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Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam Deck Plans & Reviews

Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam

Activities & entertainment

Afternoon Tea
America's Test Kitchen Cooking Classes
Art and Craft Classes *
Art Gallery *
Basketball Court
Beer Tasting *
Cigars Under the Stars *
Digital Workshop *
Digital Workshop Computer Classes
Explorations Central Port Lectures
Fitness Center
Fitness Classes *
Greenhouse Spa & Salon *
Happy Hour Drink Special *
Hot Tubs (5)
Hydro Pool *
Hydrotherapy Pool *
Martini Tasting *
Onboard Lectures
Solo Traveler Get-Togethers
Team Trivia
Volleyball Court
Wine Tasting *
Cabana Club *
Afternoon Musical Concerts
BBC Earth Onboard Features
Billboard Onboard
Feature Movie Matinees
Lincoln Center Stage
Live Nightly Music
Queen's Lounge & Culinary Arts Center
Screening Room
The Mainstage
Dining Room - American
Gallery Bar - Art Bar *
Tamarind Restaurant - Asian Fusion *
Atrium Bar - Atrium Bar *
Ocean Bar - Atrium Bar *
Lido Market - Casual
Explorer's Bar - Classic Bar *
Explorations Café - Coffee Bar *
Dive-In - Fast Food
Crow's Nest - Forward Lounge *
Canaletto Restaurant - italian *
New York Pizza - Pizza
Lido Bar - Pool Bar *
Sea View Bar - Pool Bar *
Pinnacle Grill - Steakhouse *
Pinnacle Bar - Steakhouse Bar *
Neptune Lounge - Suite Guests
Tamarind Bar - View Bar *
Excellent 58
Very Good 31
Terrible 19
All languages ( 142 )
English ( 142 )

Upcoming itineraries

The map for this itinerary is not available at this time.

Nieuw Amsterdam

Courtesy of Holland America Line |

Find a Cruise on Nieuw Amsterdam

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Borrowing its name from the former city of New Amsterdam (now known as New York City ), this 2,106-passenger member of the Holland America fleet launched in 2010 and is famous for its extensive art collection valued at more than $3 million. Guests can admire works from Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein through a complimentary self-guided tour.

Passengers can also pass the time by the pool or in the Greenhouse Spa & Salon, while more enriching programs include the BBC Earth in Concert and onboard movie screenings. While the ship offers youth clubs for kids ages 3 to 17, most activities are geared toward adults.

When it comes to dining, guests can choose from New York Pizza on the pool deck, Asian delicacies at Tamarind and more. Several casual eateries and the main dining rooms are included at no extra cost.

Meanwhile, staterooms range from Interior cabins to expansive Signature, Neptune and Pinnacle Suites, all of which are equipped with Sealy Premium Euro-Top mattresses and flat-screen TVs.

Holland America now features a new exclusive amenities program, Club Orange. Members can receive benefits such as a complimentary stateroom upgrade, a dedicated concierge hotline and skip-the-line priority access.

Nieuw Amsterdam departs from ports across the United States and Canada for sailings in the Caribbean, Alaska, the Pacific Coast and the Panama Canal.

Pros & Cons

Extensive art collection on board, including works by Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein

Few activities for kids

Expert Rating » 4.0
Traveler Rating » 4.1
Health Rating » 4.5

Nieuw Amsterdam ranks # 6 out of 11 Holland America Line Cruise Ships based on an analysis of expert and user ratings, as well as health ratings.

# 6 in Best Holland America Line
# 18 in Best Cruises to Alaska
# 40 in Best Cruises to the Caribbean
# 43 in Best Affordable Cruises
# 43 in Best Cruises for Couples

Nieuw Amsterdam offers a wide range of accomodation options. Browse cabins to find the stateroom that suits your needs.

Nieuw Amsterdam contains 11 decks. Find out which features are available on each Nieuw Amsterdam deck.

Traveler Reviews

A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com , which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. A total of 767 guests have reviewed Nieuw Amsterdam , giving it a rating of 4.1 on a scale of 1-5.

Cruiseline Travel Rating:

Reviews by traveler type.

Ship Photos

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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Home » Cruise » Holland America Line » Nieuw Amsterdam » Nieuw Amsterdam Cruise Ship Review Scorecard

Nieuw Amsterdam Cruise Ship Review Scorecard

Discover what it is really like sailing on Holland America Line with our brand new Nieuw Amsterdam cruise ship scorecard review for 2021!

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Nieuw Amsterdam features several classic cruise ship amenities and venues throughout its 11 decks. Our Holland America Line Alaska cruise was the first with this brand. So, we wanted to test out all of this 87K gross ton ship’s activities, entertainment, and dining. Find out how the ship fared with our signature Holland America Line Nieuw Amsterdam cruise ship scorecard review.

Watch our Complete Nieuw Amsterdam Cruise Review Video!

Nieuw Amsterdam Cruise Ship Scorecard Review

Embarkation and disembarkation.

Similar to all our cruises so far this year, HAL has several COVID-19 protocols and procedures in place. Prior to even boarding the ship, all eligible cruisers need to be vaccinated and need to arrive with a negative COVID test.

Further, there are now assigned boarding times. Luckily, we were assigned Group A boarding. This meant that we would be among the first cruisers to board the ship once it was cleared around 11:30 am.

So, when we arrived at the terminal around 10:45 am, we were allowed to enter and complete the check-in process. It was quick and efficient, taking no more than 15 minutes despite the added verification steps.

Once our group was called, we walked right onto the ship with no line!

Holland America Line Alaska Cruise Review

A week later, disembarkation was similarly efficient and well organized.

Even with the ship sailing at 70% capacity, there were no issues. We did Port Valet, which meant we walked off with just our carry-on bags. As part of the “independent” group, we were able to leave our room around 8 am. From leaving the cabin, to scanning off, and getting through customs, it was less than 15 minutes.

Disembarkation at the ports of call was simple too. While there were short lines at some destinations, it never took more than a few minutes to scan off or on the ship at any of our Alaskan stops.

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There are two pool areas on Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam. Both of these areas are rather plain, with little distinguishing theme or décor.

Only one of these pools, the aft-located Sea View pool, is an outdoor pool. During our trip, there were no loungers setup near this pool though. While this was a “cold water cruise”, there were at least two days that the temperatures were sunny and warm enough to be outside.

A few people did use the hot tubs near this pool, but we rarely saw anyone actually in the pool. However, many people congregated at the outdoor tables to enjoy the good weather.

The midship covered pool, the Lido pool, felt more like a typical cruise ship solarium. Though, this pool does have a retractable roof, so it was not as stuffy as some other indoor pool areas.

This pool was enjoyed by cruisers for swimming or lounging in the hot tubs. So, this made the adjacent seating and dining areas near this pool a bit crowded especially on sea days.

Overall, we felt the Nieuw Amsterdam cruise ship could have used more outdoor space. While the setup is fine in Alaska, we can imagine the aft deck would get very crowded in warmer regions like the Caribbean.

Sports Deck

Over 83% of guests on our sailing were aged 50+. So, it is not surprising that the cruise ship doesn’t feature amenities like a rock climbing wall, ropes course, or surf simulator.

Still, there was a sports court on deck 11. The activities team did sponsor some games like pickle ball or cornhole tournaments in this space. On deck 9, there are also two makeshift ping pong tables near the Lido Pool and shuffleboard on deck 10.

Again, when you factor in the itinerary, lack of outdoor sports and activities is not too surprising.

Of course, there is a fitness center on the ship as well, which is well-equipped for a ship of this size.

In addition, there is a walking/running track on deck 3. This track circles the entire ship and was a frequent spot for morning or afternoon walks.

Casual Dining

The main causal dining venue is the Lido Market. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, this venue offered predictable food selections. We did like that there was a menu available in the app, so you could see what was being offered each meal.

Related Post: Holland America Restaurant Menus and Dining Guide

Breakfast was the same each day, including a custom omelet bar. These omelets were well-prepared and a much better option over the eggs in the buffet itself.

We did enjoy the lunch and dinner options in the Lido Market as well. For lunch, my go-to was either a deli sandwich or Asian selections from one of the Distant Land areas. Everything I tried, from fried rice, to lo mein, to sweet and sour pork, was delicious. Other options for both dinner and lunch include a custom pasta station and made to order salads.

Holland America Restaurant Menus and Dining Guide

While the main entrée selections were a bit less than buffets on other contemporary cruise ships, food quality was certainly better than the competition. We also liked the easy to navigate layout.

Other casual spot are New York Pizza near the aft pool and the Dive-In grill with burgers, dogs, and chicken sandwiches near the lido pool.

Dive-In was one of the better burger joints on a cruise ship. Though, New York Pizza was a bit of a let-down, especially after enjoying Alfredo’s on our Princess cruise a few weeks prior .

Main Dining Room

The main dining room was open every day for breakfast. It was also open 5 out of 7 days for lunch with mostly the same menu.

We dined here once for lunch and twice for breakfast. The menu for breakfast is quite impressive. With unique offerings from omelets, to banana bread french toast and hearty skillets, you will enjoy starting your day off here.

