EXCLUSIVE TULIP TO MARK MILESTONE

What better way to mark the 140th anniversary of Holland America than with a tulip? Not just any tulip, but one developed exclusively for the cruise line by Keukenhof Spring gardens in the Netherlands. They note: "Master grower Jan Pennings, exhibitor at Keukenhof Gardens, chose a white-petaled variety to honor the company that was originally founded in Rotterdam on April 18, 1873, as a trans-Atlantic cargo and passenger company."

First bulbs handed over (Credit: Holland America)

The new tulip will be harvested next spring. Last Friday, Pennings handed over the first bulbs to Holland America Line Captain Edward van Zaane; Nico Bleichrodt, Senior Director of Sales, North and Central Europe; and Martin Schröder, member of the Holland America Dutch advisory board. The tulips are scheduled to bloom in spring, 2013. An official christening and naming of the new tulip will be held in April, 2013 at Keukenhof.

"Known as the Garden of Europe, Keukenhof is the world's largest flower gardens, situated near Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. Approximately seven million flower bulbs of 1,600 varieties are planted annually at the park. The Keukenhof is only open for two months per year, from March 21 through May 20, and attracts more than 800,000 visitors from around the world."