Jul 15, 2008, 14:24 GMT
Rotterdam - The US-based cruise company Holland America Line has taken a new vessel into its fleet in the hope of raising its profile in Europe.
The Eurodam has a maximum capacity of 2,104 passengers and is the largest ship in the fleet. It will spend its first summer season calling to ports in northern Europe and the Baltic.
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands officially christened the ship at a ceremony on July 2 after which it set sail for Hamburg. It will later call to ports along Germany's north coast.
This is the first time that the Holland America Lines has had a vessel that can accommodate over 2,000 passengers. Until now the Noordam with room for 1,918 guests was its largest ship.
Together with double cabins there are 110 suites ranging from 28 to 53 square metres in size.
There are also two penthouse suites each of which is 93 square metres in size.
Two-thirds of the ship's cabins have a veranda of about five square metres each and 85 per cent of all cabins are exterior.
The Eurodam has two restaurants including an Asian kitchen. Another innovation for the company is a lounge with panoramic view of the sea.
The ship's first season will see it call on Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, St. Petersburg as well as ports in Britain.
In August, thee Eurodam will embark on its first transatlantic voyage to New York while in the autumn it will ply the waters of the Caribbean.
'The Eurodam will return to Europe in summer 2009,' says a company spokeswoman.
The Eurodam cost 285 million euros (447 million dollars) and is the 14th vessel in Holland America Lines' fleet. By 2010, the company hopes to bring a sister ship in to service.
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