Holland America Line’s Rotterdam departs on historic 150th Anniversary Crossing

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 16 October 2022 16 October 2022

Holland America Line’s Rotterdam (VII) departed the city of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, today on its historic 150th Anniversary Transatlantic Crossing. The 15-day journey recreates Holland America Line’s maiden voyage of Rotterdam (I) that departed the city 150 years ago today. The crossing follows the path of that first sailing to New York, with calls at Le Havre, France, and Plymouth, England.

Holland America Line invited fans to come to Cruise Port Rotterdam and Wilhelminapier for a festive shoreside sailaway party, recreating a departure from centuries past when ships were sent off with fanfare. Fireboat’s spraying water and a flotilla from a local yacht club came to see Rotterdam off, while revelers were given souvenir handkerchiefs to wave.

“Today is historic for our brand as we depart 150 years to the day that Holland America Line’s very first ship began its journey to New York,” said Holland America Line President Gus Antorcha. “In that time, we’ve carried immigrants and cruising vacationers, soldiers and refugees and earned a reputation for extraordinary care and welcoming all those guests as if into our own homes. As we sail into our next 150 years, that environment of service will be our hallmark as we create exceptional experiences for guests around the world.”

Antorcha joined dignitaries from the city and port in a special sendoff ceremony that honored the shared history. During the crossing, guests will journey through Holland America Line’s history with memorable onboard enrichment programming, culinary recreations of dishes from a bygone era and exclusive entertainment. The festivities continue during an overnight call at New York Oct. 26 with a specially commissioned performance on the World Stage by past and present Lincoln Center Stage performers.

Fans who missed the Oct. 15 crossing can book the April 6, 2023, 150th Anniversary Transatlantic from New York, ending at Rotterdam April 18, the cruise line’s 150th birthday.

Royal Caribbean Group to open the world's first zero-energy cruise terminal in Galveston

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 15 October 2022 15 October 2022

Royal Caribbean Group’s new Galveston terminal, which is opening Nov. 9, will be the first cruise terminal to generate 100% of its needed energy through on-site solar panels. This makes the terminal, which will be used by the company’s Royal Caribbean International brand, the first LEED Zero Energy facility in the world.

“We are focused on innovating across all aspects of our company, especially in our work to advance sustainability in the communities we visit,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. “We deeply value both the oceans we sail and the communities we visit and operate in, and the modern design and development features at our terminal in Galveston will work in service of both.”

The new cruise terminal at the Port of Galveston will be the first in Texas to achieve LEED Gold certification, an industry-leading certification expected to be received within the first two quarters of 2023.

In developing the new terminal, Royal Caribbean Group approached design strategies that aligned with its wholistic environmental goals, its focus to advance the development of sustainable infrastructure as well as its decarbonization strategy — Destination Net Zero — including:

Improved sustainability in construction
– The project prioritized using materials that produce less carbon based on energy used and the transportation process.
– During construction, the team has diverted 75% of its waste from landfill.
– Minimized interior sources of pollution through the installation of materials with low or zero volatile organic compounds (VOCs) content, and enhanced air filtration media, focusing on occupant thermal comfort and controllability.

Renewable energy and carbon reduction
– The terminal will rely on 30,000 square feet of on-site photovoltaic solar panels, enabling the port’s self-sufficient energy usage. Any remaining energy not used by the terminal will be sent to the local power grid.
– Carbon emissions are being offset through the purchase of carbon credits.

Regional and global environmental benefits
– Materials and construction selection contribute to the reduction of “heat island effect” in the Galveston area, a region that experiences higher temperatures than outlying areas due to an over-stimulated energy grid.
– Implement strategies to reduce exterior lighting pollution, which may help minimize negative effects to the night-time sky and the surrounding community.

Community connectivity
– By offering bicycle facilities and electric charging stations, the project promotes alternative means of transportation for guests and staff from the surrounding community, reducing transportation-related carbon emissions.
– As the Port of Galveston increases its Electric Vehicles (EV) charging stations, Royal Caribbean International’s terminal, T10, will supply infrastructure for the future installation of eight EV charging stations within its parking lot.

The Galveston terminal marks the cruise company’s fourth LEED certified facility and its first Gold certified. The previous projects include Terminal A at PortMiami; the Springfield, Oregon campus; and the Innovation Lab at Royal Caribbean Group’s corporate headquarters in Miami.

The $125 million, 161,334-square-foot Galveston Cruise Terminal significantly expands the company’s presence in the port, increasing the cruise line’s ability to accommodate up to 630,000 guests per year. The opening of the terminal will mark the first time Galveston welcomes Royal Caribbean International’s signature Oasis-class, the world’s largest cruise ships, with the arrival of Allure of the Seas and the first time the company is bringing its frictionless arrival and departure process to Texas.