2,650-guest ship to be delivered in April 2016
SEATTLE, May 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- When Holland America
Line's ms Koningsdam sets sail in April 2016, Captain Emiel
de Vries will be in command. Having been with the company
since 1997, de Vries rose through the ranks from fourth officer to
captain and has been master of ms Amsterdam, ms Eurodam, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms
Rotterdam and ms
Zuiderdam.
De Vries currently lives near Venice,
Italy, to be close to the Fincantieri shipyard where ms
Koningsdam is being built. He has been involved with the
newbuild project since 2014 and participated in the functional
design of the navigation bridge — his "office" when he is
onboard.
"With his knowledge, experience and dedication, Captain de Vries
is the perfect choice to be at the helm when we introduce
Koningsdam to the world," said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America
Line. "Captain de Vries' leadership and graciousness with both
guests and crew will contribute greatly to the success of our new
ship."
Hailing from the Netherlands,
de Vries grew up just east of Amsterdam. He graduated from the Hogere
Zeevaart School in Amsterdam, one
of the oldest nautical schools in the world, with degrees in
navigation and engineering. De Vries was introduced to Holland
America Line in 1995 when he interned as a cadet on the former
ms Noordam, and since joining the company, he
has sailed on every class of Holland America Line's ships.
"It is an honor to be named the first captain of the new
Koningsdam, and I know bringing out the ship will be one of
the highlights of my career," said de Vries. "Being at the shipyard
has enabled me to gain detailed insight into many areas of the
ship, and I look forward to welcoming the first guests on board
during the inaugural season."
When not in Italy at the
shipyard, de Vries lives in Barrie,
Ontario, Canada, with his wife, Susan, and their
daughter.
About ms Koningsdam
When Koningsdam sets
sail on its Premier Voyage April 8,
2016, the vessel will debut several innovative concepts and
new public venues while still featuring popular amenities guests
associate with Holland America Line.
Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy fine dining in several
alternative restaurants including Sel de
Mer, a new French seafood brasserie; a new immersive
farm-to-table dinner experience in the Culinary Arts Center
presented by Food & Wine magazine; a re-designed casual
Lido Market with themed serving stations; a stunning main dining
room; and favorites such as Pinnacle Grill, Canaletto Italian
restaurant and pan-Asian Tamarind. The ship also will feature
Holland America Line's first purpose-built staterooms for families
as well as single staterooms among its 1,331 guest
accommodations.
Onboard entertainment will be taken to a new level with the
energetic Music Walk area featuring all genres of music showcased
in venues including Lincoln Center Stage offering chamber music
nightly; Billboard Onboard where live musicians rock the crowd with
chart-topping hits; and the popular B.B.
King's Blues Club in the Queen's Lounge bringing the best of
Memphis music to sea. World Stage
brings 270-degree LED projection to the main showroom,
enabling new concepts for showtime performances and immersing the
audience in a panorama of sight and sound.
For more information about Holland America Line, consult a
travel professional, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit
hollandamerica.com.
Editor's note: Photos are available at:
https://www.cruiseimagelibrary.com/c/alf3jj5r.
Find Holland America Line on Twitter, Facebook and the Holland
America Blog. Access all social media outlets via the Online
Communities quick link on the home page at hollandamerica.com.
About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival
Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL and CUK)]
Holland
America Line's fleet of 15 ships
offers more than 500 cruises to 415 ports in 98 countries,
territories or dependencies. One- to 110-day itineraries
visit all seven continents and highlights include Antarctica, South
America, Australia/New
Zealand and Asia voyages;
four annual Grand Voyages; and popular sailings to ports in the
Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, Canada/New England, Europe and Panama Canal. The line currently
has a new 2,650-guest ship, ms Koningsdam, on order for
delivery in February 2016 from
Fincantieri shipyard, as well as a second Pinnacle class ship due
for delivery in November 2018.
Fleetwide, the company features Signature of Excellence
enhancements, a commitment totaling more than $500 million, that showcase the Culinary Arts
Center presented by Food & Wine magazine — a state-of-the-art
onboard show kitchen where more than 60 celebrated guest chefs and
culinary experts provide cooking demonstrations and classes —
Explorations Café powered by The New York
Times, Digital Workshop powered by Windows, teens-only
activity areas and all new stateroom amenities highlighted by
flat-panel TVs and plush Euro-top Mariner's Dream Beds.
World's Leading Cruise Lines
Holland America Line is a proud member of World's
Leading Cruise Lines. Our exclusive alliance also includes Carnival
Cruise Lines, Cunard Line, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises and
Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment
to quality and value, World's Leading Cruise Lines inspires people
to discover their best vacation experience. Together, we offer a
variety of exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's
most desirable destinations. Visit us at
worldsleadingcruiselines.com.
CONTACT:
|
Sally
Andrews
|
PHONE:
|
800-637-5029
|
EMAIL:
|
pr@hollandamerica.com
|
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SOURCE Holland America Line