The newest cruise ship in the Holland America Line fleet, the Nieuw Statendam, made its maiden call to the port of Amsterdam on Sunday, 5 May 2019.
The second Pinnacle Class ship moored at the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA) and was welcomed with a water salute by Port of Amsterdam. Amsterdam will be the ship’s home port during the upcoming summer season.
This was the maiden call for the ship that was christened by Oprah Winfrey in Ft. Lauderdale last February. A cruise ship’s maiden call to a port is traditionally accompanied by a plaque & key ceremony.
Alma Prins-Droog, Commercial Manager Cruise at Port of Amsterdam, presented Captain Sybe de Boer with the port of Amsterdam coat of arms. Dick de Graaff, Director of PTA and Nico Bleichrodt, Managing Director Sales & Marketing – Continental Europe Holland America Line also attended the ceremony.
"We are proud that our newest ship will have Amsterdam as its home port this summer. Holland America Line always feels wonderfully welcome in Amsterdam and it is a very highly rated departure port for both international and Dutch cruise passengers. We have no less than 15 departures from Amsterdam this year. It’s a perfect way to discover a cruise holiday," says Nico Bleichrodt.
Alma Prins-Droog said: "We are delighted that the Holland America Line has once again chosen Amsterdam as its home port. In addition to the dynamism of the city with its rich history, world-class sights and culture, the Amsterdam port region offers excellent facilities for sea cruise ships that have Amsterdam as a destination. This makes Amsterdam one of the most popular destinations for sea cruises in Northwestern Europe."
The Nieuw Statendam an accommodate 2,666 passengers. After having made cruises in the Caribbean area last winter, the ship will have Amsterdam as its home port from May through September. Cruises will depart from Amsterdam to destinations including the Norwegian fjords, Iceland, the Baltic States and the North Cape. The length of the cruises varies from 8 to 15 days.