New 150th Anniversary Commemorative Crossing in April 2023 Added Aboard Rotterdam

New 150th Anniversary Commemorative

As our 150th anniversary approaches April 18, 2023, Holland America Line is adding a second commemorative transatlantic crossing aboard Rotterdam to the schedule of celebratory events. Departing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on April 4, 2023, the 16-night itinerary sails to Rotterdam, the Netherlands, retracing in reverse the company’s first voyage.

From Fort Lauderdale, the ship heads to New York City and makes a rare overnight call, giving guests extra time to experience the attractions that make this vibrant city come to life, including the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Empire State Building, Broadway and more. Rotterdam 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.

“As we got deeper into planning the events surrounding our 150th, we knew that the best place to celebrate the date of our founding was in the city of Rotterdam where it all started,” said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line. “These voyages that mark our first departure and our anniversary are going to be incredibly memorable as we retrace our first sailing from the 1870s, but on a modern, luxury cruise ship. We anticipate the April cruise to be as popular as the October sailing.”

Rotterdam historical poster

To kick off a season of celebrations, Holland America Line announced the first special 150th anniversary crossing that will depart Rotterdam Oct. 15, 2022, exactly 150 years to the date of the departure of Rotterdam I’s maiden voyage. The crossing will recreate that first sailing, going from Rotterdam to New York, with calls at Plymouth; LeHavre (Paris), France; then on to Fort Lauderdale. The ship will stay overnight in New York for special celebrations.

To accommodate the new April 4 departure three voyages were cancelled, and all guests and their travel advisors were notified. Bookings for the new eastbound transatlantic crossing will open to the public July 14, 2022.

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32 Comments

  1. Julie July 12, 2022 at 3:21 pm - Reply

    The press release is incorrect. This is correct. We will be issuing a new press release this week that will have the correction.

  2. Anna Wiebes van den Brink July 1, 2022 at 8:04 pm - Reply

    I will be sailing on the Rotterdam October 2 Th – October 30 Th. I am looking forward to the second part of the cruise , when we leave Rotterdam crossing over to New York.

    I left from Rotterdam to cross over , on the Maasdam to New York in June 1962. That is why this cruise is very special to me !!!

  3. Lee Freeman July 1, 2022 at 6:20 pm - Reply

    Interested in this transatlantic cruise.

  4. Susan Rutledge June 30, 2022 at 3:33 pm - Reply

    I am interested in the April 2023 crossing
    Please send me a reminder for the July 14 th booking date

  5. Katy Klose June 29, 2022 at 11:42 pm - Reply

    “Rotterdam to New York, with calls at Plymouth and Dover, then on to Fort Lauderdale. The ship will stay overnight in New York for special celebrations.“
    Has Dover been substituted for LeHavre? We have had NO NOTICE of such a change!

  6. Alan Scott June 29, 2022 at 3:44 pm - Reply

    Is this press release correct? In the next-to-last paragraph, the release says the October 15th sailing, “ going from Rotterdam to New York, with calls at Plymouth and Dover, then on to Fort Lauderdale” when obviously calls would be at Dover before Plymouth. Additionally, the October 15th itinerary noted on the Holland America website for the cruise makes no mention at all of Dover, but lists LeHavre as the stop after Rotterdam and before Plymouth. Which is correct?

  7. Pauline commandeur June 29, 2022 at 10:51 am - Reply

    We are very interested in the 150th sailing from Ft. Lauderdale to Rotterdam on April 4/23. If you could give us a price that would be greatly appreciated.

  8. Jaap Lievisse Adriaanse June 29, 2022 at 1:17 am - Reply

    Nice ! But it would be even nicer if , instead of saying how important the city of Rotterdam is to the company, you have the Rotterdam 7 sailing out of Rotterdam next year. But no , out of Amsterdam again. What a shame. Just a few sailings next year for HAL ships out of Rotterdam. We used to have at least one ship homeported where it all started. Come on HAL !!

  9. Tony Feenstra June 29, 2022 at 12:29 am - Reply

    We had already booked this cruise for the above reasons to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the company , the one we love ! We hope that on this cruise Captain Albert your wonderful historian will be on board ship presenting his amazing presentations .
    On a personal level April 18th happens also to be my wives birthday but she is just a youngster in comparison but also her day is very special she will be exactly half the age of the company she is cruising on !

  10. Dolores Shick June 28, 2022 at 9:50 pm - Reply

    Sounds awesome, need more info

  11. Betty Kelly June 28, 2022 at 7:58 pm - Reply

    Would love to go

  12. Udo Johann Hinck June 28, 2022 at 7:40 pm - Reply

    Just finished one April 17 22 loved it

  13. Gregg Tiemann June 28, 2022 at 6:28 pm - Reply

    I am booked on this TA and what was supposed to be a Norway cruise after it. The Norway cruise no longer exists and I’m doing the Oct Anniversary TA and have no interest in repeating the same exact ports in reverse so I will be canceling. May do the Nieuw Statendam Apr 23 TA instead.

  14. KIMBERLY Sue METCALF June 28, 2022 at 6:27 pm - Reply

    Wow, the stay in New York City sounds so much fun!

  15. Odelia Allen June 28, 2022 at 6:16 pm - Reply

    Please send me information about the April, 2023 Transatlantic Anniversary Cruise on the Rotterdam as soon as it is available.

  16. Jeanette Black June 28, 2022 at 6:06 pm - Reply

    I last cruised with HAL fall of 2019. At that time I spent a large portion of my nights in the casino. I was offered a free room for my next cruise since they decided I was in the High Rollers club. Whatever that is. How do I go about seeing if this offer is still valid?

  17. Gwen June 28, 2022 at 6:03 pm - Reply

    Is it possible to disembark in New York or embark in New York rather than Ft Lauderdale?

  18. sheraj khan June 28, 2022 at 5:49 pm - Reply

    I am big fan of this company I am trying to join your company

  19. Diane Gutschlag June 28, 2022 at 5:31 pm - Reply

    So do we need to plan our journey home from Rotterdam?

  20. Annemarie Dragt June 28, 2022 at 4:39 pm - Reply

    Sounds like a wonderful cruise.

  21. Esther Steinholz June 28, 2022 at 4:38 pm - Reply

    I would like information on the 150th Anniversary transatlantic crossing on the Rotterdam in April 2023

  22. Judy June 28, 2022 at 3:56 pm - Reply

    Boy would I love to do this trip in April. But I know I will no be able to afford it.

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