On 18th April Holland America line announced that it will continue tradition when Her Majesty Queen Máxima of The Netherlands christens the new Pinnacle-class ship, Koningsdam (above), in a ceremony in Rotterdam, The Netherlands on 20th May on board the ship.

The 2,650-guest ship is the first in a new class of vessel for the line. Members of the Dutch Royal Family have launched 11 Holland America line ships. Most recently, then- Princess Máxima christened the Nieuw Amsterdam in 2010 and then-Queen Beatrix served as the Eurodam’s godmother in 2008. The Statendam III in 1929 was launched by Prince Hendrix, and the Nieuw Amsterdam II in 1937 by Queen Wilhelmina.

Then-Princess Beatrix named the Statendam iv in 1957 and the Prinses Margriet in 1960. The Rotterdam v was launched in 1958 by Queen Juliana. Princess Margriet dedicated the Prinsendam in 1972, the Nieuw Amsterdam II in 1983, the Rotterdam vi in 1997 and the Oosterdam in 2003. The official ceremony will take place during a special 13-day Christening Cruise departing Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy, 9th May. Following that voyage the 99,836gt Koningsdam will spend the summer sailing from the port of Amsterdam on itineraries to Norway, the Baltic and Iceland.