Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands to Serve as Godmother to Eurodam

Rose | March 11, 2008 at 4:49 pm | In Latest News |

Today we announced at the Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention in Miami that Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands will serve as Eurodam’s godmother. Stein Kruse, president and chief executive officer of Holland America Line, held a press conference to reveal the exciting news and offered a champagne toast in her honor.

The Queen will name the ship in a ceremony in Rotterdam July 1. The naming ceremony will include festivities along Wilhelminakade, Rotterdam’s cruise ship terminal area, in front of the former headquarters of Holland America Line, which is now Hotel New York. (The company was founded in 1873 in Rotterdam.)

We’re expecting several thousand attendees at the ceremony — including national dignitaries, special guests and the company’s top-selling travel agents. The celebration will be an extravaganza of entertainment, with the blessing of Eurodam and the finale of the traditional breaking of a champagne bottle across the ship’s bow.

Holland America Line has a long and proud relationship with the Dutch royal family when it comes to naming its ships. Nine vessels have been launched by members of the royal family, including Statendam III in 1929 by Prince Hendrik; Nieuw Amsterdam in 1937 by Queen Wilhelmina; Statendam IV in 1957 and Prinses Margriet in 1964 by then Princess Beatrix; Rotterdam V in 1958 by Queen Juliana; and Prinsendam in 1973, Nieuw Amsterdam in 1983, Rotterdam VI in 1997 and Oosterdam in 2003 by Princess Margriet.

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  1. Great news. That our beloved Queen have excepted to be the Godmother to the ms Eurodam.

    Congratulations Holland America Line and all you working hard on the building of this fine HAL vessel.

    at the end a little correction to the section of Dutch Royals and dedicating the HAL ships.

    Prince Hendrik have not dedicated the Statendam he only perform the handing over ceremony of the ship to NASM/HAL by raising the house flag in the aft mast.

    Princess Beatrix (now the Queen) not dedicate the Prinses Margriet it was Princess Margriet herself naming the ship named after here. The ship original was build fore Oranje Line fore the Rotterdam - Montreal route.

    Greetings Ben.

    Comment by Maasdam — March 12, 2008 #

  2. Great news.
    As a former employee of the HAL I hope to be present at the ceremony.Realy looking forward to it.
    The heading of this article HRH is not correct,
    this should be “Her Majesty” as u correctly used in the article itself.

    Kind Regards,
    Ruud Mudde

    Comment by ruudmudde — March 12, 2008 #

  3. Thanks, Ruud! We corrected the headline.

    Comment by Julie — March 13, 2008 #

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