Equally vast is the lunch menu. It offers more options than any MDR lunch we have had on a cruise ship.

With a few brunch items, a selection of salads, sandwiches, and entrees, it was difficult to make a decision. My chicken and waffles was a sweet and savory entrée. The Princess did two of the starters, the chicken tacos and barbecue spring rolls, both of which she enjoyed.

In all honesty, we only dined in the main dining room once for dinner, and this one visit did not impress us. The dinner menu also seemed really small in comparison to the breakfast and lunch menus. Unfortunately, this was our least favorite dinner of the cruise.

Of course, dining here a few more times would have given us a better assessment of the MDR experience, as the first night of the cruise is always a bit off anyway. Looks like we will need to book another HAL cruise!

Specialty Dining

As guests of Holland America Line on this trip, we were treated to all three specialty restaurants. In addition, we also sampled the Rudi’s Sel de Mer menu one evening at the Pinnacle Grill.

So, while we didn’t get a good representation of the main dining room, we got a complete experience of the specialty dining on Holland America Line.

We are happy to report that the specialty restaurants onboard were all excellent. In fact, the specialty dining experience on this ship might be some of the best specialty dining we’ve had at sea!

The Nieuw Amsterdam cruise ship’s steakhouse is the Pinnacle Grill. The venue is at a similar price point to other cruise line steakhouses. However, it surpassed many when it came to food quality. The signature candied bacon starter was great, and my filet was one of the best steaks I have ever had.

The Pan-Asian Taramind is a venue we could visit multiple times. From the lobster and shrimp pot stickers, to the tempura, the chicken satays, and crab fried rice, I was in heaven.

Perhaps the best specialty dining deal is the Italian restaurant Canaletto’s. This specialty restaurant delivered an upscale meal well worth the cover charge.

While the location in the buffet lacks a bit of ambiance, the venue more than delivers with its menu.

With grilled calamari and rich, creamy buffalo mozzarella as apps, you won’t be disappointed. Then, there is the braised short rib gnocchi and homemade pasta Genovese which were both equally delicious. The tiramisu dessert too was a well-made version of this classic dish.

Finally, Rudi’s delivered succulent and fresh seafood with an artful presentation. While a bit pricey, it is a must for seafood lovers. With sweet crab as an appetizer, and a perfectly seasoned lobster tail, I was more than impressed. That says a lot coming from a New Englander who gets some of the best seafood back home. Topping off this dinner with profiteroles, it was a three course masterpiece!

As the 5th cruise back for Holland America Line this year, we anticipated that the crew would be back into their regular routines. For the most part, we were correct.

Throughout the ship, the service was timely. The staff seemed to have adjusted to any changes in procedures and protocols by now. There were plenty of waiters and food servers in the buffet and lounges. Most of the crew were friendly, delivering service with a smile.

Service in the main dining room and specialty restaurants was also on par with other brands. While we often dined as a large group, our servers were friendly and very accommodating. They were able to meet many dietary needs and delivered an exquisite dining experience in about two hours for our group of 14.

Our stateroom attendant, Gusti, made up our room once a day per the new protocols. We never really saw him, but we never had any issues either.

Guest Services seemed well staffed, even though a majority of the issues had to do with internet connectivity.

As coffee lovers, we visited the Explorations Café multiple times a day. Here, they could have used some additional help. The staff seemed a bit overwhelmed, and there were often issues with our orders. A second coffee venue more centrally located on the ship would have been nice.

Overall, service met our expectations for a contemporary cruise line.

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Bars and Lounges

There are nine bars on the ship, many with a signature drink menu.

The Gallery Bar on deck 2 was a hidden gem. The oversized seats and large couches gave this lounge an upscale, parlor feeling. Not to mention, the signature cocktails like the Hemingway daiquiri and the Manhattan were among my favorites.

The Billboard Lounge served up some great specialty cocktails as well alongside live piano music. With metallic accents and bright colors, this venue had an inviting atmosphere.

Similarly, B.B. King’s Blue’s Club offered musically-inspired drinks to sip while enjoying the live music; while the Tamarind Bar on Deck 11 offered a quiet retreat with amazing views and specialty cocktails.

While none of the bars or lounges were overly themed, they all offered well-prepared drinks and attentive service.

Entertainment and Nightlife

In the evenings, there was a variety of entertainment occurring in different venues throughout the ship.

The Mainstage is the ship’s main theater. It hosted a show most evenings at 7 pm and 9 pm to accommodate the different dining times.

The Step One Dance company offered three production shows. Our favorite was Humanity, which occurred on the first Gala Night (Night 2). The well-choreographed dance numbers, engaging special effects, and modern music made this show a real standout.

The Mainstage also featured a magician one night and a BBC Earth Experience: Alaska in Concert. The magician was pretty average for a cruise ship. Unfortunately, we did not get to attend the Alaska in Concert but would have loved to check it out.

Additionally, the Lincoln Center Stage featured classical music by a quartet in the late afternoons and early evenings. This venue was smaller than we expected, meaning it was often difficult to get a seat with a decent view.

B.B. King’s Blues Club was one of our favorite venues. Each night, you could sing and dance along to musical sets by the talented All Star Band. These included Soul Music, Funky 70’s, Memphis Nights, and more.

This venue also hosted comedy shows. While we liked the small, intimate setup of this location, it was often standing room only.

Billboard Onboard was another happening venue. This piano bar featured two performers who played everything from Chart Toppers to the British Invasion. Later in the evenings, there was even “All Request” sessions. Here too, it was often standing room only.

We stayed in cabin 4137. This starboard side aft cabin is categorized as a VB balcony stateroom. According to Holland America Line’s website, the size of verandah cabins can range from 213–379 square feet including the verandah.

Our cabin certainly felt larger than comparable cabins on Norwegian Cruise Line or our recent trip on Princess Cruises.

When entering the room, our bathroom was to the left (forward facing) with a wall of closets to the right. We did like the ability to customize the setup of the shelves in the closet.

The bathroom was lager, with a full tub offering more space than your average cruise ship shower.

Inside the cabin, the bed was immediately following the bathroom on the forward wall. There were two night stands, each with drawers and USB outlets, for additional storage. It also meant that we could each easily charge our phones at night.

There was a small desk and a seating area beyond the bed. I was able to use the corner shelf as my charging station, while the wife used the desk to get ready. The love seat and table were good-sized as well.

When it comes to the balcony, ours was just right. It offered an open layout, slightly bigger than typical balconies. It had two loungers, a small table, and two ottomans. We thought this was a nice touch.

We made good use of this balcony space to admire the amazing Alaskan scenery.

Overall Nieuw Amsterdam Cruise Ship Scorecard Review

Not knowing what to expect from our first cruise with the brand, Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam impressed us on several fronts.

With tasteful dining options, a variety of talented live music and nightly entertainment, and just the right amount of onboard enrichment, it was an ideal cruise ship to sail to Alaska. The line’s EXC talks offer interesting alternatives to typical cruise programming, with both region specific and more general topics.

The ship was comfortable with several intimate venues. While the activities during the sea days felt a bit lacking, we always found something to do onboard the ship.

With several bars and lounges offering signature drinks, you could always find a seat for a pre-dinner drink.

Our cabin offered more space than a typical stateroom. So, we over-packers enjoyed the extra room. This was particularly evident with the bathroom and the balcony.

For globe trotters seeking superb dining, coupled with unique and destination-focused itineraries, Holland America Line is an excellent choice. With the line’s new “Have It All” pricing, you are able to see more of the world at an even greater value!

While the demographic of the cruise line is skewed older than us, we could certainly see ourselves booking another cruise with HAL in the future.

Disclaimer: While we were guests of Holland America Line on this cruise, all opinions in this post are 100% are own.

Have you sailed on the Nieuw Amsterdam cruise ship? Are you a fan of Holland America Line cruises? Drop us an anchor below to share what you love about the cruise line.

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DB & The Princess

Welcome Aboard! We are Don and Heidi, the husband and wife travel team behind EatSleepCruise.com. We took our first cruise vacation together 13 years ago and have been hooked ever since. Follow along as we share our travel tips, cruise reviews, information on ports of call, and the latest cruise news to help you plan the ultimate cruise vacation. Are you ready to embark on your journey to “sea the world, one port at a time”?

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Nieuw Amsterdam Review

A nice first time cruise on holland america.

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Additional details.

Many of our friends sail on Holland America and after many cruises on Princess, Celebrity and Royal, we decided to try this line. We took Amtrak from Ohio to Fort Lauderdale (dont care to fly ). Boarded Nieux Amsterdam on 7 day cruise to Half Moon Cay, Grand Turk, Puerto Rico and St Thomas USVI. Embarkation went well and we were on the ship in less than half hour. We chose inside cabin on Deck 6. It was a reasonable size, not quite as large as Princess. Bathroom was good size and shower was excellent for my 6'6 frame.

