ROTTERDAM
July 27–August 3, 2024 | Norway Cruise – Rotterdam, Netherlands Roundtrip
Our Norway cruise aboard Rotterdam (Holland America Line) sailed roundtrip from Rotterdam, Netherlands, from July 27 to August 3, 2024. The voyage combined calls at Nordfjordeid, Molde, Geiranger and Bergen with scenic cruising through some of Norway’s most dramatic fjord landscapes.
On July 27, 2024, we boarded Rotterdam in her namesake city in the Netherlands for a week-long voyage through the Norwegian fjords. Sailing roundtrip from Rotterdam, the cruise visited Nordfjordeid, Molde, Geiranger and Bergen, with two days at sea and scenic passages through Norway’s fjord landscape.
The voyage was especially fitting for a ship carrying one of the most historic names in Holland America Line. The current Rotterdam is the seventh vessel in the company’s history to carry the name. Built by Fincantieri and delivered in 2021, she became Holland America Line’s flagship and combines the company’s Dutch maritime heritage with the design and amenities of a modern Pinnacle-class cruise ship.
Our cruise also began immediately after a visit to the preserved 1959 Rotterdam, now permanently moored in Rotterdam as a hotel and museum. Seeing the historic former Holland America Line flagship on July 26 and boarding the present-day Rotterdam the following day created a direct connection between two generations of ships carrying one of the company’s most important names.
Information List
Name: Rotterdam
Operator: Holland America Line
Class: Pinnacle class
Builder: Fincantieri, Marghera, Italy
Delivered: 2021
Gross Tonnage: Approximately 99,900 GT
Length: Approximately 984 feet / 300 meters
Beam: Approximately 115 feet / 35 meters
Guest Capacity: Approximately 2,668
Ship Number: Seventh Holland America Line vessel named Rotterdam
Voyage: Norway / Norse Legends
Cruise Dates: July 27–August 3, 2024
Embarkation: Rotterdam, Netherlands
Disembarkation: Rotterdam, Netherlands
Personal Voyage: Traveled aboard Rotterdam
History and Features
The Seventh Rotterdam:
The current Rotterdam is the seventh Holland America Line ship to carry the name.
She was built by Fincantieri in Italy and delivered in 2021.
The ship was originally intended to enter service as Ryndam before Holland America Line changed her name to Rotterdam.
She succeeded the previous Rotterdam as the bearer of one of the most historically important names in the company.
Rotterdam serves as Holland America Line’s flagship.
Pinnacle-Class Design:
Rotterdam is the third Pinnacle-class ship, following Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam.
The class combines Holland America Line’s traditional emphasis on ocean travel with contemporary dining, entertainment and accommodation.
At approximately 100,000 gross tons, the ship is substantially larger than earlier generations of Holland America vessels while remaining smaller than many of the largest contemporary cruise ships.
Her interiors incorporate references to music and Holland America Line’s long maritime heritage.
Holland America Line Heritage:
Holland America Line was founded in Rotterdam in the nineteenth century, making the ship’s name and homeport particularly significant.
Earlier ships named Rotterdam played important roles in the company’s transatlantic and cruise operations.
The best-known surviving predecessor is the 1959 Rotterdam, preserved today as a hotel, attraction and historic ship in Rotterdam.
We visited the preserved 1959 Rotterdam on July 26, 2024, one day before boarding the current ship for this Norway cruise.
The two visits provided an opportunity to experience Holland America Line history across very different generations of passenger ships.
Our 2024 Norway Cruise:
We boarded Rotterdam in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on July 27, 2024.
The voyage sailed roundtrip from the city and concentrated on the fjords and coastal communities of western Norway.
Four Norwegian destinations were visited: Nordfjordeid, Molde, Geiranger and Bergen.
Two days at sea framed the Norwegian portion of the itinerary.
The cruise returned to Rotterdam on August 3.
Day 1 – July 27 – Rotterdam, Netherlands:
Our voyage began aboard Rotterdam in the city whose name the ship carries.
Rotterdam has a particularly strong connection to Holland America Line as the company’s historic home.
