SEATTLE, May 10 -- Holland America Line announced today it is
unable to proceed with the published sailing schedule of the ms Volendam from
August 24 through October 30, 1999, and that its sister ship, ms Zaandam, will
also be delayed with its maiden voyage now scheduled about a month later for
March 26, 2000.

"Fincantieri's delays in delivering these ships are a great disappointment
to all of us at Holland America Line, and we regret the inconvenience caused
to our guests," said Peter T. McHugh, president and chief operating officer,
Holland America Line-Westours Inc. "However, we want our newest sister ships
to be fully ready for service and to be completely able to deliver the premium
service and accommodations that our guests have come to expect of Holland
America."

With an expected delivery date of October 15, 1999, the maiden voyage of the
Volendam will commence November 12, 1999, with the published 10-day Caribbean
cruises from Ft. Lauderdale. "This plan will allow sufficient time to ensure a
successful delivery by the shipyard and proper introduction of the vessel to
the marketplace," said McHugh.

"The advantage of making this decision early is that we will be better able
to accommodate our guests and keep disruption to a minimum. We have learned
from past experience that delayed deliveries can occur, and that the best
policy is to be conservative in our expectation and proactive in our response
to the situation," said McHugh.

To minimize the inconvenience to passengers, the Maasdam will be
repositioned from Europe to assume the Volendam's Canada/New England
itineraries beginning September 12th. Guests booked on the Maasdam's
remaining Europe cruises will be accommodated on the Rotterdam. Holland
America will revise its schedule as follows:

CANADA/NEW ENGLAND

The first two departures of the Volendam's Canada/New England cruise series
must, unfortunately, be canceled. Remaining departures for the season will be
operated by the ms Maasdam, one of Holland America's best known and highest
rated ships. All affected guests will be offered attractive alternatives and
compensation.

MAASDAM EUROPE

The Maasdam will operate in Europe through the published August 17 (August
17-29) Baltic cruise and then redeploy from its European program to Canada/New
England. Two new itineraries will be introduced as the ship travels from
Europe to Montreal: a unique 7-day London to Boston summer transatlantic
cruise on August 29 and a 7-day Boston to Montreal sailing on September 5. The
Maasdam will then pick up the Volendam's published schedule of sailings
commencing September 12. Maasdam's scheduled European sailings commencing
August 29 through October 28 will be operated by Rotterdam as outlined below.
The Maasdam's November 9 departure will be revised from 12 days to 8 days and
operated by the Rotterdam, and the Maasdam's December 1 Transatlantic will be
canceled.

MAASDAM FALL CARIBBEAN

Following the Canada/New England series, the Maasdam will operate Volendam's
13-day Caribbean cruise from New York to Ft. Lauderdale on October 30. Maasdam
will also operate a new 10-day fall Caribbean sailing from Ft. Lauderdale on
November 12 and a new 7-day Thanksgiving Caribbean cruise on November 22. She
then resumes her published Caribbean schedule beginning December 11.

ROTTERDAM EUROPE

The ms Rotterdam will operate its currently planned European schedule
through the departure of August 13 (August 13-25). Beginning August 25,
Rotterdam will operate a revised schedule of sailings as follows:

August 25: Rotterdam will operate a 16-day cruise from Copenhagen to
Venice. The revised itinerary includes the 4-day Copenhagen to London segment
August 25-29 (as previously published) and then will be combined with
Maasdam's published 12-day itinerary departing August 29 from London to
Venice. Guests booked on Rotterdam's August 25 sailing will be offered the
four additional cruise days from this itinerary revision at no additional
charge.

August 29 through October 28: Rotterdam will operate Maasdam's published
departure dates and itineraries during this period. Guests currently booked on
these Maasdam departures experience no schedule changes and will receive the
added value of sailing aboard Holland America's flagship, ms Rotterdam.
Rotterdam guests who are affected by revisions to Rotterdam itineraries during
this period will be offered attractive alternatives and compensation.

November 9: Rotterdam will operate a special 8-day itinerary from Venice to
Rome. Guests who are currently booked on Maasdam's November 9 12-day itinerary
will be offered the revised 8-day cruise aboard the Rotterdam, as well as
other alternative departure dates.

November 17: Rotterdam will resume her originally published schedule
commencing with the 22-day Rome to Ft. Lauderdale Transatlantic cruise. On all
European cruises, scheduled calls at Dubrovnik, Croatia, have been replaced
with port calls in Italy or Greece.

"Our plan is designed to try to minimize disruption and to continue to
maintain the patronage of as many of our guests as possible. A number of
generous offers and compensation options have been developed," said McHugh.

Guests booked on revised or canceled cruises will be given the option to
rebook on comparable sailings. Depending on departure date, fare discounts,
shipboard credits and/or future cruise credits may apply. Guests also will be
given the option to cancel and receive a full refund of all fares paid.

For more information, customers and travel agents may contact Holland
America at 800-426-0327 or visit the line's homepage at
www.hollandamerica.com.

CONTACT: Erik Elvejord, CTC, or Julianne Chase, APR, both of Holland
American Line, 800-637-5029 (not for publication), 206-281-3535, or fax,
206-281-0351.