Princess Margriet of the Netherlands Named Godmother to Rotterdam

Holland America Line has announced that Princess Margriet of the Netherlands will be the Rotterdam’s godmother when the ship is named next spring. According to a press release, in that way, the cruise line is carrying on a tradition that began in the 1920s.

Holland America Line’s connection to The House of Orange goes back nearly a century to Prince Hendrik launching the Statendam III in 1929. Since then, members of the Dutch Royal Family have launched 11 more Holland America Line vessels throughout the years, including Princess Margriet who named the Prinsendam (1972), Nieuw Amsterdam III (1983), Rotterdam VI (1997) and Oosterdam (2003).

“We are deeply grateful that Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet will once again act as godmother to a Holland America Line ship, carrying on a long tradition with the Royal Family that continues to honor our Dutch roots,” said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line. “The Rotterdam will be named in Rotterdam next year, celebrating its namesake city and our historic connection with the Netherlands. We look forward to commemorating the occasion where it all started for Holland America Line.”

Additional members of the Dutch Royal Family who are godmothers include Queen Máxima, who named the Koningsdam in 2016 and Nieuw Amsterdam in 2010. Then-Queen Beatrix served as the Eurodam’s godmother in 2008. The Rotterdam V was launched in 1958 by Queen Juliana. Then-Princess Beatrix named the Statendam IV in 1957 and Prinses Margriet in 1960. The Nieuw Amsterdam II was launched by Queen Wilhelmina in 1937.

The Rotterdam’s maiden cruise departs on Oct. 20, 2021, from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and embarks on a 14-day transatlantic journey to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. During its inaugural Caribbean season from November to April, the Rotterdam will sail a variety of five- to 11-day itineraries that span the southern, western, eastern and tropical regions, all roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale. In mid-April, the ship will make a 14-day Atlantic Ocean crossing back to Europe to spend the summer in Norway, the Baltic, the British Isles and Iceland, all sailing roundtrip from Amsterdam.

The Rotterdam was delivered by the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy on July 30, 2021. The date for naming the ship in Rotterdam will be announced in the coming months, Holland America said.

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