LIVERPOOL’S lost link to the New World was revived in five-star style when the mighty Rotterdam berthed at the city’s cruise terminal yesterday.

The Holland America Line flagship was the first passenger liner to arrive from New York in 43 years.

As a big Beatles fan, Rotterdam’s master, Capt Henrik Krombeen, was especially pleased to be in Liverpool.

He even told his Mersey pilot he was having lunch with Paul McCartney on the visit yesterday.

Music shaped the life of Capt Krombeen, who began his HAL career as a 17-year-old disc jockey, after labouring on one of its ships.

However, he was spotted by the captain as future officer material.

He said: “Before I knew it, I was in nautical college. I kept the DJ story secret until I was captain.

“Liverpool will become a popular port for us now the new cruise terminal is available.

“The city has a great interest for our passengers. It’s good this berth is so close to the city centre.

“I’d heard the River Mersey was tricky because the tide is so fast.

 “We had two tugs on standby, but this is a very powerful ship. There was no problem berthing.

“Besides our two main propellers, Rotterdam has four bow and stern thrusters, so we can go sideways.

“The Atlantic crossing was a bit rough and we had fog for three days, but this is a good sea boat.”

Rotterdam’s cruise director Susan Wood, from Chester-le-Street, is another link with Liverpool’s transatlantic past.

She started her life at sea on SS Fairwind in 1979, the former Cunard liner Sylvania which made the last Liverpool – New York crossings in November, 1966.

She said: “There’s a strong family atmosphere created by Capt Krombeen and our hotel manager Henrique-Jacques Mensink. About 60% of our passengers are repeat travellers.”

Passengers Gladys and Paul Garber and his sister, Joan McNulty, from Pennsylvania, booked the cruise partly because of their family’s Irish connections.

Rotterdam called at Belfast and will sail to Waterford, Ireland and finally her Rotterdam home port.

Paul said: “This is our first time in Liverpool. We enjoyed walking around the city.”

Gladys said: “We loved the old architecture and the Maritime Museum.”

Capt Krombeen presented Cllr Gary Millar, Liverpool’s tourism executive member, with a special Delft plaque to mark Rotterdam’s visit.

llr Millar returned the compliment with a plaque of the city’s coat of arms.