Holland America Line Celebrates Its European Heritage With Name of Its New Signature Class Vessel, ms Eurodam

Wednesday November 8, 5:20 pm ET .

80th Passenger Ship in the Company's Proud History

SEATTLE, Nov. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Holland America Line will name its new 2,044-passenger Signature-class ship, ms Eurodam. To be delivered in summer 2008, the new Eurodam marks Holland America Line's next class of vessels and the largest ever constructed for the premium line. With an estimated all-in cost of $450 million, the new 86,000-ton Panamax Eurodam will be built at Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri's Marghera shipyard.

"This will be the 80th passenger ship to sail in the company's fleet and the first ship in our illustrious history to bear the name Eurodam," said Stein Kruse, president and chief executive officer. "We chose the name Eurodam to celebrate our European and Dutch heritage and our third century of sailing in one of the world's most popular cruising regions." The company's first ship, the ss Rotterdam, sailed her maiden voyage from Rotterdam to New York City in October of 1872, 134 years ago last month.

When launched in 2008, the Eurodam will further the evolution of Holland America Line's sophisticated mid-sized ships to further define and expand the Holland America Line premium brand. With 11 passenger decks, new innovations include a topside 144-seat Pan-Asian restaurant and 50-seat lounge surrounded by panoramic views overlooking the ocean expanse and the Lido pool. Other additions are an Explorer's Lounge Bar, a new specialty restaurant adjacent to the Lido offering the finest in Italian food, elegant luxury jewelry boutiques, new atrium bar area, enhanced and reconfigured show lounge with theater-style seating, and a new photographic and imaging center.

The line's renowned Explorations Cafe, powered by The New York Times will be located on the starboard side of the Crow's Nest, providing a scenic backdrop for guests wishing to enjoy specialty coffees, surf the internet and take advantage of the cafe's music listening stations.

With an additional deck, the Eurodam will have 63 new staterooms more than the latest Vista-class ship. Forty-seven will be verandah cabins and ten will be a new style of stateroom with ceiling-to-floor and wall-to-wall panoramic windows. In total, the Eurodam will carry 1,022 double occupancy staterooms, with 86 percent outside staterooms of which 67 percent feature verandahs.

Staterooms will continue to provide all the Signature of Excellence premium amenities: plush Euro-top Mariner's Dream beds, deluxe waffle/terry cloth robes, Egyptian cotton towels, flat panel TVs, DVD players, make-up mirrors with halo lighting, massage shower heads, professional grade hair dryers, fresh flowers and complimentary fruit baskets.

The Eurodam will continue several much-admired Holland America Line features, including outside-view, glass elevators at midship; the Pinnacle Grill and Pinnacle Bar; the innovative Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine Magazine, where culinary experts provide cooking demonstrations and intimate classes in state-of-the-art onboard show kitchens; an expanded Greenhouse Spa and Salon with thermal suites and hydro-pool, the largest gymnasium ever built for Holland America Line; and a youth facility that includes the teens-only Loft.

On the technical side, the Eurodam will feature the latest state-of-the- art navigation and safety systems including dynamic positioning abilities to hold the ship in a precise position. The vessel will be powered by six diesel generators and propelled by the latest Azipod propulsion technology.

The line has an option for a second Signature Class vessel which would be delivered in spring 2010.

[ 11-08-2006: Message edited by: joe at travelpage ]

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Originally posted by Waynaro:
If thats true....

EURODAM is so.....uh....original?

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Originally posted by Thad:
Eurodam is a pretty terrible name, though it is in somewhat keeping with Statendam, which was originally named for the United States.

Thad

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Actually Thad

I work for Encore Cruises in Toronto, Ontario an this is the information I found out regarding the ship named Statendam:

"Ms STATENDAM

Named for the "states" or provinces of Holland. I didnt think they would name one of a long line of ships named Statendam after the United States.

Actually it was the REd STar's line SAMland which was named after the united States of AMerica, focused on emigrants hoping to find a better life in the land of uncle SAM.

Why not E-dam ?

Greetings Ben

[ 11-09-2006: Message edited by: Maasdam ]

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Originally posted by ConteDiSavoia:

Actually Thad

I work for Encore Cruises in Toronto, Ontario an this is the information I found out regarding the ship named Statendam:

"Ms STATENDAM

Named for the "states" or provinces of Holland. " I didnt think they would name one of a long line of ships named Statendam after the United States.

ConteDiSavoia

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Actually ConteDiSavoia youre story and Thad one is two of 3 versions that go's around the thirt one is that the name came frome an small area in the Dutch province of Brabant.

The that version is the most populair of the 3. In those days around 1889 it was populair to give liners American sounding names. To attract more emigrants. Because it was an comen idea that arriving on a ship with an American sounding name. The authoritys would let you past emigration more quicker.

I think that the States version is the real story.
In that sence that have it right that Eurodam is in line with Statendam.

80 passengerships thats wrong i look at the list of the HAL passengerships she would be number 68.
Thene the Statendam 2 and ms. Zuiderdam 1 who never be officially in HAL service due to WW1 and WW2 it would be number 66.

There where some freighters (DYK/DIJK) that have passenger accomodation such as Dinteldyk and Diemerdyk but even with those there would never be 80 vessels. HAL owned in there history more thene hundred ships but the others where the freighters and other crafts.

Count again mr. Stein Krusse you will able to do that.

Greetings Ben.

[ 11-09-2006: Message edited by: Maasdam ]

Imagine the uproar if HAL announced a resurrection of one of their old names, such as DUBBELDAM or SCHIEDAM! No, I think EURODAM, while seemingly meaningless, will settle in quickly.

The name Eurodam brings to me the messages for paying a lot of Euros
Is there any river or city called Euro ? ?

I suppose it's better than Freedomdam, but not much.

Maybe it will grow, most things do, but maybe not.