The ship departed during the afternoon for Norway.
Day 2 – July 28 – At Sea:
The first full day of the voyage was spent at sea.
This provided time aboard Rotterdam as the ship traveled north toward the Norwegian coast.
The sea day separated the embarkation in the Netherlands from four consecutive days exploring Norway.
Day 3 – July 29 – Nordfjordeid, Norway:
Nordfjordeid was the first Norwegian destination of the cruise.
Located at the eastern end of the Nordfjord, the community is surrounded by mountains and the dramatic landscapes characteristic of western Norway.
Reaching Nordfjordeid introduced the fjord scenery that would define much of the voyage.
The approach and departure also provided extended views of Nordfjord from aboard the ship.
Day 4 – July 30 – Molde, Norway:
Rotterdam continued to Molde on July 30.
The city overlooks the surrounding fjords and mountains of the Romsdal region.
Molde has long been associated with panoramic views of the mountain peaks across the water.
The port call continued the voyage north along Norway’s western coastline.
Day 5 – July 31 – Geiranger, Norway:
Geiranger was one of the scenic highlights of the cruise.
The village sits at the head of Geirangerfjord, surrounded by steep mountainsides and waterfalls.
Reaching and leaving Geiranger required Rotterdam to navigate the length of the fjord, making the passage itself an important part of the day.
Geirangerfjord forms part of the West Norwegian Fjords UNESCO World Heritage landscape.
Day 6 – August 1 – Bergen, Norway:
Bergen was the final Norwegian port of the voyage.
The historic city has long served as one of Norway’s major maritime and trading centers.
Its waterfront includes Bryggen, the historic Hanseatic wharf recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Bergen provided a fitting conclusion to four consecutive days exploring western Norway before Rotterdam turned back toward the Netherlands.
Day 7 – August 2 – At Sea:
The final full day of the cruise was spent at sea.
Rotterdam sailed south toward her namesake city after completing the Norwegian portion of the itinerary.
The sea day provided the transition between Bergen and the return to the Netherlands.
Day 8 – August 3 – Rotterdam, Netherlands:
Rotterdam returned to Rotterdam on the morning of August 3.
Arrival completed the roundtrip voyage one week after our departure.
The return also concluded a trip closely connected with Holland America Line’s history, beginning with our visit to the preserved 1959 Rotterdam and continuing aboard the present-day flagship.
Complete Norway Itinerary:
July 27 – Day 1: Rotterdam, Netherlands – Embarkation
July 28 – Day 2: At Sea
July 29 – Day 3: Nordfjordeid, Norway
July 30 – Day 4: Molde, Norway
July 31 – Day 5: Geiranger, Norway
August 1 – Day 6: Bergen, Norway
August 2 – Day 7: At Sea
August 3 – Day 8: Rotterdam, Netherlands – Disembarkation
Norwegian Fjords:
The itinerary concentrated on western Norway, where mountains, deep fjords and coastal communities dominate the landscape.
Nordfjord introduced the scenery early in the voyage, while the passage to Geiranger provided one of its most dramatic fjord experiences.
The sequence of Nordfjordeid, Molde, Geiranger and Bergen allowed each day to present a different aspect of Norway’s maritime landscape.
Scenic cruising was therefore an important part of the voyage even when Rotterdam was not alongside in port.
Legacy:
Rotterdam continues one of the longest naming traditions in Holland America Line’s history.
As the seventh ship to carry the name and the current flagship, she links the company’s origins in Rotterdam with its modern cruise operations.
Our July–August 2024 Norway voyage strengthened that connection by beginning one day after our visit to the preserved 1959 Rotterdam.
For the Ocean Liner Photography collection, the two ships document different eras of Holland America Line history: the preserved former flagship representing the classic passenger-ship era and the current Rotterdam representing the company’s twenty-first-century fleet.
OLP Social: Our seven-night Norway cruise combined calls at Nordfjordeid, Molde, Geiranger and Bergen with scenic cruising through the fjords, aboard the newest ship to carry Holland America's historic Rotterdam name.
