July 24, 2003--It's a busy month for European shipyards, as well as for Carnival Corporation, the 800-pound gorilla of the cruise industry. On May 22, Costa took delivery of its new flagship, the 86,000-ton CostaMediterranea, from Finland's Kvaerner Masa-Yards; on June 18, Princess Cruises accepted its new 92,000-ton Island Princess at France's Chantiers de l'Atlantique; and on June 27, Carnival took delivery of the 110,000-ton Carnival Glory at the Fincantieri yard in Italy. Now Holland America has joined the pack, formally accepting delivery of the 85,000-ton Oosterdam in a handover ceremony at Fincantieri.
All four lines are part of the enormous Carnival empire, which also includes luxury lines Cunard and Seabourn and luxe sailing-ship line Windstar.
The 1,848-passenger Oosterdam is the second of the line's Vista-class ships, following introduction of Zuiderdam in late 2002. The ships represent Holland America's continuing attempt to adapt its traditional, old-world experience to a younger market. Named for the eastern point of the Dutch compass, Oosterdam joins Zuiderdam's south and the older Noordam's north, with Westerdam, another Vista-class sister, scheduled for delivery in spring 2004. An as-yet-unnamed fourth Vista sister is scheduled for January 2006.
Brighter and much larger than the line's older vessels, the Vista-class ships are built on the same basic hull design as Carnival's Spirit-class ships -- a common procedure in the cruise industry, because it saves the line years of development costs. Their interior layout, however, is radically different, offering a much larger passenger-to-space ratio, with larger cabins and roomier public areas.
(As a sidenote, on July 11 Cunard Line celebrated the keel-laying of its newbuild Queen Victoria -- also being built at Fincantieri, and also constructed on a basic blueprint adapted from the Spirit-class vessels. In fact, Queen Victoria was originally ordered for Holland America, but was transferred to Cunard before construction began, to expand the line's presence in the British market. The 1,968-passenger vessel will enter service in March 2005.)
Eighty-five percent of Oosterdam's cabins have ocean views, with 67 percent of those equipped with private balconies. Among her other selling points are a Pacific Northwest alternative restaurant, two show lounges, the Greenhouse Spa and Salon, and the HAL signature Explorer's Lounge and Crow's Nest observation lounge.
On Sunday, Oosterdam will arrive in Rotterdam, where Holland America was founded in 1873. On the 28th, Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands, sister to Queen Beatrix, will formally christen the vessel on the original company pier as the flagship ms Rotterdam looks on, berthed bow-to-bow with her new sister.
The ship's maiden voyage will depart London (Harwich) on August 3, 2003, beginning a series of four Baltic cruises between London and Copenhagen, with 12-night departures through September 8. On September 20, she'll offer a 12-day "European Capitals" cruise from London to Rome, followed by four Western Mediterranean sailings. Oosterdam concludes her inaugural European season with a 14-day transatlantic sailing November 19 from Lisbon to Ft. Lauderdale, from which she'll offer 7-night eastern and western Caribbean cruises through the winter.
Holland America Line: tel. 877/932-4259, www.halw.com