The traditional Holland America Line offered from 1947, in addition to their existing North Atlantic services, cruises New York – Bermudas. The “Nieuw Amsterdam” (36,982 gt) of 1938 was joined in 1951/52 by the “Ryndam” and “Maasdam” (15,025 gt), in 1957 by the “Statendam” (24, 294 gt) and in 1959 by the avant-garde “Rotterdam” (V) (38,645 gt) with two sleek parallel funnels. In 1968 the “Maasdam” was sold to Polish Ocean Lines as “Stefan Batory” and from 1971 the Holland America Line undertook only cruises. In 1973 the “Veendam” ex “Argentina” and her sister “Volendam” (23,395 gt) ex “Brasil” of Moore McCormack Lines were put in service. In the following year the “Veendam” undertook cruises as “Brasil” from Rio. In 1976 the Dutch bought Monarch Cruises as a subsidiary and the “Veendam” became the “Monarch Star”, in 1984 “Bermuda Star” of Bermuda Star Line and in 1990 “Enchanted Isle” after takeover by Commodore Cruises. The “Volendam” had become the “Monarch Sun”, in 1984 the “Island Sun”, then the “Liberte” of American Hawaii Cruises, then “Canada Star”, “Queen of Bermuda” and “Enchanted Seas”. Headlines were made by the “Prinsendam”, a luxurious small 9,000 gt ship, built in 1973. In 1980 she caught fire near Alaska, passengers were saved by the Coast Guard and after a week the ship sank.


“Prinsendam”, the former “Royal Viking Sun”, Piraeus 2010 (WS)


“Thomson Spirit”, the former “Nieuw Amsterdam” of 1983, Piraeus 2006 (WS)


“Statendam” of 1993, Piraeus 1994 (WS)


“Rotterdam” of 1997, R class, Valletta, Malta 2001 (WS)

The Holland America Line was from 1981 temporarily known under the designation Holland America Cruises. The “Statendam” became operated by Paquet Cruises as “Rhapsody” and ended after several changes in ownership in 2004. The new 34,000-ton “Nieuw Amsterdam” and “Noordam” were introduced in 1983 and 84. The “Homeric” II (42,092 gt) of Home Lines was acquired in 1988, becoming the “Westerdam”. Towards the end of the ‘80s the Holland America Line was considered world’s biggest cruise shipping company with around 15 ships, including the Windstar vessels.

That big Holland America Line was bought in 1989 by Arison-owned Carnival Corporation. Holland America had already close ties to the USA after its headquarters escaped from Nazi-occupied Netherlands and moved to Dutch-owned Curacao during WWII. That conservative brand of Arison changed completely to new ships. The “Rotterdam” (V) of 1959, renamed “Rembrandt” and employed by Premier Cruises, then chartered by Pullmantur, was saved as the hotel and exhibition ship “Rotterdam” by the city of that name. Then the last ‘old’ ship was the “Prinsendam” of 37,835 tons, built in 1988 as “Royal Viking Sun”, transferred from Cunard in 2002.

With the “Amsterdam” the pod propulsion was introduced. The Vista class represented a more glitzy style, nevertheless the interiors, created by VFD Architects, are symbolizing Holland America’s tradition. Part of their ‘classic’ cruise experience is the cuisine, influenced by master chef Rudi Sodamin as a consultant. The Vista class ships, though being of the size of Carnival’s Spirit class, with 2 Azipods, were different with diesel and gas turbine engines, two strait funnels and oceanview elevators. The next sister after the “Westerdam” should have become the “Queen Victoria” of Cunard, but she was delivered to P&O as “Arcadia” (IV). With the Signature class, HAL’s Vista class design principle was continued, but the additional gas turbines were abandoned. Art collection and interior design of the “Nieuw Amsterdam” became praised as a reflection of old New York.

Activities of the Holland America Line are worldwide, though concentrated mainly on the North American market, Panama Canal passages and Alaska. That market expanded since Westours, the tourism company of Chuck West, pioneering Alaska traveling, was acquired in 1971.

Ships delivered from the 1990s, by Fincantieri:
S class
“Statendam” (1993), “Maasdam” (1993), “Ryndam” (1994), “Veendam” (1996/ c.55,500 gt each, then refitted).

R class
“Rotterdam” (1997/ 59,652 gt) “Amsterdam” (2000/ 60,814 gt, 2 pods). Half sisters with one instead of two parallel funnels: “Volendam” (1999) and “Zaandam” (2000/ 60,906 gt each).

Vista class
Diesel plus gas-turbo electric, 2 pods: “Zuiderdam” (2002/ 81,769 gt), “Oosterdam” (2003/ 81,769 gt), “Westerdam” (2004/ 81,811gt), “Noordam” (2006/ 82,318 gt).

Signature class
2 pods: “Eurodam” (2008/ 86,273 gt), “Nieuw Amsterdam” (2010/ 86,700 gt).

Pinnacle class
“Koningsdam“ (2016/ c.100,000 gt)


“Oosterdam”, Vista class, Venice 2009 (WS)


“Veendam”, S class, at Manaus, Amazon 2011 (Dr.Henning Saul)