Holland America Line has announced that HKH Princess Margriet of the Netherlands will be godmother to its new cruise ship Rotterdam, which will be christened in its namesake city in spring.

Rotterdam was delivered earlier this year and will sail her maiden cruise on October 20th, 2021, before being officially named by Princess Margriet next year, continuing a tradition that began in the 1920s.

Rotterdam is the latest of Holland America Line’s Pinnacle class ships

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The Dutch Royal Family began the tradition of naming Holland America Line ships back in 1929, when Prince Hendrik launched SS Statendam, the third ship to carry the name for the line.

Since then, members of the Royal Family have launched 11 more Holland America Line vessels throughout the years, including Princess Margriet who named the Prinsendam (1972), Nieuw Amsterdam (1983), Rotterdam (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,” he added.

Additional members of the Dutch Royal Family who are godmothers include Queen Máxima, who named Koningsdam in 2016 and Nieuw Amsterdam in 2010.

Queen Beatrix served as Eurodam’s godmother in 2008. SS Rotterdam was launched in 1958 by Queen Juliana, and Princess Beatrix named the fourth SS Statendam in 1957 and Prinses Margriet in 1960. Nieuw Amsterdam II was launched by Queen Wilhelmina in 1937.

HKH Prinses Margriet

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Rotterdam’s maiden cruise departs on October 20th, 2021, from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and embarks on a 14-day transatlantic journey to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

During her inaugural Caribbean season from November to April, 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, she 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.

Rotterdam had originally been intended to be named Ryndam, but was re-designated while still in the shipyard following the sale of the most recent Rotterdam to Fred Olsen Cruise Lines during the height of the pandemic.