rotterdam cruise ship history

History of the ss Rotterdam

On 13 September, 1958, with a clearly spoken “I name you the Rotterdam and wish you a safe journey” Queen Juliana christened the new pride of the Dutch merchant fleet and sent the ship down the ways at the Rotterdam Drydock Company under the eyes of an enormous audience.

The launch of the ss Rotterdam on September 13 1958  picture J. Groeneveld

Just under a year later, on Thursday 3 September, 1959, The SS Rotterdam departed on her maiden voyage from Rotterdam to New York. Among the guests aboard was then-crown princess Beatrix. The ship was advertised with the slogan “The ship of tomorrow … today!” Over a period of nearly four years between the granting of the commission to construct the ship by the Rotterdam Drydock Company and transfer of the ship to the Holland-America Line, the largest passenger liner ever built in the Netherlands came into being. It featured a progressive design. Many noted architects and artists worked together on the interior arrangements and furnishing of the ship, making her a floating work of art.

The Rotterdam departed on her last transatlantic voyage from her home port in 1971. Since then the ship has been used exclusively for cruising, including dozens of world cruises. The ship remained remarkably up-to-date. Very few onboard spaces required conversion for cruising. The passengers kept coming, including many who traveled on the ship repeatedly.

The ss Rotterdam at Cape Town in about 1970  picture courtesy of Ian Shiffman

The ss Rotterdam visited New York regularly. On April 11 the ship left New York after completion of the world cruise (picture Klaas Krijnen)

On its way to Alaska the ship passed the Panamacanal:

The last drydock in October 1996:

In 1997 the ss Rotterdam sailed in Alaska for the last time:

In September 1997 the ss Rotterdam passed the Panama canal for the last time:

The SS Rotterdam sailed very successfully under the Dutch flag for the Holland-America Line for some 38 years. In 1997, after the Holland America Line became a subsidiary of Carnival Cruises, the ship was replaced with a new liner carrying the same name, but of a quite different order. The City of Rotterdam made vain attempts to bring the ship home to the Netherlands

Sailing as ss Rembrandt for Premier Cruises

In 1997 the ship was purchased by the American company Premier Cruises, which renamed her “Rembrandt”. Under this name, the ship visited her home terminal at the Wilhelminakade in Rotterdam for the first time in 27 years in October 1998.

Picture Hans Hoffmann

Unfortunately, Premier Cruises found itself in financial difficulties after just three years and was forced to take the former Rotterdam out of service. Since September 2000 the ship has been moored in Freeport in the Bahamas. For a long time, her future was uncertain. Various plans were put forward: to sail the ship on cruises using a time-share marketing model, or to moor her in Amsterdam as a floating hotel and cultural center. None of these plans came to fruition, and as the days passed, the very real possibility that the ship would be sold for scrap became ever more likely. In 2001 some friends of the ss Rotterdam founded the Steamship Rotterdam Foundation with the aim to save the ship from scrap.

In May 2003 the ss Rotterdam was bought by the ss Rotterdam B.V., part of the RDMconcern. The ship was saved from scrap!

On July 12, 2004, the ship arrived at the Cammell Laird yard in Gibraltar for asbestos clean-up and further works.

In September 2004 the s.s. Rotterdam BV was acquired by Port of Rotterdam, which company announced to sell the ship. On December 7, 2004, the s.s. Rotterdam BV went bankrupt. On December 16, 2004, Port of Rotterdam spreaded the news that final negotiations had been started with Hotel Cruiseship Operations 2 (HCO2), with the aim to use the ship as a hotel, restaurant and casino in the Maashaven. April 2005 HCO2 made clear they wanted to remove all the asbestos. Preparations made clear that it was to expensive to remove all the asbestos. On June 15 HCO2 ceased negotiations. Subsequently housing company Woonbron and informal investor Eurobalance decided to buy the ship and to found a new company “De (The) Rotterdam”. On June 30 2005 it was made public that this company will go for a asbestos-safe situation and for drydocking.

After dry-docking in Cadiz the vessel was towed to Gdansk with the intention to refurbish her there. But it never came to work there.

In the end the ship was partly refurbished in Wilhelmshaven, where she arrived on September 2 2006.

On August 4 2008 she came to Holland for the final part of the refurbishment.

Since February 15 2010 the Rotterdam is open for tours, congresses, meetings, shop and hotel and restaurant facilities. On September 13 2018 it was celebrated that the ss Rotterdam has been launched 60 years ago by Queen Juliana.

Cruise Ship Odyssey

Ss rotterdam v (1959) – holland america cruises.

• June 19, 2023

On Oct 27th 1955, the Holland America Line (HAL) placed an order  at the Rotterdamse Droogdok Maatschappij, a shipyard in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, which mainly repaired and overhauled ships as its core business. However, occasionally the yard also built vessels completely from scratch.

HAL had had plans for a running mate and eventually a successor to the  Nieuw Amsterdam   as soon as this vessel was delivered in 1938. At first HAL’s own design department came up with several very streamlined design studies all of which had a strong resemblance to the  Nieuw Amsterdam . Even a model with three funnels was produced (in the end the  Rotterdam  would have no funnels at all!). HAL contacted the RDM and together a design emerged of a graceful vessel with a pronounced sheer. The ship had to be able to carry passengers in two classes on its Transatlantic voyages from Roterdam to  New York and switch to one class when cruising.  So differences between the two classes when she would sail in liner service had to be minimal.

As mentioned already, the new HAL flagship would have no funnel. Midships,  a structure was built on her top deck which showed a resemblance to a funnel, but in reality it was used as a bar. Instead of the old fashioned funnel, twin uptakes were placed aft.

Four men played a key role in the overall design of the ship: head of the design department of the HAL mr. Van Veen, mr. van Engelen who was HAL’s leading architect, mr. Stapel head engineer of the RDM-yard and HAL president mr. de Monchy who had  a keen interest in the new ship’s interiors.

In 1952 HAL had begun serious negotiations with RDM and the first designs were completed. This was an on and off process which was interrupted when RDM’s competitor the Wilton Feyneoord shipyard presented HAL a design of a 20.000GRT passenger vessel which would cost half as much as the planned successor of the  Nieuw Amsterdam  would.

In 1954 the HAL and the RDM resumed the design phase of the new HAL flagship

Finally, on Dec. 15th 1956 construction of the ship was started.  During an official ceremony the first two sections were placed on the slipway. Work on yard no. 300 had actually begun. It took 21 months to build the vessel. The empty hull of the ship was heated in several places  so workers could continue working on the ship throughout the winter. Two elevators could carry workers and material to a height of 30m. On the ships bottom a railroad was built to carry heavy machinery parts and electrical equipment to its desired location in the vessel.

After 21 months the ship was ready to be launched and HRH the Queen of the Netherlands Juliana christened her on Sept. 13 1958. It was a  sunny day and 60,000 spectators watched the ship slide into the river Maas. The Queen named her  Rotterdam  and the bottle of Champagne smashed against her bows.

Now the next stage of fitting out started. Her interiors started to take shape,: over 1400 people worked onboard. The  Rotterdam  was docked in the brand new RDM drydock on Dec 9 th  for “the finishing touch”  and on July 11 th  she left Rotterdam for her first trials. She sailed from Rotterdam via Hook of Holland for her first sea trials, and also to IJmuiden twice. She performed very well and proved to be a stable ship with excellent seagoing qualities. Her  second trials took place from 1 to 6 August 1959, this time with 800 guests a board, most of them shipyard workers and subcontractors.

After having passed thes trials successfully she returned to dock 9 for a short visit snd some final work was carried out there.Then, the big day arrived, the  Rotterdam  was ready to start her career as a liner/ cruiseship. She left the port of Rotterdam with Queen Juliana en Prince Bernard onboard and at sea, the RDM officially handed the  Rotterdam  over to her proud owners, the HAL. The Queen and Prince inspected the vessel and they turned out to be very interested in the artwork which could be found all over the ship.

The maiden voyage of the  Rotterdam  started on Sept 3 rd  1959 when she left the Wilhelminakade for Le Havre, after which she would proceed to Southampton and then to her final destination New York.

On board was Princess Beatrix, eldest daughter of Queen Juliana. She disembarked before docking at the port of New York, switching to a Dutch naval vessel, HMS Gelderland. The crown princess attended several formal activities, like meetings with Dwight Eisenhower, president of the United States and Nelson Rockefeller, the Governor of the State of New York.

Rotterdam ‘s first cruise took place from December 11 1959 until January 29 1960. During this circumnavigation of South America, a voyage of 15.100  nautical miles, almost 6 million litres of fuel was needed for the journey. Prices started form $1395 for an inside cabin on B-deck.

During the  first years of her career, the  Rotterdam   cruised in between her transatlantic  liner service between Rotterdam and New York.

In 1961,  Rotterdam  left New York for her first world cruise during which she would call at twenty ports. It was a great success and she would make  almost annually world cruises for the HAL during her 38 year career with the company.

In 1964,  Rotterdam  was rebuilt and upgraded for the first time, several cabins were added on the spot where the childrens play room used to be which was relocated. From 1966 she spent the entire winter cruising while her fleetmate  Nieuw Amsterdam  stayed on the Noth Atlantic service. In 1968 HAL shifted its operations even more to cruising and a refit of  Rotterdam  was announced after which she would only sail as a one class cruise ship. She had a specially constructed main stairtower where sliding panels could be closed to separate the two classes. HAL president mr. de Monchy had seen this feature in a French castle where two stairtowers both fitted in eachother intertwined like two corkscrews so one could descend the stairs while not meeting those climbing the stairs. This came in handy when the mistress of the Count had to leave the castle silently….

So the panels in  Rotterdam ‘s stairtower were opened permanently now and the vessel was one-class from now on. Further more, the Café de la Paix was transformed in a lido Café, a less formal place where cruise passengers could have lunch, breakfast and afternoon tea/coffe. All cabins receieved private facilities in the refit while the total number of passengers was lowered from 1.456 to 1009. Her fleetmate  Statendam   also sailed as a full-time cruise ship from 1969 onwards.  Nieuw Amsterdam  would remain on the North Atlantic for another two years before she too was returned for permanent use in cruise service.

In 1971 HAL changed their funnel colours from yellow with a green-white-green band to orange with a new emblem: three streamlined waves: two blue and a white one. It was was painted on Rotterdam’s  “dummy-funnel” mid ships.

That same year  Rotterdam  left its homeport of Rotterdam foregood, she would never call there again while sailing for the HAL. In the passenger department 350 Indonesian crew members were introduced, and it took a lot of effort to keep onboard service on the same level with all these alterations.  A conflict between the new crew members and the HAL management caused the cancellation of an entire cruise.

In 1973 the  Rotterdam  was in the large da Silva-dock in Lisbon for routine maintenance and a switch of her hull colors from dove-grey to dark blue when one of the walls of the dock collapsed. As the manholes of the ship were all open she was at risk to be flooded and sink or capsize in the dock.  Luckily yard personnel was in control of the rapidly rising water level just in time.

1973 was an eventful year for the HAL: two new ships were introduced, the former Moore Mc Cormack liners  Argentina  and  Brasil  entered service as  Veendam  and  Volendam   respectively (as a coincidence, both vessels had the same dummy type of funnel as  Rotterdam  had), The  Nieuw Amsterdam  was retired and sent to the scrap yard after several attempts to save her as a museum or floating hotel failed. Finally the name of the company was changed to Holland America Cruises,.

During a world cruise in 1976, She escaped disaster when she was struck by a 100 ft. wave off the Coast of Marocco. It caused a list of 35 degrees but  Rotterdam  uprighted herself. She was turned around 90 degrees when the wave hit her. A few passengers were injured and a lot of furniture was damaged but she could continue her world voyage.

