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Zuiderdam News

29 Dec 2021

Cruise Ship with COVID-19 Outbreak Docks in Mexico

© aquatarkus / Adobe Stock

Mexico on Tuesday allowed a cruise ship to dock and disembark tourists in spite of an outbreak of COVID-19 on board, as the government vowed to keep the country open to cruise vessels provided sanitary precautions are met.The ship, Ms Zuiderdam, with some 2,000 passengers and crew, docked in the port of Guaymas in the northern state of state of Sonora, state and federal authorities said.In a statement, the Mexican government said it would accept cruise ships that sought permission…

27 May 2019

Nieuw Statendam's Maiden Call at Kiel Port

The latest newbuilding of Holland America Line’s fleet (HAL) “Nieuw Statendam” arrived in the Port of Kiel from Stockholm for its maiden call in the last week, on Thursday morning (23rd May).During the on-board reception, the Managing Director of the Port of Kiel , Dr Dirk Claus, welcomed the ship’s Captain to the State Capital City of Schleswig Holstein and presented him with the handmade plaque for the vessel’s maiden call manufactured by the metal artist Patrick Schloßer.Dirk Claus said: “Kiel has been an integral part of Holland America Line’s itineraries for the eleventh year in a row now. We are very proud that Kiel belongs to the ports where the latest newbuilding of the shipping company is showcased.”In addition to the vessel “Nieuw Statendam”…

08 Mar 2019

100+ Cruise Ships to call in at Rotterdam in 2019

AIDA Cara opened the Cruiseport Rotterdam cruise season yesterday (March 07) as the vessel arrived at 07.30 hours at the Holland Amerikakade, right next to the AIDA Mar in the heart of Rotterdam."This year, for the first time, over 100 cruise ships will call in at Rotterdam. Around 80 cruise ships per year arrived over the past two seasons," said Port of Rotterdam Authority."For twelve cruise ships, this will be their first visit to Rotterdam. High points will include the arrival of MS Costa Mediterranea on 6 May, MS Costa Smeralda on 22 October (the second cruise ship ever to sail on LNG) and MS MSC Grandiosa on 4 November. And not to forget the regular visitors with various vessels from AIDA…

07 Mar 2017

Grand Bahama Shipyard Starts 2017 Strong

CCL Dream (Photo: Grand Bahama Shipyard)

Caribbean shipyard Grand Bahama Shipyard Limited (GBSL) said it will complete work on 10 cruise vessels within first quarter of 2017. Scope of works included significant propulsion and technical systems overhauls, hull treatment, accommodations and public spaces upgrades and the addition of onboard attraction facilities. GBSL shared highlights of 10 of the 23 cruise vessels owned and/or operated by major players in the industry planned for dry-docking in the first quarter of 2017.

18 Nov 2016

Cruiseport Boston Closes Out 2016 Cruise Season

Anthem of the Seas (Photo: Royal Caribbean International)

As Cruiseport Boston closes out its successful 2016 season, 2017 is already shaping up to be a record year with 151 calls scheduled for next cruise season. The 2016 season saw 115 calls by a record 32 unique ships with ten maiden calls to the port, including Royal Caribbean International’s Anthem of the Seas, the largest cruise ship to ever call the Port of Boston. Cruiseport Boston has seen years of steady growth which has contributed to the booming cruise business in Boston.

22 Oct 2016

Holland America Line Receives Association for Rescue at Sea Award

The captain and crew of Holland America Line’s ms Veendam were honored by the Association for Rescue at Sea with a prestigious AFRAS AMVER Award for the 2015 rescue of a pilot who ditched his aircraft in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii. The Automated Mutual Assistance Vessel Rescue System was implemented by the U.S. Coast Guard in 1958, and the AMVER Awards were created in 1971 to recognize vessels that participate in the program. Holland America Line received the award at the annual Coast Guard Award Ceremony Sept. 21, 2016, at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. Veendam’s Captain Eric van der Wal accepted the honor on behalf of the cruise line.

