|
 Marking its 130th anniversary in 2003, Holland America leads the cruise industry premium niche by offering virtually unlimited cruise and CruiseTour options that span the globe and satisfy every traveler's appetite for exploration. Over the course of the company's rich history as first a shipping and passenger line and subsequently a cruise line, Holland America's fleet has carried nearly 10 million passengers to new lives in the New World or to exotic locales for vacations of a lifetime.
With 12 luxury ships sailing to more than 280 ports of call and all seven continents, and more ships and tours being added each year, Holland America's commitment to providing the best in cruise vacations is confirmed by awards and accolades from leaders in the tourism industry.
In 2002 Holland America Line was the highest rated premium cruise line in the 'World's Best' award from Travel & Leisure Magazine and the Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards and received 'Best Cruise Line' honors for the second year in a row from Recommend Magazine readers. The company has received the 'World's Best Cruise Value' award from the World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society for the last 11 years, consistently singled out for recognition over all other cruise lines.
The society's Ocean & Cruise News also awarded 'Ship of the Year' honors to the ms Amsterdam (2002), ms Rotterdam (1999 and 2000), ms Veendam (1998), the ms Ryndam (1996), ms Statendam (1995), ss Rotterdam (1994) and the ms Noordam (1993).
Holland America's five-star fleet includes the 1,848-passenger ms Oosterdam (Aug. 2003); the 1,848-passenger ms Zuiderdam (Dec. 2002); the 793-passenger ms Prinsendam (June 2002); the 1,380-passenger flagship ms Amsterdam (2000); the 1,316-passenger sister flagship, ms Rotterdam (1997); the 1,440-passenger sister ships ms Zaandam (2000) and ms Volendam (1999); the 1,266-passenger sister ships ms Veendam (1996), ms Ryndam (1994), ms Maasdam (1993) and ms Statendam (1993); and the 1,214-passenger ms Noordam (1984). The company also has two additional 85,000-ton sister cruise ships to the ms Oosterdam and the ms Zuiderdam under construction in Italy, with deliveries scheduled from 2004-2005.
THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND AMERICA LINE
Holland America was founded in 1873 as the Netherlands-America Steamship Company (NASM), a shipping and passenger line. Because it provided service to the Americas, it became known as Holland America Line. The company's first ocean liner was the original Rotterdam, which sailed its maiden voyage from the Netherlands to New York City, a 15-day voyage
- By its 25th anniversary, Holland America owned a fleet of six cargo and passenger ships and also provided service between Holland and the Dutch East Indies via the newly constructed Suez Canal.
- The line was a principal carrier of emigrants from Europe to the United States until well after the turn of the century, carrying 850,000 to new lives in the New World.
- The company offered its first cruise in 1895; its second cruise, from New York to the Holy Land, was in 1910.
- In 1971, Holland America suspended its transatlantic passenger trade and turned to offering cruise vacations full time.
- Holland America has carried nearly 10 million passengers.
|
|
|
|
ms Prinsendam