In 1983 HAL adopted a new logo: the sailing vessel Halve Maen with the impressive bows of a modern cruise liner. It was introduced on the brand new Nieuw Amsterdam 2. The name of the company was changed back to Holland America Line. In 1985  Rotterdam  was refitted again, public spaces and cabins were upgraded.

Suddenly in 1989 HAL was sold to the US Company Carnival Cruise Line from Miami. Carnival sent the  Rotterdam  that same year to a ship yard in Portland, Oregon where she was overhauled once again. Bow thrusters were fitted in the process, so she could dock without the help of tugs in the future.

Subsequently, she settled into a pattern of cruises in the  Caribbean and Alaska. Occaisionally she would circumnavigate South America.

In 1997, Carnival Cruise Line came to the conclusion that the ageing  Rotterdam  didn’t fit in her fleet of modern cruise liners anymore, although she still had a fiercely loyal following. Her farewell cruise was announced which ended on sept 30 th  in Fort Lauderdale.

At once she was acquired by Premier Cruises, a company that owned a fleet of elderly classic vessels all kept in immaculate condition. To the relief of the  Rotterdam  fans, they kept the classic interiors of the ship exactly as they were in her HAL-days. They renamed her  Rembrandt , relating to her Dutch heritage. So she embarked on a new career after she had been upgraded to meet new SOLAS (Safety of Life At Sea) regulations. After 27 years,  Rembrandt  visited her former homeport of Rotterdam again during one of her European cruises. In 2000, Premier Cruises announced plans to rename all of their vessels  Big Red Boat I to IV , they would be painted bright red and sail out of several US ports both on the East and West coast. Premier was engulfed in protests as all  Rembrandt  fans strongly objected against this plan. As far as  Rembrandt  was concerned, the plan was hastily abandoned, for their other ships it was carried out.

On Sept. 13 th  2000 Premier Cruises suddenly declared bankruptcy, as poor marketing, old ships which needed frequent repairs (and passenger refunds for lost sailings) and a series of mishaps had forced the company deeply into the red.  Rembrandt  was laid up in Freeport, Bahama’s  and it seemed she would end up in the scrapyard soon…….

Luckily she was saved. In her country of birth, the Netherlands, several business men tried to acquire her for use as a static hotel in Amsterdam but this scheme was abandoned as there was no suitable berth available to dock her permanently.

In may 2003,  Rembrandt  was bought by a Dutch industrial, Mr. Van den Nieuwenhuizen who was the owner of Rotterdamse Droogdok Maatschappij (Rotterdam Drydock Cy), the yard which had built her in 1959.

The port of Rotterdam authority granted a loan so she could be acquired. Mr. van den Nieuwenhuizen had plans for the ship as a museum and hotel at his RDM yard. The city of Rotterdam wanted to have the ship at another location where she would be more in the town centre and finally came up with a location where she could be bertherd permanently, Katendrecht.

She was  prepared for a long tow to Gibraltar and she left Freeport in June 2004. She had been in lay up now for almost 4 years and the warm and damp climate had taken its toll. It took 24 days to tow her to Gibraltar. She arrived at the Cammel Laird yard, where asbestos was removed or sealed. This took until April 2005. During her stay at Gibraltar,  Rembrandt  was renamed  Rotterdam  again.

Meanwhile, in August 2004, the RDM (Mr. van den Nieuwenhuizen) and the Port of Rotterdam Authority had a serious dispute concerning a loan from the Port to the RDM. One of the port officers had declared the port of Rotterdam would guarantee this loan. However the authortities were not  notified hereof. Now the Port of Rotterdam Authority found itself in a difficult position.  The RDM had now placed  Rotterdam  in a subsidiary firm they now wanted to liquidate. Ultimately, the Port ofRotterdam took over he vessel until she would be sold to new owners.

In June 2005, housing corporation Woonbron and investment company Eurobalance issued a  peress statement in which they announced they had acquired the ship. The ship would be used as a hotel, museum and pupils of the Albeda college would be able to do their internship aboard to laern professions like welder, painter or even administratibve jobs. The hotel department would be used mainly for those who had to stay in Rotterdam for longer periods because of business or study (exchange programs).

Rotterdam   was now taken to the port of Cadiz at the end of 2005 where she was repainted in her old dove grey HAL colours. After a stay of three months she was towed to Gdansk, Poland, to be completely refiited to her former glory and have the asbestos still onboard in large plastic bags removed. However, Polish authorities did not want the asbestos taken off the ship for environmental reasons and after a long dispute, in August 2006 the  ss Rotterdam  sailed to Wilhelmshaven, Germany where the asbestos was removed and her refit completed.

In the Netherlands, housing corporation Woonbron had lost so much money on the ship, appr. 160 million euro’s that the Dutch Government stepped in. Woonbron was forced to sell the ship to the highest bidder and it was feared the  Rotterdam  would be lost to the Netherlands after all.

She arrived in her former homeport Rotterdam in August 2008 and opened to the public in February 2010.

Finally a buyer was found when Westcord hotels, a Dutch hotel chain acquired the ship for 30 million euro in 2012. The  Rotterdam  proved to be a success, often her hotel rooms are booked to capacity and she is regularly used for all kinds of festivities. In the mean time, the volunteers of the  ss Rotterdam foundation   work hard to restore the ship to her former glory, exactly as she was delivered in 1959 by the yard who built her, the Rotterdam Drydock Company.

Recent Posts

Johann Georg Poppe (1837 – 1915)

He brought international flair to

John McNeece (1939 – 2015)

Designer who specialised in creating

Charles Frederic Mewès (1858 – 1914)

He introduced hotel-style interiors to

Joe Farcus is one of

• Cruise ship interiors
• Out of service
• Static ships
• Annual news review
• Ships on order

© 2003-2023 Cruise ship Odyssey, Paul Timmerman. All text and photographs (unless stated otherwise). All Rights Reserved.

Copyright disclaimer.

Pioneering history

Holland America Line, Hotel New York, ss Rotterdam. Three names for three true Rotterdam icons, all closely connected to the history of the city and the port of Rotterdam. All with their roots in Rotterdam soil (and river), in a remarkable city where one can breathe in the past and discern the urban future on the horizon. Add to this short list Delfshaven, one of the oldest remaining parts of the city of Rotterdam and the departure point from which the Pilgrim Fathers sailed for America. Gems of Rotterdams past and its present, connecting pioneers from history to pioneers of the future.

The departure of the Pilgrim Fathers from Delfshaven to America in 1620 (first on the Speedwell, and from Southampton on board the larger seaworthy ship The Mayflower) was the historic starting signal for people who wanted to seek their fortune or just a better future on the other side of the ocean. Since then and increasingly often, Dutch people dreaming of a better life left for America from Rotterdam. The history of the current Holland America Line, Hotel New York and ss Rotterdam is inextricably related to the story of the Pilgrim Fathers.

Today historic Delfshaven is one of the few parts of the old city that survived the 1940 bombardment of Rotterdam. It has had a rich and remarkable history, both as the departure point for the Pilgrim Fathers sailing for America and as the birthplace of Dutch maritime legend Piet Hein. Today, picturesque Delfshaven still looks and feels much like the old port of he 17th century, with old gable houses and barges drawing the attention of visitors. It is a unique place within the Rotterdam metropolis, where the old meets the new.

Birth of the ‘HAL’

After the Pilgrim Fathers had left from Delfshaven and had gained a foothold on American soil, first at Cape Cod and later in Massachusetts, and had established their own community, more and more Dutch fortune seekers travelled to America via Rotterdam. In 1871, this resulted in the creation of the company Plate, Reuchlin & Co by Antoine Plate and Otto Reuchlin. Through this company, they provided a direct connection between the Netherlands and America via steamships. Two years later, in 1873, the company was renamed NV Nederlandsch-Amerikaanse Stoomvaart-Maatschappij (NASM). Approximately 1 million people would sail from Rotterdam to America up to the turn of the century.

In 1875, the Nieuwe Waterweg (“New Waterway”) was opened, which started the development of Rotterdam into an important European and global port. New York became a scheduled destination for ships from Rotterdam. The route from Rotterdam to America by steamship was known popularly as the ‘Holland-America Line’, which led the NASM to add this to its name officially in 1896: NV Nederlandsch-Amerikaanse Stoomvaart-Maatschappij ‘Holland-Amerika Lijn’. It took until 1973 for the name to be finally shortened to Holland Amerika Line NV (or HAL for short).

From Directors building to Hotel New York

The present Hotel New York at the far end of the Wilhelminakade started out as the offices for the NASM directors and it was built between 1901-1917 by the architects Muller, Droogleever Fortuyn and Van der Tak. The building was erected on almost exactly the same spot where the NASM had previously established a hotel with the name ‘Hotel New:York’. The originally rather massive and stately executive building has over time been modified to include Art Nouveau characteristics as well as the two little towers, which give the building its unique features up until today.

These days, Hotel New York is a Rijksmonument (a listed building and national heritage site). It is a popular attraction, a remarkable hotel and a very much sought after restaurant (also with the new edition of the cocktail bar NY Basement) all rolled into one. On fair days, droves of local residents as well as tourists from the Netherlands and abroad arrive to enjoy the building and the waterside terraces with the breathtaking view. And one can frequently spot young couples getting married who are starting their new lives together here!

Fortune seekers and cruises

From the first crossing by the Pilgrim Fathers in 1620 up to 1978, the transatlantic connection between Rotterdam and New York was the primary route for fortune seekers and emigrants. Over the years, and with the emergence of airlines, the route by steamship became less prominent and attractive to travellers between the European and American continents. The role of HAL vessels slowly changed from ocean liners to cruise ships. The very last passenger ship to sail from Rotterdam to New York was the Nieuw Amsterdam II in 1971. Shortly afterwards, the HAL sold off its cargo division too and the organization concentrated its efforts on cruises. The head office at the Wilheminapier was moved from Rotterdam to New York. The old head office building remained unoccupied for a long time until it was converted into a hotel and renamed Hotel New York in 1993.

ss Rotterdam

The ss (steamship) Rotterdam is one of the former flagships of the Holland-America Line. Built between 1956-1958 by the Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij NV, launched officially in September 1958 by Queen Juliana, ‘De Rotterdam’ underwent its first sea trial in 1959. From that moment on, the ship played a part in the last decades of passenger transport between Rotterdam and New York. Over the years though, it was increasingly deployed for cruises. The last transatlantic sailing took place in 1968, after which she was revamped by RDM for further deployment as a cruise ship. Since that time, De Rotterdam has gone through turbulent times, including a change of home port (from Rotterdam to Willemstad), several refurbishments and renovations, a takeover by the American cruise company Premier Cruises and the subsequent change of name to De Rembrandt (1997). Its fortunes reached an all-time low when the ship was impounded in 2000 after Premier Cruises had gone bankrupt.

It was particularly through the creation of a foundation dedicated to preserving this ‘Grande Dame’ that the ship was eventually saved from its demise and it was fully restored. After various travels and extensive renovations, the renamed ss Rotterdam found its final berth at the Katendrechtse Hoofd in the Maashaven in Rotterdam in 2008, where it is now a popular attraction, hotel, restaurant, conference venue and much more.

Dream away, have adventures…

The Pilgrim Fathers’ departure from Delfshaven in 1620 leaves its mark even now in these special locations in Rotterdam. Whether it’s at Hotel New York, the ss Rotterdam or a different location near the river Maas in Rotterdam. Close your eyes and dream away. Smell the salt of the sea, see a beautiful cruise ship in its berth, hear the call of the alluring water. In your mind’s eye, you can make the crossing, have adventures, discover new things…

Header photo: Gemeentearchief Rotterdam.

