By
Rebecca Gibson |
Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands officially named Holland America Line’s first Pinnacle Class ship, Koningsdam, during a dedication ceremony in Rotterdam, Netherlands on 20 May.
According to HAL’s traditions, Her Majesty Queen Máxima started the ceremony by pouring a glass of champagne over the bell in the Lido pool area to bless the ship. She then signed a commemorative wall that will become a permanent installation on the ship and finally christened the ship during a ceremony in the World Stage theatre, where she pulled a rope to trigger the traditional champagne bottle break on Koningsdam’s hull.
“It’s an honour to have Her Majesty Queen Máxima as the godmother to Koningsdam, and May 20 was a truly special day with Her Majesty delivering the ceremonial traditions of welcoming our newest ship to the fleet,” said Orlando Ashford, HAL president. “As our company was founded in Rotterdam more than 143 years ago, it was fitting to return to our roots for Koningsdam’s royal dedication.”
Invited guests then attended an onboard gala luncheon, while various celebrations were held on the vessel throughout the day before she departed for Amsterdam. Spectators were able to watch a fireworks display as the ship sailed past the Hoek van Holland.
Enrique ‘Rick’ Encarnacion and Ernest Schenk were both appointed as Koningsdam’s Mariner Ambassadors during the ceremony, representing the role of loyal repeat guests in HAL’s ‘ongoing success’. The pair have sailed a combined total of more than 1,650 days on HAL’s cruises. Schenk first sailed with the line on a transatlantic cruise aboard Ryndam in 1954, while Encarnacion first cruised on HAL in 1997 during Statendam’s Panama Canal sailing.
During her inaugural European season, Koningsdam will sail from Civitavecchia, Italy and then homeport in Amsterdam for voyages to Norway, the Baltic and Iceland. Koningsdam will then reposition to Port Everglades in Florida, US and sail one cruise to the Bahamas and then a series of Caribbean voyages from November 2016 until March 2017.