Holland America brings back historic Ryndam name for new Pinnacle-class ship

A Holland America Line ship will carry the Ryndam name once more in 2021 when the line’s new Pinnacle-class ship is launched, according to an announcement made at the 35th annual Seatrade cruise conference in Miami Beach.

Holland America invited media aboard Nieuw Statendam in Miami for a luncheon and preview of a new production show Step One, which debuted on Nieuw Statendam on December 1, 2018 and will be introduced aboard the new Ryndam.

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She will be a sister ship to Nieuw Statendam and Koningsdam, with a passenger capacity of 2,662 and the same features and interior design. However, Holland America’s president Orlando Ashford hinted during the name reveal that Ryndam will also carry a few “tweaks”.

“Holland America Line honours the timeless tradition of cruising while also embracing new innovations for today’s travellers, and the name Ryndam reflects the unique history of this company while honouring previous ships that were progressive in their time as this last Ryndam will be,” Ashford said.

Holland America Line’s first Ryndam ship was launched in 1901 and in 1927 was the first Holland America Line ocean liner to conduct a world cruise. She was decommissioned in 1929, but the name was brought back in 1951 when a new Ryndam ship was launched.

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That Ryndam vessel sailed for Holland America Line until 1973 and it wasn’t until 1993 that the fourth Ryndam entered service, sailing with Holland America until 2003 when she was transferred to P&O Australia to become Pacific Aria.

“From the first Ryndam more than 100 years ago to the most recent, the namesake ships have been beloved by our guests. The next Ryndam will bring new life to one of the most notable series of vessels in our history,” said Ashford.

Steel cutting for the new Ryndam started in March, 2019 at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Venice, Italy. Further details will be forthcoming, according to Holland America.

The new Step One show will be featured aboard the new ship. It’s an anti-Vega-style cabaret that incorporates dance routines to modern tunes with special effects on background LED screens.