Related content

Are you looking for information and advice about Rotterdam? Please contact us.

Privacyoverzicht

• 1-855-932-1711
• My Account Hello Credits My Account Log out

975 ft. length

114.8 ft. width

Our newest ship, Rotterdam , delivers the best of everything we do: exquisite cuisine, award-winning service, superbly appointed staterooms and suites, and world-class entertainment. Dance the night away at B.B. King’s Blues Club or relive your favorite rock classics at Rolling Stone Lounge. Experience Rotterdam ’s Pinnacle Class luxury and find a mastery of the details that keep our guests returning again and again.

Explore Rotterdam

Cruise activities on board.

Billboard Onboard

ENTERTAINMENT

Sing along, test your music trivia knowledge, or sit back and enjoy as chart-topping hits fill the room each night.

2 pianos - 60 Years of Chart Toppers - 100s Of Songs.  Sing along, test your music trivia skills or just sit back and enjoy as the hits fill the room each night.

World Stage

World Stage features innovative cruise ship shows and a two-story LED screen that creates a vivid wraparound display.

World Stage, the largest theater on board is home to a variety of performances day and night. Our exclusive EXC® Talk lecture series features captivating regional stories told by local experts and narrated by your Cruise & Travel Director. In the evenings, Step One Dance Company, vocal sensation Cantaré, BBC Earth in Concert and more take the stage.  Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam  and  Rotterdam  bring the World Stage experience to the next level by surrounding you in spectacular sight and sound with a two-story, panoramic LED screen.

Rolling Stone Lounge

Our 7-piece band brings you the best in rock, pop, country and more.

Dance to your favorite songs with one of the best bands at sea. From rock and pop to country and beyond, we provide the perfect playlist live, each and every cruise.

Onboard Shopping

Enjoy a wide variety of duty-free shopping onboard.

Enjoy a wide variety of duty-free shopping in such signature shops as The Vault, Diamonds and Gemstones by Merabella, which offers the best diamonds at sea, brought to you by Effy.

Fitness Center

Take a class in our professionally staffed Fitness Center.

Stop by the professionally staffed Fitness Center equipped with the latest cardio and weight machines. Try one of our classes on indoor cycling, Pilates and more or work out at your own pace. You can also head out for fresh air and exercise on deck, where you'll find basketball and volleyball courts, and two refreshing pools (available on select ships). Some classes may have a nominal fee.

Holland America Line Navigator

Personalize your cruise experience with our free mobile-friendly tool.

Personalize your cruise experience once you’re on the ship with our free mobile-friendly tool. Plan your daily activities, browse and purchase shore excursions, view restaurant menus, make dining reservations, check your account balance and more. 

Casino Action

The Casino offers games for all levels.

Your Holland America Line ship’s Casino offers a wide array of gaming options. Whether you prefer slot machines or want to try your hand at blackjack or poker, our dealers and staff are available to provide complimentary instruction — and we offer many engaging tournament options. The Casino is only open at sea.

Movies On Board

Enjoy recent-release films in the movie theater on select ships or in the comfort of your stateroom.

Screening nightly in the movie theatre (on select ships) are recent-release films and perennially popular classics. You can also watch movies any time in your stateroom or suite. And aboard  Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam  and  Rotterdam , watch your favorite stars light up the night on a giant outdoor LED movie screen by the Lido Pool.

Pickleball at Sea

Enjoy complimentary lessons, tournaments, and courts with amazing top-deck views.

Play the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. with Holland America Line, the exclusive cruise line partner of the Professional Pickleball Association. All our cruise ships feature pickleball courts with amazing top-deck views. The equipment and courts are available for a match anytime, so long as the weather allows. Frequent pickler? Join a pickleball tournament at sea and put your dink shot to the test. Hesitant amateur? Learn the basics at complimentary beginner’s lessons, starting in spring 2023. Commemorative starter kits will soon be available in our retail shops — purchase as gifts for avid players or as souvenirs, so that you can always look back on your pickleball cruise memories.

Kids ages 3 to 17 can enjoy an array of activities. Registration required for children under 13.

Holland America Line's youth activities program, Kids Club, offers an array of entertaining events for kids and teens ages 3-17, supervised by a full-time, professionally trained staff. They'll have an opportunity to join other kids their age for arts and crafts, sports, video game competitions, scavenger hunts, challenging team games and themed parties. Note: Kids Club is not offered on cruises of 25-days or longer, including all Legendary and Grand Voyages. We will offer a selection of children’s activities throughout these longer voyages for any children who may be onboard.

Dining Experiences On Your Cruise

Pinnacle Grill

The ultimate steakhouse at sea, with an exceptional menu of Prime steaks, seafood and wine.

Pinnacle Grill is the ultimate steakhouse at sea, where an exceptional menu and impeccable service make for one of finest meals you’ll ever have. The refined menu features a selection of 28-day wet-aged USDA Prime steaks — meticulously chosen to guarantee the finest quality — as well as classic steakhouse dishes and innovative recipes from James Beard Award-winning chef and Culinary Council® member, David Burke. Every dish is exquisitely prepared, beautifully plated and complemented by a vast collection of award-winning wines. Here, your meal is an event unto itself, a celebration of fine dining and a triumph of flavor.

*Meals at Pinnacle Grill are half price for kids 12 years old or under, or free when they order from the kids’ menu.

Canaletto is a relaxed setting with authentic Italian cuisine that is best enjoyed when shared.

In Italy, there’s nothing more important than coming together to celebrate the joy of great food. This is the inspiration for our onboard Italian restaurant, Canaletto. Enjoy amazing Italian classics like braised chicken cacciatore al forno, branzino ai ferri or garlic shrimp ravioli. And for dessert: tiramisù, cannoli alla Siciliana, gelato, and more. Including pasta made fresh daily. Buon Appetito!

Meals at Canaletto are half price for kids 12 years old or under, or free when they order from the kids’ menu.

Explore traditions of Southeast Asia, China and Japan with cuisine praised by Condé Nast Traveler as rivaling the top restaurants on land.

Praised by  Condé Nast Traveler  for cuisine “that rivals the top restaurants on land,” Tamarind is the perfect place to explore the culinary traditions of Southeast Asia, China and Japan. The menu, which honors the elements of water, wood, fire and earth, features such exotic fare as wok-seared lobster, barramundi (Asian sea bass) in banana leaf and sushi, accompanied by chilled or heated sake. 

Meals at Tamarind are half price for kids 12 years old or under, or free when they order from the kids’ menu.

Rudi's Sel De Mer

Master Chef Rudi Sodamin’s award-winning, lively brasserie offers a modern twist on classic French dishes and seafood.

Named for Master Chef Rudi Sodamin, Rudi’s Sel de Mer is an intimate brasserie featuring classic French dishes reimagined with contemporary flair. Menu selections include whole Dover sole meunière with shaved pink Himalayan sea salt, oysters on the half shell, fruits de mer, and salt-crust baked branzino, as well as favorites such as steak frites, duck cassoulet and coq au vin. Conclude your dinner with a classic dessert and fine French cheeses.  

Meals at Sel de Mer are half price for kids 12 years old or under, or free when they order from the kids’ menu.

Rudi’s Sel de Mer restaurant is available on  Rotterdam ,  Koningsdam  and  Nieuw Statendam , but on other ships, the Rudi’s Sel de Mer menu is available on select evenings in Pinnacle Grill.

Lido Market

A casual, modern marketplace, Lido Market offers the widest range of food options on board for breakfast, lunch, dinner and a late-night snack.

Explore a world of intriguing culinary possibilities in the Lido Market. Steps from the Lido pool, this modern marketplace includes a curated selection of delicious options that you can grab on the go or have made to order: Breadboard, with freshly baked breads and pastries; Wild Harvest, offering a bountiful selection of hearty salads; Homestead, serving up comfort classics; Distant Lands, featuring global cuisine; Sweet Spot, for ice cream creations and desserts; Roasting Pan, hand-carved meats, fish and other hearty entrees; Perk, freshly brewed beverages and chilled juices; Quench, premium coffee, beer, wine, and soda available for purchase; Rise, savory quiches, croissants and sandwiches, and more.

This casual poolside grill serves up the best burgers at sea, Nathan’s Famous gourmet hot dogs, golden French fries and more.

Dive-In offers a variety of casual culinary classics, using the highest quality ingredients. Enjoy a burger, grilled to perfection and served on a toasted brioche with our own trade-marked secret sauce. Savor a succulent Nathan’s Famous gourmet hot dog with golden French fries. Or choose a grilled chicken breast sandwich or juicy portabella mushroom stack. Dive-In is the perfect spot to dine poolside on the best burgers at sea.

New York Pizza

Our poolside pizzeria has fresh Italian salads and authentic thin-crust personal pizzas with savory toppings.

At New York Pizza, choose from a variety of scrumptious, 9-inch, thin-crust pies. Named for New York’s famed five boroughs, our signature pizzas are made to order and topped with only the finest ingredients. Enjoy your pizza by day while overlooking the Lido pool, and into the night. This venue is New York Deli & Pizza on  Koningsdam ,  Rotterdam  and  Nieuw Statendam , offering made-to-order deli sandwiches in addition to pizza.

24-Hour Room Service

Enjoy breakfast in bed or an early dinner on your verandah — entrées and more are available whenever you wish.

Sleep in and have breakfast delivered. Enjoy an early dinner on your verandah before an evening excursion. Order a salad, sandwich or entrée any time. Room Service is only a phone call away. All selections are included in your cruise fare unless otherwise noted on the in-room menu.

Explorations Cafe

Our relaxing café with panoramic views is your home for handcrafted espresso drinks during the day and refreshing cocktails in the evening.

At Explorations Café, sink into plush chairs and sofas in a comfortable environment. Sip elegantly prepared espresso drinks and nosh on fresh pastries from the coffee bar. You can also take in fantastic views, catch up on your favorite book or browse the web. 

Dine on delectable sushi and sip Asian-inspired spirits at Nami Sushi, a sushi bar within Tamarind offering stunning ocean views.

Nami Sushi offers a tempting array of the sushi rolls he’s created. Choose from such delectable selections as Tempura Lobster Roll with soft shell crab tempura; Dragon Roll with tempura shrimp, unagi sauce and avocado; Tsutsumi Roll with snapper, green olive, caper and avocado; Futomoki Roll with crab, yamagobo, avocado and cucumber; Volcano Roll with sesame-marinated salmon and Thai chilis; Nigiri sushi with tuna, salmon and ebi shrimp; and more. The word “nami,” Japanese in origin, means “wave” and is an homage to the ocean views you’ll enjoy as you dine on the freshest, tastiest and most inventive sushi at sea.

With many flavors to choose from and ingredients like Sicilian pistachios and amarena cherries, each frozen spoonful transports you to Italy.

At “G” Gelato, you can indulge your sweet tooth with a classic European gelato (ice cream), made fresh on board each day by chefs trained at the Carpigiani Gelato University. Choose from among 12 delightful flavors, two of which are rotated daily. Smooth, creamy and refreshing, this tasty treat is served in a variety of ways, including gelato popsicles and the flavors of G, composed shots with layers of caramel, nuts and gelato. Love pistachio?  Select ingredients like Sicilian pistachios make our pistachio gelato out of this world!

Club Orange Program Benefits

Club Orange offers an added level of luxury on Holland America with expanded dining menus, special events and priority access. Learn more about Club Orange.

See the  full Club Orange benefits  (PDF)

Join Club Orange to experience a new level of luxury, from priority check-in and disembarkation to premium dining amenities. Club Orange benefits include a complimentary stateroom upgrade, a special event chosen by the captain and priority check-in and disembarkation. Read on for a full list of Club Orange benefits.

