous river, mountain, sea, city or town and often directional bearings.

Holland America ship names also draw from the historic log of ship names, allowing the company to bridge its past with its future growth. The Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, and Westerdam respectively named for the south, east and west points of the compass are no exceptions.

As Holland America's world grows with cruise itineraries to more than 265 ports of call on seven continents, the company has chosen to reflect the "Vistas" of the compass in the names of part of its fleet. Holland America already sails an ms Noordam (north). The first three ships of the Vista series will complete the compass providing Holland America with the symbolic completion of the world.

Zuiderdam
The first vessel with the "Zuider" prefix launched in 1912 as the cargo ship Zuiderdijk ("dijk" or "dyk" was the suffix used for cargo vessels; "dam" is used for passenger ships). At 5,211 tons, she sailed between Rotterdam and Savannah, Georgia, for Holland America through 1922, with a brief stint during World War I as a transport.

In 1941, the 12,150-ton Zuiderdam was launched from a shipyard in Rotterdam for outfitting. However, a month later the ship was damaged during a British air raid and capsized. The hull was raised and later sunk by the Germans to block the port of Rotterdam to Allied access. After World War II, the Zuiderdam was again raised, yet the ship never saw completion.

Oosterdam
The only ship to bear the "Ooster" prefix was the 8,251-ton, one-prop Oosterdijk. She began service in 1913, also sailing from Rotterdam to Savannah. During World War I, the ship served the Allied war effort.

Westerdam II
The second Westerdam sailed on 643 voyages for Holland America Line during a career spanning more than 13 years with the company.

The ship, which began service as the former Home Lines' Homeric in 1986, was named the Westerdam and officially entered service with Holland America Line on Nov. 12, 1988.

The Westerdam's arrival expanded the fleet to four ships and signaled the beginning of a new era of growth for Holland America that continues today. In 1989, the Westerdam underwent a notable $84 million renovation at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, where it was originally built. During an extended drydock, it was "stretched" by a then-cruise industry record 130 feet, increasing its capacity 1,000 to 1,494 guests and its size from 42,000 gross tons to 53,872.

After carrying more than a million guests on Caribbean, Panama Canal and Alaska cruises, the ship left the Holland America fleet on March 10, 2002, transferred to sister company Costa Cruciere, where it will continue its career cruising European waters as the Costa Europa.

Westerdam I
The first Westerdam sailed for Holland America Line from 1946 to 1965. A combined cargo/passenger ship, with five cargo holds and accommodations for 143 first-class passengers and 126 crewmembers, the ship made the Atlantic crossing twice a month between Rotterdam, The Netherlands, and New York City. The 12,149-gross-ton, twin-propeller ship and its sister ship, Noordam II, took eight days to make the crossing.

The Westerdam was a survivor of three sinkings during World War II before it ever made its maiden voyage.

Its keel was laid in Rotterdam on Sept. 1, 1939, at the Wilton Feyenoord Shipyard, but construction was suspended when the Germans invaded Holland in 1940. On Aug. 27, 1942, the half-completed ship was bombed by Allied forces at its berth and sunk. German troops raised the ship, but in September 1944, it was sunk by Dutch underground resistance forces. Raised again by the Germans, it was sunk for the third time by the Dutch underground on Jan. 17, 1945.

After the war, the Westerdam was raised by the Dutch and construction was completed. On June 28, 1946, the Westerdam departed Rotterdam on its maiden voyage to New York. It continued regular trans-Atlantic service until it was sold to Spain for scrap on Feb. 4, 1965.

Vista Series
The newest Zuiderdam arrives in December 2002, followed by the Oosterdam in July of 2003. The Westerdam is slated for delivery in spring 2004. At 85,000 tons, they will launch the Project Vista series of premium ships introduced by Holland America Line. The largest ever built for the company, they also will boast the highest passenger space ratio of its fleet at 46, keeping the company firmly placed as the leader in premium cruising.

The Vista-class ships feature innovative "exterior elevators" on both sides of the vessel, providing guests with panoramic sea views. The ships also include a wide range of spacious accommodation categories. About 85 percent of the staterooms feature an ocean view, with approximately 80 percent of those offering private verandahs.

The 951-foot-long ships build upon the hallmarks of the Holland America brand, displaying extensive multi-million-dollar art collections and including numerous dining options, from elegant full-service meals to casual Lido Restaurant service. The ships also will continue other trademark features of Holland America ships, including the Explorers Lounge, Ocean Bar, an exterior covered promenade deck encircling the entire ship, a large Lido pool with a retractable dome, and Holland America's signature "Crow's Nest" observation lounge.

The ship also will offer a new "cabaret-style" show lounge complementing a new three-deck main show lounge. Other new features include a disco, the casual Windstar Café, an Internet cafe, TheGreenhouse Spa -- the largest spa facilities in the fleet -- Internet/e-mail data ports in all staterooms, an extensive Club HAL children's facility with inside and outside play areas, and a concierge lounge for the exclusive use of suite guests.

The new vessels' propulsion system includes a diesel-electric power plant, backed up by a gas turbine as an additional power source, giving the vessel the capability to operate on either diesel or gas turbine power. The ships also will use the Azipod propulsion system, allowing for greater maneuverability, enhanced operating efficiencies and environmental benefits.