Borealis was built as MS Rotterdam for the Holland America Line, for which she sailed for 22 years. In 2020, the ship was sold to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, who renamed her Borealis.

Construction and career

As Rotterdam

Commissioned in 1997 by the Holland America Line, the vessel was christened as Rotterdam by Princess Margriet of the Netherlands on December 9, 1997, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and made its first call at the Port of Rotterdam on June 10, 1998. Rotterdam was the sixth Holland America vessel to bear the name. She was named for SS Rotterdam of 1959, and also named after the city of Rotterdam, Netherlands. MS Rotterdam and her sister ship MS Amsterdam were co-flagships of Holland America Line (HAL).

Rotterdam carried an art collection on board worth over US$2 million and featured fine art and antiques.

During the summer of 2011, Rotterdam conducted Holland America Line's first standalone transatlantic crossing since 1971, making a single trip both eastbound and westbound.

Rotterdam sailed around Europe during the summer and South America in the winter. Commencing in 2012, the cruise ship was based year-round in Rotterdam.

In July 2020 it was announced that Holland America Line had sold the ship to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines for delivery in September 2020 and that it would be renamed MS Borealis. The ship visited its home port of Rotterdam, as well as its predecessor in the Holland America Line fleet, for the last time on 10 and 11 August 2020 after which she was handed over to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.

As Borealis

The name Borealis refers to a ship of the same name that was part of the Fred. Olsen line in 1948, before it became a cruise line. The transformation of Rotterdam to Borealis started in August 2020 at Damen Shipyards in Schiedam, near Rotterdam.