Holland America Line

From: European Cruise Guide

ABOVE: The ms Rotterdam arrives in Rotterdam, Netherlands after a cruise to Scandinavia. INSET BELOW: Eurodam, Maasdam, Prinsendam, and a lanai stateroom with access to a promenade deck.

Holland America Line transported some 850,000 immigrants to the United States in its heyday as a Dutch transatlantic steamship company. Service between Rotterdam and New York ended in 1971, and today HAL is an American-owned "premium cruise line" with 15 ships that serve more than 600,000 guests per year.

In 2012, Holland America is offering 44 itineraries of varying lengths on seven different ships in Northern and Southern Europe--including the ms Nieuw Amsterdam, which entered service in 2010 and is the second Signature-class ship in Europe (along with Eurodam).

HAL's 2012 cruise calendar has been designed so that ambitious cruisers can combine different itineraries into "Collectors' Voyages" of 14 to 35 days. Itineraries include a number of roundtrip cruises from Dover, Southampton, Amsterdam, and Rotterdam to better serve residents of the UK and Continental Europe.

Note for Rotterdam fans: Beginning in September, 2012, HAL's Rotterdam (see our ms Rotterdam cruise review) will be based in Rotterdam, Netherlands year-round. Our articles on "Holland America Line: Cruises in Europe" and "Holland America Line for European Passengers" have more details.

The purple squares on Holland America Line's regularly-updated sailing schedule provide an overview of European cruises in the current and coming seasons.

Cruise line's Web site:

Holland America Line

Cruise review:

ms Rotterdam: Scandinavian cruise

1st, 2nd, 3rd nset photos copyright © Holland America Line.

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