EURODAM

Holland America's new 2,044-passenger Signature-class ship, Eurodam, is the first ship to bear the name.

The 86,000-ton ship, built at Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri's Marghera shipyard at a cost of about £230 million, marks Holland America's new class of vessels and the largest ever constructed for the line.

HAL president Stein Kruse said: "This will be the 80th passenger ship to sail in the company's fleet and the first ship in our illustrious history to bear the name Eurodam. We chose the name to celebrate our European and Dutch heritage and our third century of sailing in one of the world's most popular cruising regions."

The company's first ship, the Rotterdam, sailed her maiden voyage from Rotterdam to New York City in October of 1872.

Eurodam will further the evolution of Holland Americas sophisticated mid-sized ships to further define and expand the brand.

With 11 passenger decks, new innovations include a topside 144-seat Pan-Asian restaurant and 50-seat lounge surrounded by panoramic views overlooking the ocean expanse and the Lido pool. Other additions are an Explorer's Lounge Bar, a new specialty restaurant adjacent to the Lido offering the finest in Italian food, elegant luxury jewelry boutiques, new atrium bar area, enhanced and reconfigured show lounge with theater-style seating, and a new photographic and imaging center.

The line's renowned Explorations Cafe is located on the starboard side of the Crow's Nest, providing a scenic backdrop for guests wishing to enjoy specialty coffees, surf the internet and take advantage of the cafe's music listening stations.

With an additional deck, the ship has 63 new staterooms more than the latest Vista-class ship. Forty-seven are verandah cabins and ten a new style of stateroom with ceiling-to-floor and wall-to-wall panoramic windows. In total, the Eurodam can carry 1,022 double occupancy staterooms, with 86 per cent outside staterooms of which 67 percent feature verandahs.

Staterooms continue to provide all the Signature of Excellence premium amenities: plush Euro-top Mariner's Dream beds, deluxe waffle/terry cloth robes, Egyptian cotton towels, flat panel TVs, DVD players, make-up mirrors with halo lighting, massage shower heads, professional grade hair dryers, fresh flowers and complimentary fruit baskets.

The Eurodam also continues with several much-admired Holland America features, including outside-view, glass elevators at midship; the Pinnacle Grill and Pinnacle Bar; the innovative Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine Magazine, where culinary experts provide cooking demonstrations and intimate classes in state-of-the-art onboard show kitchens; an expanded Greenhouse Spa and Salon with thermal suites and hydro-pool, the largest gymnasium ever built for Holland America Line; and a youth facility that includes the teens-only Loft.

On the technical side, the Eurodam features the latest state-of-the-art navigation and safety systems including dynamic positioning abilities to hold the ship in a precise position. The vessel is powered by six diesel generators and propelled by the latest Azipod propulsion technology.

A second Signature Class vessel is scheduled for delivery in spring 2010.