Next year is the big one, but Holland America Line still brought out the grand desserts, special champagne toasts and festivities for guests and team members as it celebrated its 149th birthday yesterday.
There's plenty to celebrate this year, as HAL prepares for the restart of Noordam (April 24), Oosterdam (May 8), Zaandam (May 12) and Westerdam (June 12) - bringing the entire fleet of 11 ships back in service.
Coming up soon is the official naming ceremony for Rotterdam, which will be held May 30 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The line's newest ship was delivered in July 2021, but the official naming ceremony will be held May 30. Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands will be the ship's godmother, carrying on a tradition that began in the 1920s.
In 2022, Holland America Line also celebrates 75 years of Alaska exploration.
"As Holland America Line moves closer to the 150th anniversary of our founding, these past couple of years have shown us the importance of celebrating our milestones," said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line.
"This April is an important month with Holland America Line leading the return to Canadian cruising, the restart of Noordam and our anniversaries of our founding and travel to Alaska. We are grateful to be moving along a positive path, not only as a brand, but as an industry."
Though transportation and shipping were the mainstays of its business in the 19th century, Holland America began to offer cruise vacations in 1895.
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