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Contact Information:
Holland America Line
300 Elliot Avenue West
Seattle, WA 98119
(800) 426-0327
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Why Holland America Line?
 Itineraries include more than 300 ports of call on all seven continents
Culinary Arts Centers host cooking demonstrations, classes
"Signature of Excellence" initiative put $525 million into enhancing fleet
Fleet features pathfinding mid-sized vessels and larger ships
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About Holland America Line
2009 Editors' Picks Awards Winner!
Best for Cabins and Activities
If you had to pick one word to describe the Holland America Line, that word would be "venerable." The line is arguably the most historic and tradition-laden on the seas. Its first ship, the 1,684-ton Rotterdam, set sail on a voyage between Holland and New York in 1873, and today, HAL ships sail all around the globe.
The line was originally named the Netherlands-America Steamship Company, but soon became known as the Holland America Line because it carried great numbers of immigrants from Holland to America. The company concentrated on the transatlantic passenger trade, as well as on commercial freight shipping until the 1970's. Its first purpose-built passenger ship was constructed in 1973, and since then, the line has concentrated on cruise vacation travel.
In 1978, Holland America moved its headquarters from Rotterdam to Stamford, Connecticut. The company's headquarters then moved to Seattle, Washington in 1983, in order to consolidate operations with Westours, an Alaska tour company in which Holland America purchased a controlling interest. In 1988, Holland America purchased Windstar Cruises, operator of four- and five-masted, computer-guided sailing ships. It ultimately sold Windstar to a smaller ship operator.
One year later, the behemoth Carnival Corporation acquired Holland America Line, which remains headquartered in Seattle.
Holland America may now be a U.S.-based cruise line, but it continues to maintain strong ties with its Netherlands heritage. Ships in its fleet -- since the 1890's and continuing today -- bear the suffix "dam." Most of the names are inspired by actual dams that traverse the rivers of the Netherlands. In other cases, such as with its Vista-class of ships, the names represent points of the compass (Oosterdam is East, Westerdam is West, Noordam is North, etc.). Many of the names are in their fourth, fifth or sixth incarnations. Eurodam, HAL's newest offering, was christened in Rotterdam in July 2008 and by none other than the Netherlands' Queen Beatrix.
Another nice traditional touch: In the summer of 2003, Holland America celebrated its 130th anniversary in Rotterdam, its founding city. It was a royalty-studded gala in which the townspeople lined the docks to celebrate their most famous homegrown enterprise. But the festivities also served to inaugurate the 85,000-ton, 1,848-passenger Oosterdam.
At the end of 2003, Holland America announced a new initiative, known as the "Signature of Excellence." This ongoing program focuses on updating and upgrading existing ships. Some $525 million will be spent to enhance the fleet in the areas of guest accommodations, public rooms, dining, service and enrichment programs.
The first round of improvements included an early embarkation program that allows guests to board as early as 11:30 a.m., new culinary arts centers for cooking demonstrations and classes, table-side waiter service in the ships' casual Lido Restaurant, exclusive "Medallion Shore Excursions" in exotic destinations like Asia and Africa, an expanded "Speakers Program," new Greenhouse Spas with exclusive treatments in thermal suites and hydro pools, the "Explorations Cafe" (which also serves as a multidimensional venue for onboard programming), 24-hour concierge service for suite guests and more extensive youth programs.
In late 2008, Holland America announced the latest round of improvements. Statendam, Ryndam, Maasdam, Veendam and Rotterdam are undergoing a series dry docks, scheduled through early 2011. New staterooms -- including balcony cabins, spa staterooms large enough for in-room treatments and "lanai" rooms, which open directly onto the deck -- will be added to each ship. The Retreat, an adults-only pool, will be added to the ships, along with a new lounge called Mix that is made up of three specialty bars. In April 2009, Veendam was the first ship to get these upgrades.
Read the complete Holland America Line Review
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Read More About Holland America Line Ships:
Amsterdam
• Eurodam
• Maasdam
• Nieuw Amsterdam
• Noordam
• Oosterdam
• Prinsendam
• Rotterdam
• Ryndam
• Statendam
• Veendam
• Volendam
• Westerdam
• Zaandam
• Zuiderdam
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