Holland America Takes Delivery of ms Eurodam

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Holland America Line and its parent company, Carnival Corporation and plc, officially accepted delivery of its newest ship, ms Eurodam, in a formal handover ceremony near Venice, Italy, on June 16. The 2,104-guest ship, built at Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard, is the 14th ship in the premium line’s distinguished fleet and the first in its Signature-class series.

The Eurodam will arrive in Southampton, England, on June 27 to begin a series of introductory events for past guests, travel sellers, media and local officials. She then sails to her homeport, Rotterdam, arriving June 29 for three days of festivities including a naming ceremony with Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands officially dedicating the ship on July 1.

The 10-day round-trip maiden sailing departs July 5th from Copenhagen, Denmark, and calls at Oslo, Alesund, Vik, Flam and Stavanger, Norway; Newcastle Upon Tyne, England; and Edinburgh and Invergordon, Scotland.

Following her inaugural season in the Baltic region, Eurodam will offer its first transatlantic cruise and sail Canada/New England in the fall, followed by Caribbean sailings for the remainder of 2008.

With an additional deck, Eurodam has 63 new staterooms more than the latest Vista-class ship. Forty-seven are verandah cabins and ten are a new style with ceiling-to-floor and wall-to-wall panoramic windows. Eurodam also features 56 Spa Staterooms, so named because of their proximity to the Greenhouse Spa and Salon and special in-room spa amenities. In total, Eurodam carries 1,052 double occupancy staterooms.

Staterooms provide the Signature of Excellence premium amenities of plush Euro-top Mariner’s Dream beds, deluxe waffle/terry cloth robes, Egyptian cotton towels, flat panel TVs, DVD players, make-up mirrors with halo lighting, massage shower heads and professional grade hair dryers.

Eurodam also includes a new pan-Asian restaurant and bar, Tamarind and Silk Den; casual Italian eatery, Canaletto; and Pizzeria Slice. Other additions are an Explorer’s Lounge Bar, new atrium bar area, enhanced and reconfigured show lounge with theater-style seating and a new photographic and imaging center.