Our cabin steward was Omar and he and his assistant did a great job in keeping our room in order. Some cute towel animals and some chocolates on varied nights. A quick muster drill and by 2pm our luggage was placed in our room. Did a quick ship tour and a brief lunch in the buffet on Deck 9.

Cabin Review

Find a nieuw amsterdam cruise from $322.

Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam – Full Ship Review

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Cruising is one of my favorite vacations and with sailing paused for over a year, I was so excited to finally be back at sea! My first cruise in 2021 was aboard Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam and it was a great sailing. Our itinerary was a seven night cruise, round trip out of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The Nieuw Amsterdam is a beautiful ship, and Holland America is a fantastic cruise line. I know you will love sailing with HAL and I am so excited to share my full Nieuw Amsterdam Review with you!

Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam Full Ship Review

I was invited to sail on Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam with a group of agents to learn more about the brand and the healthy return to sea. As always, all opinions are my own.

Holland America is a fabulous cruise line that sails to the Caribbean, and is one of the best lines on which to sail Alaska. This was actually my second time sailing on HAL, my family did a Caribbean cruise on the msVeendam back in 2018.

Holland America guests skew towards the more sophisticated adult although there are amenities for kids on board. My mid-November sailing was adults only (because everyone on board had to be vaccinated), but when we voyaged for spring break in 2018, there were over 100 kids on board.

Our seven night voyage on the Nieuw Amsterdam started and ended in Fort Lauderdale and we visited Nassau, Bahamas ; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic, and Holland America’s private island, Half Moon Cay.

The Nieuw Amsterdam was refurbished in 2017, and in 2022, the Nieuw Amsterdam will be sailing the Caribbean and Alaska .

Choosing a cruise is tough! That’s why you always want to work with a travel agent to book your next cruise. I can help you choose the perfect cruise line, ship and itinerary – and the best part, you pay the same as if you were to book direct through the cruise line and I get paid by the cruises. Click the banner below to get started.

Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam Deck Plan

The Nieuw Amsterdam is an easy to navigate ship. The deck plan is easy to figure out – and the boat is small enough you can get from your cabin to restaurants, entertainment, the pools very easily.

Deck 1 is mostly cabins, along with an atrium and this is where you will find guest services. Decks 2 and 3 are where the main indoor stuff is located – casino, entertainment and dining.

Decks 4 -8 are where most cabins are located. Deck 4 is home to the lifeboats, so cabins on Decks 4 and 5 might have lifeboat views – so book higher like decks 6, 7 or 8!

Deck 9 is home to the buffet, two pools, the spa and fitness center. Deck 10 overlooks the pool – there is some sports stuff and the Retreat cabanas.

Lastly, deck 11 is split, there is an 11th floor aft which is where Tamarind is, and a Deck 11 forward where the Explorer’s Lounge is. You can’t walk from one side of deck 11 to the other without going back down to deck 10.

Cabins on the Nieuw Amsterdam

Our stateroom, 8111 was a beautiful balcony cabin. The balcony itself was large, with two chairs each with an ottoman, and a small table. We loved sitting out there, watching the ocean go by!

Inside our room, we had a small couch, desk, flat screen TV, and fridge -which was stocked with mini bar items- but I used it to chill my wine. The room has either one king or two twins (you can have them configure it any way you would like). There was also plenty of storage in the cabin – three closets in fact, and a small bathroom with a small tub, shower, toilet, and sink.

Holland American Nieuw Amsterdam Balcony Cabin

I also loved the soft robes in the room – I totally forgot to get a picture of them!

On the Nieuw Amsterdam there are also interior rooms, ocean view cabins, and suites – something for every traveler and every budget.

Dining on Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam

Let’s face it, one of the best things about cruising is the food! And the food on Holland America is notoriously amazing.

There are so many great places to eat throughout the day – you will never go hungry and Holland offers great variety each day.

Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam Dining Options

The eateries onboard the Nieuw Amsterdam include:

Lido Buffet on Deck 9 – This is more of a food hall or food stations then buffet. They serve you and there are pasta stations, omelet stations, salad bar, deli, and options that rotate throughout the week. The Lido is open most of the day so you can head there for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack.

Dive In – I love the Dive-In. This eatery by the main pool is open during the day for lunch or an early dinner. The Dive-In serves burgers, portobello sandwiches, hot dogs, and fries. There are milkshakes available for a small charge.

New York Pizzeria – Located by the back pool, and open during the day and into the evening, New York Pizzeria serves made to order personal pizzas, salads and some desserts. I love that you can customize your pizza with whatever toppings you want! I had a quick dinner one night at NY Pizzeria and it was lovely to sit out under the stars and enjoy a hot pizza all to myself. It was pretty good – I can be skeptical about “NY Pizza” but I enjoyed this.

Main Dining Room – The main dining room is located on decks 2 and 3. The main dining room is open for breakfast and lunch, check your navigator app for times. I did love having breakfast down at the dining room one day.

For dinner, the dining room is open for set time and any time dining. The menu changes each night, but remember you can order as much as you would like. One night I did order two entrees, and a few nights we all ordered multiple appetizers.

Holland America Room Service – I love that most room service is included on a Holland America cruise. You can pre-order breakfast by putting the card on your door the night before or call down to order a meal or snack. If you want food delivered from the Dive-In or Tamarind, there is a small fee, but otherwise, just tip your server a few bucks.

You might also like: Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady Ship Tour

Specialty Dining on the Nieuw Amsterdam

Holland America offers a few specialty dining options on the Nieuw Amsterdam. You can make reservations for specialty dining right on your Navigator app.

The steakhouse, Pinnacle Grill has a coverage charge of $39 per person, and all of my friends who dined here loved it. They all agreed Pinnacle Grille was well worth the fee.

If you like seafood, head to Rudy’s, which is only offered one night during your cruise, for a charge of $49 per person.

For an Italian dinner, you can dine at Canaletto, which is offered at $19 per person.

Tamarind, the Southeast Asian restaurant is $29 per person for a cover charge. A cover charge meaning you can pay to dine there but can order whatever you would like, verses Nami which is the ala carte sushi restaurant (you just pay for what you order).

Even if you don’t dine at Tamarind, be sure to head up there for a drink – the lounge/bar area is so beautiful.

Lastly, if you are a coffee lover, head up to the Explorer’s Café on deck 11. Here you will find all sorts of specialty coffees for small charge. This is also a great place to hang out day or night – lots of seating and you can see for miles out the front of the ship.

Nieuw Amsterdam Pools and Spa

The Nieuw Amsterdam has eleven decks, and holds just over 2000 passengers, so it is a smaller ship. But the Nieuw Amsterdam has everything you need for an awesome cruise!

On Deck 9 there are two pools. One that can be covered in bad weather, and one on the back of the ship (that is for adults only). Both pools have several hot tubs around and there are lots of chairs for sunbathing and relaxing.

Holland America Nieuw Amsterdaam Ship Review

Up on Deck 9 you can also find the gym (which is pretty large), the spa/salon, and the hydro therapy area. Some of my friends purchased the week long hydro therapy package and really loved relaxing in there. Seriously they spent hours in the spa!

Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam Hydrotherapy

Nieuw Amsterdam Entertainment

If you love music, you will love sailing on Holland America Line. There are so many great places to see live music – from the Mainstage with the large production show, to Billboards with dueling pianos, to BB Kings for music all night.

There is also the Lincoln Center Stage on board where beautiful instrumental music is played.

On our sailing, there were several comedians on board and nightly comedy shows. Our group also loved some of the games hosted by our cruise director – such as trivia, Majority Rules and Pictionary! Just check your Navigator app to find out what is happening on board.

On the Nieuw Amsterdam, there is also a good size casino, open when the boat is sailing. The evenings offered lots to do on board.

Tips for sailing on Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam

If you are looking for a relaxing cruise, with great ports, and great service, you will for sure have a great time sailing on Holland America Line and the Nieuw Amsterdam ship.

When you book your cruise with me, I send you lots of pre-departure information and make sure you have everything you need for a great cruise. But here are some tips I can share to maximize your time on board the Nieuw Amsterdam.

Book the Have it all package – this will give you unlimited drinks, Wi-Fi, one night of specialty dining and one shore excursion.

Download the HAL app , called the Navigator . This app is free to use even if you do not pay for the upgraded Wi-Fi. You can use the app to make reservations, look at menus, and see what is happening around the ship. You can set it up before you depart, but then you must sign back on when you connect to the ship’s Wi-Fi.

Try stuff on board! I did the mixology class – but there was also wine tastings, cooking demonstrations, movies, fitness classes, literally so much to do!

Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam Mixology Class

Remember to budget for service gratuities . On my November 2021 sailing these were $15.50 per person, per day.

Relax. I loved that there are lots of bars and nooks on board to relax.

Consider booking a spot in The Retreat . This is an upgraded cabana area. A private oasis with a chair and tables, day bed, service, and privacy curtains, it’s the ultimate way to relax without having to fight for chairs on board!

Purchase the hydrotherapy pass – like most cruise add-ons its less expensive if you purchase it before you sail, and my agent friends raved about the spa.