Please  contact us  for Club Orange pricing and availability or to enroll.

The Dining Room

Our flagship dining experience is a welcoming and sophisticated setting for an exquisite breakfast, lunch or superb multicourse dinner.

For an elegant breakfast, leisurely lunch or unforgettable multi-course dinner, The Dining Room is your destination. For dinner, choose from classics such as Boneless Lamb Loin en Croute, Rosemary Roasted Chicken, as well as regionally inspired cuisine and artfully prepared vegetarian dishes. 

Suites & Staterooms

Please select your stateroom or suite type and room category from the available options.

• Daily housekeeping
• Complimentary 24-hour room service
• Elemis Aromapure soap, lotion, shampoo
• Luxurious bathrobes
• Generous storage
• Fresh fruit upon request
• TV with On Demand movies, programming

Two lower beds convertible to one queen-size bed—our signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush Euro-Top mattresses, premium massage shower heads and a host of amenities are featured in these comfortable staterooms.

• Hair dryers, makeup mirrors
• Ice service

These expansive staterooms include include two lower beds convertible to one queen-size bed—our Signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush Euro-Top mattresses, premium massage shower heads, a host of amenities and an ocean view.

Filled with light from floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a private verandah, these staterooms include a sitting area, two lower beds convertible to one queen-size bed—our signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush Euro-Top mattresses, and shower with premium massage showerheads.

Vista Suite

With a verandah, floor-to-ceiling windows and comfortable sitting area, these comfortable suites are filled with light. They include two lower beds convertible to one queen-size bed—our signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush Euro-Top mattresses, plus a shower, mini-bar and refrigerator.

Signature Suite

These large, comfortable suites feature a spacious sitting area with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a private verandah, two lower beds convertible to one king-size bed—our signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush Euro-Top mattresses, and one murphy bed.

Neptune Suite

• Premium bathrobes, slippers
• Fresh flowers
• One-Touch concierge service
• Whirlpool bath (suite dependent)
• In-suite coffee, espresso
• Complimentary laundry
• Pre-dinner hors d'oeuvres served in suite
• Welcome glass of sparkling wine
• Priority boarding for tender ports, priority dining/seating requests, special disembarkation service
• High tea in suite on request
• Exclusive tote bag

With floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a private verandah, these spacious suites are flooded with light. They feature a large sitting area and two lower beds convertible to one king-size bed—our signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush Euro-Top mattresses. The bathroom comes with a dual-sink vanity and large shower. Amenities include use of the exclusive Neptune Lounge, a private concierge and an array of complimentary services.

• PDF All Decks
• Accessibility Routes (PDF)

Recommended For You

Sign up for special offers.

Reserve directly? 010 - 297 30 90

ss Rotterdam

The start of new memories

Book a room at the ss rotterdam.

up to 12 years

Advanced search

Age 12 and older

• Unique historical location
• Booked within 2 minutes
• Always the best price
• Excellent accessibility by land and water

Not just a hotel

At ss Rotterdam you can not only spend the night, but it's also an excellent venue for dining, weddings or events!

Rooms, Packages

Meeting rooms, Packages

Escape Rooms

Lido Grill, Club Room, Afternoon Tea, High Wine

Discover the ship

Tours, Combination tickets, Escape Room

Ocean Wine Bar, Captains Lounge, Lido Terrace

Event rooms, Packages

The Ocean Wine Bar is the ideal place to relax on board of the ss Rotterdam. Our High Wine serves three courses with a selected wine per course.  All of this with a beautiful view over the skyline of Rotterdam.

In the old cold storages of the ss Rotterdam. The experience of the escape room is especially designed for the ship and is based on the mysterious secrets of the ship’s former captain. The doors falls into the lock and time starts ticking… Will you get out in time?

If you are curious about the magnificent ss Rotterdam, you can book one of our guided tours or a tour with an audiophone. We have daily and monthly tours!

Exclusively at the ss Rotterdam

The most complete packages

Experience Rotterdam

From 2 persons

Seasonal Special

Holland-america line package.

View all packages

SS Rotterdam on Instagram

Your Instagram pic here? Post your picture of (or on) ss Rotterdam on Instagram using the hashtag #ssrotterdam and we might repost it – of course with a mention – on the official ss Rotterdam Instagram account!

ssrotterdamofficial

We hebben weer een nieuwe foto van de week! Deze keer eentje vanuit de lucht gemaakt door @daan.duchi 📸🤩 Heb jij ook een prachtige foto van het ss Rotterdam die wij moeten delen? 🚢💛 Stuur dan jouw beste shot naar [email protected] en wie weet wordt jouw foto onze volgende blikvanger! We kijken er weer naar uit om jullie inzendingen te bewonderen! 😊 #FotoVanDeWeek #ssRotterdam #RotterdamHotspots #PicturePerfect #CruiseSchipRotterdam #Katendrecht #Fotografie #MooisteMoment #WeeklyPic #Favorite #Plaatje ...

Uitwaaien & Zwaaien Tour voor het hele gezin! 🤩 Terwijl de wind door je haren waait, gaan de kinderen op ontdekkingsreis met hun eigen kapiteinspaspoort vol met vragen en leuke opdrachten! Ondertussen worden de volwassenen meegesleept door fascinerende verhalen en weetjes via hun eigen audiofoon op dezelfde route. Voor jong en oud belooft deze rondleiding een onvergetelijk avontuur vol verrassingen en leermomenten te worden! 💛🚢 Met wie ga jij Uitwaaien & Zwaaien? #ssRotterdam #Tours #Travel #Katendrecht #VisitRotterdam #RotterdamHotSpots #Uitje #Activiteit #Uitwaaien&zwaaien ...

Sluit je aan bij ons team! 💛🚢 Ben jij onze nieuwe gastvrije, flexibele en stressbestendige collega met oog voor detail? Ervaring in leidinggevende functies in de horeca is een must! Jouw streven naar kwaliteit zorgt ervoor dat gasten een onvergetelijke ervaring hebben. Als eerste aanspreekpunt voor zowel collega`s als gasten, geef je leiding aan een team van ongeveer 65 collega`s. Naast het coördineren en plannen van het personeel, werk je ook actief mee op de vloer om gasten te ontvangen, begeleiden en adviseren. Als leidinggeven jouw passie is, dan is de rol van restaurant supervisor in ons Lido Grill Restaurant op het ss Rotterdam perfect voor jou! Ben je al enthousiast?🤩 Neem een kijkje bij onze vacature restaurant supervisor via de link in onze bio en hopelijk tot bij ons aan boord! 💛 ...

🌸📸 Het lentezonnetje straalt op de foto van de week! Deze week is dat een foto gemaakt door @lisaforman_ 🌞 Heb jij ook een schitterende foto van het ss Rotterdam onder de lentestralen? Stuur jouw inzending naar [email protected]. We kunnen geen genoeg krijgen van jullie mooie kiekjes! ❣️ #FotoVanDeWeek #ssRotterdam #RotterdamHotspots #PicturePerfect #CruiseSchipRotterdam #Katendrecht #Fotografie #MooisteMoment #WeeklyPic #Favorite #Plaatje ...

Hoe leuk zijn deze posters van het ss Rotterdam in samenwerking met @wijck.prints! 😍 Ze zijn te koop in onze Lynbaan shop en via onze webshop! 💛 #Wijckposters #Rotterdam #ssrotterdam ...

We hebben iets speciaals voor jou!🤩 Om jouw lente een vliegende start te geven, hebben we de Waanzinnige WestCord Weken nieuw leven ingeblazen en omgetoverd tot de Waanzinnige WestCord Lentedeals! 🌸 Alleen nog te boeken in april dus boek snel jouw verblijf via de link in bio!🌞 #hotelovernachting #Rotterdam #lente #ssrotterdam #westcordhotels #lentedeal ...

📸 Tromgeroffel voor de nieuwe foto van de Week 🌟! Deze keer door de lens van Bas groen! Heb jij ook een geweldige kiekje van het ss Rotterdam? Waar wacht je nog op?! Deel jouw foto met ons via [email protected] en maak kans om de volgende `Foto van de Week` te worden! We kunnen niet wachten om jullie creatieve inzendingen te bewonderen! 🚢📸💛" ...

Met trots presenteren wij onze medewerker van de maand, Myrthe! 🌟 😍 Myrthe staat altijd met een stralende glimlach achter onze frontoffice, waar ze onze gasten met open armen ontvangt. Of het nu gaat om het beantwoorden van telefoontjes of het in- en uitchecken van hotelgasten, Myrthe staat altijd paraat en is een meester in het vinden van oplossingen! 💛 Elke dag trotseert Myrthe weer en wind op de fiets om het ss Rotterdam te bereiken en wanneer er extra hulp nodig is, kun je altijd op Myrthe rekenen.😊 Of het nu gaat om invallen voor een zieke collega of het ruilen van shifts, Myrthe staat altijd klaar om bij te springen! Haar inzet laten wij niet onopgemerkt voorbijgaan en daarom verdient Myrthe de titel "Medewerker van de Maand"! 🤩 Gefeliciteerd, Myrthe ! 👏🎊 #MedewerkerVanDeMaand #WerkenBijWestCord #ssRotterdam ...

Verwen jouw moeder deze Moederdag met een High Tea op het ss Rotterdam! Geniet samen van een selectie van zoete en hartige lekkernijen in één van onze authentieke zalen✨🚢 Alles wordt met liefde bereid om alle moeders te laten glimlachen en om deze dag extra speciaal te maken, schenken we een glas bubbels bij aankomst! 🥂 Reserveer nu via de link in bio en zet jouw moeder in het zonnetje op 12 mei 🌞💕 #Moederdag #HighTea #Verwennerij #Rotterdam #ssrotterdam ...

We kunnen weer een nieuwe foto toevoegen aan onze foto van de week galerij 📸🤩! Deze keer door de lens van @leander_haase. Heb jij ook een prachtige foto van het ss Rotterdam die wij moeten delen? 🚢💛 Stuur jouw beste shot naar [email protected] en wie weet wordt jouw foto onze volgende blikvanger! 🌟 We kijken er weer naar uit om jullie inzendingen te bewonderen! #FotoVanDeWeek #ssRotterdam #RotterdamHotspots #PicturePerfect #CruiseSchipRotterdam #Katendrecht #Fotografie #MooisteMoment #WeeklyPic #Favorite #Plaatje ...

Laat de ballen maar rollen en de nummers maar vallen, het is weer tijd voor een avond vol plezier bij onze Love Boat bingo❣️ Met wie ga jij een leuke avond vol gezelligheid beleven tijdens onze Love Boat Bingo show🤩? Bestel jouw tickets via de link in onze bio 💌 #ssrotterdam #rotterdam #bingo #love #uitje #uitjerotterdam ...

Op Zondag 12 mei is het weer tijd om onze moeders in het zonnetje te zetten 🌞! Verras jouw moeder deze Moederdag met een heerlijk hotelarrangement op het ss Rotterdam! 🤩 Geniet van een fantastisch verblijf inclusief uitgebreid ontbijt en een watertaxi-overtocht naar het centrum van Rotterdam voor een dagje shoppen. Ontvang je eigen ss Rotterdam shopper als extraatje! 🛍️ #Moederdag #hotelovernachting #Moederdagcadeau #Rotterdam #shoppen #watertaxi ...

ss Rotterdam | the start of new memories

As the former flagship of the Holland-America Line, ss Rotterdam has sailed the seven seas. Discover La Grande Dame’s many stories and visit its authentic areas while you eat, drink, sleep, party, meet or work. Today ss Rotterdam is permanently moored in Rotterdam and it's easy to reach.

