PRIDE OF ROTTERDAM

Royal send-off for
world's largest cruiseferry

Pride of Rotterdam was officially handed over to P&O North Sea Ferries on April 12, 2001, at the Marghera Yard of Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, becoming the world's largest cruise ferry.

After her positioning voyage to her homeport Rotterdam, she was officially named by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands at the cruise terminal on April 27, and entered service on the Rotterdam (Europoort) route three days later.

Construction of the Pride of Rotterdam took less than 14 months. The keel of the new Cruiseferry was laid in March 2000 and the float-out took place in September.

Weighing in at 59,925 GRT the Pride of Rotterdam became the largest cruiseferry in the world. She is 215 metres in length and 31.5 metres wide and is able to carry 1,360 passengers all in cabins with private facilities. The specially designed car deck accommodates 250 vehicles and is accessed through a side entrance to the ship. The three freight decks have a capacity of 3,400 running metres including 1,500 running metres for double stacked containers. In total each cruiseferry is capable of carrying approximately 400 freight units.

At the official handover ceremony in Venice, PONSF managing director Peter van den Brandhof expressed his delight at taking delivery of such a majestic Cruiseferry. He emphasised the high quality of the design and workmanship achieved by Fincantieri and the London based design company SMC Tillberg.

"The accommodation and facilities of this new Cruiseferry are equal to modern cruise ships. With this vessel we are setting the highest standards of customer service between the UK and the continent."

The Pride of Rotterdam offers among other things luxury Suites, an a la carte restaurant, a casino, a two tiered show lounge, a Sky Lounge with panoramic views and a Cyber Zone, where passengers can surf the web.

Her sister ship the Pride of Hull was delivered in November 2001.