Always deposit on your next cruise while you are on board your current cruise. You will get some on board booking bonus’ and great prices. You can also stick with your amazing travel agent to service your reservation even when you book on board.

Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam Review

I had a great time on board the Nieuw Amsterdam. This ship offers both lots to do, and the opportunity to relax and unwind.

I loved that this ship felt like a luxury cruise liner very Love Boat-esque . This is not the ship if you want to forget you are on a ship. This is a cruisers cruise for sure.

The food was excellent and the service even better. All of the masking, social distancing and health/safety protocols were in place and I felt totally fine sailing.

The private island stop at Half Moon Cay was a 2021 vacation highlight for sure – the beach is gorgeous and it’s so nice to spend a day in this private oasis in paradise.

I only had two “complaints” about my sailing – the first being that the WIFI (we had the surf package) sucked. It was dial-up speed and you could only use it for a few apps, email and web browsing. But with that said, I was on a work trip and had to spend most of the sea days in front of my computer. If you are on vacation, you will be fine, but something to consider if you are trying to do a workcation at sea.

Lastly, it had been a while since I cruised (my last cruise before this was on the Disney Wonder in February 2020) I forgot how many upcharges you can have on a cruise. It’s really not even close to an all-inclusive experience, especially since I did not have the HAVE IT ALL package.

But with all that, I am seriously considering Holland America for our family’s Alaska cruise (which we need to rebook from 2020) and I cannot wait to continue to book you all on HAL’s amazing ships, including the Nieuw Amsterdam.

Have you sailed on Holland America Line? Have you been on the Nieuw Amsterdam? Tell me about it in the comments –

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Things to do in venice with kids, icon of the seas review: is the new royal caribbean ship worth the hype, sandals grande st. lucian review, 10 comments to “holland america’s nieuw amsterdam – full ship review”.

Our cruise was awful, the food was bland and much like a college dining hall. The restaurant food was pricey not worth it. Our private island stop was canceled so we were stuck on the ship with only a 15 capacity person pool. The drinks were watered down and expensive. The activities were so boring and again pricey. This was our first and last cruise

Oh no!!! that has been the exact opposite of my experiences on HAL – of course it does stink when they have to cancel Half Moon Cay, it happens since its a tender port, and yes, cruise ship pools are all small. Sorry you did not enjoy – but hope there were some things you did enjoy!

Went on HAl Koenigsdam in 2022 to Alaska. We wanted for nothing. Food and service were amazing. Zero complaints. The ship was beautiful and extremely clean. Entertainment was excellent too, even though I lost $200 at the casino. Planning another trip as I type!

Enjoy! Their ships are the best!

You mentioned that the WiFi was bad. Users have to remember that all communications, WiFi, Telephone Calls, data for the onboard ship use is all sent over satelitte, and those are in space. The ship itself has a large amount of data that is also processed, from E-Mail, to credit card authorizations, and such. So everything has to bounce off of it, and back down to land. With thousands of people, and the crew, even if you had the fastest connection availble for your house on land, it still is not fast enough for everyone to use on a ship. I did I.T. for Carnival for 6 years on their ships, and there is no good way to get fast internet over satelitte for thousands of people. I heard people complain all the time.

oh 100%! And I am in the minority since if I am on a FAM, I am working – regular vacationers should turn off and relax!

My sister and I sailed with Holland America in 2009 for the Alaskan cruise. It was an unforgettable experience because the staff made us feel welcomed and the food was delicious.

We’re interested in booking a cruise to the Caribbean for our birthday next year, which is in October. We want to start planning everything in November or December of this year.

Okay – I will reach out. I am going to Alaska on HAL in May 2024, can’t wait!

Does the ship have its own tenders? If so, where can I see a photo? Thanks.

the Nieuw Amsterdam, I honestly dont remember, we only had to tender at Half Moon Cay

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Holland America Line ms Nieuw Amsterdam Cruise Review

The first nieuw amsterdam was launched in 1906. this “nieuwest” version is the largest ship in holland america’s fleet..

Updated October 2, 2014

Launched in 2010, this is the fourth Holland America ship to be sailing with this name, and perhaps the most elegant. While the original Nieuw Amsterdam was a sail and steam ship launched in 1906, this “nieuwest” version is an 86,000-ton vessel that represents the largest ship in Holland America’s fleet, the second in the Signature class line. The luxurious ship boasts a great art collection that connects the history of New York City (which the Dutch also called Nieuw Amsterdam once upon a time), and guests can embark on a complimentary self-guided iPod art tour.

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.

Introduction

Large ocean-view staterooms, deluxe verandah ocean-view staterooms, superior verandah suites, deluxe verandah suites, penthouse verandah suites, in-room dining overview, presentation, drinks overview, beer & wine, mixed drinks, drink packages, non-alcoholic options, lido pool, bar and terrace grill, sea view pool, bar and slice, explorations café and library, the neptune lounge, club hal and the loft, art gallery, screening room, king’s room, meeting rooms, green house spa and salon, deck 10 – panorama, photo gallery, pinnacle grill, queen’s lounge and culinary art center, showroom at sea, casino and casino bar, promenade deck, cabana club, deck 12 – observation, sports court – deck 11, services & staff, ship tour overview, dress codes and alcohol policy, loyalty programs, smoking regulations, other activities, sports & fitness, additional details, shows & performances.

Some of Nieuw Amsterdam’s features will be familiar from older Holland America ships, like the outside-view glass elevators, the Explorations Café, Pinnacle Grill and Bar, and the Culinary Arts Center where guests can embark on cooking journeys in state-of-the-art show kitchens. Some updates include Holland America’s largest fitness center, the teens-only Loft, Spa Staterooms, the specialty restaurant Tamarind and Silk Den lounge—a pan-Asian venue—and the new Master Chef’s Room, with seven-course set menus prepared in a private room within the Pinnacle Grill. If all you want to do is lay in the sun or take in the view, join active shore excursions, or take advantage of all the (mostly complimentary) activities, you are unlikely to get bored. And between the innovative drinks and delicious dining options, you won’t go hungry or thirsty either.

There are four basic stateroom categories, but sizes vary substantially within the individual categories and priced accordingly.

Nieuw Amsterdam has 1,053 cabins, one more than sister ship Eurodam, allowing more than 2,100 passengers, the largest capacity in Holland America’s fleet. There are four main types of rooms: Interior, Ocean-view, Verandah and Suite, with variations in size, view, amenities and pricing within each type.

Interior cabins range between “standard” (141 square feet) and “large” (284 square feet)—some of these can accommodate four passengers. But more than 80 percent of the accommodations on Nieuw Amsterdam are Ocean-view cabins, most of them with verandah—these start at 169 square feet and run as large as 379 square feet for Deluxe Ocean-view Staterooms. Three different types of suites are also available.

Standard features throughout all cabins are terry cloth bathrobes for use on-board, flat-screen TV and DVD player, complimentary fresh fruit on request and two lower beds that can be converted into one queen-size bed (in Deluxe Verandah and Penthouse suites, the bed is king-size).

There is also a series of Spa Suites on the tenth and eleventh decks—both within the Interior and Ocean-view categories—with added amenities including yoga mats, an iPod docking station and a different room service menu featuring healthier options.

This cabin was small but comfortable.

This standard interior cabin is the least expensive category available on Nieuw Amsterdam, and ours was positioned near the aft. Being an inside room, there was no porthole in this small room, only a curtain above the bed where a window might be. On entry, the bathroom door was on the right, with closets on the left. On nights when the ship would rock the room sounded unstable.

The sleeping arrangements included two twin beds that can be converted to a queen on request. The mattress and bedding was very comfy. Directional reading lights were positioned on either side of the bed.

The bathroom was tiny, and there was minimal storage space. A trio of small shelves to one side next to the mirror were each barely large enough for a typical travel kit; there was a little shelf for toiletries inside the shower. The diminutive shower (no tub) had a massaging showerhead, but the curtains were a bit icky. Holland America promises a “salon-quality hairdryer” in all cabins, but there wasn’t one in ours. Amenities included Egyptian cotton towels and bath products from Elemis Aromapure (shower gel, shampoo and conditioner via shower dispensers).

Our room key turned on the electricity in the cabin. Opposite the beds was a desk and vanity with a big mirror as well as a magnifying make-up mirror at waist level. The TV was on a shelf above the desk; the DVD player was mounted underneath. The desk chair was useless because the space under the desk was occupied by a small square ottoman; handily, by flipping over the top of the ottoman it converted to a coffee table, but this got in the way.

The two bigger closets both had hangers and fold out shelves, while a smaller closet had shelves only. Two nightstands had some storage space and a bible; a fruit basket could be filled on request with bananas, apples, pears and oranges. The fridge was stocked with water, soft drinks, beer, wine, champagne, small bottles of liquor and mixers.

We did not stay in the rest of these cabins, but we have summaries here provided by Holland America Line. Note that any photos on this page may be provided directly by the cruise line and not our reviewer.