WHATSINPORT.COM: YOUR CRUISE GUIDE TO 1200 PORTS OF CALL

Interactive world cruise map, home | cruise ships | port expenses | hints and tips, rotterdam netherlands cruise port guide.

You will sail directly from the North Sea to the Cruise Terminal Rotterdam at Holland Amerika quay in the city center. An easy stroll over the spectacular Erasmus bridge gets you into town.

The railway station is only 5 minutes away by cab, or a nice stroll of about 25 minutes. Tram 23 or 25 are about 500 meter away, get off at Wilhelminaplein. Tickets are also available inside the tram for 3,50 Euro, bus 33 from there will take you to Rotterdam The Hague Airport.

Taxi: about 10 Euro + extra for the suitcases. The ride is about 2-3 km. You have to ride over the Erasmus bridge (if not, they take a longer ride to cheat you).

It is about an hour away from Amsterdam Schiphol airport by train . When waiting for your luggage, you can already purchase your trainticket  at the ticketmachine in the same area. Otherwise there is a ticket window in the same building after you pass the customs. Ticket machines at the Schiphol Amsterdam Airport and Rotterdam Central do accept credit cards, as do ticket machines at other large train stations, other locations only accept coins or local debit cards, for a slight surcharge you can also buy your tickets at a ticket window and not having to fool arround with machines.

Hotels near the Cruise Terminal

Printable map to take along.

Cruise calendar for this port.

Watch a destination video .

Live Nautical Chart with Wikipedia Markers

Port Location on Google Maps

Monthly Climate Averages for Rotterdam Netherlands

Sightseeing:

This large and modern port city has risen from the ashes of World War II. In 1940, the Nazis threatened to flatten the city unless it surrendered. Rotterdam capitulated, but the Luftwaffe bombed anyway. Some of the city's architecture is spectacular!

Today, Rotterdam's most notable tourist attraction is the 605-ft-/184-m-tall Euromast Space Tower. Take the revolving, sit-down elevator to the top. From the tower you'll have a good view of the Erasmus Bridge, a modern suspension bridge nicknamed "the swan." The harbor, one of the busiest in the world, is a draw in itself, as is the nearby maritime museum. Another collection worth seeing is the Dutch, Italian and French art displayed at the Boijmans-van-Beuningen Museum. Half a day in Rotterdam is sufficient for most travelers.

Tours Excursions Transportation:

The center of Rotterdam is very walkable.

Hop on/off Tram Line 10 brings you the best touristic spots of Rotterdam. Enjoy a sightseeing ride in a beautiful historic tram along the new Central Station, the Market hall, the cube houses, along the Erasmus bridge, over Coolsingel, the old western part of Rotterdam and historic Delfshaven. A ticket for a day is available on board. With this ticket, you can hop on or off at all the stops along the route.

The cruise port also offers a free shuttle to the Market Hall , an architectural designed masterpiece.

All the year round Spido offers various fascinating harbor trips. The boats are across the Cruise Terminal, just cross the Erasmus bridge, a 10 minute stroll.

Amsterdam is only 1 hour away by train.

It pays to compare your cruise line tours here .

Nearby Places:

Nearby UNESCO Kinderdijk is a probably the best place in Holland to see working windmills. Take the Waterbus which is across the river, just under the Erasmus Bridge, to make for a very enjoyable trip. At the same time you can visit Dordrecht , a historic and pleasant real Dutch town. Each half an hour a boat will depart, just ask on board where you will have to change boats (Ridderkerk-Schans)

Shopping and Food

The major shopping area is around the Lijnbaan close to the dock as well as the train station.

Just opened in 2014 is the Markthal , A lively market hall which is bursting at the seams with fresh fish, warm bread, tender meat, countless different cheeses and freshly harvested vegetables.

Important things to know about the Netherlands, like tipping, toilets etc.

Euros are divided into 100 cents. There are coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, and 1 and 2 euros. There are notes of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros (note the pattern 1, 2, 5). Some shops do not accept large denomination notes, and many don't like the 1 and 2 cent coins, and so round cash amounts to the nearest 5 cents.

Credit cards are not as widely accepted in the Netherlands as in many other countries. Always enquire first if you want to pay by credit card.

Communication:

Just about everyone speaks English in Rotterdam, and is proud of the fact. Many speak German and French too. If you are English speaking, speak English (unless you speak Dutch too): you are more likely to offend than do anyone a favor by trying out your French or German.

A common misconception is that Dutch is very close to German. In truth they are not mutually intelligible: Dutch people have to learn German at school, and in general they speak better English than German. German and Dutch are similar in the same sort of way that French and Italian are similar.

Free Wifi at the terminal and most restaurants, trains and train stations.

Opening Hours and Holidays:

General Opening Hours of Shops: - Mondays from 13:00 to 18:00 (department stores often from 11:00) - Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 to 18:00 - Saturdays from 9:00 to 18:00 - Sunday opening hours: from noon to 17:00 in the city center (not all shops are open) - Late night shopping: every Friday until 21:00 in the city center

• New Year's Day (Jan 1);
• Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday;
• Ascension Day (Thursday, 40 days after Easter);
• King's Day - April 27. Amsterdam is one giant party, not to be missed.
• Pentecost Sunday (7th Sunday after Easter) and Pentecost Monday;
• Christmas Day (December 25) and Boxing Day (December 26).
• In addition, there are two World War II Remembrance Days, neither of which is an official holiday, though some establishments close. May 4 honors all those who died in the war, May 5 celebrates the Liberation.

Help us to keep this page up to date: Mail us your suggestions

Thank you for printing this article! Please don’t forget to come back to whatsinport.com for new and updated port guides.

Home | Privacy Policy

CRUISE PORT GUIDES

Rotterdam – the Netherlands

Travel Information the Netherlands

Official currency – Euro Accepts US dollars – no Creditcards – are widely accepted

Drives on the – right Timezone – UTC +1

About the Netherlands

Inhabitants – Almost 17 million Official language – Dutch Capital city – Amsterdam Sovereign state – Kingdom of the Netherlands

Dutch language

Good day – Goedendag How are you? – Hoe gaat het? Thank you – Dankjewel Cruise ship – Cruiseschip Port – Haven

Also visit our cruise port guides for:

Amsterdam Ijmuiden Southampton Le Havre

Cruise Port Guide Rotterdam – the Netherlands

The Rotterdam cruise terminal

First some background information about the Rotterdam cruise terminal. For locals the cruise terminal is a well known place for its history. This is the exact location where the shipliners would depart for their great journey across the sea taking over half a million passengers towards their new adventures in the USA in a time long before airplanes. The famous Hotel New York build in 1901 was even the headquarters of (what is now) cruiseline Holland America Line.

Public Transport

If you exit the cruise terminal and turn left you will see there is a metro and tram stop at the first crossing. See map above for its exact location. We find the tram is the best way to go in Rotterdam for practical reasons. At the crossing at the foot of the bridge, to the left of the cruise terminal, tram 20, 23 and 25 come by. Make sure to step into the ones saying “Centraal Station” or you’ll be heading the wrong way. Pay the driver 3 euro for a 1 hour ticket. You can pay for the ticket with cash or debit card. Mind you, creditcards are not accepted in the tram. It’s best to take tram 23 or 25 and hop off at the stop “Beurs” or “Stadhuis” for the city centre. The tickets you buy on the tram are more expensive. Please know you can also buy a day travel card for bus, tram and metro for 7,50 euro at any metro station. See map above for the nearest metro to the cruise terminal (300 meters away). You can already plan any journey with public transportation in and out of Rotterdam ahead of time through the following website:  http://9292.nl/en . This website is in English. You simply put in the address or place to figure out how to get from point A to B. Remember that the stop at the cruise terminal is called “Wilhelminaplein, Rotterdam”.

Taxis in Rotterdam

The official cabs of the Netherlands do not have a special color but always wear a taxi sign on the top. All the taxis are metered. You will find the taxis right in front of the terminal building. Underneath is an estimation of the taxi prices: From the cruise terminal to the city centre, one way: 10 euro From the cruise terminal to the central station, one way: 15 euro From the cruise terminal to Delft, one way: 55 euro From the cruise terminal to Kinderdijk, one way: 65 euro These prices are based on normal sized taxis although they usually also have small vans available. What is also conveniënt to know: Ubers are also operational in the city of Rotterdam and can await you outside the cruise terminal.

Shuttle bus Cruise Terminal Rotterdam

Some ships provide a shuttle and others do not. When a ship is in port the tourist information is usually kind enough to provide a free shuttle service into the city centre. Ask the tourist information in the cruise terminal for details.

Tram line 10: Historical tram Rotterdam

For a unique way to discover the city of Rotterdam you can hop on the historical tram from the 30’s. You can catch in on the other side of the bridge (see map above for the exact location) and it comes by every 45 minutes. Pay the driver +/- 7 euro for a ticket. The total route takes about an hour and you can hop on and hop off whenever you want. It operates only in the summer season from 11 am to 5.30 pm.

Hop on hop off bus

Rotterdam also has a hop on hop off bus nowadays. Find a stop at the cruise terminal.

Going to Delft

Delft is a historically unique city in the Netherlands that never disappoints. To reach it you can take tram 20, 23 or 25 (like described above) to the Central station and hop on the train to Delft. It is a simple 15 minute train ride that departs a few times per hour and will cost you about 5 euro one way. The train station is Delft is located right next to the city center.

Going to Gouda

Gouda is place known throughout the world. Visit this city of cheese by train. Take tram 20, 23 or 25 (like described above) to the Central station and hop on the train to Gouda. The ride takes about 20 minutes, departs a few times per hour and will cost you about 6 euro one way.

Going to Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the city that doesn’t need a description. A taxi to Amsterdam will cost you +/- 200 euro one way, therefore we think public transportation is a better way. One way will take about 1,5 hours and cost you +/- 17 euro. First take tram 20, 23 and 25 (as described above) to the central station and hop on an Intercity train to Amsterdam Central Station. The train departs every half hour and takes about an hour. We highly recommend getting on an intercity train rather than the “stoptrein” which stops at every station.

Going to Kinderdijk

The best way to get to the famous windmills of Kinderdijk by yourself is to go by watertaxi. Read more information about this on:  http://www.waterbus.nl/kinderdijk-en/  Check the map above to see where you need to catch the waterbus.

Find your port of call:

• Mediterranean
• Norway – Cruise port guides
• Baltic & Scandinavia
• British isles
• Western Europe
• French Polynesia
• North America
• Central America
• Southeast Asia
• North Africa
• Middle East

This zoo is one of the oldest and most popular zoos in the Netherlands. Go for a nice day out and explore this large facility.

Blijdorp – Rotterdam Zoo

Blijdorplaan 8, 3041 JG Rotterdam

At the new Rotterdam Central Station you will find quick and frequent services to Delft, Gouda and Amsterdam. If you would like to escape the busy city these 2 might be 2 great alternatives. The train takes about 15 minutes to reach Delft and departs every 10 minutes. The train to Gouda takes about 20 minutes and departs every 10 minutes. Take the metro (line D or E) or the tram (line 20, 23 or 25) to the central station.

Central Station

Stationsplein 2, Rotterdam

The Euromast is the eye-catcher of Rotterdam. You’ll find an observation tower 96 meter above the ground. Go for a nice dinner or prearrange to go abseiling from this iconic building.

Parkhaven 20, 3016 GM Rotterdam

The Steam Ship Rotterdam was launched in 1958 and retired in 2000. She was build for the transatlantic service and became a full-time cruise ship in 1969. She is now permanently moored as a hotel and museum. Drop by for tour of the ship or a nice cup of coffee.

