The Holland America Line is a British-American owned cruise line.
It was founded in 1873 as the Netherlands-America Steamship Company (Dutch:Nederlandsch-Amerikaansche Stoomvaart Maatschappij), a shipping and passenger line. Headquartered in Rotterdam and providing service to the Americas, it became known as Holland America Line. HAL is now headquartered in Seattle, Washington, U.S.
The first ships sailed between Rotterdam and New York in 1872, with New York remaining the American terminal. Other services were started to South America and Baltimore. Cargo service to New York was added in 1899. During the first 25 years the company carried 400,000 people from the old world to the new world. Other North American ports were added during the early 20th century.
Though transportation and shipping were the primary sources of revenue, in 1895 HAL offered its first vacation cruise. Its second vacation cruise, from New York to the Holy Land was first offered in 1910. In 1971, HAL suspended transatlantic passenger trade and in 1973 sold its cargo shipping division.
In 1989, HAL became a wholly owned subsidiary of Carnival Corp. The company operates 15 ships to 7 continents and is expected to carry over 750,000 cruise passengers in 2012.
In addition to its cruise line, Holland America operates the Westmark Hotel chain in Alaska and the Yukon
Holland America Line produced some noted ships, from the 36,000 gross ton SS Nieuw Amsterdam of 1937 (besides the RMS Queen Mary, the only 1930s-built liner to make a profit) and the SS Rotterdam of 1959, one of the first North Atlantic ships equipped for two-class transatlantic crossing and one-class luxury cruising. By the late 1960s, the golden era of transatlantic passenger ships was ended by air travel. HAL ended transatlantic service during the early 1970s, leaving the North Atlantic passenger trade for Cunard's RMS Queen Elizabeth 2.
In 1971, Holland America transitioned from passenger sea transportation to pleasure cruising and is known now for its wide variety of destinations. Receiving approval to visit Antarctica in the 1980s.
Today HAL ships cruise to all seven continents. MS Prinsendam and MS Amsterdam make annual "Grand Voyages" lasting more than 60 days, exploring more exotic destinations in South America and Africa; the MS Amsterdam also make annual World Voyages, sailing around the world, usually ranging from January to March/April/May.
In summer 2011, the MS Rotterdam did two transatlantic crossings, the first traditional transatlantic runs made by the line in more than 40 years. It was also announced the Rotterdam would be based year-round out of Rotterdam, Netherlands beginning in September 2012, sailing to Europe, the Caribbean, as well as Asia. Cruises range from 14 to 90 days.
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