Holland America Cruise Ships

by Ian Collard

Holland America Line was founded in 1873 and operated a fleet of passenger and cargo vessels from the Netherlands to the east and west coasts of America. The company later acquired the stock of the Europa-Canada Line and in 1964 became involved with the Swedish America Line, Axel Johnson and Wallenius Rederiana to form the Atlantic Container Line. In 1988 the company was purchased by the Carnival Cruise Line and the name was retained, continuing the history of this line.

The company currently operate five different classes of ships, the smaller and older ‘S’ class vessels; the mid-range ‘R’ class; the ‘Vista’ class; the newest and largest ‘Signature’ class; and the smaller ‘Prinsendam’. Koningsdam, delivered on 31 March 2016, is the largest vessel designed and built for the Holland America Line, with a beam of 35 metres, and complies with the new Panamax dimensions, which enable it to cruise through the wider locks in the Panama Canal.

This is a nice book about these lovely vessels, but at times I find the sequence of the ships confusing and sadly many of the photograpks are not of the highest standard.