Tag Archives: Lincoln Center Stage

Holland America bestows Rotterdam name on its upcoming ship

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A rendering of the Rotterdam VII, the latest in Holland America Line's Pinnacle class.
A rendering of the Rotterdam VII, the latest in Holland America Line’s Pinnacle-class. Photo Credit: Holland America Line

Holland America Line will change the name of it next newbuild from the Ryndam to the Rotterdam, making it the seventh ship in Holland America’s nearly 150-year history to bear the name.

The 2,668-passenger Rotterdam is scheduled for delivery on July 30, pushed back from its original May 2021 delivery due to the pandemic. The third ship in the Pinnacle-class series, it is scheduled to spend its first summer on Northern Europe and the Baltic cruises from Amsterdam.

The Rotterdam name holds a lot of significance for the line.

“The first ship for Holland America Line was the original Rotterdam, the company was headquartered in the city of Rotterdam for many years, and the name has been a hallmark throughout our history since 1872, so clearly the name is powerful and symbolic,” Gus Antorcha, Holland America’s president, said in a statement.

“With the current Rotterdam leaving the company, we knew we had a unique opportunity to embrace the name as our new flagship and carry on the tradition of having a Rotterdam in our fleet,” he added. “Seven is a lucky number, and we know she’s going to bring a lot of joy to our guests as she travels across the globe.”

Holland America said that the first Rotterdam sailed its maiden voyage from the Netherlands to New York Oct. 15, 1872, and led to the founding of the company in April 1873. The Rotterdam II was built in 1878 for British Ship Owners Co. and purchased by Holland America Line in 1886. The Rotterdam III came in 1897, and the fourth Rotterdam joined the fleet in 1908, also serving as a troop carrier when World War I ended. Following the war, it made regular cruises from New York to the Mediterranean.

The Rotterdam V, which was the line's flagship for many years. It left the fleet in 1997.
The Rotterdam V, which was the line’s flagship for many years. It left the fleet in 1997.

The Rotterdam V, also known as “The Grande Dame,” set sail in 1959 and began sailing transatlantic crossings with two classes of service. It converted to a one-class ship in 1969 and sailed with Holland America for 38 years until 1997. It is currently a hotel and museum in the city of Rotterdam.

The Rotterdam VI, the most recent to cruise for Holland America Line, was introduced in 1997 and was the first ship in the line’s R Class. It was purchased this summer by U.K.-based Fred. Olsen Cruise Line which will rename it the Borealis. The vessel was among four ships sold off from the Holland America fleet, leaving the line with 10 ships, part of a broader plan by parent company Carnival Corp. to reduce tonnage during the pandemic.

The next Rotterdam will have the 270-degree surround screen World Stage, Rudi’s Sel de Mer and Grand Dutch Cafe and will feature performances each night from its Lincoln Center Stage, B.B. King’s Blues Club, Rolling Stone Rock Room and Billboard Onboard.

Cruise Review: Holland America Line’s Koningsdam

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MS Koningsdam

With the recent launch of the groundbreaking 2,650-passenger Koningsdam, Holland America Line (HAL) has — in one fell swoop — refreshed and reenergized the brand with a musical hub, an elevated destination focus and culinary enhancements. Exceeding the incremental changes I had seen in previous HAL newbuilds, Koningsdam’s brighter and more daring interior design not only reflects the modern vision of designer Adam D. Tihany, but also emphasizes the line’s reach for new clientele, all while deftly striking a balance between contemporary and traditional styles.

While paying homage to HAL’s seagoing heritage with familiar public spaces such as Crow’s Nest and Explorer’s Bar, Koningsdam’s substantial departure from past HAL ship design is evidenced most clearly in its gorgeous dining room. With its cream-colored hues, rich feel and dramatic sweeping lines, the dining room makes a bold statement. Other public areas feature light woods and more colors than older sister ships, while white leather sofas and daybeds evoke a South Beach vibe on the upper pool deck. Sculptures, artwork, deck names and venues all follow a musical theme, while the line’s first purpose-built family and single staterooms enhance options for guests.

With a new focus on evening entertainment, HAL has upped the ante in the line’s Music Walk-branded trio of venues by featuring acts curated by prestigious institutions. Whether enjoying the soothing sounds of a five-piece chamber ensemble in Lincoln Center Stage; rocking to the beat of 50 years of pop music history in Billboard Onboard; or grooving to the soulful melodies of B.B. King’s All Stars, guests now have a wide range of high-caliber options in evening musical entertainment.

Main onboard showroom fare has been completely reimagined for the semicircular World Stage, where a 270-degree LED wall envelops both performers and audience members. New production shows such as One World — a music and dance performance featuring acrobatics, hauntingly beautiful music and impressive effects — is sure to wow cruisers. Meanwhile, a contemporary soundtrack courses through other public areas without overwhelming conversation.

While popular specialty restaurants The Pinnacle Grill, Tamarind and Canaletto are represented onboard Koningsdam, master chef Rudi Sodamin has introduced new venues and menus that lure diners in other directions.

In seafood brasserie Sel de Mer — HAL’s first a la carte restaurant — I enjoyed a delicious foie gras appetizer and bouillabaisse, while the casual Grand Dutch Cafe impressed me with authentic apple pancakes and Dutch pea soup. But Culinary Arts Center’s new farm-to-table dinner offers the most novel twist on alternative dining yet. Featuring show chefs and an open kitchen, the trendy menus — think celery and kale risotto and vacuum-poached seabass — are enhanced by microgreens grown in the Center’s CressOmatic “farm” system, adding a freshness factor that was previously unavailable. The $39 charge includes a welcome cocktail and unlimited organic wines.

HAL’s new Lido Market design, which is now rolling out fleetwide, delivers an upscale, international feel while further improving an industry-leading casual dining product. Themed stations present quality cuisine in an attractive, limited self-service environment, and guests are treated to high-quality dishes such as eggs florentine, roast duck, seared ahi tuna, carved leg of lamb and an extensive sushi selection, topped off by interesting demi-desserts and the line’s signature bread pudding.

Bringing the destination onboard, HAL’s Location Guides provide lectures that spotlight history, culture and context prior to port arrivals, while BBC Earth programming further enhances the experience for adults and Club HAL kids. On my sailing, a professional Spanish flamenco troupe entertained an appreciative, packed house in World Stage while the ship was docked in Gibraltar.

Koningsdam is HAL’s largest ship yet, as well as the first ship in the line’s new Pinnacle Class. While these game-changing factors will bring new attention to the line, familiar venues, quality cuisine and the always-warm and diverse crew ensure that the line’s loyal return passengers won’t be disappointed.