Holland America Line

Cruise-Australia.net

Discover Cruising at its Best!

With Reuben Goossens

Cruise’n’Travel Journalist & Maritime Historian

MV Rijndam

For information & bookings - see the bottom of this page for the relevant email details and phone numbers

Part One

Holland America’s Background

A short history

Holland America Line, Nederlandsch Amerikaansche Stoomvaart Maatschappij (NASM), commenced their Trans-Atlantic service with the chartered British ship SS Adriane, which commenced service in July 1872. Within several months the 2000 ton SS Rotterdam (1) was delivered and under the command of Captain Jacob Hus she set sail on 15 October 1872 with a complement of ten passengers and 800 ton of freight. Her departure set in motion the beginning of a great shipping company that remains with us to this day.

SS Rotterdam I

In more recent years, HAL had two of the most amazing liners, 1. The 1938 Nieuw Amsterdam. 2. The 1959 SS Rotterdam (5). These two ships became famed for their lavish appointments and became two of the most popular ships at that time. The two funnelled 36,982 ton SS Nieuw Amsterdam is known to this day as the most beautiful liner ever built, whilst the 3,645 ton SS Rotterdam became the darling of the Atlantic.

Above: The stately Nieuw Amsterdam III Below: The elegant SS Rotterdam V

With Trans Atlantic services becoming unprofitable, SS Rotterdam became a full time cruise ship. She became one of the most sought after cruise ships on the seven seas and her world cruises were especially popular.

Holland America Line set the benchmark for exemplary service, a reputation continues to this day. Over the years, HAL has received the coveted “Best Cruise Line” award years in a row.

Obviously, Rotterdam (5) having been the darling of cruise lovers for many years, cruise enthusiasts were disappointed when HAL decided to sell her in 1997 to Premier Cruises who suitably renamed her SS Rembrandt. However, her time with Premier was short lived as the company folded. SS Rembrandt was laid up in Freeport until 2004, when this magnificent liner headed for Gibraltar where she is being restored to her original condition and livery. In the middle of 2005, SS Rotterdam will triumphantly return to her homeport to become a permanent hotel, casino, convention facility and maritime museum.

Today, Holland America Line together with Cunard, Carnival Cruise Lines, Cunard Line, P&O, P&O Cruises Australia, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises, AIDA, Ocean Village, Swan Hellenic, Seabourn Cruise Line and Windstar Cruises are owned by the American Carnival Cooperation. However, all these companies, including HAL continue to be marketed and sail under their own brand and traditions. However, Carnival has taken total control of designing all new ships, which tend to look identical except for their livery and funnels.

Holland America & a Carnival ship except for their funnels, cruise companies today have lost their identities!

Hulls and overall design of the Carnival Spirit class can be seen on HAL Vista Class ships and Costa Cruises, Costa Atlantica and Costa Mediterranea. Note the ships indented midsections which are identical on all these ships. Other Carnival designed ships include Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 and the future Queen Victoria, P&O Cruises UK Arcadia and the future Ventura, all of these ship are of a similar design, but are very much larger.

Part Two

Holland America Line Today

A Carnival Corp Company

Holland America operates an exceptional fleet of ships, from the classic 1993 built MV Statendam to the new futuristic MV Westerdam. Regardless of the HAL ship you may choose to cruise on, all feature unparalleled Dutch hospitality. All HAL ships have Dutch officers and Captain, whilst hotel staff and crew is international, being the very best sourced from around the world!

Holland America Line is known for their gracious service, gourmet cuisine and sparkling entertainment. HAL has a vast variety of cruises available covering the four corners of the globe. There is the perfect cruise awaiting you, be it cruising the Caribbean, Panama Canal and Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, the South Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, Baltic Sea as well as annual world cruises.

HAL Photo Album

MV Statendam & MV Westerdam

Although we feature just two of Holland America ships in this album, be assured that all HAL ships are of the same high standard. I just felt to show their oldest ship and their very latest ship which entered service just this year. These are: The 55,451 ton MV Statendam (built in 1993) being the first ship of the “Statendam class.” Second is the 81,679 ton Westerdam (2004) being the third in the Vista series of ships.

MV Statendam

MV Statendam is the first of a series of HAL ships

The Atrium

Mermaids overlook the Atrium

The magnificent two deck Restaurant

The Showroom

MV Westerdam

MV Westerdam is one of the newer HAL Ships

Library

Explorer Lounge

Sports Bar

Piano Lounge

Lido Pool

Hydro pool

Also visit … MS Rotterdam or MV Prinsendam

***************************************************

cruise@cruise-australia.net

In order to assist you better, please advise the city/town of residence, or if you are a resident of New Zealand

Alternatively - For further information or reservations

ENTER our recommended Australian & Worldwide Cruise Specialists page

***************************************

Return to - Cruise-Australia - INDEX

Cruise-Australia.net

Classic Liner enthusiasts visit

ssMaritime

Where the ships of the past make history

Photographs on Cruise-Australia and ssMaritime are: 1. By the author. 2. From the author’s private collection. 3. As provided by Shipping Companies and private photographers. Credit is given to all contributors. However, there are some photographs provided to me without details regarding the photographer concerned. I hereby invite if owners of these images would be so kind and make themselves known to me, that due credit may be given. I know what it is like, I have seem a multitude of my own photo’s on other sites, yet some even refuse to give credit, knowing full well that there is no legal comeback when it comes to the net. Let us do the right thing and show the charlatans up and do the right thing at all times and give credit where credit is due!

gold coast mechanics Counter