Two lower beds convertible to one queen-size bed, bathtub, shower. All G-category staterooms have partial sea views.  Approximately 169–267 sq. ft. Stateroom amenities include:

• Our signature Mariner’s Dream™ bed featuring finely woven cotton linens • Deluxe waffle weave and terry cloth bathrobes for use during your voyage • 100% Egyptian cotton towels • Premium massage showerheads • 5X magnifying make-up mirrors and salon-quality hair dryers • Fragrant soaps, lotions, shampoo and other bath amenities from Elemis • Aromapure • Complimentary fresh fruit on request • Elegant ice bucket and serving tray for in-stateroom beverages • Flat-panel TV and DVD player • Ice service, shoeshine service and nightly turndown service

Two lower beds convertible to one queen-size bed, bathtub, shower, sitting area, private verandah, floor-to-ceiling windows.  Approximately 213–379 sq. ft. including verandah. Stateroom amenities include:

• Our signature Mariner's Dream™ bed featuring finely woven cotton linens • Luxurious bathrobes for use during your voyage • 100% Egyptian cotton towels • Premium massage showerhead • 5x magnifying lighted make-up mirror and salon-quality hair dryer • Fragrant soaps, lotions, shampoo and other bath amenities from Elemis Aromapure • Complimentary fresh fruit on request • Elegant ice bucket and serving tray for in-stateroom beverages • Flat-panel TV and DVD player • Ice service, shoeshine service and nightly turndown service

Two lower beds convertible to one queen-size bed, bathroom with dual sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath, shower and additional shower stall, large sitting area, private verandah, one sofa bed for one person, floor-to-ceiling windows.  Approximately 273–456 sq. ft. including verandah. Include all the stateroom amenities, plus:

• A variety of firm, medium and soft pillow • No-host mini-bar for easy entertainin • Personalized cruise stationery • Oversized bath towels • One-touch telephone concierge service • Fresh flowers • Complimentary DVD library

Two lower beds convertible to one king-size bed, bathroom with dual sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath, shower and additional shower stall, large sitting area, dressing room, private verandah, one sofa bed for two persons, floor-to-ceiling windows. Approximately 506–590 sq. ft. including verandah. Suite amenities include:

• Complimentary laundry, pressing and dry cleaning throughout your cruise • Premium duvet, oversize bath towels and soft, cotton bathrobes and slipper • Gorgeous corsages and boutonnieres for the first formal night • Hors d'oeuvres served before dinner each evening on request • Binoculars and umbrellas for your use on the cruise • Cocktail party with ship officers • Priority boarding for tender ports of call • Special disembarkation service • Priority dining and seating requests • Exclusive daily breakfast service for suite guests only • High tea service in suite on request • A special Suite guest lunch event on cruises over 7 days in length

A very special amenity exclusively for guests cruising in a Deluxe Verandah Suite or Penthouse Verandah Suite, the industry-leading Neptune Lounge features a private place to relax, socialize with other suite guests and enjoy the personalized service of a concierge. The fleet-wide lounges provide worktables, large screen television, library, sofas and chairs, refreshments throughout the day and WiFi for a small charge. One-Touch 24-hour Concierge Service is available when the Neptune Lounge is closed.

Bedroom with one king-size bed, oversize whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, living room, dining room, dressing room, private verandah with whirlpool, pantry, one sofa bed for two persons, microwave, refrigerator, guest toilet, private stereo system, floor-to-ceiling windows.  Approximately 1357 sq. ft. including verandah. Include all the suite amenities, plus:

A very special amenity exclusively for guests cruising in a Deluxe Verandah Suite or Penthouse Verandah Suite, the industry-leading Neptune Lounge features a private place to relax, socialize with other suite guests and enjoy the personalized service of a concierge. The fleet-wide lounges provide worktables, large screen television, library, sofas and chairs, refreshments throughout the day and wi-fi for a small charge. One-Touch 24-hour Concierge Service is available when the Neptune Lounge is closed.

Standard cabins come with basic amenities, the Spa Staterooms add in a few extras.

Two plugs at the desk handled 110 and 220 volt; there was also a plug in the bathroom for a shaver. The WiFi signal in this cabin wasn’t strong. A flat screen TV and DVD player was above the desk (movie loaned at the front desk). In addition to major stations accessed on satellite, there were a few movie channels (one shows the movie played in the screening room the day previous). There was a safe in the closet and a mini bar stocked with soda, liquors and beer; bottled water was $3. The ice bucket was filled every morning. A bathrobe was provided for use during the cruise that could be purchased as a memento for $49.

Room service food was delivered promptly and it tasted pretty good, too.

In addition to a 24-hour menu, room service offers a breakfast menu available until 10:00 a.m. and a selection available between noon and 10:00 p.m. When placing our order the phone was answered soon, and the wait for delivery was not long. Breakfast can also be ordered with the door tag (left out by 2 a.m.), designating the desired time of delivery. We found the food to be pretty good for room service, and it did not take very long to be delivered. There was no charge for room service.

Everything comes on a tray with flowers, every plate has a lid, soups and cereals are covered with plastic wrap.

The breakfast menu offered a choice of juices, fresh fruits, low fat yogurt, breads, preserves, cereals, eggs and meats, as well as hot and cold beverages.

Highlights from the 24-hour menu included smoked Atlantic salmon, mixed garden greens, a triple-decker club sandwich (which we found quite tasty), all-American hamburger, an open-faced omelet, and a selection of cheeses.

A four-course meal could be ordered from the regular menu (available between noon and 10:00 p.m.), which included a nice selection of appetizers like a bay shrimp cocktail, French onion soup, smoked Atlantic salmon and mixed-green and Caesar salads. Entrées included a seared salmon steak, penne primavera, as well as sandwiches and burgers including the triple-decker club, California chicken sandwich, grilled tuna melt, steak sandwich, hamburger and a Thai vegetarian wrap.

Desserts included apple tart, chocolate cake with raspberry sauce, vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce, fruit salad, and assorted cheeses.

The menu also has helpful suggestions for passages when the ship is in rocky waters. To soothe anxious stomachs, recommendations included beef broth and crackers, broiled chicken breast and rice, green apples and crackers, and hot tea.

Airline-size liquor bottles were $4.95, and also available were domestic and international beers, wine, sparkling wine, water, soft drinks, energy drinks and bloody mary mix ($2.45 each). A 15-percent service charge was automatically added to drink prices.

There are more dining choices here than on Holland America’s other mid-sized ships.

Among the seven options for dinner, the Manhattan Dining Room is the primary restaurant, and spread over two floors. The upper level offers traditional, fixed seatings at 5:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and the lower level offers open dining between 5:15 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Breakfast and dinner are daily, with lunch on sea days and days where you arrive at a port late.

There are two specialty restaurants requiring a surcharge. Pinnacle Grill is a steakhouse with solid preparations and upscale appointments and a fine wine list. Tamarind is an Asian fusion venue with delicious Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese dishes, including a long list of dim sum offerings. While the add-on is not significant ($15) Tamarind is also open for lunch on sea days, with no supplement (reservations still mandatory).

Each night creations by one of Holland America’s Culinary Council are featured, including Master Chef Rudi Sodamin. Other chefs affiliated with the line include David Burke (of the David Burke Townhouse in New York City), Marcus Samuelsson (a guest chef at the White House), Jonnie Boer (Michelin Star-winning head chef at De Librije in Holland), and Jacques Torres (one of the world’s top chocolatiers and pastry chefs).

There are two special dining events that foodies will want to try when sailing on Nieuw Amsterdam. One night a week the Pinnacle Grill tributes the Le Cirque restaurant in New York, with a set menu and wine pairings. Also be sure to check out the Master Chef's Room, held in the Pinnacle Grill on select nights. Exclusive to Nieuw Amsterdam, the Master Chef's Room is Holland America’s premiere dining experience—a seven-course feast with premium wines.

The more casual Lido Restaurant is a buffet on deck 9. Each day brings a different menu focused on international cuisine. At the sea view pool is Slices, an outdoor pizza place; on the other side at the Lido Pool is the Terrace Grill serving burgers and hot dogs.

There was no shortage of inventive cocktails and quality wine and beer available.

Twelve bars and lounges provide a venue that’s right for just about any cruiser. A “drink of the day” is offered daily, at a discount off the regular price.

Beverage tasting events provided an opportunity to try new wines, beers and mixed cocktails and are offered throughout the voyage. The Signature of Excellence Mixology Classes were $12.50 each, or $30 for all three different sessions. The International Beer Tasting session was $15.

Bottles of wine and champagne may be brought on board by guests; an $18 corkage fee is applied for bottles brought to the ship’s restaurants or bars. Other alcoholic beverages—those carried on board or purchased in the shops—cannot be consumed on the ship. Bottles are collected and delivered to your stateroom on the last day of the voyage.

All drinks are charged in U.S. dollars. Holland America’s drinking age is 21, regardless of port regulations.

