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About
Holland
America
Line...
If you had to pick one word to describe the Holland America
Line, that word would be "venerable." The line is arguably the most historic and
tradition-laden on the seas today. Its first ship, the 1,684-ton Rotterdam, set
sail on a voyage between Holland and New York in 1873.
The line
originally started out as The Netherlands-America Steamship Company, but soon
became known as the Holland America Line because it carried great numbers of
immigrants from Holland to America. The company concentrated on the
trans-Atlantic passenger trade, as well as the commercial freight shipping
business until the 1970's. Its first purpose-built passenger ship was built in
1973, and since then, the line has concentrated on cruise vacation travel. In
1978, Holland America moved its headquarters from Rotterdam to Stamford,
Connecticut. The company's headquarters moved to Seattle, Washington in 1983, in
order to consolidate operations with an Alaska tour company, Westours (Holland
America had purchased a controlling interest in Westours in the early 1970's).
In 1988, Holland America purchased Windstar Sail Cruises, operator of four- and
five-masted computer-guided sailing ships.
A year later, the behemoth
Carnival Corporation acquired the Holland America Line, which remains
headquartered in Seattle, Washington.
Holland America may now be a
U.S.-based cruise line but it continues to maintain strong ties with its
Netherlands heritage. Ships in its fleet -- since the 1890's and continuing
today -- bear the suffix "dam." Most of the names are inspired for actual dams
that traverse the rivers of the Netherlands. In other cases, such as with its
Vista class of ships, the names represent points of the compass (Oosterdam is East, Westerdam is West, Noordam is North, etc.). Many of the
names are in their fourth, fifth or sixth incarnations.
Another nice
traditional touch: In the summer of 2003, Holland America celebrated its 130th
anniversary in Rotterdam, its founding city. It was a royalty-studded gala in
which the townspeople lined the docks to celebrate their most famous homegrown
enterprise. The celebration had another purpose: to inaugurate the 85,000 ton,
1,848-passenger ms Oosterdam. The Oosterdam is the second in the line's Vista
class of ships, the largest in Holland America's history. The third Vista-class
ship, the Westerdam, was launched in April 2004, and a fourth, to be named the
Noordam, is scheduled for January 2006.
The Vista class ships are not the
only news from the line of late. At the end of 2003, Holland America announced a
new initiative, known as the "Signature of Excellence." Under the initiative,
the line is spending $225 million to enhance its fleet in areas of guest
accommodations, public rooms, dining, service, and enrichment
programs.
HAL's Ryndam, which underwent an extensive drydocking in summer
2003, was the first ship in the fleet to emerge with the full "Signatures of
Excellence" refurbishment; the cruise line expects the program to be installed
fleetwide by the end of 2005.
Some of the changes include an early
embarkation program that allows guests to board as early as 11 a.m.; a new
Culinary Arts Theater for cooking demonstrations and classes; table-side waiter
service in the ships' casual dining venue, Lido Restaurant; exclusive "Medallion
Shore Excursions" at its exotic destinations, such as Asia and Africa; an
expanded "Speakers Program;" new Greenhouse Spas on all ships, offering
exclusive treatments in thermal suites and hydro pools; the "Explorations Cafe"
to serve as a multidimensional venue for onboard programming; 24-hour concierge
service for suite guests; and more extensive kids and youth programs.
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CRUISECLEVER - HOLLAND
AMERICA
LINE
