Holland America Line will deepen its relationship with Oprah
Winfrey, picking her to ceremonially name its next ship, the Nieuw Statendam.
The actress, TV host and founder of O the Oprah Magazine
will serve as godmother of Nieuw Statendam, with an official dedication to take place "in a private ceremony at a date to be announced."
In February 2017, HAL established a marketing partnership
with the magazine. Oprah appears on the cover each month. As part of the
partnership, she took an Alaska cruise on HAL last summer and various staffers
from the magazine have appeared on other cruises to lead programs and talk to
guests.
As a HAL godmother, Oprah joins a list that includes tennis
star Chris Evert, actresses Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen and Queen Maxima of the
Netherlands, who christened HAL's latest vessel, the Koningsdam.
The 2,660-passenger Nieuw Statendam, a sister ship to the Koningsdam,
is expected to be delivered in November.
On Jan. 30, 2019, Oprah will host a three-day Girls' Getaway
cruise on the Nieuw Statendam, joined by O magazine editor-at-large Gayle King
and other members of the magazine's editorial staff.