SEATTLE, Jan. 31, 1996 -- Holland America Line announces that its flagship, the ss Rotterdam, officially will be retired from service on Sept. 30, 1997.

The 748-foot, 38,645-gross-ton Rotterdam, veteran of 28 world cruises, is a luxury liner in the classic tradition and the "grand dame" of the Holland America Line fleet. The flagship will make her 29th and final Grand World Voyage from January to April 1997, after which the ship will sail her farewell Alaska season of seven-day cruises.

The Rotterdam's last cruise, an 18-day gala "Grand Finale Cruise," will depart from Vancouver, British Columbia, on Sept. 12, and will arrive in Ft. Lauderdale on Sept. 30. Plans for the ship after that date have not been finalized.

"The decision to retire the Rotterdam, which has a very loyal following, has been a difficult one for the company," said company President and CEO A. Kirk Lanterman. "But the decision was based on the company's desire to present the most modern fleet possible to serve our passengers well into the next century."

To date, an estimated 1.2 million guests have traveled aboard the Rotterdam on 975 voyages since the ship entered service in 1959. Built at the Rotterdam Drydock Company shipyard in Rotterdam, Netherlands, the Rotterdam is the namesake of Holland America's first ship and the fifth to bear the name in the company's 123-year history.

The Rotterdam has one of the most loyal followings in passenger ship history. The ship has a high level of repeaters on board every sailing and many guests book the world cruise year after year.

An ocean liner in the classic tradition, the Rotterdam was an innovative ship when she was launched, with many features that are being reintroduced in today's newest ships -- such as wraparound promenade decks, two-deck-high public rooms, and larger than average staterooms. In addition, the ship features high-quality materials -- such as rare woods and Delft ceramics -- that are unmatched today.

The ship underwent a $15 million refurbishment in 1989 and continues to be maintained in excellent condition. In 1994, she was named "Ship of the Year" by the World Ocean and Cruise Liner Society.

Holland America Line's entire fleet of luxury cruise ships continues the style, tradition and popular features represented on the Rotterdam. And starting with its new generation of cruise ships, to be introduced in mid-1997, further advances in design and technology will allow the company to offer an even wider range of activities, comforts and amenities, while further improving operational performance.

Holland America Line will make the Rotterdam's farewell season a special time for all who sail on the ship.

"Our guests who already love the Rotterdam, and those who want to experience this classic grande dame of world cruising, still have a year and a half of cruises to choose from. Every cruise during the farewell season of this wonderful and popular ship will be a long-remembered event," said Lanterman.

The Rotterdam is currently on its 28th Grand World Cruise, after which it will sail on a 23-day spring Panama Canal cruise, and a full season of seven-day Glacier Discovery Cruises in Alaska before departing on a 50-day Grand South America Cruise. The ship will finish 1996 sailing from Ft. Lauderdale on two 10-day Caribbean/Panama Canal cruises and then a gala 14-day holiday cruise.

The Rotterdam will begin 1997 with a 14-day trans-Panama Canal cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Los Angeles for the start of the 102-day 1997 Grand World Cruise, the ship's 29th and final world voyage. After the conclusion of the world cruise, the ship will sail on a 20-day spring trans-Panama Canal cruise and then on her farewell Alaska season of seven-day Glacier Discovery Cruises from May to September.

The Rotterdam's Grand Finale Cruise -- an 18-day trans-Canal voyage from Vancouver to Ft. Lauderdale -- will be an extra-special event, a grand cruise in Holland America Line's finest tradition of Grand Voyage Service. The cruise will feature favorite entertainers from previous Rotterdam cruises, in addition to star performers, theme balls, concerts and special parties and a president's reception. It'll all be topped off by a gala farewell party.

"We want to make sure that the Rotterdam is celebrated appropriately at the completion of her splendid career," said Lanterman. "We look forward to seeing many of our old friends, and making some new ones, as this great ship sails on her farewell season."