Holland America Line

Holland America Line

Type	Subsidiary
Industry	Transportation
Founded	1873 as the Netherlands-America Steamship Company
Headquarters	Seattle, USA
Key people	Stein Kruse (President and CEO) Richard D. Meadows (Executive VP, Marketing, Sales and Guest Programs) Larry D. Calkins (Senior VP, Finance and Information Technology) Paul Goodwin (Executive VP, Onboard Revenue, Planning, Port Operations and Tours)
Products	Cruises
Parent	Carnival Corporation
Website	HollandAmerica.com

Poster for Holland-Amerika Lijn, 1898

The Holland America Line is a British-American owned cruise line. It was founded in 1873 as the Netherlands-America Steamship Company (Dutch: Nederlandsch-Amerikaansche Stoomvaart Maatschappij), a shipping and passenger line. Headquartered in Rotterdam and providing service to the Americas, it became known as Holland America Line. HAL is now headquartered in Seattle, Washington, U.S.

The first ships sailed between Rotterdam and New York in 1872, with New York remaining the American terminal. Other services were started to South America and Baltimore. Cargo service to New York was added in 1899. During the first 25 years the company carried 400,000 people from the old world to the new world. Other North American ports were added during the early 20th century.

Though transportation and shipping were the primary sources of revenue, in 1895 HAL offered its first vacation cruise. Its second vacation cruise, from New York to the Holy Land was first offered in 1910. In 1971, HAL suspended transatlantic passenger trade and in 1973 sold its cargo shipping division.

In 1989, HAL became a wholly owned subsidiary of Carnival Corp. The company operates 15 ships to 7 continents and is expected to carry over 750,000 cruise passengers in 2012.

In addition to its cruise line, Holland America operates the Westmark Hotel chain in Alaska and the Yukon.

History

Holland America Line produced some noted ships, from the 36,000 gross ton SS Nieuw Amsterdam of 1937 (besides the RMS Queen Mary, the only 1930s-built liner to make a profit) and the SS Rotterdam of 1959, one of the first North Atlantic ships equipped for two-class transatlantic crossing and one-class luxury cruising. By the late 1960s, the golden era of transatlantic passenger ships was ended by air travel. HAL ended transatlantic service during the early 1970s, leaving the North Atlantic passenger trade for Cunard's RMS Queen Elizabeth 2.

In 1971, Holland America transitioned from passenger sea transportation to pleasure cruising and is known now for its wide variety of destinations. Receiving approval to visit Antarctica in the 1980s.

Today HAL ships cruise to all seven continents. MS Prinsendam and MS Amsterdam make annual "Grand Voyages" lasting more than 60 days, exploring more exotic destinations in South America and Africa; the MS Amsterdam also make annual World Voyages, sailing around the world, usually ranging from January to March/April/May.

In summer 2011, the MS Rotterdam did two transatlantic crossings, the first traditional transatlantic runs made by the line in more than 40 years. It was also announced the Rotterdam would be based year-round out of Rotterdam, Netherlands beginning in September 2012, sailing to Europe, the Caribbean, as well as Asia. Cruises range from 14 to 90 days.

Signature of Excellence program

The MS Eurodam.

In 2003, Holland America announced its "Signature of Excellence" program. The ongoing program focuses on upgrading existing ships. The first phase included adding the Pinnacle Grill specialty restaurant, the Neptune Lounge (for suite guests), the Culinary Arts Center with demonstration kitchen, expanded children’s and teens’ facilities, enhanced stateroom amenities, and improved dining and enrichment offerings. The second phase of improvements (announced in 2008) adds a new bar lounge area called Mix, the Showroom at Sea show lounge/nightclub, the Retreat resort pool area with pizzeria and LED screen and the Canaletto Italian specialty restaurant among other enhancements. See details below.

Current

As of July 2008, the line operates 15 ships, from the smaller and older S class vessels; the mid range R class; the Vista class; the newest and largest Signature class and the small 793-passenger Prinsendam (originally the Royal Viking Sun, then Seabourn Sun until HAL's purchase in 2002). All HAL ships have a dark blue hull with white superstructure, with the company's logo featured prominently on the functional smoke stacks.

Holland America also owns:

• the Westmark hotel chain operating in Alaska and the Yukon
• Worldwide Shore Services, providing warehouse and logistical support
• Half Moon Cay, a private Caribbean island (known officially as Little San Salvador Island) with most Caribbean cruises spending a day there.

On April 3, 2008 Micky Arison, the chairman of Carnival Corporation, stated that due to the low value of the US dollar, inflation and high shipbuilding costs, they would not be ordering new ships for their US based divisions (Holland America, Carnival Cruise Lines and Princess Cruises) until the economic situation improves. Nevertheless, Carnival Breeze was ordered in 2010, and two Princess liners in 2011, one of which will be the new Royal Princess.

