| 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 |
The Holland America Line is a cruise shipping company. 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.[1]
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 largest cruise line. The company operates 15 ships to 7 continents and will carry over 750,000 cruise passengers in 2012[2]. In addition to its cruise line, Holland America operates the Westmark Hotel chain in Alaska and the Yukon.
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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, 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.
In summer 2011, the MS Rotterdam did two transatlantic crossings, the first traditional transatlantic runs made by the line in more than 40 years.
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 complimentary Canaletto Italian restaurant among other enhancements. See details below.
As of July 2008[update], 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:
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.[3]
| Vessel Name | In HAL Service |
Gross Tonnage |
Maximum Speed |
Passenger Complement |
Enclosed Passenger Decks |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
| Vessel Name | In HAL Service |
Gross Tonnage |
Maximum Speed |
Passenger Complement |
Enclosed Passenger Decks |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 22.5 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.
| Vessel Name | In HAL Service |
Gross Tonnage |
Maximum Speed |
Passenger Complement |
Enclosed Passenger Decks |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 make 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.[4]
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.
| Vessel Name | In HAL Service |
Gross Tonnage |
Maximum Speed |
Passenger Complement |
Enclosed Passenger Decks |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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).
| Vessel Name | In HAL Service |
Gross Tonnage |
Maximum Speed |
Passenger Complement |
Enclosed Passenger Decks |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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