Holland America Line and its parent company, Carnival Corporation & 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 is a gorgeous ship,” said Stein Kruse, president and chief executive officer, Holland America Line. “We are proud to be the industry’s leading premium experience and the addition of this new ship allows us to offer our Signature of Excellence to even more cruisers.”

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, Ålesund, 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.

Eurodam Advances Premium Offerings

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.