The Prinsendam was introduced in 1973, the year Holland America celebrated its centenary year. HAL, also introduced their Veendam and Volendam that year which were the former Moore-McCormack liners Argentina and Brasil (both 1958). Prinsendam, yard number 606, was delivered by the Dutch yard De Merwede situated in Hardinxveld-Giessendam in 1973.
Four Werkspoor 8-cylinder diesels drove two controllable-pitch propellors. She was also witted with a bow thruster and stabilizers, carried just 374 passengers, measured 8,556GRT and had a length of just 130 meters. Her interiors were quite pleasant, she featured a main show lounge midships and all forward a lookout bar, both on Promenade Deck. Also a dining room on Main Deck, a lido restaurant with outside dining space one deck up on Promenade Deck as well and a cinema, a library, and shopping arcade on the same deck. Probably HAL targeting her at the more destination-oriented travellers, mostly older passengers wanting a comfortable, intimate vessel visiting off the beaten track places was the reason that a casino and gymnasium were not present onboard.
Prinsendam’s outward appearance was not particularly beautiful, she hade a modern, but boxy appearance. Her profile was somewhat spoiled when later cabins were installed on her top deck above the bridge. HAL planned one or more sister ships if she would be successful. Prinsendam was launched on 7 July 1972 and was planned to be delivered in April 1973, coinciding with the ongoing celebrations of the lines’ 100-year existence. But disaster struck when she caught fire just after she had been shifted to the Wilton-Fijenoord yard for final technical work and outfitting. The blaze was quickly under control but smoke and water damage to her interiors now delayed her delivery to November 1973.
But finally, 30 November 1973 Prinsendam left on her maiden voyage for Singapore and the former Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia to start her program of 2-week cruises. HAL tried to open up a new cruising area with Prinsendam, flying in her guests from Europa and the US. Unfortunately, the level of bookings remained disappointingly low and HAL decided to shift her to Alaska, homeporting her in Vancouver from May to October. Through their subsidiary Westours HAL would become one of the leading cruise operators here in later years, with Rotterdam V being one of the most loved vessels in the area.
Alas, Prinsendam met her fate while sailing on a repositioning cruise from Alaska to Singapore in October 1980. She caught fire. She was an unlucky vessel because after the fire when she was being outfitted, the previous year there had also been a small fire onboard Prinsendam which could be extinguished quickly. At first captain Wabeke reported through the ship’s PA-system that “there was a minor fire in the engine room which was should cause no major problems”, but the blaze was soon out of control. Th US Coast Guard suggested he sent an SOS signal but he refused. Shortly thereafter one of his officers sent it anayway. Although captain Wabeke had stayed behind with 50 volunteers to fight the fire, they had to leave the stricken vessel soon. All passengers and crew, totalling 525 souls were airlifted by the US Coast guard or picked up by the tanker Williamsburg. Everyone was saved with no injuries or casualties.
On 7 October it seemed the fire had almost extinguished, and captain Wabeke together with a handful of crew returned to the still smoldering Prinsendam and a line was secured to the tug Commodore Straits which would tow her to Portland, Oregon. But unfortunately the fire flared up again and the attempt failed. Prinsendam capsized and slowly slid beneath the waves in the early morning of 11 October 1980.
