Holland America Line, a part of Carnival Corporation, held a naming ceremony for its latest fleet addition, Nieuw Statendam, on February 2.
The ship’s godmother, Oprah Winfrey, welcomed the cruise company’s newest vessel to the fleet during the ceremony, which was held aboard Nieuw Statendam at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
We were honored to have Oprah Winfrey dedicate #NieuwStatendam today. Join our newest ship in the Caribbean or Europe in 2019: https://t.co/KhqFinZ4FE . #OMAGonHAL pic.twitter.com/IrW9Neq8Db
— Holland America Line (@HALcruises) February 3, 2019
Following an overnight in Fort Lauderdale after the dedication, the 2,666-guest Nieuw Statendam departed on a seven-day Caribbean cruise on February 3.
Nieuw Statendam was delivered by Fincantieri’s shipyard in Marghera in late November 2018, and is currently sailing throughout the Caribbean. Come summer and fall, the ship will explore Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.
Featuring 99,500 gross tons, the almost 300-meter-long Nieuw Statendam is the company’s second Pinnacle-class ship, a sister ship to Koningsdam. Fincantieri will also build the third unit of the series at the Marghera shipyard with delivery scheduled in 2021.