SS Rotterdam

3e Katendrechtse Hoofd 25, 3072 AM Rotterdam

Your cruise ship will dock at Rotterdam’s cruise dock at the Wilhelmindakade. You will find a great cruise terminal here with some facilities. Read all about Rotterdam’s cruise terminal in our full cruise port guide.

Rotterdam cruise dock

The shopaholics amongst up should make sure to drop by Koopgoot. This is the largest shopping district of Rotterdam where you will find all your local specialtes and big brands.

Koopgoot, Rotterdam

This protestant church is the only remnant of medieval Rotterdam. It was built in the 15th and 16th century and it still stands proudly today in the city centre of Rotterdam.

St. Lawrence church

Grotekerkplein 27, 3011 GC Rotterdam

This is Rotterdam’s newest attraction. In the city centre you will now find the largest piece of art in the world where every foodie needs to go. It is the culinary spot of Rotterdam. Find all kind of vendors here with Dutch and International specialties.

Market Hall

Market Hall, Rotterdam

If you are looking for the absolute Dutch landscape you simply have to visit the windmills at Kinderdijk. This UNESCO world heritage site features 19 windmills from the 18th century. Learn what the Dutch love about them and why they need them. You even have the opportunity to visit one from the inside. This sight is picture perfect where culture and history come together. Reach it by shore excursion or with the local water taxi.

Nederwaard 1, Kinderdijk, the Netherlands

The area around the cruise terminal in Rotterdam is quite nice. You will find museums, hotels and shops here. One of the unique buildings next to the cruise terminal is the historical Hotel New York. This is the former Holland America Line headquarters where thousands would leave their homeland to find a better life across the Atlantic. Today you’ll find a hotel inside, where they have nice coffee and typical Dutch pastry.

Wilhelminakade

Wilhelminakade, Rotterdam

Rotterdam is known for its architecture and the Cubic houses are a true masterpiece. The architect Piet Blom had the idea in the 70’s to create a village of tree houses. The result is 38 cubes that appear to be this forest in the city. One of the houses are open for inside visits where you can discover the crazy way of living in one of these houses.

Cubic Houses

Overblaak 70, 3011 MH Rotterdam

If you take a look at a map you will see that Rotterdam is not directly located at sea. To reach the cruise terminal of Rotterdam your ship needs to sail up the New Waterway which will take +/- 3 hours. During this time you will sailing through the largest port of Europe with here and there your typical Dutch landscape. The structure you see on the picture is the Maeslandkering. This is one of the largest moving structures on earth designed to keep the lands of the Dutch dry.

New Waterway

New Waterway, Rotterdam

When your ship is docked this will be first thing to catch your attention. It connects your dock with the city centre on the other side. Cross it by foot, tram or taxi.

Erasmus bridge

Erasmus bridge, Rotterdam

Add a location?

Do you have a special shop, museum, attraction or tour you would like to share? Add it!

• Maritiem Museum
• Historical tours

Make a roundtrip through Rotterdam and enjoy our museumharbour

In the summer months we organize unique tours with our museum ships of 1.5 hours through the port of Rotterdam.

Sail along!

In the warm summer months, from June 24 to August 20, we organize cruises from the Maritime Museum Port. On Saturday, Sunday and from 13 July also on Thursday we will take you on a historic cruise through the modern world port of Rotterdam.

Experience the Erasmus Bridge, ss Rotterdam and the Rotterdam skyline from the water and discover the city in a unique way. The crew is happy to tell you about the ship, the history, the technology and the future of these sailing monuments.

In addition to the cruise, you can visit the Maritime Museum Harbour before or after your cruise. Take a look at Hasselter barge the 'Annigje' and learn more about life on board in days gone by. View the craftsmanship of the blacksmith in the forge or the sailor's knots in the 'Gruno' knot boat. Unlock the informative films in the lighthouse and workshops with your ticket and take part in summer activities on the quayside. And of course you can end the day with a delicious drink or an ice cream in Loeve, ice | waffles | coffee.

Practical information

• Costs: adults €16.00, children 4 to 15 years €10.00 and children up to 3 years €2.50
• A round trip takes about 1.5 hours.
• Your ticket also includes access to the Maritime Museum Harbour with historic ships, cranes and activities on the quay and in our workshops.
• Make sure you're on the jetty 15 minutes before departure of the ship. That way, the tour can start in time.
• Round trip with a group of more than 6 people: Do you want to make a round trip with a group? Please contact the sales department: [email protected] or tel: 003110-4029264.

These cruises are a truly unique maritime experience on a historic ship with a story. These former work ships are not covered, have no plush deck chairs or a restaurant on board. They do have an engine room, some have a steam boiler, a unique history and an enthusiastic and experienced skipper. In the event of a heavy storm or very heavy rain, we will not sail and we will inform you in time. Therefore, always enter your e-mail address and telephone number when ordering your canal cruise ticket.

The ships used for the tour are special pieces of history. These depart from the oldest and largest museum harbour in the Netherlands for a beautiful cruise through Rotterdam. Here you can see how the water contributed to its development, both before and after the Second World War.

Sailing schedule

• July: Havendienst 2 and Havendienst 20
• August: Steam tugs Volharding 1 and Dockyard V

A fun day on the water remains fun when everyone returns safe and sound at the end. That is why we obviously do not sail when there is a heavy storm or very heavy rainfall. If this occurs, we will inform you in time. It is therefore important that you always enter both your e-mail address and your telephone number when you order your ticket. In addition, life jackets are available and compulsory for children.

• CruiseMapper
• Cruise Ports
• Baltic - Norwegian Fjords - Russia Cruise Ports

Rotterdam (Netherlands South Holland)

Cruise port schedule, live map, terminals, news.

Region Baltic - Norwegian Fjords - Russia

Local Time 2024-04-30 18:22

Port Rotterdam cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Rotterdam, Netherlands South Holland. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.

Rotterdam cruise port is located around Wilhelmina Pier in Port Rotterdam - Europe's largest seaport. Rotterdam City is in the Netherlands South Holland province. By population (over 620,000/ metro around 1,2 million), the city is ranked the country's second-largest (following the capital Amsterdam ). The distance to Amsterdam is approx 70 km (45 mi).

Rotterdam is a traditional homeport (turnaround/departure port) for Holland America Line . It is also often included on Transatlantic crossings between Europe and USA-Canada. Cruise vessels homeported in Rotterdam operate on itineraries themed as "Baltic Sea", "Scandinavia and Russia" and "Norwegian Fjords".

The first cruise liners docked at Port Rotterdam were Holland America Line's steamships – SS Nieuw Amsterdam (1906-built), SS Statendam (1956), and SS Rotterdam (1959). HAL's Transatlantic voyages were from Rotterdam to NYC (New York USA) .

Shore excursions from Rotterdam visit Delft, located approx 16 km/10 mi to the north-northwest (via highway A13). Delft is often part of cruisetour itineraries operated by riverboats. The boats dock in Rotterdam and transport their tourists to Delft via luxury buses. The excursion to Delft visits Royal Delft (De Koninklijke Porceleyne Fles NV/1653-founded factory with a museum and guided tours). The Royal Delft factory still produces the famous blue-and-white Delftware (aka Delfts blauw/Delft Blue) - tin-glazed pottery/ceramic products and objects including vases, plates, tiles, figurines, etc. Royal Delft is now the only remaining one (out of a total of 32 such factories established in the 17th century) and its production has never been interrupted - since 1653! Delft is also famous for being the homeport of VOC-Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie (Dutch East India Company/1602-1799) - the world's first joint-stock enterprise - a company with shares that can be bought/sold by the shareholders.

Port Rotterdam

Port Rotterdam (locode NLRTM) is Europe's largest cargo port, handling around 140,000 vessels and 460+ million cargo tons annually. For the period 1962-2004, it was the world's busiest port (today is the world's 3rd - following Singapore and Shanghai China ). In 2012, the seaport was the world's 6th-largest cargo port. In 2018, Port Rotterdam handled 29476 international seagoing ships plus 107000 inland vessels (boats and barges). The port is well connected to major European cities via railways and roads.

The port has a total area of approx 105 km2 (41 mi2), stretching over approx 40 km (25 mi). The port also includes Rotterdam City's historic harbor. and Maasvlakte (reclaimed area projecting into North Sea). It consists of all 5 distinct port zones plus 3 distribution cargo parks. There are 8 deep-water terminals serving around 150,000 different shipping companies.

Port's most important industries are petrochemical (large oil refineries and storage facilities) and general cargo shipping. Rotterdam Harbor is an important transhipment point for bulk cargo and other goods transported between Europe and other continents (mainly China in Asia). From the port, goods are transported to mainland Europe by ships (North Sea), river barges (Maas and Rhine rivers), also trains and roads. In June 2007 was opened the Dutch part of Betuweroute - fast 2-track freight railway connecting Rotterdam with Germany. Germany's heaviest trains transport iron ore from Port Rotterdam to Dillingen (Germany) via Betuweroute.

Nieuwe Waterweg is a large river canal. This is an artificially made waterway designed to connect rivers Rhine and Meuse with North Sea. The canal was opened in 1872. In October 2017 was announced the Nieuwe Waterweg canal's deepening project (the dredging works started in 2018).

• The project involved a 1,5 m deepening along a 25-km (16 mi) long stretch between Hoek van Holland, Benelux Tunnel and port Botlek. The dredging encompassed 3 different depths - Botlek (from 14,5 to 16 m), Nieuwe Waterweg canal (Hoek van Holland to Maassluis, from 15 to 16 m) and Maassluis to Benelux Tunnel (from 14,5 to 16,5 m).
• Canal deepening allowed access to Rotterdam Harbour of larger vessels (with max draught 15 m). For comparison, New Panamax vessels (max draught 14,90 m) can sail through Panama Canal's new locks, which means such ships can reach Port Botlek without restrictions.

Port developments over the years resulted in a complex infrastructure with numerous docks and harbor-basins (sheltered port zones). Port's harbor area was enlarged with the Europoort complex built along Nieuwe Waterweg's mouth. The port was also extended into North Sea at Nieuwe Waterweg's southern side via Maasvlakte (built near Hoek van Holland - a coastal city on Nieuwe Waterweg's northern bank).

Port Botlek was constructed in the period 1955-1960. It serves mainly the petrochemicals industry and tank storage companies. Between 2010-2015 to Rotterdam Harbor's skyline were added numerous wind turbines. The second Maasvlakte was opened in 2013.

EECV-quay terminal has max draft 24 m (78 ft) making it one of world's only 3 such deep-water port moorings allowing berthing of the world's largest bulk carriers. The other 2 such locations are Ponta da Madeira's terminal (Brazil) and the iron ore wharf in Caofeidian (China). Currently, the world's largest bulk carrier (MS Berge Stahl / GT 175720, DWT 364767) has draft 23 m (75 ft) when fully loaded. To dock in Rotterdam, the cargo ship has to navigate through Eurogeul channel, which was dug in North Sea in conjunction with the port. The channel has length 57 km (35 mi) and depth 23 m (75 ft).

Much of the port's container loading and stacking operations are handled by unmanned large-capacity robotic cranes and AGVs (automated guided vehicles / aka chariots). Each of these AGV carries 1 TEU container. They navigate their own way around the container terminal guided by a magnetic grid built into the tarmac. Unmanned stacking cranes load / unload containers to/from the AGVs and store them in the terminal's dedicated stacking yard.

