Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands Named Godmother of Rotterdam
Holland America Line announced today that when Rotterdam is named next spring, Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands will be the ship’s godmother, carrying on a tradition that began in the 1920s.
Holland America Line’s connection to The House of Orange goes back nearly a century to Prince Hendrik launching Statendam III in 1929. Since then, members of the Dutch Royal Family have launched 11 more Holland America Line vessels throughout the years, including Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet who named Prinsendam (1972), Nieuw Amsterdam II (1983), Rotterdam VI (1997) and Oosterdam (2003).
“We are deeply grateful that Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet will once again act as godmother to a Holland America Line ship, carrying on a long tradition with the Royal Family that continues to honor our Dutch roots,” said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line. “Rotterdam will be named in Rotterdam next year, celebrating its namesake city and our historic connection with the Netherlands. We look forward to commemorating the occasion where it all started for Holland America Line.”
Additional members of the Dutch Royal Family who are godmothers include Queen Máxima, who named Koningsdam in 2016 and Nieuw Amsterdam in 2010. Then-Queen Beatrix served as Eurodam’s godmother in 2008. Rotterdam V was launched in 1958 by Queen Juliana. Then-Princess Beatrix named Statendam IV in 1957 and Prinses Margriet in 1960. Nieuw Amsterdam II was launched by Queen Wilhelmina in 1937.
Rotterdam’s maiden cruise departs Oct. 20, 2021, from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and embarks on a 14-day transatlantic journey to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. During its inaugural Caribbean season from November to April, Rotterdam will sail a variety of five- to 11-day itineraries that span the southern, western, eastern and tropical regions, all roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale. In mid-April, the ship makes a 14-day Atlantic Ocean crossing back to Europe to spend the summer in Norway, the Baltic, British Isles and Iceland, all sailing roundtrip from Amsterdam.
Rotterdam was delivered by the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy July 30, 2021. The date for naming the ship in Rotterdam will be announced in the coming months.
When will her Royal Highness Princess Margriet name your new Rotterdam ship? When it goes back to Amsterdam in April? I am looking forward to my second cruise on your wonderful ships in March I hope you still kept your delicious buffet. sincerely Joan Niland
Hello Fooks.
Super…..another great new ship. Both looking forward as a 5 star member to see and sail on this ship. John and Yvonne Holla ( From Holland )
Wij zijn beiden 5* mariner met allebei 1101 credits. Onze eerste HAL cruises waren met de ss Rotterdam, we zouden het op prijs stellen uitgenodigd te worden voor de doop van het nieuwe ms Rotterdam.
I think it is wonderful that Princess Margriet is the Godmother to the Nieuw Rotterdam..She
was born in Ottawa Canada at the Civic Hospital during World War 2 and the room where she was born
was temporarily given Dutch Soil Status so she would not loose her place in the Dutch Royal Family. As a proud Canadian I look forward to cruise on the ship next July in Europe!
gefeliciteerd met het nieuwe schip een behouden vaart en hoop snel aan boord te kunnen van dit schip
Why is the MS Rotterdam coming year making roundtrips from Amsterdam and not from Rotterdam? The company startend coming year 150 years ago!!!!!
Tho’ I’m not by any stretch of the imagination “a seasoned cruiser,” it’s not because of choice. If I had someone to share a balcony stateroom, I’d cruise every 4 to 6 months! I love it! Y’all made me feel special.
My initial cruise probably some 8 to 10 years ago was Holland America’s 2 week Alaskan land sea trip, with land part 1st and relaxing cruise rounding out that vacation.
Your company is my 1st choice at this point: your ships are clean, staff helpful and friendly and food delicious!
I can only compare H/A to Norwegian, but you’re 1st! I only wish ships carried 2,000 or less “guests.”
Frances
What is the policy of this cruise line toward requiring proof of COVID vaccinations for ALL crew and passengers? Thank you.
Waarom gaat deze cruise niet door
Kregen naar herhaald verzoek aan STIP REIZEN waar we al 05-03-2021 hadden geboekt een week voor afvaart bericht .gaat NIET door.
Hadden al diverse onkosten gemaakt.
We zijn in het bezit van de gouden medaille bijna altijd met de ROTTERDAM
Anneke en Joop ter Haar
Congratulations on adding a new ship to your fleet that will help carry on the century old tradition and reputation of HAL.
