Additional 150th Anniversary Plans Announced
On April 18, 2023, Holland America Line is celebrating its 150th Anniversary — making it one of the longest-operating travel companies in the world. To commemorate the milestone, the cruise line is planning special events and activities, including two commemorative transatlantic crossings. Today, the April 3, 2023, crossing opens for booking, while the Oct. 15, 2022, departure has limited space remaining.
During the October and April 150th Anniversary Transatlantic crossings, Holland America Line is planning memorable experiences that will weave the company’s history into the menus, activities, entertainment, special guest speakers and more.
150th Anniversary Commemorative Celebrations:
• Oct. 15 crossing, 15 nights: Rotterdam VII will depart Rotterdam, the Netherlands, exactly 150 years to the date of the departure of Rotterdam I’s maiden voyage, which took place before the company was incorporated. The crossing will recreate Holland America Line’s first sailing, leaving from Rotterdam and visiting Plymouth, England, and Le Havre (Paris), France, before crossing the Atlantic Ocean to New York City for a rare overnight call; then it sails on to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
• April 3 crossing, 16 nights: Departing Fort Lauderdale, Rotterdam heads to New York City for an overnight call; it will then spend eight leisurely days at sea crossing the Atlantic Ocean, calling at Plymouth and Dover (London), England, before arriving April 18 — Holland America Line’s 150th anniversary — at Rotterdam for an overnight full of festivities.
During the crossings, guests will be treated to a host of experiences, including commemorative historic menus and cocktails offering a taste of the brand’s history, live music with special performances by guest artists, presentations reliving the history and roots of Holland America Line, and an Olympic-style event with classic cruise sporting activities and games.
New York City Anniversary Event: Holland America Line will kick off its 150th anniversary year with a special ceremony aboard Rotterdam when the ship overnights at New York City Oct. 26, 2022, including a memorable stage performance to mark the historic night.
Rotterdam Welcome: When Rotterdam arrives at Rotterdam in the Netherlands April 18, 2023, the ship will receive a grand welcome on its 150th birthday in the city of the company’s founding. During the overnight call, guests and city of Rotterdam will help mark this historic milestone at an evening event on board.
Additional Special Anniversary Themed Cruises: The anniversary year will include specially marketed cruises that help relive Holland America Line’s history of exploration through unique ports visited. The cruise dates will be announced in the coming months and will include special programming for each voyage.
Retail Merchandise: Limited-edition, specially designed 150th Anniversary retail items will be available in the shipboard shops.
Additional celebratory details will be revealed in the near future.
My first trip on a Holland America Line was in January 1957 with my family as immigrants on the ss Groote Beer. Started in Rotterdam, docked in Halifax and docked in Hoboken N.J. I will be on the ss Rotterdam in April 2023. Will there be a gathering of immigrants that previously sailed from Rotterdam to New York during this 150th celebration cruise?
There isn’t one schedule, but that is a great idea. We will let the team know your suggestion.
We have been looking forward for about 3 years to see how Holland America will be celebrating it’s 150th Anniversary after we were on the Premier cruises of the Koningsdam and the Nieuw Statendam and listening to the wonderful presentations that Captain Albert gave while we were on board , they were fantastic and we hope that he will be on board for this cruise again . So we booked the Transatlantic cruise on the Rotterdam during this special day which now has adjusted to this special Anniversary Cruise . I was very pleased to see that and look forward to be on board ship and help celebrate !
I sailed on Ryan Dam in 1968 it was certainly nothing like your new ships but I always felt safe and well
Cared for. We were originally scheduled to go from New York around the world to Los Angeles but the Suez canal was closed so we had to change our itinerary going only to Israel and then back around South America to reach LA I still remember it fondly.
Does this mean that Holland America will not charge gratuities on the 150 th celebration tours? They used to advertise something like “you are our GUESST no gratuitous expected”
What are the anniversary plans for the Grand World Voyage, which will be in Amsterdam on April 18, 2023? We’ve been expecting a huge celebration!
The Zuiderdam will arrive in Amsterdam on April 18th and also stay overnight. She will be winding up her first world cruise and the first world cruise since the restart. What is planned for the Zuiderdam to help celebrate?