Holland America Line marks Nieuw Statendam’s inaugural Dover visit

Holland America Line celebrated Nieuw Statendam’s inaugural visit to the port of Dover on Friday [September 8], with officials, travel partners and media at a shipboard ceremony.

The visit follows news that Holland America Line will homeport a ship in the UK for the first time in more than a decade, with 10 Nieuw Statendam cruises from Dover in 2025.

Nieuw Statendam, the second newest vessel in the line’s fleet, arrived in Dover accompanied by water cannons. Before boarding, passengers were entertained at the cruise terminal, with Morris dancers, a pianist and local delicacies.

During the plaque exchange ceremony, Nico Bleichrodt, Continental Europe managing director for Holland America Line, spoke about the importance of adding Dover as a homeport for the UK market and introduced the new 2025 itineraries.

The 2025 ex-UK voyages will range from 14 to 42 days, sailing to the Canary Islands, British Isles, Norway, Iceland, Greenland, Iberia and the eastern Mediterranean.

More: Holland America to homeport ship in UK for first time in 10 years

Holland America Line to offer ex-UK sailing for first time since 2018

Karen Farndell, UK sales and marketing director, said: “Adding Dover as a homeport is ideal for our British guests who can conveniently embark in England and explore several regions around Europe on a variety of itineraries.

“Beyond Dover, our 10 homeports span Europe, and in 2025 we’re offering the most diverse range of itineraries that include everything from week-long holidays to the Med to month-long explorations up to the Arctic.”

Christian Pryce, chief commercial officer at the Port of Dover, said: “Nearly 30 years since we first welcomed the previous Statendam to the port, it’s fantastic to see our partnership with Holland America Line reach a new level as we become their UK cruise destination of choice.

“With the dramatic and unrivalled views of the White Cliffs and Dover Castle, inspiring local culture and heritage, plus a vibrant new waterfront surrounding the cruise terminals, Dover provides the perfect welcome to the Garden of England for hundreds of thousands of cruise passengers each year.”

The current cruise on Nieuw Statendam is an 11-day Iberian Adventure itinerary which departed from Copenhagen on September 6.

Passengers who boarded on September will continue for the remaining nine days of the voyage, with two days at sea before calling at Porto, Lisbon, Cadiz and Barcelona and concluding in Rome.