HAL’s new Rotterdam celebrates coin welding ceremony

Holland America Line’s latest ship, Rotterdam celebrated its coin ceremony at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Italy yesterday.

In keeping with the Italian shipbuilding tradition, Mai Elmar, the executive director of Cruise Port Rotterdam in the Netherlands, served as the ship’s madrina (godmother) and officiated in the ceremony. The Dutch coins, minted in 1872, to honour HAL’s first Rotterdam, were welded to the outside deck of the new ship to bring good fortune. At a socially distant ceremony, masked guests included the shipyard’s director Antonio Quintano, HAL vice president of newbuilding services Cyril Tatar and HAL vice president international sales. “We are pleased to honour the coin ceremony tradition and celebrate this milestone that signals less than a year until Rotterdam’s delivery,” said Gus Antorcha, president of HAL.

The Rotterdam can accommodate 2668 guests and like her sister ships, will feature Rudi’s Sel de Mer brasserie and Grand Dutch café onboard. She will also host live music performances each night from BB King’s Blues Club to Rolling Stone Rock Room. Rotterdam’s is scheduled to sail in August next year and will spend her inaugural summer season in northern Europe. For more information, visit www.hollandamerica.com.