Westerdam

[SeaBlueSkies]

I did some research on HAL's Westerdam and it seems she's been around for a long long time. From what I'm reading she's been sailing since 1946 (unless I'm reading this wrong).

 

http://www.google.com/search?q=history+of+holland+america's+westerdam&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&tbs=tl:1&tbo=1&ei=aIINSsyIJYKQMqPTkKoG&sa=X&oi=timeline_result&ct=title&resnum=11

[TucsonRick]

The current Westerdam was launched in 2004.

[jtl513]

The current Westerdam was launched in 2004.

... and is the 4th HAL ship to carry that name. OP: see this sticky thread -

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=350993

[suse]

1946 would make for a very old ship!:D She's looking good.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We just did a 21 day cruise on her -- she is in excellent shape!!

[catl331]

... and is the 4th HAL ship to carry that name. [/url]

No, 3rd.

 

The first Westerdam sailed for Holland America Line from 1946 to 1965. It was a combined cargo/passenger ship with accommodations for 143 first-class passengers. While being constructed during World War II, this ship was sunk three times before making its maiden voyage. It was bombed and sunk by Allied forces on August 27, 1942 in the shipyard in Rotterdam. The Germans raised the ship in September 1944, but it was quickly sunk by the Dutch underground forces. After being raised a second time, the resistance again sank it on January 17, 1945. The ship was finally completed and went on to be a regular on the transatlantic run making two eight-day crossings each month between Rotterdam and New York.

The second Westerdam began service as the Homeric for Home Lines in 1986. Holland America Line acquired the ship in 1988 where the ship was lengthened in 1989 by 130 feet. After 643 cruises spanning over 13 years with Holland America, she was transferred to sister company, Costa Crociere in 2002, and renamed the Costa Europa.[5]

[SeaBlueSkies]

The current Westerdam was launched in 2004.

 

Thank you. I'm very happy to know I was wrong about this.

I think there is a lot more confusion on the horizon for a bunch of new ships soon to be in port at Canaveral that will have the names of the ships being confusing.

Carnival is coming out with the Dream and the Magic while Disney is coming out with the Fantasy.

I'm wondering if this is a marketing strategy to see who can confuse new passengers and get them to sail on ships they think belong to one line when they really belong to another line and then they don't realize it until they show up at the port.

[jtl513]

... and then they don't realize it until they show up at the port.

NO!! I don't think that's possible! :D Maybe somebody in the party might be mistaken, but certainly not the one who made the booking and handled the arrangements.