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The Holland America Line (HAL) was founded in 1873 with their first ship being the original Rotterdam. In those early days it would take ships up to 15 days to cross the Atlantic. The ever-increasing emigrant trade between Europe and America allowed HAL to build up their fleet and become a well-established company. By the early 1970s, Trans Atlantic travel by liner had diminished to an extent HAL ended their service between Europe and America and began using their ships for cruising.

Noordam was the second of two sister ships that became the Holland America Line's first purposely built cruise ships. The first ship in this class Nieuw Amsterdam entered service in 1983.

These two ships have 9 passenger decks, 2 pools, 5 bars, casino, fitness center, 423 seat show lounge, 411 outside cabins, 194 inside cabins, can carry 1,210 passengers and a crew of 542.

Noordam was operated on cruises throughout the Mediterranean from the ports of Rome, Lisbon and Copenhagen. Other cruises from Copenhagen traveled throughout the Baltic Sea and Northern Europe. During the winter, her main routes were from Fort Lauderdale and Tampa - Caribbean and Panama Canal. Noordam was sold to the England and Palma/Majorca based Thomson Cruises in 2005 to be operated under the name Thomson Celebration.

Itinerary's for Thomson include 7 night fly cruises from the UK - Palma/Majorca then board the ship to visit various ports throughout the Mediterranean. The extremely popular Red Sea cruises taking in all the major sights of Egypt depart Palma, Sharm El Sheikh and Safaga

Nieuw Amsterdam was chartered by Thomson Cruises in 2002 to be operated under the name Thomson Spirit. Her itineraries include 7-14 night cruises out of the English ports of Southampton, Harwich and Newcastle - the Baltic Sea, Scandinavia and Atlantic & Iberian peninsular ports. Other itineraries for Thomson Spirit are fly cruises from the UK - Palma/Majorca then board the ship to visit various ports throughout the Mediterranean. Other fly cruises from the UK are to Santa Cruz then board the ship to visit various ports throughout the Canary Islands.

View the website for these ships at www.thomson.co.uk

Although the Holland America Line was taken over by Carnival in 1989, they continue to operate under their own name.