On October 26, 2012 it was announced a memorandum of agreement has been signed with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for the construction of a 2,660-passenger ship for Holland America Line scheduled for delivery in fall 2015. The unnamed ship, which will be a new class of vessel for the line (The Pinnacle Class), will enter service five years after the last Holland America ship, the MS Nieuw Amsterdam, delivered in 2010. Also noted was that the addition of new ships would maintain passenger capacity if some of the older Carnival Corporation ships are sold.

Current fleet

Statendam class (S class)

Vessel Name	In HAL Service	Gross Tonnage	Maximum Speed	Passenger Complement	Enclosed Passenger Decks	Notes	Image
MS Statendam	1993	55,819	22 knots	1,260	9	April 2010 refit added spa staterooms, Mix lounge and Showroom at Sea
MS Maasdam	1993	55,575	22 knots	1,258	9	April 2011 refit added Lanai and spa staterooms, Mix lounge and Showroom at Sea
MS Ryndam	1994	55,819	22 knots	1,260	9	February 2010 refit added spa staterooms, Mix lounge and Showroom at Sea
MS Veendam	1996	57,092	22 knots	1,350	9	April 2009 refit added Lanai, spa and verandah staterooms, Mix lounge, Showroom at Sea, the Retreat aft pool area with shallow pool and movie screen (moved up to Lido deck level), and duck tail for stability. April 2011 refit updated Retreat area, removing wading pool in favor of several smaller hot/cool tubs.

The four S class ships above began life as virtually identical vessels except for décor. They were the first new HAL cruise ships to incorporate features like the atrium, the two-deck main dining room and show lounge, and the Lido pool with retractable roof. These vessels are currently undergoing a series of major refits. See above for details.

All S class ships received the first phase of Signature of Excellence upgrades (detailed above) between 2004 and 2006.

Rotterdam class (R class)

Vessel Name	In HAL Service	Gross Tonnage	Maximum Speed	Passenger Complement	Enclosed Passenger Decks	Notes	Image
MS Rotterdam	1997	61,849	25 knots	1,404	9	December 2009 refit added Lanai, spa and verandah staterooms, Mix lounge, Showroom at Sea, the Retreat aft pool area (moved up to Lido deck level) with shallow pool and movie screen
MS Volendam	1999	61,214	23 knots	1,432	9
MS Zaandam	2000	61,396	23 knots	1,432	9
MS Amsterdam	2000	62,735	25 knots	1,380	9

Unlike the vessels of the S class, Holland America Line's R class ships did not all start out identical. Rotterdam, the first of the four, was similar to the S class, but slightly longer and wider, with a third set of passenger stairs/elevators and some new facilities. The twins Volendam and Zaandam followed, similar to Rotterdam, but with a different (single) funnel and larger because the aft pool was moved up one deck to the Lido level, creating more space for passenger accommodations below. The final R class ship, Amsterdam, like a hybrid of Rotterdam and Volendam/Zaandam, incorporates Rotterdam's twin funnels as well as the Lido deck aft pool. Together, Rotterdam and Amsterdam are considered HAL's flagships.

All R class ships received the first phase of Signature of Excellence upgrades (detailed above) between 2005 and 2009.

Vista class

Vessel Name	In HAL Service	Gross Tonnage	Maximum Speed	Passenger Complement	Enclosed Passenger Decks	Notes	Image
MS Zuiderdam	2002	82,305	24 knots	1,916	10
MS Oosterdam	2003	82,305	24 knots	1,916	10
MS Westerdam	2004	82,305	24 knots	1,916	10
MS Noordam	2006	82,318	24 knots	1,924	10

HAL's four Vista class ships are named for the points of the compass in Dutch. Noord for north, Zuid for south, Oost for east and West for West. These ships were designed mainly for shorter (less than two weeks) cruises in the Caribbean, Alaska and Europe. These ships are notable because of the exceptionally great number of oceanview and verandah staterooms - more than 85% and 67% respectively. The first three Vista class vessels were built as identical triplets. Noordam incorporated a few design changes, including a more vertical aft profile, which makes her larger, with a slightly greater passenger capacity. The success of Noordam's revised design caused HAL to modify the other three Vista class ships with aft expansions to mimic Noordam.

In 2006, the Vista class cruise ships were awarded the 2006 Green Planet Award for outstanding environmental standards by Kuoni Switzerland.

Zuiderdam, Oosterdam and Westerdam received the first phase of Signature of Excellence upgrades (detailed above) between 2005 and 2006, while Noordam was built to SOE1 standards.

Signature class

Vessel Name	In HAL Service	Gross Tonnage	Maximum Speed	Passenger Complement	Enclosed Passenger Decks	Notes	Image
MS Eurodam	2008	86,273	23.9 knots	2,104	11
MS Nieuw Amsterdam	2010	86,700	23.9 knots	2,106	11

The Signature class ships are essentially an enhanced Vista class design. The main difference is the addition of a deck between the Lido and Observation decks. This allows for more cabins (mostly spa accommodations) and some additional facilities including the specialty restaurant Tamarind and the Silk Den lounge.

