Her Royal Highness Princess Máxima of the Netherlands to Name

[manbehindthecurtain]

Her Royal Highness Princess Máxima of the Netherlands to Name

Holland America Line’s ms Nieuw Amsterdam



This just in

[manbehindthecurtain]

It was announced today that Her Royal Highness Princess Máxima of the Netherlands will name Holland America Line’s new Signature-class ship, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, in a ceremony in Venice, Italy, July 4, 2010. The 2,106-guest ship is the fourth to carry that name for the line and is being built by Italian shipyard Fincantieri-Cantieri Navali Italiani S.p.A. in Marghera, Italy.

“The Dutch Royal Family is continuing a long and proud tradition of naming Holland America Line ships that started more than 80 years ago, and we are truly honored that Princess Máxima will name Nieuw Amsterdam,” said Stein Kruse, president and chief executive officer of Holland America Line. “The naming ceremony will mark a signature moment in our company’s 137-year history as Princess Máxima becomes godmother of Nieuw Amsterdam, which, with her sister-ship Eurodam, will share the distinction as the largest passenger ships ever to fly the Dutch flag.”

Nieuw Amsterdam IV will be the 11th Holland America Line vessel launched by a member of the Dutch Royal Family. Previous ship dedications include ss Statendam III in 1929 by Prince Hendrik and ss Nieuw Amsterdam II in 1937 by Queen Wilhelmina. Then-Crown Princess Beatrix christened ss Statendam IV in 1957 as well as the ms Prinses Margriet in 1964. The ss Rotterdam V was launched in 1958 by Queen Juliana. Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet dedicated ms Prinsendam II in 1973, ms Nieuw Amsterdam III in 1983, ms Rotterdam VI in 1997 and ms Oosterdam in 2003. Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands served as ms Eurodam’s godmother in 2008.

The naming ceremony will feature gala festivities in Venice, where an audience of special guests will witness an extravaganza of entertainment, the blessing of Nieuw Amsterdam and the traditional breaking of a champagne bottle across the ship’s bow as the finale.


Above: Nieuw Amsterdam’s Godmother-to-be, Her Royal Highness Princess Máxima of the Netherlands, left photo, and with her husband of seven years, His Royal Highness Prince Willem-Alexander.

Princess Máxima was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, May 17, 1971, as Máxima Zorreguieta. She was engaged to His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange, March 30, 2001. On Feb. 2, 2002, Máxima wed Prince Willem-Alexander, who is Her Majesty Queen Beatrix’s eldest child and first in line of succession to the throne. Upon her marriage, Máxima received the title Princess of the Netherlands.

Since October 2004, Princess Máxima has been a member of the Council of State, the Netherlands’ most important government advisory body. Princess Máxima represents the Royal House at official occasions, often accompanying Prince Willem-Alexander. She also accompanies Her Majesty Queen Beatrix on state visits. The princess passed her baccalaureate examinations at Northlands School in 1988 and graduated with an economics degree from Universidad Católica Argentina in 1995.

In 2009, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon designated Princess Máxima as his Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development.

Princess Máxima advises the Secretary-General on access to financial services and works to ensure that everyone, everywhere, has access to all forms of financial service. At the invitation of the United Nations, Princess Máxima was involved in the Advisors Group to the International Year of Microcredit 2005. Throughout 2005 the Group met on a regular basis to discuss progress towards achieving universal access to financial services.

She has worked at Boston Securities SA in Buenos Aires, the European Union Representative Office of Deutsche Bank in Brussels and in New York at Deutsche Bank, Dresdner Kleinwort Benson and HSBC James Capel Inc.

Nieuw Amsterdam Defines ‘Premium’
The second in the Signature-class series of vessels, Nieuw Amsterdam’s décor features stylized design elements from its namesake New York City, luxurious appointments and amenities as well as all the hallmarks of the Holland America brand.

Following its naming in Venice, Nieuw Amsterdam will sail several 12-day Mediterranean cruises, then embarks on an autumn trans-Atlantic crossing to the Caribbean, and will sail seven-day eastern and western island itineraries from November 2010 through March 2011.

[Copper10-8]

Yes Sir! :) Great choice!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3418/3902950000_edd6c0d801.jpg

[Ine]

Great choice -it was more or less expected already at Eurodam, but that was done by Queen Beatrix.
But...bad luck for us since it is not in The Netherlands but in Venice.

[sail7seas]

Wonderful choice for Godmother and one we hoped for. Very happy to hear this. I started to suspect they were waiting to see if she was available and agreeable to do this as the time went by with no Announcement.

Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima is the perfect choice. :)

[Copper10-8]

Great choice -it was more or less expected already at Eurodam, but that was done by Queen Beatrix.
But...bad luck for us since it is not in The Netherlands but in Venice.


