Captain Timmers Shares His 5 Favorite Holland America Line Ships

In a recent article in World of Cruising, Captain Timmers — the first master of our new Rotterdam — shared how different Holland America Line ships have sentimental value for very different reasons. Much like our guests who often cruise on a particular ships, Captain Timmers has his favorites in our fleet. Read on to see which ships are special to him and why.

“ss Rotterdam is where I met my wife, and that beautiful ship was ahead of her time.”

Zaandam was my first full captain’s contract. The ship maneuvers like no other and this was my first taste of team-building.”

“Ryndam had one of the best teams. It was an older ship and could be a handful to maneuver, but the size was such that you could sail pretty much everywhere.”

Koningsdam was my last ship. It was a step above anything I’ve sailed to date. It has all of the amenities a guest could wish for and also a great ship for the crew. Technically, the ship is up to the latest improvements and super economical, maneuvers nicely, and the team is fantastic to work with.”

Koningsdam

“My next favorite ship, I know, will be Rotterdam where all of the little things that needed tweaking on Koningsdam will have been done.”

Is your favorite one of his? Tell us in the comments.

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13 Comments

  1. Douglas Schrader August 6, 2022 at 9:57 pm - Reply

    The wife and I don’t have a favourite ship we love it them all ,but we do have a favourite Captain and that would be Captain Timmers we have sailed many times with him on several different ships .He is always so involved with his quests ,we were standing in front of the the big screen that shows where the ship is he came up behind us and said don’t trust that screen if the sun goes down on the bowand comes up on the astern we are going the right way ( trans Atlantic cruise east to west , Ryndam ) . That little enter action made are whole cruise and we will never forget it .
    Thank You Captain Timmers

  2. Sallie Paulson June 2, 2022 at 11:18 pm - Reply

    I love all the Dam ships, but as a five star mariner and sailed on many different ships, my all time favorite will always be Maasdam. She was such a intimate and lovely little lady. I was so sad when she sold, along with Prinsendam. I’m sure the Rotterdame is magnificent as far as amenities and mechanical, but I much prefer the samll ships. Still, I love sailing on HAL!

  3. David Barnes October 5, 2021 at 10:32 am - Reply

    Looking for information about HAL resuming cruising. Especially from the West Coast. We are scheduled to leave San Diego in January to Hawaii, and hoping this is still the plan and the focus of HAL.

    Has teh line resumed cruising both on Florida and on the West Coast as of October?

  4. Ray Rodriguez August 3, 2021 at 5:30 pm - Reply

    My favorite of all times is the Rydam (now sailing for another company as the “Vasco de Gama”). We sailed from San Diego to Tampa through the Panama Canal the fall of 2010. Small enough to feel like family, great food and interesting shore excursions. Got my second mariner star in that trip. Will miss it.

  5. Martha Hedgepeth June 14, 2021 at 1:55 am - Reply

    I was wondering if you could share information as to what amenities and/or stores,spas,beauty shops, facilities for clothes cleaning etc are aboard the Zaandam for use on a long cruise. As a caregiver, I am expecting to enjoy my first cruise soon aboard same and need to have all the information possible for myself and my companion. Any other helpful information about the ship Zaandam would be appreciated.

  6. G H Borremans April 17, 2021 at 9:25 am - Reply

    The SS Rotterdam, Ms Rotterdam, Ms Prinsendam, Ms Amsterdam, and Ms. Volendam were my favorite ships..

  7. Dick Korevaar April 5, 2021 at 6:01 am - Reply

    zoals kapiteins een favoriet schip hebben zijn er ook passagiers die een favoriete kapitein hebben. ik heb met diverse holland amerika schepen gevaren en met diverse kapiteins. er was er een die toch onze favoriet is geworden door vriendelijkheid, kunde en toch gemoedelijk naar de passagiers, dat is kapitein WERNER TIMMERS

  8. Lisa March 29, 2021 at 8:39 am - Reply

    Looking forward to the New Rotterdam..Congrats Capt Timmers! When will the sea trails start for Rotterdam?

  9. Peter and Sylvia Huijgen March 27, 2021 at 1:27 am - Reply

    Zaandam trip to Hawaï and Koningsdag several cruises.

  10. Marjorie Gordon March 26, 2021 at 8:16 pm - Reply

    As you say, guests, too, have their favourites, and while I have sailed on all four of these ships, and have fond memories of them all, I have to say that my favourite of these is the Koningsdam.
    That said, my all-time favourite ship is, and likely always will be, the gone-but-never-to-be-forgotten RotterdamVI!
    I know that the new Rotterdam will be impressive, and I sincerely wish that she will have the same special “spirit” as her two predecessors!
    I know that Captain Timmers will lead an excellent team.

  11. Ann McCarthy March 26, 2021 at 4:14 pm - Reply

    Zaandam, Ryndam and Koningsdam are/were three of our favourites, too! We are looking forward to sailing with you on the new Rotterdam. Whenever that happens….

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