Holland America’s Florida-bound cruise ship Koningsdam has successfully wrapped up sea trials in Italy that began January 2.
Holland America Line’s new 2,650-passenger cruise ship, Koningsdam, returned to Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard on January 16 after it had successfully completed two sets of sea trials off the Italian coast.
The first set of sea trials lasted three days then Koningsdam went into drydock at Fincantieri’s Trieste shipyard where engineers could perform standard hull maintenance. The vessel completed its second sea tests from Jan. 10 to Jan. 16.
The trials are standard for any new ship. Koningsdam underwent a series of performance tests that assessed the ship’s systems, machinery and engines. Emiel de Vries, the ship’s captain, has not yet taken command of the ship, but he helped to test the ship’s manoeuvring characteristics and safety systems.
The ship’s debut sailing is slated for April 8. The naming ceremony is scheduled for May 20, 2016 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. In her inaugural year, the ship will sail Mediterranean, Baltic, British Isles and Northern Europe itineraries before making its way to the U.S. in November, when Koningsdam will start sailing itineraries throughout the Mediterranean, northern Europe and the Caribbean.
Koningsdam is the first in Holland America’s Pinnacle Class. The 99,500-ton, 2,650-passenger vessel is the largest in the fleet. When delivered, Koningsdam will be the line’s 14th cruise ship. A second yet-to-be-named Pinnacle Class ship is scheduled for delivery in November 2018.
Koningsdam will be the first Holland America ship that will feature two pools. The larger of the two, dubbed the Lido Pool, includes a retractable glass roof and will offer movie nights with a large outdoor screen. Other amenities are a new style of theater, the World Stage, featuring 270-degrees of LED screens and new types of cabins for the line.
The new ship will include a wine-making venue called Blend, created in partnership with Chateau Ste. Michelle wine out of Washington. Guests will be able to create their own wine from a selection of five barrels of single-vineyard red wine.
The ship will be based at Port Everglades from November 2016 through March 2017 sailing seven-to 11-day Caribbean sailings from Fort Lauderdale.