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S.S. ROTTERDAM IV1908 - 1940
Built by Harland and Wolff, Belfast, the ROTTERDAM IV held 530 First, 555 Second and 2,124 Third Class passengers. She was a liner with two funnels, Holland America's first, 650 feet in length and 77 feet wide. Her registered tonnage was 24,170 and displacement of 37,190 tons. She traveled at an average of 16.5 knots. She was sold in January of 1940 to Dutch breakers.
125 Years of Holland America Line by H.A. Dalkmann and A.J. Schoonderbeek, Pentland Press 1998.
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The ROTTERDAM IV had the distinction of being one of the earlier ships of the Holland America Line used for pleasure cruising. (The first Holland America cruise was to Copenhagen on the ROTTERDAM II in June 1895 and the second Holland America cruise going to the Holy Land on the STATENDAM in 1910.) She was specially chartered for "Clark's 16th Annual Cruise to the Mediterranean and the Orient" which would begin on February 16, 1914, leaving New York. It was a tour of 64 or 70 days. The ship was advertised as "sumptuous" with 56 rooms with brass bedsteads and private baths. There were also 150 single rooms and "no overcrowding". It was first class throughout. For $400 and up, your cruise would include shore excursions, guides, fees, hotels, drives and all necessary expenses. Special features included stops at Madeira, Cadiz, Seville, Athens, Constantinople, 16 days in Palestine and Egypt, and 4 days in Rome, Monte Carlo, as well as other ports of call. You had an optional week in London for $30 or Holland for $20.
The S. S. "Rotterdam" (24,170 tons), of the Holland America Line, is one the finest,largest and most popular ships crossing the Atlantic and cost about $5,000,000 to build. She has become famous because of her exceptionally attractive features, so that many discriminating travelers choose her in preference to any other Atlantic steamer. In luxurious appointments, in extraordinary size of rooms,averaging much larger than on any of our ships on previous Cruises, as well as in her extreme steadiness, almost eliminating seasickness, she is unsurpassed. She has 56 suites and rooms with brass bedsteads and private baths, and over 100 single rooms, together with a beautiful Palm Court, Verandah Cafe, Elevator, Social Hall, Library, 3 Smoke Rooms, a glass enclosed Promenade Deck, electrically forced ventilation of hot and cold air, etc. Most of the outside staterooms have two, and in some cases three, windows or portholes, some being fitted with a device that admits fresh air freely, even when the porthole is closed. One of her most attractive features is an immense Dining Saloon, seating nearly 500 people at small tables, where all of our passengers will take their meals, and where an orchestra of artists of high merit will play during lunch and dinner, as well as in the Social Hall in the evening.
The "Rotterdam" is the newest and by far the finest addition to the great modern fleet of the Holland-America Line, exceptionally steady on acount of her size and her tremendous bilge keels, and is thoroughly up-to-date in equipment. Passengers may be outdoors on the Promenade Deck under practically all weather conditions, deriving at all times the benefit of the invigorating fresh air, as this deck is partly enclosed on three sides with large widows which may be opened or closed at will. The topmost of the passenger accommodation is located on this Promenade Deck and consists of two beautifully appointed sets of rooms en suite.