Hop, skip and a jump away from you on the Flying Dutchman airline Mevrouw!;) Make a roadtrip out of it!

[Ine]

Hop, skip and a jump away from you on the Flying Dutchman airline Mevrouw!;) Make a roadtrip out of it!

I would love to, but....because of the new appartement no time (and money) to make such a trip. Rotterdam or Amsterdam would have been so much better....

[Copper10-8]

I would love to, but....because of the new appartement no time (and money) to make such a trip. Rotterdam or Amsterdam would have been so much better....

Agreed! Amsterdam would have been nice (Rotterdam got the Eurodam) but I guess the powers to be in Seattle preferred Venice. What's a mother to do? Not sure if A'dam ever got a HAL christening/naming, are you? The people in Rotjeknor probably would not be amused~;)

[jhannah]

Fine choice for Godmother. Glad I was able to see the Queen in Amsterdam.

[Copper10-8]

Fine choice for Godmother. Glad I was able to see the Queen in Amsterdam.

Rotterdam?;)

[Maasdam]

With respect I think Amsterdam wold be a odd choice. Historical Amsterdam played a minor role in the history of the Holland America Line. Well they have run a service from our capital but this service run only fore 10 years between 1883 and 1893. Rotterdam stayed the home port and main hub fore NASM/HAL. And indeed to my knowledge there was never be a christening of a major HAL vessel in Amsterdam.

I think it would be nice that the Nieuw Amsterdam would have be christened in Rotterdam arter al Rotterdam is here home port. But historical previous Nieuw Amsterdam where christened at there builders yard or yard location. Nieuw Amsterdam 1906 at Harland and Wolff, Nieuw Amsterdam 1938 RDM Rotterdam, Nieuw Amsterdam 1983 Chantiers Le Havre. So it's OK that the new Nieuw Amsterdam will be christened in here builders port of Venice.

But secretly I hoped fore Rotterdam. Well I'm proud that Princess Maxima will be Godmother making Signature class a real Royal class. Not manny cruise line cane say that.

http://www.nasm1873.nl/garbage/78/785373/11369717.jpg
1906

http://www.nasm1873.nl/garbage/78/785373/11412675.jpg
1938

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb213/Maasdam1993/nam3-c002.jpg
1983

Greetings from the home port of Rotterdam,
Ben.

Agreed! Amsterdam would have been nice (Rotterdam got the Eurodam) but I guess the powers to be in Seattle preferred Venice. What's a mother to do? Not sure if A'dam ever got a HAL christening/naming, are you? The people in Rotjeknor probably would not be amused~;)

[Copper10-8]

With respect I think Amsterdam wold be a odd choice. Historical Amsterdam played a minor role in the history of the Holland America Line. Well they have run a service from our capital but this service run only fore 10 years between 1883 and 1893. Rotterdam stayed the home port and main hub fore NASM/HAL. And indeed to my knowledge there was never be a christening of a major HAL vessel in Amsterdam.

I think it would be nice that the Nieuw Amsterdam would have be christened in Rotterdam arter al Rotterdam is here home port. But historical previous Nieuw Amsterdam where christened at there builders yard or yard location. Nieuw Amsterdam 1906 at Harland and Wolff, Nieuw Amsterdam 1938 RDM Rotterdam, Nieuw Amsterdam 1983 Chantiers Le Havre. So it's OK that the new Nieuw Amsterdam will be christened in here builders port of Venice.

But secretly I hoped fore Rotterdam. Well I'm proud that Princess Maxima will be Godmother making Signature class a real Royal class. Not manny cruise line cane say that.

http://www.nasm1873.nl/garbage/78/785373/11369717.jpg
1906

http://www.nasm1873.nl/garbage/78/785373/11412675.jpg
1938

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb213/Maasdam1993/nam3-c002.jpg
1983

Greetings from the home port of Rotterdam,
Ben.

Makes a lot of sense Meneer/Sir! I'm just a former Amsterdammer (but Feyenoord fan, hate Ajax) pulling for my old city, but I know the NASM/HAL is Rotjeknor all the way and that will never change!;)

[Ine]

Makes a lot of sense Meneer/Sir! I'm just a former Amsterdammer (but Feyenoord fan, hate Ajax) pulling for my old city, but I know the NASM/HAL is Rotjeknor all the way and that will never change!;)

It certainly would have been another "battle" between Amsterdam and Rotterdam...

[Maasdam]

Well Feyenoord is not doing well these days but that is a whole nother story :rolleyes:
I understand Amsterdam well I like Amsterdam a wonderfull city. But once a Rotterdammer always a Rotterdammer :)

Groetjes Ben.

Makes a lot of sense Meneer/Sir! I'm just a former Amsterdammer (but Feyenoord fan, hate Ajax) pulling for my old city, but I know the NASM/HAL is Rotjeknor all the way and that will never change!;)