Holland America Line has held the naming ceremony for its new flagship, Rotterdam.

The event, which took place in the ship’s namesake city, saw its godmother, Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands, officially name the ship.

Other attendees included Carnival Corporation president and CEO Arnold Donald, Holland America Group president Jan Swartz, and Rotterdam captain Werner Timmers.

A special seven-day Rotterdam Naming Celebration cruise departed on 29 May, sailing from Amsterdam and visiting Kristiansand, Stavanger, and Flåm, Norway, with scenic cruising in Sognefjord.

The ship will now homeport in Amsterdam and operate seven and 14-day Norway cruises, as well as itineraries to Scandinavia, Iceland, and the Northern Isles.

Rotterdam is the third vessel in the line’s Pinnacle-class and the seventh ship to bear the name for the cruise line.

It can carry 2,668 guests and features many of the on-board spaces found on its sister ships, including the Rolling Stone Rock Room, Lincoln Centre Stage, and Billboard Onboard.

A ‘memorable moment’ for Holland America Line

Holland America Line president Gus Antorcha said: “Our heritage is rooted here in the Netherlands, and we are deeply honoured to have Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet as godmother of her fifth Holland America Line ship.

“When Rotterdam was delivered in 2021, we postponed its naming ceremony so we could hold it in Rotterdam, because there’s no better place to name a ship than in the city it was named after.

“After a challenging couple of years, we are excited to celebrate this memorable moment in our company’s history.”

Members of the Dutch Royal Family have launched 11 HAL vessels throughout the years. Princess Margriet also named Prinsendam in 1972, Nieuw Amsterdam II in 1983, Rotterdam VI, back in 1997, and Oosterdam in 2003.

Additional members of the Dutch Royal Family who are godmothers include Queen Máxima, who named Koningsdam in 2016 and Nieuw Amsterdam in 2010.

Photo: Holland America Line, Rebekka Mell