Both Signature class ships were built to Signature of Excellence (first phase) standards (detailed above).

The "Elegant Explorer"

Vessel Name	In HAL Service	Gross Tonnage	Maximum Speed	Passenger Complement	Enclosed Passenger Decks	Notes	Image
MS Prinsendam	2002 (built 1988)	37,983	22 knots	835	8

The smallest and oldest HAL ship, Prinsendam is in a class by herself. The only Holland America Line ship not built for the line, Prinsendam enjoyed a career with Royal Viking Line, Cunard and Seabourn Cruise Line before joining the HAL fleet after an extensive refit in 2002. Prinsendam does not have a two-deck main dining room or main lounge, an indoor/outdoor pool, or dedicated children's facilities like other HAL vessels.

Prinsendam received the first phase of Signature of Excellence upgrades (detailed above) in 2005.

Chartered ships

• Noordam, 1984—On long term charter to Thomson Cruises in 2005.

• Nieuw Amsterdam, 1984—Sold to American Classic Voyages in 2000. HAL repurchased the vessel and charted her to Louis Cruises who then subchartered the ship to Thomson Cruises after a lengthy refitting.

Future fleet

Pinnacle class

Vessel Name	In HAL Service	Gross Tonnage	Maximum Speed	Passenger Complement	Enclosed Passenger Decks	Notes	Image
TBD	Feb 2016	100,000	TBD	2,660	12		N/A

Constructed at the Fincantieri shipyards, it will be to date the largest ship to be built for Holland-America. The new vessel with have a beam of 35 metres, complying with the New Panamax dimensions and allowing it to cruise through the new wider locks currently under construction at the Panama Canal. It is scheduled to launch on February 15, 2016.

Former fleet

• SS Rotterdam, 1958—Sold to Premier Cruise Lines in 1997, retired in 2000 and now a hotel and museum.
• MS Westerdam, 1986—Transferred to Costa Cruises in 2002 and renamed Costa Europa, April 2010 charted to Thomson Cruises for 10 years and known as Thomson Dream.
• MS Prinsendam, 1973–80 - Sank off of the coast of Alaska.
• SS Veendam (3), 1972–74, 1975–76, 1978–84 — Last in service for Commodore Cruise Line as Enchanted Isle
• SS Volendam(1), 1922–1952, 1940-45 escaped to Britain in WW2, served as troop transport, returned to Rotterdam in 1945
• SS Volendam (2), 1972–76, 1978–84—Sister to SS Veendam (3); Last known as Universe Explorer of World Explorer Lines
• SS Statendam (3), WW2 1940 scrapped after set on fire to avoid capture at Rotterdam
• SS Statendam (4) 1956–1982 — Last in service for Regent Star as Regency. Inactive after Regent Star went bankrupt.
• SS Maasdam (4) (1952–1968), 1968–1990 in service for Polish Ocean Lines as Stefan Batory, the last regularly scheduled transatlantic liner, scrapped Turkey 2000
• SS Ryndam (2) (1951–1973) — Sank 2003 on way to breakers
• SS Waterman (1951–1963) - Launched January 16, 1945 Decommissioned 1970.
• SS Zuiderkruis (1951–1963) - Launched May 5, 1944 Decommissioned 1969.
• SS Groote Beer (1951–1963) - Launched June 17, 1944 Decommissioned 1971.
• SS Westerdam (1945–1965)—Combination first class passenger/cargo vessel; scrapped Spain 1965
• SS Nieuw Amsterdam, 1937, in WW2 escaped to US neutral port, served as a British War Transport carrying over 350,000, returned to Holland in 1946. Breakers yard in 1974.
• SS Rotterdam, 1908—Scrapped 1940.
• SS Noordham, 1902—Fate unknown, alerted RMS Titanic to ice early into its ill-fated maiden voyage
• SS Potsdam, 1900—Scrapped 1947 - It was the largest ship HAL owned at the time it was in service.
• SS Rotterdam, 1886 —Fate unknown.
• SS Rotterdam, 1872—Wrecked September 26, 1883.
• SS Veendam (2), (sister ship SS Volendam (1)) WW2 1940, bombed in Rotterdam, repaired and requestioned by Hamburg-America Line. Used for German submarine crews stationed in Hamburg. Returned to service from Rotterdam 1947, scrapped Baltimore 1953.

See also

• Carnival Corporation & plc

References

Notes

External links

• Official website
• Cruise Critic review
• Holland America Line fleet location in Google Maps
• The Last Ocean Liners - Holland America Line - trade routes and ships of the Holland America Line during the 1950s and 60s.