25 Apr 2016

Port of Kiel's Cruise Season is Underway

Photo courtesy of Port of Kiel

The cruise shipping season got underway in the Port of Kiel in the early hours of today with the arrival of the season’s first ship AIDAluna at the Ostseekai Terminal. The cruise ship is coming in after from a transfer trip from the Caribbean and will be based in Kiel – as will the AIDAvita and the AIDAlaura - for the whole of the summer season. During an on-board reception, Captain Marc-Dominique Tidow, representing the ship, its passengers and crew, was given a cordial welcome to Kiel by PORT OF KIEL Managing Director Dr. Dirk Claus.

02 Nov 2015

Holland America Line Plans Stateroom Facelift

ms Eurodam Neptune Suite rendering (Image: Carnival Corporation)

As part of a $300-million brand enhancement initiative, Carnival Corporation’s Holland America Line is planning enhancements to its top staterooms with new furnishings, décor, amenities and upgrades for all suites on the line’s Signature-, Vista- and R-Class ships. The first ships to undergo the suite transformation will be ms Eurodam and ms Oosterdam, followed by ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Westerdam, ms Zuiderdam and ms Noordam. Additionally, ms Amsterdam, ms Rotterdam, ms Volendam…

22 Oct 2015

Port of Kiel: Cruise Shipping Sets Passenger Record

"AIDAcara" in the port of Kiel (Photo: Port of Kiel)

Press release- This year’s cruise shipping season in Kiel was ending on Tuesday October 20th with a visit by the “AIDAcara”. Overall the port registered 133 calls this year by 25 different ships with a total tonnage of more than 8.6 million GT (an increase of 19.4% over last year). The port’s cruise terminals saw 458,771 passengers (29.6% more than in 2014) board or leave a cruise ship. Dr Dirk Claus, Managing Director of the PORT OF KIEL (Seehafen Kiel GmbH & Co. KG) said: “Both passenger figures and overall tonnage totals have set new records for Kiel”.

27 Mar 2015

Holland America Line Ships Score 100

On recent routine United States Public Health inspections (USPHI) conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Holland America Line’s ms Statendam, ms Nieuw Amsterdam and ms Ryndam achieved perfect scores of 100. For Statendam, the unannounced inspection was Feb. 19, 2015, at Hilo, Hawaii, during a 30-day Tahiti and Marquesas cruise roundtrip from San Diego. CDC officials surprised Nieuw Amsterdam, on March 1, 2015, at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, while preparing for its seven-day Caribbean cruise. Ryndam completed its inspection March 8 in Tampa, Florida, while also getting ready for a seven-day Caribbean cruise. Prior to these inspections, Statendam received a score of 100 in June 2014 during a call at Ketchikan, Alaska.

06 Mar 2015

Holland America Line Heads NOAA's List of Weather Observations

Holland America Line topped the list in 2014 for the World’s Leading Weather Observing Cruise Ship Companies who submitted weather information to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The Holland America Line fleet of 15 ships sent in a combined total of 22,281 observations during the year, landing them at number one. Holland America Line also was at the top of the list in 2008 and 2006. Among individual cruise ships that sent in information, ms Oosterdam lead the Holland America Line fleet with 2,858 observations. ms Zaandam, ms Volendam, ms Zuiderdam and ms Amsterdam also were listed among the top 10 of all individual cruise ship observations.

27 Jan 2015

ms Veendam Rescues Pilot Off Maui Coast, Hawaii

On Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, at 5:21 p.m. local time while en route to Lahaina, Hawaii, Holland America Line’s ms Veendam answered a request for assistance from the United States Coast Guard to rescue a pilot who had ditched his single-engine Cirrus SR-22 after he experienced a mechanical issue with the fuel system. The pilot was located approximately 225 nautical miles off the coast of Maui, Hawaii. In partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard, Veendam was able to successfully rescue the pilot, who deployed the aircraft’s airframe parachute system and safely exited the plane into a life raft. Holland America Line crewmembers brought him aboard Veendam and provided him food and accommodations. The pilot, who was in good condition, disembarked today, Jan. 26, at Lahaina.

