The fabulous Dutch liner Rotterdam (V) introduced a new and very exciting profile on the Atlantic in 1959. She then sailed as a Transatlantic liner and world cruise ship for 41 years, and in 2010 she became a hotel ship and museum in her home port of Rotterdam. She became known as the ‘Grande Dame’ of the Atlantic and on Round the World cruises, and had been given a Royal sponsor in Queen Juliana at her magnificent launching ceremony on 13th September 1958. She was completed in July 1959 and was the last great Dutch liner constructed and fitted out by the finest craftsmen in the Netherlands. She was the fifth great liner with the name of Rotterdam for her owners of Holland America Line, and looked superb in her light grey hull with white upperworks, and the company green and white houseflag on her ‘midships deckhouse structure on her top deck. I was fortunate to see her several times at Southampton and Gibraltar and was always impressed with her profile and modern design.

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