A Look Back - Holland America's Rotterdam 1957 - Brief History and Video Flashback
I found this great video of Holland America Line’s Rotterdam
of 1959. Constructed at the Rotterdam Drydock Company at Rotterdam in the
Netherland, the ship was delivered 1
year after her sister ship Statendam was
delivered for Holland America. The profiles of the two ships are dramatically
different – with the Statendam having a more traditional form and the Rotterdam
having a more modern appearance.
On September 13, 1958, the 38,645 ton Rotterdam was launched
and christened by Queen Juliana of the
Netherlands with the shoreline flanked with thousands of onlookers.
With 1,456 passengers double occupancy and a crew of 776,
the 748 feet long; 94.1 feet wide; 29.6 ft draft and a cruising speed of 21.5
knots, the twin funnel liner looked majestic.
The Rotterdam was built as a 3 class liner and sailed transatlantic
service until 1969. Most of her East bound transatlantic voyages embarked in
Hoboken, NJ at the Holland America Pier. In late 1969, the Rotterdam was converted into
a single class liner, spending most of her time cruising – primarily from New
York to Nassau or the Caribbean. The Rotterdam shifted operations to Pier 40
(The Square Pier) in Manhattan and later transferred to the New York City
Passenger Ship Terminal (now the Manhattan Cruise Terminal).
In the winter, the ship would sail to the Caribbean and sail
an annual world cruise in January circum-navigating the globe. During the
summer, the Rotterdam would sail weekly from Manhattan promptly at 5 PM heading
to the Bahamas. In order to offer some variety in her itineraries, later, Bermuda
was added to the 7 days itineraries with the ship visiting both Nassau and anchoring off the coast of Bermuda and
shuttling passengers via launches to the island nation. The Rotterdam was too
large to dock in Hamilton, Bermuda. (The Royal Dockyard pier did not exist
then). The Rotterdam would sail on Saturdays or Sundays beside the
Statendam, and Home Lines Oceanic and Doric.
In the 1980’s, Holland America abandoned New York cruise
trade and focused extensively on their West Coast Alaska operations with
Westours – A tour operator, primarily in Alaska, which Holland America purchased
a year earlier. In the winter months,
the Rotterdam would sail in the Caribbean.
In 1989, Holland America (and the Rotterdam) were purchased
by Carnival Corporation and incorporated under their corporate umbrella.
The Rotterdam sailed until September 30, 1997 when she departed
her final cruise for Holland America.
The Rotterdam was purchased by Premier Cruises in 1997 and
was enhanced to meet the latest solar
requirements. The Rotterdam was renamed Rembrandt under Premier Cruises and was
deployed to the Mediterranean under charter. As part of the sale, Holland America
prohibited the Rotterdam to sail from the US and prevented the ship from being
deployed on competing routes with Holland America for 2 years.
After the 2 years restriction was over, the Rotterdam was
relocated to Florida and New York to sail on cruises to the Bahamas and New
England / Canada. Premier Cruises went bankrupt on September 13, 2000 and the
Rotterdam was laid up in Freeport – tied up next to the Red Boat III (SA VAAL;
Festivale)
The Rembrandt was then sold back to her builders Rotterdam
Drydock Company with the intention to convert the great ship into a floating
hotel. The ship’s name was reverted to Rotterdam. On July 12, 2004, the Rembrandt arrived in Gibraltar
and all asbestos and dangerous substances were responsibly removed. The Ship
was eventually sold to De Rotterdam BV. Work began to convert the ship into a
combination museum/hotel and vocational school. The opened on February 15, 2010, the ship is
open for business in the port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands today.
| |
RETURN TO NYCRUISEINFO.com
---------------------------------------
Sister Sites
=> NYCruiseInfo.com Website - Cruise Schedule, Ship Reviews, Ports of Call & More.
=> Nick's Cruise Corner Blog - News On Cruise Ships Sailing World Wide.
=> Follow Us on Instagram - NYCruiseInfo At Instagram
=> Subscribe to Our Monthly New York Cruises Newsletter
.
Comments
Post a Comment