The extensive wine selection is augmented by a longer list from the ship’s sommelier, with bottles from all over the world. Wines by the glass include White Zinfandel, Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon, at prices starting from $5.50. Champagnes by the glass include Domaine Chandon Brut and Veuve Clicquot ($9.50 and $14.50, respectively). Wines by the bottle start at $25 for a California Pinot Grigio and range up to $108 for a Banfi from Italy.

There is a long list of domestic and international beers.

All the classics are available along with signature drinks, created by Holland America. Lime margarita, spiced daiquiri, tropical cable car, citrus cosmopolitan, Tuscan lemon drop and a Fashionista were among the signature cocktails, all of which were $6.75. The cocktails of the day included fresh mojito, skinny berry citrus rita, pomegranate ginger drop and were priced $5.75. The Silk Room has a different drink menu, with Asian themed cocktails at similar prices.

Beverage cards avail a 5- to 50-percent savings off menu prices, and soda, non-alcoholic, and alcoholic beverage cards are available. The gin and tonic package—a bottle of Beefeater Gin and 3 cans of tonic—was $32. The beer package was a bucket of five beers, the mix and match domestic selection was $19, imported $21.

Wine packages come at two levels of quality, Navigator and Admirals Choice, with three options at each level. Additionally, you can purchase a package of three, five or seven bottles, starting at $89 ranging up to $269. All the major varietals are represented, including Riesling, Chardonnay, Malbec, Zinfandel, Pinot Grigio, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon.

All bars and sommeliers on board can sell the drink packages.

Coffee, tea, juices and tap water are free of charge. Bottled water was $2.95.

There is also an afternoon tea service, with three different styles (schedule varies by cruise): casual tea, Royal Dutch High Tea, or Indonesian Afternoon Tea. Desserts and sweets accompany teas each afternoon.

Nieuw Amsterdam holds the Holland America Line’s largest fitness center.

For a mid-sized ship there are ample activities for guests to enjoy, and most of it is free of charge. Of special note are the hands-on cooking demonstrations held in the Queen’s Lounge in an elaborate show kitchen. These are free, though wine tastings and cocktail mixing lessons carry an add-on charge.

Although Holland America doesn’t cater specifically to the family audience, there are two dedicated areas for kids—one for teens the other for pre-teens.

Activities, classes and fitness sessions are detailed in the ship’s daily newsletter. There are several cafés where passengers can grab a quick bite to eat outside of the main restaurants. Many of these places serve specialty coffee where you can get fancy lattes and other espresso drinks.

Located in the center of the ship on the Lido Deck, this pool features a retractable roof—a welcome feature when sailing in cooler climes. There are two hot tubs on either end of the pool and a fountain feature. Around the pool are cushioned loungers as well as tables and chairs to sit down.

To one side of the pool are a series of small alcoves with big loungers. These spaces can be rented for $30 per day, and the fee includes a welcome glass of champagne, concierge service and lunch delivery.

At the Terrace Grill a selection of burgers is available: cheeseburger, salmon filet, turkey, vegetarian and a selection of the day (like Mediterranean lamb burger) plus hot dogs, turkey dogs and fries. All are cooked to order and you’ll stack the trimmings yourself.

With bar stools shaped like a fish tail, the Lido Bar offers the same drinks as the ship’s other bars, along with a selection of iced drinks such as pina coladas and daiquiris. Drink service from the bar is available throughout the pool area.

The second pool is designated adults-only and has two hot tubs, and a shallow area of the pool to just sit and cool down. Loungers don’t have cushions, but there are a lot more than found in the Lido Pool area. A few chairs and tables allow you to enjoy food or drink from the Lido restaurant or from Slices.

Slice is a small counter serving pizza through the day—common were Margherita, primavera and pepperoni.

The Sea View Bar has the same selection as the Lido Bar, including a complement of iced drinks such as pina coladas and daiquiris.

Explorations is three services in one: a specialty coffee house, the ship library and the internet station. The café opens at 7 a.m. and there were armchairs and sofas for enjoying the Deck 11 views or reading the day’s New York Times. In addition to computer stations, board games are available. A librarian and an Internet technician are usually present to assist. Immediately next door is the Crow’s Nest bar.

This is a Starbucks-style coffee shop with small and large specialty drinks—latte, cappuccino, mocha, cold and hot tea, etc.—as well as pastries. Prices start at $1.20 for a shot of espresso ranging up to $4.45 for the daily special in a large size.

{{photo_gallery "Venue 12 Drink Photos"}} There are a few non-food, non-drink oriented, public spaces on ship.

We found a few lounges on board that made for excellent quiet spaces, places to read, to relax away from the crowd, or to have a quiet conversation without the someone always asking if you would like to order something.

Located between the guest services and shore excursion desks, the three-story Atrium is the hub of the ship. The design is modern with lots of chrome, white and dark purple, a comfortable place to sit when waiting for the desks to open. It’s also a nice backdrop for photos.

This is a private room set aside for guests staying in Deluxe Verandah or Penthouse suites, the Neptune Lounge offers concierge services. But as we weren’t in these rooms we didn’t tour the lounge, which is only accessible with designated key cards.

Holland America says the lounge has worktables, a large-screen television, library, sofas and chairs, refreshments, and WiFi for a small charge.

For kids age 3 to 12, Club HAL offers supervised activities and diversions. Some of the activities included pirate treasure hunts, hands-on pizza making, storytelling, craft making, ice cream sundae parties and a farewell pajama party for small kids. Xbox and Wii tournaments were scheduled along with relay races, scavenger hunts, foosball, karaoke disco parties

Teenagers can hang out in the adjoining Loft and participate in supervised “mocktail” mixology classes, late night sporting competitions, yoga, hip hop classes. Adults are not permitted.

Nieuw Amsterdam has a small art gallery with contemporary art pieces for sale.

The Holland America Line is noted for its quality collection of antique and contemporary art displayed on-board, and this is especially true of the Nieuw Amsterdam, with a collection that showcases the historic connections between New York and Amsterdam. A vast mural by Harald Vlugt dipicts the historical links between New York and Amsterdam and there are works by Andy Warhol, Richard Estes and Roy Lichstenstein, plus photographs of celebrities taken by paparazzo Ron Galella. Also noteworthy is the chandelier hanging in the Atrium, creating an abstract vision of Manhattan’s skyline.

The 36-seat screening room plays recently released movies on DVD and offers free popcorn. Additionally, Ship Flicks has a huge catalog of movies for delivery and in-room viewing.

This small room on Deck 2 is full of PCs for digital workshops, all of which are free to guests. Classes include photo editing and posting, blog production, videos, scrapbooks, PC safety and maintenance and staying connected (through instant messaging and webcams). The 60-minute classes are oriented to those who are fairly new to computing. Reservations are taken on-board.

Three small meeting rooms are found on Deck 3: Hudson, Half Moon and Stuyvesant. The walls of the rooms slide out to create one large venue. Otherwise, the Hudson Room is used primarily for religious services (Christian and ecumenical services).

{{photo_gallery "Venue 32 Overview Photos"}} This is a smallish spa with a thermal pool, hair and beauty salon, and a gym.

The Green House Spa is an attractive facility with lots of light, comforting colors. In keeping with Nieuw Amsterdam’s modern trappings, the reception desk is stylish with a red counter, limited seating in something like metal garden chairs, and a few statues. Behind reception is the hair and beauty salon, which has its own relaxation and waiting area.

Treatment rooms are either interior or ocean-view, some have showers (for mud therapies) and others are set up for hydrotherapies, including massage rooms designated for couples treatments.

HAL encourages to book spa appointments in advance, but also offers specials during the cruise.

Some treatments include facial therapies, massages with fragrant oils, therapeutic water treatments, steam and herbal baths. You can partake in hot stone massages, pedicures, facials, hair styling, and acupuncture; just about everything you can imagine for beauty and relaxation.

Massage therapy comes inspired from cultures around the world, from Hawaiian Lomi Lomi to Chinese Tui Na.

Treatment prices start at $109 for sunless tanning, $125 for a tri-enzyme facial, $149 for a 50-minute aroma stone massage, and go up to $265 for an absolute spa ritual that includes both a facial and a massage.

In the hair and beauty salon, you can get extensive hair styling from $35, to a jewel foot ritual with pedicure for $70, to tooth whitening for $149. They also have treatments specifically for the men-folk. A full fitness center, some outdoor sports, a few table games, and some extras make up the fitness regimen on the ship.

Deck 10 wraps around most of the ship. There are tables and loungers aft, starboard and port. At mid-ship are Club HAL and The Loft, areas devoted to kids and teens.

Sports and Fitness

Table tennis is found near the kids areas.

A fully equipped, moderate size Fitness Center is located in back of the spa, with treadmills, stationary bikes, stair climbers, rowing machines, weights and weight machines. Most of the treadmills have a sea view over the bow of the ship. Fitness classes include yoga, pilates, indoor cycling and Cardio Ki-Bo Circuit Training, all supervised by trained instructors. Classes are $12 each ($40 for four); personal trainers are also available—$85 for one session or $209 for three.

