Holland America Line’s Rotterdam VII departed town of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Saturday, October 15, 2022, on its historic a hundred and fiftieth Anniversary Transatlantic Crossing.
The voyage mimics the very first crossing and maiden voyage of Rotterdam I, which departed October 15, 1872.
Celebrating 150 Years
This anniversary voyage is a 12-night crusing retracing the route of the 1872 crossing, from Rotterdam, the Netherlands to New York Metropolis, with calls in Le Havre, France, and Plymouth, England earlier than the ship heads out into the north Atlantic Ocean.
Holland America Line invited followers to return to Cruise Port Rotterdam and Wilhelminapier for a festive shoreside sailaway social gathering, recreating a departure from centuries previous when ships have been despatched off with fanfare.
Fireboats spraying water and a flotilla from an area yacht membership got here to see Rotterdam off, whereas revelers got memento handkerchiefs to wave.
“Right this moment is historic for our model as we depart 150 years to the day that Holland America Line’s very first ship started its journey to New York,” stated Gus Antorcha, Holland America Line President.
Dwell music, dignitary appearances, and different particular occasions marked the beginning of this very particular crusing as the favored cruise line strikes into its subsequent 150 years.
“We’ve carried immigrants and cruising vacationers, troopers and refugees and earned a fame for extraordinary care and welcoming all these company as if into our personal properties,” stated Antorcha. “As we sail into our subsequent 150 years, that surroundings of service might be our hallmark as we create distinctive experiences for company world wide.”
Particular Occasions Onboard
It isn’t simply the sailaway that might be particular about this momentous crossing. Onboard, company might be handled to a variety of distinctive commemorative occasions and alternatives.
Enrichment programming supplied through the voyage will discover Holland America Line’s in depth and diversified historical past, and company can have the chance to pattern culinary recreations of dishes from a bygone period.
Unique leisure can even be obtainable onboard, with a variety of choices to enchantment to completely different tastes and preferences.
The festivities will proceed throughout an in a single day name at New York on Wednesday, October 26 with a specifically commissioned efficiency on the World Stage by previous and current Lincoln Heart Stage performers.
Two Very Completely different Ships
Rotterdam VII, which entered service for Holland America Line in 2021, is a really completely different vessel from Rotterdam I that set sail in 1872.
The primary Rotterdam measured 268 ft lengthy, with simply two decks. A complete of 296 passengers might sail without delay, with 46 crew members to offer service.
Right this moment’s Pinnacle-class Rotterdam measures 983 ft lengthy and 12 passenger decks, with a visitor capability of two,668 at double occupancy, and as many as 4,173 passengers when absolutely booked. A crew of 1,053 workforce members offers the distinctive service the road has come to be recognized for prior to now 150 years.
One other Historic Alternative
vacationers unable to be aboard this anniversary crossing have one other alternative to e-book a celebratory crusing.
On April 6, 2023, the ship will return to Rotterdam through a 13-night crossing timed to reach on April 18, the cruise line’s official a hundred and fiftieth birthday, an event certain to be one other festive one.
Between the 2 historic crossings, Rotterdam will provide quite a lot of Japanese, Western, and Southern Caribbean itineraries from Fort Lauderdale through the winter Caribbean season.
