MS Veendam

Service history

Veendam was the fourth ship, ordered following the success of her three sister ships. Her keel was laid by Fincantieri as hull number 5954 in 1994. The ship was launched on 24 June 1995 and completed in May 1996. Actress Debbie Reynolds became the ship's godmother, and sailed on her maiden voyage on 15 May 1996. The ship was the fourth Holland America Line ship to be named after the town of Veendam, Netherlands. Her registered owner was Wind Surf Ltd, and she was registered at Nassau, Bahamas.

Veendam was transferred to the Netherlands flag in 2006 and to the ownership of HAL Nederland NV of Rotterdam, continuing under Holland America operation.

During winter months Veendam operated from South American ports and, during the summer season, sailed from New York.

On 25 January 2015, Veendam was called by the United States Coast Guard to rescue a pilot who had ditched his plane after experiencing a mechanical failure 225 nmi from the coast of Maui, Hawaii. Coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard, Veendam launched a lifeboat in a successful rescue operation.

The ship was sold in July 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, to Greek ferry operator Seajets along with sister ship . After delivery in Katakolon, Greece in August, Veendam was renamed Aegean Majesty by registered owner Mediterranean Dream Inc, reflagged from Netherlands to Bermuda, and berthed at Corinth. In the early morning of 7 November 2020, in strong winds, the ship broke its moorings in Corinth and grounded on a sandbank in the harbour. Two days later she was refloated, undamaged.

References

References

1. "Cruises on ms Veendam, a Holland America Line cruise ship".
2. "Fincantieri {{!}} Veendam".
3. {{Cite ship register
4. "140 Years Young: Welcome Veendam {{!}} Holland America Blog".
5. (31 March 2009). "Veendam Dry-Dock Update: March 30, 2009". Holland America Blog.
6. "Cruises to Alaska, Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico and the world on Holland America, one of the best cruise lines".
7. (26 January 2015). "Veendam Rescues Pilot Who Ditched His Plane in the Pacific Ocean". Holland America.
8. (28 August 2020). "Greece cruising restart roiled, HAL ships go to Seajets". Seatrade Cruise News.
9. (15 July 2020). "Four Holland America Line Ships Sold". Cruise Industry News.
10. (19 September 2020). "Here Are The Cruise Ships Carnival Is Selling". Cruise Industry News.
11. (9 November 2020). "Οι άνεμοι παρέσυραν σαν χάρτινο καραβάκι κρουαζερόπλοιο στο λιμάνι Κορίνθου! (The winds swept away a cruise ship in the port of Corinth like a paper boat!)". Notos Press.
12. (9 November 2020). "Στα ανοιχτά της Κορίνθου πλέον το Aegean Majesty (''Aegean Majesty'' now off the coast of Corinth)". Archipelagos.