09 Jan 2015

Holland America Line’s 'Zuiderdam' Rescues 8 in the Caribbean

At 2:10 a.m. Jan. 3, 2015, while en route to Oranjestad, Aruba, Holland America Line’s ms Zuiderdam answered a distress call from the Bahamian inter-island vessel Excalibur that was sinking with eight crewmembers onboard. Zuiderdam was approximately 15 miles away and the closest ship in the area. Zuiderdam altered course and was able to successfully execute a nighttime rescue of all eight crewmembers at 3:01 a.m. The ship brought them onboard and provided food and accommodations. The rescued crewmembers debarked in Aruba on Jan. “Congratulations to the officers and crew onboard Zuiderdam for their quick response that saved the lives of eight people,” said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line.

11 Sep 2014

Holland America Line Offers Diverse Options in Premium Cruising

Travelers looking for an intimate, mid-sized cruise experience in the Caribbean have 126 itineraries to choose from during Holland America Line’s 2014-15 Caribbean season. well as partial transits of the Panama Canal. The diverse itineraries visit 30 ports and give discerning guests more options than any other premium line exploring the region. From October 2014 through April 2015, ms Eurodam, ms Maasdam, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Noordam, ms Ryndam, ms Westerdam and ms Zuiderdam sail regular Caribbean voyages, while ms Amsterdam and ms Prinsendam each sail one December holiday cruise in the region. The ships feature 21 different seven-, 10-, 11- and 14-day itineraries that can be combined into longer Collectors’ Voyages ranging from 14 to 25 days.

22 May 2014

Holland America Line Named 'Marine Environmental Business of the Year'

Holland America Line was named the 2014 Marine Environmental Business of the Year by the Port of Seattle. Port commissioner Courtney Gregoire presented the award to Keith Taylor, senior vice president, fleet operations, at the Seattle Propeller Club’s Maritime Festival Lunch held Tuesday, May 13, 2014, aboard Carnival Miracle, which was docked at Port of Seattle. The cruise line was recognized for its efforts to reduce its global environmental footprint through a series of objectives that greatly reduce consumption of fuel and water, engine emissions and generation of solid waste, along with increasing recycling across its fleet of 15 ships.

02 May 2013

Three Cruise Ships Visit Port in One Day

The Port of San Diego to welcome 3 cruise ships on Tuesday, May 7, bringing thousands of passengers to the port city. Two of the vessels, the Celebrity Solstice and the Oceania Regatta , will be making their inaugural visits to the Port of San Diego. At 1,041 feet, the Solstice is the longest in length cruise ship to call on San Diego. The third visitor is Holland America Line's Zuiderdam. Passengers will be debarking the three cruise ships between 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Many will be boarding tour buses for shoreside excursions and there will be a large number of taxis, shuttles and private vehicles picking up other passengers. San Diego's cruise business benefits the region's economy. Each cruise that begins and ends its voyage in San Diego has an economic impact of $2 million.

03 Oct 2001

Carnival Heads Into Rough Waters

According to Lazard Freres and Co., the impact on Carnival's (CCL) business in the first week following terrorist attacks on September 11th is estimated at around $20 million, including loss of revenue from canceled cruises, port reposition costs, and additional transportation expenses. They have since dropped to about 50 to 60 percent of typical levels for this period, but cancellations, which had increased sharply in the days immediately following September 11th, have started to decline steadily with new bookings now outpacing cancellations. Luxury product continued to suffer in the quarter- the company has sold two vessels from the Seabourn fleet and reduced staff at Cunard/Seabourn by 25 percent.

