Staff captain, hotel director, chief engineer, staff chief
engineer and environmental officer announced
SEATTLE, Feb. 9, 2021 /CNW/ -- Holland America Line
has a history that spans nearly 150 years, and with that comes a
depth of talented crew who will be aboard Rotterdam when the ship is delivered in
July. The cruise line has appointed Staff Captain
Kevin Beirnaert, Hotel Director
Wessel van Oorschot, Chief Engineer
Peter Massolt, Staff Chief Engineer
Wim Akkerman and Environmental
Officer Michael Brown to lead
Rotterdam's shipboard
teams.
Holland America Line previously
announced that Captain Werner
Timmers will be at the helm of Rotterdam. The 99,500-ton ship currently
is under construction at Fincantieri's shipyard at Marghera,
Italy.
"Holland America Line has a solid foundation of exceptional
leaders who are seasoned at delivering new ships, and these team
members bring years of experience, knowledge and dedication to our
brand," said Gus Antorcha, president
of Holland America Line. "As we move toward delivery this
summer, this team will be tasked with getting the ship ready to
welcome guests and ensuring we have a happy complement of crew. We
know they're up to the task, and we congratulate them on their
appointments."
Meet Staff Captain Kevin
Beirnaert
Kevin Beirnaert joined Holland America Line in 2006 and worked
on Rotterdam, Eurodam, Nieuw
Amsterdam, Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam, where he
recently filled in as captain.
Hailing from Gent, Belgium,
Beirnaert studied at the Hogere Zeevaart school in Antwerp, Belgium, where he graduated with a
degree in masters nautical science. As a cadet and junior
officer, he started his career with freight
carrier Ecuadorian Line and on dredging ships in Dubai, U.A.E., on the Palm Jumeirah project
before joining Holland America Line. He resides in
Las Vegas, Nevada.
Fun Fact: If he weren't at sea, he'd be a police officer
in Belgium.
Meet Hotel Director Wessel van
Oorschot
Since joining Holland America Line in 2005, Wessel van Oorschot has worked his way through
the ranks of the food and beverage department from assistant maître
d' to hotel director. Van Oorschot
studied hospitality management at Hotelschool Ter Duinen in
Belgium and Baronie College in
the Netherlands and started his
career at Holland America Line as an intern. Rotterdam will be the fourth new ship
he has launched with the company, having previously introduced
Nieuw Statendam, Koningsdam and Nieuw Amsterdam.
When not on board, van Oorschot lives in the Philippines with his wife, who is a
shipboard doctor with Holland America Line.
Fun Fact: His song request at Billboard Onboard would be
"Piano Man" by Billy Joel.
Meet Chief Engineer Peter
Massolt
A Dutch native from Drachten in the province of Friesland, Peter
Massolt has worked a total of 19 years with Holland America Line,
from 1980-87 and then again from 2008 onwards. During his time with
the company, he has worked on ss and ms Rotterdam, Ryndam, Prinsendam, Statendam,
Veendam, Volendam, Noordam, Nieuw Amsterdam and Nieuw
Statendam.
Massolt holds a bachelor's degree in marine engineering from the
Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz. In his free time, he enjoys
restoring Land Rovers, camping and aerobatic flying. He speaks
Dutch, English, German and Frisian.
Fun Fact: If he had to swap roles with someone on board,
he'd be a Cruise & Travel Director because he is an advocate
for learning culture and enjoys the port talks.
Meet Staff Chief Engineer Wim
Akkerman
Wim Akkerman joined Holland
America Line in 1994 following an apprenticeship on cargo reefer
vessels. Raised in the small village of Nederhorst den Berg,
the Netherlands, Akkerman went to
the Zeevaart maritime college and became a maritime officer, but he
chose a technical route.
Fun Fact: His favorite Holland America Line specialty
restaurant is Canaletto.
Meet Environmental Officer Michael
Brown
A native of Panama where he
still resides, Michael Brown joined
Holland America Line in 2016. Previously he was a marine engineer
in the cruise industry.
Brown graduated from the Universidad Marítima Internacional de
Panamá with a bachelor's degree in nautical marine
engineering. When not working, he enjoys being with friends
and watching movies.
Fun Fact: His ideal shore excursions involve nature,
hiking and kayaking.
About Rotterdam
The third in the Pinnacle Class series, Rotterdam will carry 2,668 guests and
feature highly successful amenities and innovations introduced with
her sister ships, including the 270-degree surround screen
World Stage, Rudi's Sel de Mer and
Grand Dutch Café. Delivering the best of everything,
Rotterdam celebrates
live music with an exclusive collection of world-class performances
each night.
Throughout the ship, Rotterdam will showcase Holland America
Line hallmarks that drive one of the highest guest repeat rates in
the industry: exquisite cuisine guided by eight of
the world's leading chefs; gracious, award-winning service;
and superbly appointed staterooms and suites, including family
and single accommodations.
Rotterdam is the
seventh ship to bear the name for Holland America Line and the 17th
ship constructed for the brand by Italian shipyard Fincantieri.
Following Rotterdam's
Premiere Voyage departing Aug. 1,
2021, the ship will spend its inaugural summer season in
northern Europe.
For more information about Holland America Line, consult a
travel advisor, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit
hollandamerica.com.
Editor's note: A photo is available at
https://www.cruiseimagelibrary.com/c/jtxddpo4.
Find Holland America Line on Twitter, Facebook and the Holland
America Blog. Access all social media outlets via the home
page at hollandamerica.com.
About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival
Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL and CUK)
Holland America Line has been
exploring the world since 1873 and was the first cruise line to
offer adventures to Alaska and the
Yukon more than 70 years ago. Its
fleet of premium ships visits more than 470 ports in 98 countries
around the world, offering an ideal mid-sized ship experience. A
third Pinnacle-class ship, Rotterdam, is under construction and will
join the fleet in July 2021.
The leader in premium cruising, Holland America Line's ships
feature innovative initiatives and a diverse range of enriching
experiences focused on destination exploration and personalized
travel. The best live music at sea fills each evening at Music
Walk, and dining venues feature exclusive selections from Holland
America Line's esteemed Culinary Council, comprising world-famous
chefs.
In light of COVID-19, Holland America Line is currently
enhancing health and safety protocols and how they may impact
future cruises. Our actual offerings may vary from what is
displayed or described in marketing materials. Review our
current Cruise Updates, Health & Safety
Protocols and CDC Travel Advisories.
CONTACT:
|
Erik
Elvejord
|
PHONE:
|
800-637-5029,
206-626-9890
|
EMAIL:
|
pr@hollandamerica.com
|
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SOURCE Holland America Line