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Place the cursor over the photos to read the
descriptions; if you click on any of the thumbnail pictures,
the full-sized photo will open in a pop up screen. Please note
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Page 1 of 7 |
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Page 1 of 7 |
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For many of my countrymen, Holland America Line is as Dutch
as
Rembrandt,
Van Gogh, windmills, wooden shoes and Gouda cheese. Founded
in
1873 to transport passengers and goods
across the Atlantic Ocean, the line became famous across the
world for their spotless, sturdy ocean liners.
And many consider
Holland
America's
Nieuw Amsterdam of 1938 and
Rotterdam of 1959
to be among the most beautiful passenger ships ever
constructed. |
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Today Holland America Lines is still one of the oldest
surviving passenger shipping lines, but the line saw its
core business gradually change some 40 years ago when 'cruising'
replaced 'crossing'. To better cope with the buoyant US
cruise market,
Holland America's head office later relocated to Seattle and
the line essentially became an American cruise line.
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In July of 2007, I set off for Copenhagen to join the
line's Rotterdam for a short segment of the much-heralded
North Sea Jazz Cruise. Sixth in line to bear the name Rotterdam,
this ten-year old lady
is in fact considered the flagship of the Holland America
fleet. |
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On the next pages, you will read about Jazz, coffee, gale force winds,
rain and quirky Dutch details. Because one thing became
clear during this short cruise: Holland America Line is
still as Dutch as green pea soup! |
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Cruise Line: |
Holland America Line |
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Built: |
1997 |
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Building Yard: |
Fincantieri,
Italy |
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Gross Tonnage: |
59,652
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Length: |
234.0 m (777.5 ft)
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Beam: |
32.2 m
(105.8 ft) |
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Passengers
(norm.): |
1,318 |
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Passengers
(max): |
1,668 |
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Crew: |
620 |
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Service speed: |
22.5 knots |
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Sister ships: |
Amsterdam |
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Photos of Rotterdam at Rotterdam
© Cees de Bijl |
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