The new cruise ship Fincantieri is building for Holland America, Nieuw Statendam, was launched on Wednesday, December 6, at Marghera shipyard. Now the fitting-out phase begins, ending in autumn next year with the handing over of the vessel.
The event was introduced by traditional coin ceremony, consisting of welding a silver dollar on the last deck of the cruise ship. Anne Marie Bartels, member of HALs elite President’s Club loyalty program, who first sailed across the Atlantic as a young woman, served as Madrina of the ceremony.
The new vessel is the 16th ship built by Fincantieri for Holland America and the 2nd Pinnacle-class ship after ms Koningsdam, delivered last year from the same shipyard.