Holland America Line’s newest flagship MS Rotterdam received royal treatment at a festivity of Dutch heritage on May 30, 2022, in the city of Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Her Royal Highness Princess Margrit of the Netherlands served as a godmother and officially named the ship in front of invited guests and guests.

Upon arrival, Princess Margrit was greeted at the aisle with a traditional flower bouquet presented by seven-year-old Nora van Dijk, daughter of Nathalie van Dijk, who has been with Holland America Line for 15 years and recently as a sales development representative. Rotterdam. During the daily appointment celebration, Carnival Corporation President and CEO Arnold Donald, Holland America Group President Jan Swartz, Rotterdam Captain Werner Timers, Rotterdam Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb, and Marine Ambassadors David and Gisela Gere joined Princess Margriet to officially welcome Rotterdam to the fleet.

"Our heritage is rooted here in the Netherlands, and we are deeply honored to have Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet as godmother of her fifth Holland America Line ship," said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line. "When Rotterdam was delivered in 2021 we postponed its naming ceremony so we could hold it in Rotterdam, because there's no better place to name a ship than in the city it was named after. After a challenging couple of years, we are excited to celebrate this memorable moment in our company's history."

After the ceremony, lunch was held on board for the invited guests. The celebration continued in the evening with a banquet dinner and the opportunity for guests to pour champagne on the ship's bell. The blessing of the ship's bell is a tradition of Holland America Line when a new ship is welcomed into the fleet.

The Rotterdam appointment ceremony was also attended by Stein Kruse, Senior Advisor to the President and CEO, Carnival Corporation; Keith Tailor Executive Vice President, Fleet Operations Holland America Group; Randi Weisenburger, Board Member, Carnival Corporation; Nico Bleichrodt, Vice President, International Sales, Holland America Line and Seabourn; Jaap Smith, trustee of the king; and Boudevijn Siemons, CEO, Port of Rotterdam and Chairman of the Cruise Policy Committee. Antorca could not attend the ceremony.

Geres was chosen as a Marine ambassador to Rotterdam to pay tribute to Holland America Line for its loyal guests who have been cruisers for many years. Since his first voyage in 1988 on Rotterdam V, Geres has sailed nearly 2,500 days on the Holland America Line, including several cruises on Rotterdam VI.