The minimum age for guests to use the fitness center is 16 years. A hydrotherapy bubbling pool with warm, therapeutic seawater is also available, for a fee.

Holland America’s Signature Shops offer a range of fine, designer jewelry, watches, fragrances, premium liquor, and Holland America souvenirs. All purchases are tax and duty free. The Merabella Luxury Collection is a jewelry boutique featuring Le Vian, Chimento, Haytayan and Tara and Sons.

During the cruise, professional photographers were busy snapping photos of guests in different settings. At the gallery these pictures start to multiply after the first day on board, and guests can purchase the images to take home. Cameras and equipment are sold here, along with DVDs of the voyage and destinations.

{{photo_gallery "Venue 20 Overview Photos"}} There are movies, lectures, and more on the ms Nieuw Amsterdam .

One of two specialty restaurants on Nieuw Amsterdam, the 112-seat Pinnacle Grill is a steak- and seafood-house requiring a $25 surcharge for dinner. The décor is dark but elegant, with black and white walls, white Frette tablecloths, crystal chandeliers, Bulgari china and Riedel stemware. Once a week the Pinnacle Grill is transformed into “An Evening at Le Cirque in the Pinnacle Grill,” a tribute to the famed Le Cirque restaurant in New York. On this evening guests will find a set menu with wine pairings, and reservation are necessary; there is a $39 supplement for this evening, still considerably less than dining at le real Cirque.

Exclusive to the Nieuw Amsterdam, on select nights a separate section of the Pinnacle Grill is devoted to the Master Chef’s Room. The evening is advertised as the ultimate dining experience designed by Holland America’s master chef Rudi Sodamin. The seven-course menu is paired with premium wines, served on awesome Versace china. Reservations are mandatory; the add-on is $89 per person, which includes wine pairings.

On the night we enjoyed the Master Chef’s Room the menu included goose liver with mâche, avocado and raspberry kaffir vinagrette; a frappe of lobster and porcini mushroom; sea bass with caviar; a lime and candied ginger granite; a duo of veal with black truffle, pearl onion and puréed artichokes; an assortment of artisan cheeses with honey comb and fruit compote; and a “dialogue” of chocolate seduction. Every dish was over-the-top in presentation, and the duo of veal with tender meat and a nice truffle taste was particularly delicious.

Wine pairings included Veuve Clicquot a Labouré-Roi Pommard, Dr. Loosen Eroica Riesling, and Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino. The selections proved to be perfect matches.

Note that the Master Chef’s Room is quite popular, with very limited seating—book it before you board.

A show kitchen at sea, this large venue is designed for hands-on cooking demonstrations. Two large plasma video screens project the goings-on at the cooking counter, hosted by the on-board party planner and guest chefs. The demonstrations and lessons range from seasonal and local cuisine to fruit- and vegetable-carving, special wine tastings and food pairing seminars, along with cookbook signings and Q&A sessions. One can also sign up for market tours in selected ports of call. Reserve classes on board.

This state-of-the-art two-tiered theater has a huge stage and two shows nightly, timed for early and late dining. Offerings include concerts, musicals, illusionists and comedians.

{{photo_gallery "Venue 31 Overview Photos"}} There are a lot of shows on this ship. You can catch one every night with two performances for early and late audiences.

{{photo_gallery "Venue 31 Overview Photos"}} From a classical string quartet to a disco pounding out hits, there is something for most appetites.

Games of chance, mysterious women, risk, reward, adventure, and dry cocktail can all be found here.

Games available on the ship included Roulette, Blackjack, Craps, Three Card Poker, Texas Hold ‘Em, and there were slot machines (coinless) ranging from penny to $5 play, plus Video Poker. A lottery was held with a drawing for a seven-day cruise. Blackjack tournaments and gaming lessons were available.

Holland America also has a player’s club, Club 21, accessed using your key card. Guests under 18 are not allowed in the casino.

The Casino Bar at the entrance of the casino is the only area inside the ship where smoking is permitted. The facility has a bar and stools, as well as chairs and sofas. It’s a small but open area, but a little loud when the slot machines are percolating.

{{photo_gallery "Venue 30 Drink Photos"}} Deck 9 is devoted to swimming and sunning.

The two pools are both found on Deck 9—the Lido pool at mid-ship and the Sea View pool aft, both accompanied by hot tubs. There is a lot of deck space for lounging but the pools can be busy on sea days, especially the Sea View, which is designated as an adults-only area.

Additional sunning areas are found on Deck 10, the Panorama Deck, with its loungers and tables; on Deck 12 forward, which a lot of people don’t seem to discover; and Deck 3, the Promenade Deck. The Cabana Club is a secluded area with nice little alcoves and a concierge service, but there’s a charge for using this area. The main pool on the Lido Deck has a retractable roof for days when the weather doesn’t cooperate.

{{photo_gallery "Venue 7 Overview Photos"}} Overall, there is ample space for lounging and sunning, though not always poolside.

Deck 3 represents the Promenade Deck and wraps the entire ship. Thee laps around this deck represents a mile, but no jogging is allowed. There are some loungers and it’s a relatively quiet area to lay in the sun or shade and relax.

On deck 11, the Cabana Club is a series of square, open-air tents furnished with comfy loungers and dining tables, available for a fee. In addition to producing a modicum of privacy and elbow room, the fee includes a small, delivered lunch, iPods, and concierge services. Corner units are biggest and offer panoramic views. The cabanas can be reserved, and they often book up before departure. A massage tent is also available for treatments, including couples massages.

Just above Explorations Café and Crow’s Nest, this broad, open deck is a fine place to take in the view and soak in the sun and sea breeze. Chairs, loungers and tables are available, along with an outdoor shower for rinsing off.

Basketball, ping-pong, tennis, volleyball are available at the sports court on Deck 11.

Sometimes a bit slow, but always friendly and cheerful.

We found the staff to be wonderful people. They would help us whenever they could and were always cheerful about it. Service can be slow however. On such a big ship, this can be expected, but we have to call it like it is.

We offer some quick facts about the ship and detail the deck layouts.

We have an accounting of all the expected gratuities, and a detail of our opinion on the service.

Nieuw Amsterdam’s staff was friendly and attentive, although some dining room staff was very slow and sometimes their accents were hard to understand. One morning breakfast was so slow, we waited for 30 minutes and some people almost missed their shore excursion. Something was wrong in the kitchen, we were told.

Cabin stewards were kind of invisible, and the “please service” sign hung on our door didn’t always do the trick. We had prompter service when something broke.

A gratuity of $11.50 per day, per guest was charged to our shipboard account (the gratuity is $12 per day for those staying in suites). The gratuity is shared by room stewards and waiters. Additionally, a 15-percent gratuity was automatically added to all bar charges and to wine purchases in dining rooms.

On our seven-night cruise there were two formal nights with tuxedos or suits required for men and gowns/cocktail dresses for women. The rest of the cruise was a mix of smart casual and casual nights, but no jeans, shorts etc. were allowed after dark, except at the more casual Lido Restaurant.

Guests are automatically enrolled in Mariner Society membership after their first cruise with Holland America. Each day earns cruise day credits which can be accumulated; services purchased on-board—such as spa treatments, dining at specialty restaurants and taking shore excursions—also count. The credits can be used towards a gourmet dinner, massage, shore excursions, etc. on future cruses. The more cruise day credits cruisers accumulate, the higher their “star” level. The highest level—Four-Star Mariner—is attained after 200 cruise days.

Other perks of the Mariner Society, depending on star level, include: • A collectible gift presented to you on board • A 15 percent discount on Holland America’s merchandize • A 50 percent discount on cruise fares for the third or fourth guests sharing your stateroom on certain sailings • A waiver of air deviation fees • Priority disembarkation, tender and check in • Invitations to special sailings

This is mostly a smoke free ship. There is a medical center on board for emergencies.

There is a medical center located on Deck 1, open 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon, and from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. There is a physician available for more serious issues; consultations are charged to the on-board account.

Most of the ship is designated as smoke-free. There are only a few places—like the casino bar and the Sea View Pool and Bar—that are designated as smoking areas.

The Queen Mary 2 is a huge ocean liner designed for Atlantic voyages, while Nieuw Amsterdam is somewhat less imposing.

Several aspects distinguish the experience of sailing on these two upscale ships, both of which are the largest for their respective lines.

Although Queen Mary 2 carries 2,620 passengers—less than half that of Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas—the QM2 is still a massive vessel. In gross tonnage it is the seventh-largest ship sailing today, and in length it ranks behind only the two Royal Caribbean mega-liners, taller than the Empire State Building. The QM2 was designed for big sea voyages in sometimes problematic conditions, making the ship ideal for its regularly scheduled trans-Atlantic crossings.

By contrast, Nieuw Amsterdam is about 200 feet shorter in length and carries 2,106 passengers. There are still plenty of restaurants, bars and activities aboard Nieuw Amsterdam, and the facilities are accessible to all. On the QM2, an elite class system is in effect—those staying in “Grill” class accommodations will find themselves separated (especially when dining) from the lowly masses staying in Britannia Class quarters.