The port and its surrounding area are endangered by storm surges from the sea. The Maeslantkering flood barrier consists of 2 enormous doors resting in their drydock beds besides Nieuwe Waterweg. When a 3m (10 ft) above sea level flood is predicted, these gates are floated into position and sunk. When the water level recedes, the gates are floated back to the drydocks. There is a second flood barrier (Hartelkering) in Hartelkanaal.

Port's statistics for 2016 featured: number of handled vessels 27,902 (sea-going) and ~100,000 (inland/river), cargo shipping volumes (bulk cargo carriers and container ships ) 321,2 million tons (incoming) and 140 million tons (outgoing).

In March 2018, Port Rotterdam started construction works on the Container Exchange Route project (CER). CER interlinks all deepsea container and rail terminals, depots and distribution companies at Maasvlakte. The new concrete road reduced exchange costs between companies and improved road connections with Europe's hinterland. The EUR 175 million CER project comprised infrastructure upgrades, also purchasing new terminal systems and IT system modifications. For CER's road part was contracted a consortium of two Dutch companies (KWS Infra, Van Hattum en Blankevoort). The road project comprises approx 11,5 km (7 mi) concrete road, 3 road junctions, 1 level crossing, 3 rail viaducts. The CER project was scheduled for completion by the end of 2020.

In June 2018, APM Terminals Maasvlakte 2 launched the "Cool Port" daily barge service to a cold storage warehouse established in the Port's Waalhaven section The facility, is operated by Kloosterboer and allows faster product distribution as it is more accessible to trucks with temperature-controlled products.

• In May 2021,  APM Terminals Rotterdam sold to Hutchison Ports Netherlands BV (part of Hutchison Ports Europe) the ECT Delta container terminal in Maasvlakte. The facility has quay length 1,6 km (1 mi) and is served by 13x gantry cranes.
• Hutchison Ports Netherlands also operates Port's Euromax terminals.

In April 2023, APM Terminals signed with the Port of Rotterdam Authority an agreement for EUR 1+ billion (~USD 1,1B) expansion of Maasvlakte 2 Terminal. The new project includes the development of approx 47,5 hectares (0,475 km2 / ~116 acres) of land plus the construction of a new 1000-m/3280-ft long deepwater quay. Maasvlakte 2's expansion (scheduled for completion in 2026-H2) will increase the Terminal's annual capacity by ~2 million TEUs. At the time of the deal, the Port Authority was working on the new quay walls (scheduled for completion in 2024-H1). Also in 2023, Maersk leased 18,5 hectares (45 acres) of land in the same area (adjacent to Maasvlakte II) for the development of cross-dock and cold storage facilities (to serve Maersk's subsidiary Star Container Services) with which all available undeveloped sites at Amaliahaven became leased for terminal expansions.

Since January 2019, Port Rotterdam offers Green Award discount for chemical tankers and sea-going vessels with DWT under 20,000 tons.

In August 2019 started the construction of RTM Polymer Hub (one bulk container yard plus two logistics warehouses / storages for raw materials serving the plastics industry). The facility (15,500 m2 yard plus 19,500 m2 warehouses) has storage capacity 0,55 million tonnes and was completed in March 2020.

For FY2019 (fiscal year), Port Rotterdam reported 29,491 ocean-going vessels handled (29,476 in 2018), 113 in-port accidents (112 in 2018), increased LNG-bunkering capacity (3 permanent vessels plus 6 licensed LNG bunkering companies in the port).

In late-April 2020, at RWG (Rotterdam World Gateway / container storage and transhipment terminal) were delivered 2x new (ZPMC China-made) quay cranes planned to start operations in 2020-H2. With lifting height 56 m (184 ft) these are some of the world's largest container cranes with capacity to serve up to 26-row boxships. Along with the quay cranes, RWG also purchased 25x new AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles).

In September 2021, Royal Dutch Shell announced the project for building one of Europe's largest biofuel production plants. With annual capacity 820,000 tonnes, the facility (at Shell Energy & Chemicals Park/fka Pernis Refinery) will produce SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) and renewable diesel from waste.

In early-July 2022 was announced that two Shell plc subsidiaries (Shell Nederland BV and Shell Overseas Investments BV) will invest into building Europe’s largest green hydrogen plant (Holland Hydrogen I) scheduled for completion in 2025.

• The 200-MW plant producing H2 and O2 from seawater via electrolysis (max daily production capacity 60 tons of hydrogen) will be constructed on Tweede Maasvlakte.
• The renewable electricity for the electrolyzer comes from Windpark Hollandse Kust North (offshore wind farm partly owned by Shell plc).
• The produced renewable hydrogen supplies Shell's facilities via the HyTransPort pipeline1, replacing some of the grey H2 used in the oil refinery where are produced mainly diesel and jet fuels.

"Holland Hydrogen I" is part of the Maasvlakte 2 Project (2013 opened). This is a major engineering project that included the construction of a new cargo port (with support road and railroad infrastructure) on reclaimed land (sized ~20 km2/2000 hectares) protected by a 4 km / 2,5 mi long dike. Approx 1 km2/1000 hectares house facilities with port-related businesses. To accommodate the increased shipping traffic, the Eurogeul/Euromaasgeul (57-km/35-mi long channel with depth 23 m/75 ft) was widened.

Since January 2024, DFDS docking in Vlaardingen (2 berths out of 4) use shore power electricity provided by Rotterdam Shore Power BV - a joint venture of Port Rotterdam Authority and Eneco Groep NV (natural gas, electricity and heat producer and supplier). The facility uses electricity from the city's public power grid and allows berthed vessels to turn off their diesel generators thus reducing in-port noise and pollution. The installation has power capacity 1,8 MW and provides annually 3,5 GWh of electricity.

Rotterdam port statistics 2018

For 2018-Q3, the seaport reported the following data (comparison over 2017-Q3):

• 0.4% overall decrease in shipping trade
• total 350 million tons of cargo handled (decrease 1,5 million tons)
• 5,7% increase in TEUs (total 10,780204 million containers)
• 10% increase in inbound loaded TEUs, 7,6% decrease in outbound TEUs, 10% increase in North American boxship trade, 20% increase in the South American
• 1,1% decrease in liquid bulk throughput (crude oil, mineral oil products, marine diesel fuels)
• Increase in LNG throughput (nearly 0,8 million tons) was due to shipments of gas via icebreaking LNG carriers from Yamal (Russia) .
• 7,3% decrease in dry bulk cargoes, especially agribulk (-18%), iron ore (-6%) and coal (-4,6%) - attributed to poor harvests in South America (less incoming shipments) and lower European wheat prices, rising price of CO2 emission allowances (growth in renewable energy consumption).
• 1,3% increase in breakbulk (Ro-Ro shipping) trade volumes

On January 31, 2018, the Port Authority announced its partnership with IBM Corporation to digitize most operations. Previously, for communication between vessel captains and port staff (assisting pilots and tugboats, terminal operators) were used radio and radar technologies.

• The "digital port" uses sensors installed across 42-km (26 mi) land and sea area (along quay walls, mooring posts, roads). The sensors gather multiple data (including hydro and meteo) about sea tides and water currents, temperatures, winds (speed, direction), water levels visibility, berth availability.
• The collected data is first analyzed by cloud-based IBM technologies, then turned into information that can be used for decisions that result in reduced wait times and optimizing docking times, thus enabling the port to handle more ships.
• The companies Cisco (IT and networking) and Axians (ICT solutions and services) are also involved in this project.

For FY2018 (fiscal year), the port reported a record total cargo throughput 469 million (467,4M in FY2017). Container transshipment increased 4,5%. Total TEUs increased 5,7% (to 14.5 million). Record growths were reported for LNG (163,6%) and biomass (31,6%). Dropping volumes were reported in the shipping of agribulk, crude oil, mineral oil products. Gross investments in the seaport grew 91% (to EUR 408,1 million) compared to 2017 (EUR 213,8 million). Largest projects were Container Exchange Route (Maasvlakte), Princess Amalia Viaduct, port railway's relocation (via Theemsweg).

• LNG transshipment grew 163,6% - mainly due to import via icebreaking tankers from Yamal (Russia).
• Dry bulk throughput dropped 3%.
• Port's turnover dropped to EUR 707,2 million (EUR 712,1 million in 2017).
• The net result (excluding taxes) was EUR 254,1 million (EUR 247,3 million in 2017).
• Site lease charges dropped 0,9% (to EUR 373,7 million).
• Operating expenses grew 2,6% (to EUR 267,8 million).
• To the port shareholders was paid dividend EUR 96,5 million (+38%), of which EUR 68,3 million (Rotterdam City) and EUR 28,2 million (Netherlands).

Rotterdam port statistics 2017

In 2017, the port handled a total of 29,646 ocean-going vessels (29,022 in 2016). The number of reported incidents in port waters was 129 (down from 159 in 2016). In 2017, for the first time, 2017 Seaport Police and Port Authority held joint vessel inspections of pleasure craft (ships and boats) in the port area. Also in 2017, for the first time was provided LNG bunkering to a vessel docked in port. The new service is provided by the LNG tanker Cardissa, serving the port area.

In 2017, the collected port duties were EUR 289,6 million (seaport) plus EU 14,4 million (inland port). Port's main source of income is from rentals and long-term leasing.

Port's growth in container shipping for 2017 was 12,3% (in tons), with total cargo increase 1,3% in tonnage (from 461 million to 467 million tons). The bulk cargo increased by 2,6% (dry bulk) and 4,1% (wet bulk). Breakbulk (Ro-Ro shipping) increased by 7%. Container shipping increased by 10.9% (13,7 million TEUs) and by 12,3% by weight (142.6 million tons). Most growth was reported on shipping routes connecting Europe with Asia, South and North America. The Baltic Sea traffic volume in TEUs grew by 21%. The TEU traffic volume between Mediterranean and ScanBaltic grew by 10,2%. The hinterland volume grew by 6,3%.

In 2017, the port's crude oil traffic volume increased by 2,3% (104,2 million tons). The mineral oils and oil products volumes decreased by 10,8% (79,2M tons), mainly due to decreased oil exports from Russia. Port's LNG shipping volumes increased by 16,5%. Dry bulk volumes (ores and scrap) were 31 million tons. Agribulk volumes grew by 6,6% (11,1M tons).

Port of Rotterdam Authority reported a turnover for 2017 of EUR 712,1 million (4,6% increase over FY2016), Net profit EUR 187M (16,6% decrease), port investments of EUR 213,8M (18.9% increase), land leases revenue EUR 377,3M (10% increase), port dues revenue EUR 303,9M (1,7% decrease), other income EUR 30,9M (8,7% increase), operating expenses EUR 261M (9,3% increase).

In accordance with current long-term agreements, the port proposed EUR 94.6 million (2%) of the dividend payment to its shareholders, of which to Rotterdam City (port stake 70,83% / EUR 67M) and to The Netherlands / state (port stake 29,17% / EUR 27,6M).

After the dividend payment and debts repayment, the port's profits were invested in development projects. In 2017, major investments were made in Offshore Center Rotterdam, new berth (serving STENA LINE ships), modernisation of berths (Caland Canal, Maasvlakte Plaza, RDM Grofsmederij. In 2017 were invested a total of EUR 213,8 million (compared to 2016's EUR 179,8M).

Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam Port

Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam is Holland's largest shiprepair and vessel conversion yard, also one of Western Europe's largest shipyards. The facility is centrally located in Port Rotterdam and supports 250 employees. In Schiedam Holland, the company has 3 dry-docks (one of which covered) plus 2 floating docks, workshops, cranes.

Damen shipyard specializes in repairs and maintenance works (both mechanical and steel). Its services include repairs, refits and conversions, harbour services. The markets served by Damen include offshore, cruising, yachting, dredging. The shipyard is in the middle of Port Rotterdam, has unrestricted access to open waters and close proximity to many marine manufacturers (including OEM / original equipment manufacturer).