12 Aug 2003

GE Gas Turbines Power Three New Cruise Ships

GE announced that three new cruise ships recently went into service powered by GE LM aeroderivative gas turbines. The three ships -- Serenade of the Seas, Island Princess and Oosterdam -- each took their maiden voyage during July 2003. “GE is delighted to see the number of cruise ships continue to rise steadily that rely on our reliable and efficient LM gas turbines for propulsion as well as onboard power,” said Karl Matson, general manager of GE Marine Engines. “To date, 22 LM2500+ and four LM2500 GE gas turbine-generator sets are in operation or slated for service on 21 cruise ships.

14 Dec 2001

Holland America Line Details Delivery of New Ships

Holland America Line (HAL) announced a revised delivery schedule of ships from Fincantieri-Cantieri Navali Italiani S.p.A. 1,848 passenger ms Zuiderdam will be delivered Nov. 15, 2002 and sail on its maiden voyage Dec. Ft. Lauderdale. June 2003. to Holland America Line in April 2004 and October 2005. build option, if exercised, will be delivered in May 2006. assigned to a sister company, Cunard Line. yard has been transferred to Cunard. units of Carnival Corporation. not dramatically impact HAL's plans for new vessels," said A. chairman and CEO, Holland America Line. leader in premium cruising. guests with panoramic sea views. spacious accommodation categories. verandahs. signature Waterford Crystal installation in the ship's atrium. Lido Restaurant service. observation lounge.

27 Apr 2004

HAL Names ms Westerdam in Venice

The sun shined over a crowd of more than 1,500 travel agents, local officials and maiden voyage guests during the naming ceremony of Holland America Line's ms Westerdam in Venice, Italy on April 25. The 1,848-passenger Westerdam embarked its maiden voyage guests and sailed its inaugural 12-day cruise from Venice to Greece, Turkey and Croatia. The naming ceremony took place on the "Festa del Boccolo," or St. Mark's Day, the holiday celebrating the patron saint of Venice. As is tradition on this day…

16 Mar 2004

GE Focuses on Optimization For Cruise Ships

The natural progression is underway from installation, design and commissioning of GE gas turbines aboard cruise ships to cooperation with users to further enhance operations. GE is focusing its efforts on optimizing maintenance and improved system reliability, the company reported today at the Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention. "The use of gas turbines to power cruise ships was long in coming, so it seems fitting that the four years since the world's first gas turbine-powered cruise ship set out on its maiden voyage have gone by quickly," said Karl Matson, general manager of GE Marine. Celebrity Cruises' Millennium is the first cruise ship to use gas turbines.

08 Mar 2004

Feature: HAL's Vista Sails with ROCHEM Technology

The MS Oosterdam is Holland America Line's (HAL) second 1,848-passenger Vista-class ship. Delivered by Fincantieri Cantieri Navali Italiani, S.p.A., the ship includes some of the most sophisticated technical and environmental advances of any ship afloat. Many advances are below deck, well outside of the view of the passengers. For example, the engines are situated in two separate spaces that can be completely closed off from each other so that in the event of an emergency in one engine room, power systems in the other will still provide sufficient propulsion and electrical power to return the ship safely to port. The General Electric…

15 Jan 2004

HAL's Fourth Vista-Class Ship to be Named ms Noordam

Holland America Line has announced that the line's fourth Vista-class ship, scheduled for delivery in January 2006, will be named ms Noordam. The 1,848-passenger ship will be the fourth Holland America Line vessel to sail with the prestigious name. The first ms Noordam joined the Holland America Line fleet in 1902, sailing the Rotterdam-New York run until being damaged by a mine during World War I. In 1938 the Noordam name was then given to one of two new passenger-cargo ships, which offered exclusively first-class accommodations for 148 passengers. The current ms Noordam, delivered in 1984, has sailed on nearly 800 voyages and is widely considered to be one of the most beautifully decorated ships afloat.