The HAL cruise ship is the first of five to make debut calls to Kiel this season.
To mark the ocassion Zuiderdam was given a traditional water fountain escort by a port tug up the Kiel Fiord to her berth at the Ostseekai Terminal.
At an on-board reception, Mayor Peter Todeskino welcomed the ship‘s captain to the city of Kiel - the capital of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein - and presented him with the traditional maiden visit plaque.
'We are very happy,' Todeskino said, 'that after welcoming HAL ships for eight years in a row Kiel now occupies a firm place in Holland America Line’s route planning. Apart from Zuiderdam's five calls scheduled this season, newest ship Koningsdam is also expected in Kiel.'
Other maiden callers in Kiel this year are AIDAaura today, Arcadia (June 22) and Mein Schiff 5 (June 23).