My husband and I will be sailing on the Trans Atlantic next year. after Amsterdam we are continuing up to Norway and back to Amsterdam. It would be wonderful to see Godmother, Princess Margriet launch the champagne bottle.
Proud that our Prinses Margriet will be also the Godmother of the new Rotterdam.
We are looking forward to enjoy our next cruise to Iceland, on 31 July 2022, with this wonderful ship!
My wife and I are scheduled for the trip in April from Ft Lauderdale. Do you think masks will still be required on the ship or is it a wait and see.
Also, is Europe open or is it also a wait and see. No use taking a cruise if you cannot see specific sights.
As 4-Star Mariners, we are looking forward to our reservations aboard the Rotterdam in her inaugural year, on January 22nd to celebrate my birthday and our 62nd anniversary. Our first cruise on HAL was in the early 1980s aboard the Statendam from New York to Bermuda … we have enjoyed each cruise over the past 40+ years (including 4 to Alaska!)
We are excited to be booked on the April 17, 2022 sailing…finally travel again.
Barbara & John
How well I remember crossing the Atlantic for the first time from Hoboken to Rotterdam at the age of nine. It was in February 1950 aboard the then-existingWesterdam, took ten days in extremely rough weather with piles of lovely wooden furniture ending up as junk because it had not been adequately secured. But my great appetite was unaffected and I still have all the lovely menus!
Another great ship joining the fleet. And, with a royal godmother! How wonderful!!! I do hope to sail on her in one of my wife and my future voyages!!! Mariner# 045017738!!!!!
Great article in her royal highness.congrats
My wife and I are booked for May8-22 Baltic cruise. Looking forward to celebrating our 25th anniversary.
Wij hebben deze cruise geboekt en kregen afgelopen woensdag bericht dat de cruise geannuleerd zou zijn
It would have been a great opportunity, the combination 150 years HAL and the Princes of Orange.
It is unfortunate: all sailing roundtrip from Amsterdam. Many people in the city of Rotterdam like to see the ship in their port of Rotterdam. But we will be in Amsterdam August 2022
Congratulations.
Wijn zeer blij met het ms “de Rotterdam”.
Ook goed reizen vanuit NEDERLAND.
Maar zien uit naar de cruises van “de Rotterdam” en dan speciaal de roundtrips Rotterdam-Rotterdam!!!
Heel veel voorspoed gewenst met uw H.A.L
Bijzonder dat onze prinses Margriet gaat de doopplechtigheid verrichten…
Wij waren
op de Koningsdam tijdens de doopplechtigheid door Kon. Maxima.(en hadden ook de cruise meegemaakt naarvanuit Rome naar R’ dam.
H.G r.
Dames van Loon.
Boergoensevliet 187 A/B,
3082KP Rotterdam.
This is such a wakening bit of GOOD news to read, we are going to be normal again!!!
Our cruise tradition and fine memories goes back from 2004 with the Westerdam inaugural season. Further more than 9 HAL ships with almost 700 real cruise days. The last one was the Prinsendam our favorite special around Africa cruises. The longest cruise was on the Rotterdam 144 cruise days. Special was the ceremony with Queen Maxima on the Koningsdam Christian include the namecruise.
Our best wishes for the Rotterdam 7 Kniertje and Cees Ouwehand.
Graag ontvang ik zodra de datum van de doop van de ms Rotterdam bekend is een bericht.
Omdat mijn reis de mayden voice reis die ik geboekt had op 1 aug. geen doorgang kon vinden. zouden mijn vrouw en ik graag aanwezig zijn tijdens de doop en evt de cruise die hiermee samen valt.
HEUGENLIJK NIEUWS,
WE ZOUDEN HET HEEL LEUK VINDEN OM BIJ DE DOOP VAN HET SCHIP IN ROTTERDAM AANWEZIG TE ZIJN,
BEHOUDEN VAART..
L.S.
For weeks on end at this page about Rotterdam VII
https://www.hollandamerica.com/blog/ships/ms-rotterdam/
a photograph of Rotterdam VI is shown in stead of Rotterdam VII
Update necessary ??
Best regards
John van Kuijk