Follows the list of Damen shipyard's facilities and their capacities:

• Berth 1 (length 160 m, max draft 8 m) is served by 1 crane (40 tons).
• Berth 2 (length 120 m, max draft 8 m) is served by 1 crane (40 tons).
• Berth 3 (length 200 m, max draft 8 m) is served by 2 cranes (25-ton, 40-ton).
• Berth 4 (length 460 m, max draft 8 m) is served by 2 cranes (12-ton, 25-ton).
• The Covered DryDock has length 211 m, width 28 m, max draft 9 m, and is served by 2 cranes (50-ton each).
• Floating Dock 1 (length 175 m, width 25 m, max draft 6,4 m) is served by 3 cranes (15-ton each).
• Floating Dock 2 (length 159 m, width 23 m, max draft 6,3 m) is served by 3 cranes (15-ton each).
• The Open Dry Dock 1 (length 211 m, width 28,4 m, max draft 9 m) is served by 2 cranes (40-ton each).
• The Open Dry Dock 2 (length 307 m, width 46,1 m, max draft 9,5 m) is served by 4 cranes (two 25-ton and two 100-ton).

All these facilities are fully equipped and well maintained, and served by highly skilled workers. The types of marine vessels serviced here include offshore, dredgers, tankers, container ships , reefers (refrigerated cargo ships), bulk carriers, heavy crane vessels, renewable energy vessels, cruise ships. Among the vessels recently refurbished by Damen are Saga Sapphire (in 2014), MSC Magnifica (in 2014), and in 2017 - the CMV 's Columbus , Magellan and Marco Polo .

Rotterdam cruise terminal

Rotterdam cruise port terminal is built on the Wilhelmina Pier. It is west of the stunning Erasmus Bridge, on the south bank of River Maas.

Schiphol Airport Amsterdam is 1 hour from the cruise ship terminal. The distance to Rotterdam Airport is only 20 min. All the Holland's neighbouring countries (France, Germany and Belgium) are easily accessible via high-speed trains. The city's Central Station is also located close to the cruise terminal building. There is a regularly scheduled bus service from Antwerp Belgium  (travel time ~1 hour).

Rotterdam Cruise Terminal

The cruise ship terminal underwent a number of changes between 2014-2015. The grand opening ceremony was in May 2015.

Cruise terminal building is at Wilhelmina Pier and has total area approx 3800 m2. After its renovation, the building has dedicated 700 m2 luggage handling area. Refurbishment works included paintwork, new flooring, suitcase storage area, Port Rotterdam offices. There is parking area next to the SS Rotterdam hotel - a former HAL cruise liner converted to hotel / convention-center.

In September 2014 was installed the mobile passenger boarding bridge (covered and automatic). In February 2015, quay’s repaving replacement was at 70% ready. The rest of the works were done between ship visits.

The Rotterdam Port: Rotterdam won port of the year for 2013. It is worth to take a look at the port and see the atmosphere.

Euromast: or the Space Tower. Take a bird eye look over Rotterdam. The tower is 185 m and there is a restaurant atop.

Erasmusbrug: or the Erasmus Bridge. So close to Rotterdam cruise port terminal, that you should not miss it. It was open by Queen Beatrix in 1996. The bridge is 800 m. It is also known as “The Swan” because of its color.

Willemsbrug: or the Willems Bridge is also known as “Red Bridge” or the “Golden Gate Bridge” of Rotterdam. It dates from 1981. It is over the Nieuwe Mass River.

Museums: the Boijmans Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Kunsthal Museum, the Maritime Museum and the Netherlands Fotomuseum.

De Kuip Football Stadium: or the Tub is the home of Feyenoord football club. The club is famous in Europe, so is the stadium.

Delftshaven: or the Delfts Harbour. The part of the city that remained mostly undamaged during the World War II bombing.

Rotterdam tours, shore excursions, hotels

City tours and shore excursions.

Cruise Port Rotterdam celebrates 2.5 millionth passenger with P&O UK's ship Iona

Cruise Port Rotterdam achieved a significant milestone on April 3, 2024, as it welcomed its 2.5 millionth cruise passenger. The noteworthy event...

Alle Pierce christens Riverside Debussy, marking inaugural voyage

Renowned TV Host, Producer, and Travel Expert, Alle Pierce, officiated the christening ceremony of Riverside Debussy on Wednesday (March 13) in...

Norwegian Joy's refurbishment details/changes unveiled (SPA, Suites, Beach Club)

NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line has unveiled a series of enhancements aboard the Norwegian Joy following a 3-week drydock refurbishment project. Among the...

P&O Ferries UK achieves 50,000-ton CO2 emission reduction milestone

P&O Ferries, a prominent maritime transport service provider, has significantly reduced its CO2 emissions by ~50,000 tonnes over the past year...

NCL's ship Norwegian Joy completes a drydock refurbishment in Rotterdam

The NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line ship Norwegian Joy has concluded a 3-week dry dock at Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam/Holland, unveiling new...

Adventures by Disney expands family travel with Holland and Belgium river cruises

Adventures by Disney continues its dedication to family-oriented travel with the introduction of two new voyages to Holland and Belgium. Commencing...

P&O Pride of Rotterdam maintenance delays Hull-Rotterdam ferry operations

P&O Ferries has notified passengers of the temporary cessation of sailings between Hull (England) and Rotterdam (Netherlands). Pride of...

Riverside Luxury Cruises launches 3rd all-inclusive, all-suite ship, Riverside Debussy

Riverside Luxury Cruises introduces its third all-inclusive, all-suite luxury river ship, Riverside Debussy. With 40+ departures planned for 2024...

Cunard's Transatlantic liner RMS Queen Mary 2 restarts operations on November 16

Cunard's Transatlantic ship RMS Queen Mary 2 is currently undergoing drydock maintenance at Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam (in Rotterdam Holland). After...

MSC Cruises’ flagship Euribia to sail in Northern Europe (winter 2023-2024)

MSC Cruises' flagship MSC Euribia promises to impress guests during her upcoming winter voyages, featuring 7-night itineraries to highly desirable...

•   show more news

Rotterdam - user reviews and comments

• News Archive
• Get Daily Email

• News & Features
• Bunker Prices
• Bunker Intelligence
• Asia/Pacific
• News & Features

Rotterdam HSFO Demand Overtakes VLSFO for First Time Since IMO 2020

For every previous quarter since Q4 2019, just before the IMO imposed a global 0.50% sulfur limit on bunker fuels, VLSFO took up the most demand. Image Credit: Ship & Bunker / Data Credit: Port of Rotterdam

For the first time since the IMO 2020 transition, HSFO is now once again the dominant fuel grade at Europe 's largest bunkering port.

HSFO sales overtook VLSFO in Rotterdam 's first-quarter sales, according to the latest bunker demand figures from the port authority. For every previous quarter since Q4 2019 , just before the IMO imposed a global 0.50% sulfur limit on bunker fuels, VLSFO took up the most demand.

The change may be related to diversions from the Red Sea since late last year because of attacks on commercial shipping in the area, a local trading source told Ship & Bunker . Container ships are more likely to have scrubbers installed, and these ships now need to pick up greater quantities of fuel at the start and end of their voyages to cover longer voyages around Africa , travelling at greater and less fuel-efficient speeds.

"It's down to faster sailing, higher consumption and an uptick in scrubbers," the source said.

"We only saw the pick-up in March; January and February actually had been slow, as Singapore was a cheaper alternative."

It's down to faster sailing, higher consumption and an uptick in scrubbers

"There's increased scrubber uptake in general and the Red Sea diversions," a second local source said.

"The price spread between VLSFO and HSFO has had a steady increasing period where it is economically worthwhile for investment in the technology."

HSFO's average discount to VLSFO -- a key measure of the profitability of scrubbers -- stood at $118.50/mt at Rotterdam in the first quarter, according to Ship & Bunker data, up from $88.50/mt the previous quarter.

Total conventional and biofuel sales reached 2.322 million mt in the first three months of the year, according to data published on Tuesday by the Port of Rotterdam . The total was up by 11.4% from the previous quarter, but down by 11.8% from Q1 2023 .

Conventional VLSFO sales lost 30.8% on the year to 680,782 mt in Q1, HSFO rose by 1% to 818,028 mt , ULSFO dropped by 20.1% to 176,797 mt , MGO advanced by 1.7% to 262,496 mt and MDO sank by 42.5% to 120,913 mt . Biofuel blend sales surged by 76% to 262,634 mt .

HSFO's share of total conventional and biofuel demand was 35.2% , up from 30.8% a year earlier. Since the start of 2020 its average share has been 31.4% .

At the same time, LNG bunker sales jumped by 150% on the year to 215,247 m3 in Q1, a new record high.

About Jack Jordan

Jack Jordan is the Managing Editor of Ship & Bunker, the world’s most read marine fuel-focused publication.

He is an experienced financial editor and reporter with a first-class degree in Arabic and Russian, a postgraduate diploma in newspaper journalism and several years' history of covering the oil and shipping industries and capital markets.

Jack is based in London, UK.

About Ship & Bunker

Ship & Bunker is the world's most read publication focused on the marine fuel markets. Completely independent, it is the leading industry authority providing comprehensive daily news, exclusive in-depth features and analysis, along with daily & historical bunker price indications.

To contact the editor responsible for this story email us at [email protected]

Also in the News

Spain's Scale Gas Takes on New LNG Bunker Barge

Wärtsilä Gas Solutions is set to supply the cargo handling system for the 12,500 m3 vessel.

Read in Full

Molgas Group Sets Up LNG Bunker Supply in Italy

The firm arranged the supply of LNG to the Nerea in Sicily on April 11.

ANALYSIS: Singapore Q1 Bunker Demand Hits Record High on Red Sea Diversions

If the Q1 total were to be replicated over the rest of 2024, this year's total for Singapore would reach 55.14 million mt, up by 6.6% from 2023's record high.

Key Bunker Prices More

Popular now more.

• 30 Apr 1 First ISCC-Certified Biofuel Bunker Delivery in Malaysia Straits Energy Resources unit Tumpuan Megah Development delivered about 4,5000 mt of a B24 blend to a container ship at Tanjung Pelepas on April 25.
• 29 Apr 2 BUNKER JOBS: BP Seeks Bunker Buyer in London The company is looking for candidates with experience in negotiating deals and a functional understanding of vessel and bunkering operations.
• 29 Apr 3 Peninsula to Join Forces With Unimot Paliwa on Polish Bunker Supply Peninsula has signed a letter of intent with Unimot Paliwa setting out plans to cooperate on bunker supply at Gdansk and Gdynia.
• 29 Apr 4 Glander Teams Up With Cepsa for Algeciras B100 Bunker Supply The two companies recently arranged the supply of a B100 HVO product to a seismic survey vessel at Algeciras.
• 24 Apr 5 US Ban on Non-Compete Clauses May Raise Salaries for Bunker Traders Non-compete clauses have not always been used in a fair and reasonable way in the bunker industry, Maritime Recruitment Company Ltd's Vernon Jayanathan tells Ship & Bunker.
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Latest News
• Americas News
• Asia/Pacific News
• Regional Bunker Prices
• Americas Bunker Prices
• EMEA Bunker Prices
• Asia/Pacific Bunker Prices
• Latest Bunker Prices
• LA / Long Beach Bunker Prices
• Houston Bunker Prices
• New York Bunker Prices
• Rio de Janeiro Bunker Prices
• Rotterdam Bunker Prices
• Fujariah Bunker Prices
• Singapore Bunker Prices
• Hong Kong Bunker Prices
• RSS & Twitter