Construction Milestone: Keel Laid for New Pinnacle Class Ship
Holland America Line celebrated the keel laying of its new 2,650-guest Pinnacle Class ship Aug. 22 at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Italy. Following a traditional blessing by a priest, a 680-ton block was lowered by crane into the yard’s building dock, marking the official beginning of construction. The 99,500-gross-ton ship is scheduled for delivery in February 2016.
The ship was blessed by a priest.
The event was attended by Holland America Line’s Keith Taylor, senior vice president, fleet operations, and Cyril Tatar, vice president, newbuild and technical operations.
From left: Keith Taylor; Antonio Quintana, Marghera Shipyard director; and Cyril Tatar.
“The keel laying of our new Pinnacle Class vessel heightens the anticipation for delivery because very soon we’ll see the ship begin to take shape,” said Stein Kruse, president and CEO of Holland America Line. “As the largest ship ever built for Holland America Line, the vessel features many innovations and new features, and we’re excited to see it all come together over the next year and a half.”
The Pinnacle Class keel laying, courtesy of Hotel Director Stan Kuppens.
The next major milestone will be the floating out, which is when the steelwork is complete and the work in the dry-dock is done. The ship will be towed and docked at the wet-dock location and finished up! — Hotel Director Stan Kuppens
Keith Taylor, left, and Antonio Quintana, Marghera Shipyard director.
The ship will showcase decors by leading hospitality designer Adam D. Tihany, based in New York City, and designer and architect Bjorn Storbraaten, based in Oslo, Norway. As previously reported when the new ship was announced the Pinnacle class ship will have exciting new culinary and entertainment venues, will take our premium accommodations to an even higher level and will include many energy savings measures that will enable us to achieve significant fuel efficiencies.
Are you looking forward to the debut of Holland America Line’s new ship? Email us at info@hollandamericablog.com with your thoughts and questions on what you’d like to learn more about!
For the Maiden voyage , from Italy , can we expecte a possible boarding for it´s first destination?? If yes , we book via Holland America or Travel agent ?? Brgd´s
I cant wait to see the new ship and be a part of the maiden voyage
Looking forward to joining the crew for another awesome cruise with Holland America on this new jewel
I look forward to the maiden voyage! Where do I sign up?
What will the name of the ship be?
As an engineer, I’d love to see some tech specs for this new generation of ship. Being a part of the engine team on a brand new cutting edge ship is a dream come true for many engineers, myself included. I can imagine the phenomenal automaton and best in class safety systems that this beauty will house.
Great to know that the new build has Stan Kuppens involved. He’s the best! Our family hopes to sail with you again.
I was on the inaugural cruise of ms Oosterdam in 2003 and would be thrilled to be part of the inaugural cruise of this new ship!
Love Holland America, they awe the best! Would love to be on this voyage.
When will a name be chosen for her? What area will she be initially sailing. Can’t wait to book our cruise.
WOW!! Can’t wait to book a cruise on this magnificent ship. Glad to see that it was blessed….
Love you HAL
Would love to see a daily blog as was done for the Eurodam. We watched the Eurodam from beginning to end and cruised on her 1st Baltic/ T/A which at that time was called a Voyage of the Vikings.
Can’t wait! I also want to be part of the Inaugural voyage. Love HAL and we hope to continue
cruising with you for many more years. Blessings to all of you.
I am sure that the name of the new ship will be : STATENDAM or RIJNDAM.
Looking forward to more information about this new ship. Has a name been chosen yet and where will she sail?
Hope to be onboard for the inaugural sailing.
Looks like many of us have the same questions. Waiting anxiously for answers.
For met is this new schip to big!
I like smaller ships like the “Rotterdam”, however I like HAL!
Hoping the ship will be named Statendam…and if/when she gets a sister, call her Stellendam- a name I believe HAL once considered but has never used-a nice combo.Please bring the ship to NY and have a short preview cruise like Eurodam did when new, for the many ship aficionados in the area and for those who may not have time for a longer trip.
My guess (and hope) is that since the current Statendam and Ryndam are leaving the fleet in the fall of 2015 they’ll pick Statendam then announce that a 2nd Pinnacle Class has been ordered to be called Ryndam.
I Loved Hawaii aboard Statendam in 2002 and a PNW Coastal in 2007 and Alaska 2009 aboard Ryndam.
If Statendam is chosen, I hope they also find some way to pay homage to the Van Gogh Starry Night tile mosaic from the Van Gogh Lounge (Showroom at Sea).
Know it is going to be beautiful. How do we get on it’s first voyage?
Looking forward to sailing on the new ship.Hope she will be doing 10 day s in the Caribbean. we are already booked for January 2015, We have sailed at least 20 times with HAL. Great company.
It really is exciting! Where will this new ship take us? 2016 is a celebration year for us, too.
I look forward to sailing on her. It will be interesting to see what new features she will have to distinguish her from her Signature and Vista Class shipmates. I suspect that she will be named the Statendam now that that name will be available as of November 2015.
I’m so excited about the ms Koningsdam! My husband and I will be celebrating our 35th anniversary in 2015. We have now found the perfect way to celebrate. I have always sailed on HAL and can hardly wait to experience her and also celebrate our anniversary!
Wow….. again a real Dutch new cruise liner, I voted for another name THE DELTADAM but the KONINGSDAM is even better! Of course we will sail on her were can we book?? Thank goodness I am from the city of Rotterdam so the name will be again on her poop……CHEERS Holland America Line!
As a four star Mariner I have had the chance of many sailings onboard your ships with my wife. The Koningsdam will be a welcome addition to the fleet. Even though we prefer small cruise ships, it will be interesting to experience the added facilities on board.
Bravo Holland America and good sailing!
Paul et Claudette Bedard
It is exciting to watch the progress as a new HAL ship takes shape. We enjoyed following the construction of ms Eurodam from afar. When the day finally arrived to board her in Copenhagen for the first 20 days of her inaugural season, it was magical! We hope we will be able to experience that same thrill aboard ms Koningsdam in the future.
Maiden voyage would be a dream !
Thirteen Cruises, all with Holland America.We can’t wait to make the Koningsdam #14!
You will need a couple of Kiwis to complete the manifest.
Looking forward to sailing on her.
Please keep us informed as to schedule etc.
We would look forward to her shake down voyage…her FIRST voyage..her maiden voyage !!!
Looking forward sailing on the Koningsdam. Please inform us when and how we can book a trip with the Koningsdam.
We have used HAL exclusively when we take wineries ocean cruising, and we are looking forward to include this new vessel in our 2016 schedule. For more info go to: GoWineCruising.com
Have sailed on a Holland American ship a few years ago to Alaska and my wife loved the ship and company. Look forward to cruiseing on this new gem sometime in 2016. when will we know what cruises she will take in 2016 so we can plan our voyage?
Just got back from TransAtlantic cruise with HAL and our first experience in a Pinnacle Suite (PH) on the Nieuw Amsterdam. First class all the way around, top to bottom, from the ships personnel to the food, fabulous! If the Ms Koningsdam lives up to its name it’s going to be one heck of a ship! Would be nice to get on maiden voyage! Great job Holland America!!!
As of March 4, 2015, Koningsdam is floating in the shipyard. I have some construction photos at:
http://www.beak.net/KoningsdamConstruction.html