Holland America Line has announced that when the Rotterdam is christened next spring, Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret of the Netherlands will be the ship's godmother, following a tradition that began in the 1920s.
Holland America Line's connection with the House of Orange dates back almost a century, when Prince Hendrik launched the Statendam III in 1929. Since then, members of the Dutch Royal Family have launched 11 other Holland America Line ships over the years, including Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret, who named the Prinsendam (1972), Nieuw Amsterdam III (1983), Rotterdam VI (1997) and Oosterdam (2003).
“We are deeply grateful that Her Royal Highness Princess Margrethe is once again serving as godmother of a Holland America Line ship, continuing a long-standing tradition with the Royal Family that honors our Dutch roots,” said Gus Antorcha, President of Holland America Line. “The Rotterdam will be christened in Rotterdam next year, celebrating its namesake city and our historic connection to the Netherlands.”.
Other members of the Dutch Royal Family have served as godmothers, such as Queen Máxima, who named the Koningsdam in 2016 and the Nieuw Amsterdam in 2010. The then-Queen Beatrix was the godmother of the Eurodam in 2008. The Rotterdam V was 
launched in 1958 by Queen Juliana. The then-Princess Beatrix named the Statendam IV in 1957 and the Prinses Margriet in 1960. The Nieuw Amsterdam II was launched by Queen Wilhelmina in 1937.
The Rotterdam's inaugural cruise departs Amsterdam, Netherlands, on October 20, 2021, for a 14-day transatlantic voyage to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. During its inaugural Caribbean season, from November to April, the Rotterdam will sail a variety of five- to eleven-day itineraries encompassing the southern, western, eastern, and tropical regions, all round-trip from Fort Lauderdale. In mid-April, the ship embarks on a 14-day transatlantic voyage back to Europe for a summer tour of Norway, the Baltic, the British Isles, and Iceland, all round-trip from Amsterdam.
The Rotterdam was delivered by the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy on July 30, 2021. The ship's christening date in Rotterdam will be announced in the coming months.