Through its artwork and styling, crew and even tea services, Holland America’s Dutch roots accent a journey aboard Nieuw Amsterdam, whereas the QE2 keeps one foot firmly planted in its British maritime heritage. Both ships have an element of flash, if that’s your cup of tea, and both cater to a slightly older, more traditional crowd. Although Nieuw Amsterdam is a slightly newer ship (2010 vs. 2004) the QM2 received a renovation in late 2011 that brought the décor up-to-date.

Similar in size and capacity, Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam and the Celebrity Summit have distinct identities.

On the surface, Nieuw Amsterdam and Celebrity Summit seem almost identical in ways both grand and subtle. Both ships come in just under 1,000 feet in length and have about 1,000 cabins apiece. On both, many public areas are accented by fresh flowers and worthwhile artwork.

But there are important distinctions between the experiences guests have on the two ships. Celebrity Summit has a slightly more favorable staff-to-guest ratio. And Summit boasts more than 10 percent additional elbow-room per passenger compared to Nieuw Amsterdam (alas, most of that will be founding public areas, not in standard guest quarters, which are almost equally cramped on both ships).

Although Celebrity Summit was built in 2001, the ship emerged from a renovation in early 2012 that added dining options similar to those available on the newer Solstice-class ships. Celebrity Summit should have benefited from the freshening—a common complain was the ship was beginning to look a bit tired. Still, Nieuw Amsterdam debuted in 2010 so, for the immediate future, décor and upkeep should be ship-shape here, as well. It has a larger spa and fitness area, and a greater variety of dining options.

The ambiance on board the two ships is similar: Celebrity and Holland America cater to upper-middle-class travelers, not the mass-market crowd for the most part. You won’t find rock-climbing walls on either ship, the DJ doesn’t set the mood ship-wide, and formal nights are still a tradition. This lends a relative degree of sophistication to the experience on either ship, an element many repeat cruisers appreciate.

In most ways, there’s no comparison—but we’ll try anyway.

Carrying as many as 6,300 passengers and a crew of more than 2,000, Allure of the Seas (and sister ship Oasis of the Seas)—has 30 percent more capacity than the next largest ship in the ocean, the Norwegian Epic. As such, Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam—with just 1,053 cabins—looks a bit like a pip-squeak by comparison.

The two ships launched just months apart in 2010, and so both feature the latest technology both above and below deck. Interestingly, the passenger space ratio is almost the same, but Royal Caribbean has won kudos for designing an efficient flow that minimizes the kind of crowding one might expect. Still, by sheer numbers, Allure of the Seas beats Nieuw Amsterdam in pretty much every category, starting by offering more than double the dining options (more than one can sample in a week-long cruise). But while not as varied, the quality of food on the smaller ship is generally better. And Nieuw Amsterdam avails a more intimate and personalized experience; the kind where one can find quiet room for reading or reflection at almost any hour of the day.

David-and-Goliath comparisons aside it’s also worth noting that, currently, Allure of the Seas offers a very limited choice of itineraries—most Caribbean ports simply cannot handle a vessel of this size. But that’s probably okay for most of the passengers on board, many of whom could care less whether the port of call is Aruba, Bermuda or Cuba. On Allure of the Seas, the journey’s the thing, not the destination. By contrast, Holland America’s pride and joy can dock at most major ports in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, and Nieuw Amsterdam draws a crowd that’s as eager to see what’s off the boat as well as what’s afloat.

As a mid-size ship offering mid-priced itineraries, we found Nieuw Amsterdam provided a very enjoyable cruise experience.

Holland America’s penchant for quality artwork and classy design reaches its zenith on this attractive ship, and the Manhattan theme is carried through is ways both subtle and bold. We loved being on a ship lined with old photos and prints from New York, with a sprinkling of works by artists like Warhol and Lichtenstein. Although service was not always prompt, we enjoyed the upbeat crew, many of whom hailed from Indonesia (another former colony of Holland) who kept the Dutch connection alive in a roundabout way.

Our Interior cabin was tight, and for being a new ship, we found this room to be pretty loud—it sounded like it was falling apart on rough sea days. If cruising on this ship again and staying in an Interior cabin we would opt for one closer to mid-ship (or we’d spring for an Ocean-view cabin). There was a great library of DVDs to choose from but the TV was too small, and couldn’t be rotated for more comfortable viewing.

Fortunately there were enough diversions to not keep us chained to our cabin. Dining was above average and offered more variety than is found on most of Holland America’s fleet. The Pinnacle Grill is definitely worth an evening, but we enjoyed the Tamarind even more. Our experience at the Master Chef’s Room was memorable—fine food, the best wine pairings, and gorgeous trappings. This is definitely worth a splurge.

Signature drinks on board were mostly delicious. We found two of the bars to be little used on our cruise. The disco Northern Lights was often empty, which was hardly the right backdrop for the pumping music. And Silk Den was sometimes vacant, but it provides an awesome view and an expanded drink menu with an Asian twist. Entertainment options, concentrated on decks 2 and 3, were enjoyable. We found the adults-only Sea View Pool and Bar to be pretty crowded on sea days (it also has more loungers than the Lido Pool area).

The ship is well geared to couples, but with a slightly younger demographic present than on some Holland America ships, singles won’t be out of sorts. Although there is Club HAL for the children on board, Nieuw Amsterdam is not really designed for family vacations.

Aside from our clunky cabin, this ship was most enjoyable—not too big, not too small, with great food and a solid roster of activities. You’ll be eating here more than once, but a long list of options is available to diners at this satisfying restaurant.

This is Nieuw Amsterdam’s main restaurant, a huge venue spread over two levels, one for traditional seatings at 5:30 and 8:00 p.m., one for open dining till 9:00 p.m. Trimmed with bouquets of fresh flowers, the restaurant has a sophisticated red and white decor, and chairs are robed in white covers for formal nights (typically occurring twice in a seven-day cruise). Located on decks 2 and 3 aft, a staircase in the middle connects the two levels; midway up is a terrace with a few tables that provide a unique vantage point. The dinner menu changes daily and offers some healthier choices, both meat and vegetarian.

Breakfast is offered daily and starts with simpler dishes like fruits, cold cuts, yogurts, cold and hot cereals, egg and cheese sandwiches, bagel and lox. But many choices are available, ranging from traditional classics like Belgian waffle, pancakes and tasty cinnamon-sugar French toast, to three-egg omelets, eggs Benedict, eggs Florentine, kippered herring.

International fare includes the Japanese breakfast (miso soup, white rice, tamagoyaki and broiled salmon), the full English breakfast (scrambled eggs, English banger sausage, bacon, baked beans, hash browns, grilled half tomato), the Scandinavian breakfast (smoked salmon, pickled herring, hard boiled egg, dark rye bread) and, of course—because we’re aboard Holland America—the Dutch breakfast: Uitsmijter is a classic open-face sandwich with thick white bread, ham, aged Gouda, and two eggs sunny side up.

On sea days, the restaurant is open for lunch and the selection covers comfort foods like burgers, pasta and sandwiches (tuna melt, turkey sandwich).

Each evening, the menu goes classy, usually starting with fruit appetizer and a choice of soups (bacon cheddar cheese, gazpacho, spicy two-bean and cream of four mushrooms) and salads (Niçoise, Caprese, Thai papaya, chilled lychees with kiwi wedges). Other appetizers included jumbo shrimp cocktail, steamed mussels and clams in white wine, duck pâte, prosciutto ham with melon, cheese soufflé, scallops cocktail, carpaccio, mushroom crostini, escargots and baked brie.

Entrées included linguini with scallops and shrimp, Alaskan king crab legs, a surf and turf offering (called “Land and Sea” here), rack of lamb, pheasant breast in sage walnut sauce, baked and stuffed eggplant, seared Cajun tuna steak, veal chop with creamy porcini sauce, filet of cobia (black salmon) with lobster dumplings, mushroom ravioli, rainbow trout with crawfish beurre blanc, osso buco, duck a l’orange, filet mignon, strip loin steak, turkey, prime rib, short ribs. Ten options in all are usually available. Good ideas for vegetarians include vegetarian meatloaf on asiago polenta with artichokes, mushrooms and carrots, mushroom risotto, and pumpkin ravioli.

The ambiance is sophisticated, especially on formal nights when crab legs and lobster come out (the crab legs were delicious, and being halved the meat popped out easily). Dinner on the last night was salmon tartar, lobster bisque and duck a l'orange—the best dinner we had in the Manhattan Dining Room.

Daily desserts included a chocolate brownie stack, fruit crisps of the day, fruit plate, cheese plate, and ice cream. Other offerings included brioche with caramelized apricots, caramelized pear crêpe, tiramisu, balsamic strawberries, Viennese apple strudel, cheesecake, pumpkin pie, and baked Alaska. A chocolate platter with crispy chocolate cornflakes, white chocolate mousse and a slice of bitter-sweet chocolate cake was triple delicious. Nieuw Amsterdam’s signature dining room is well worth signing up for on at least one night of your cruise.

Starters include Dungeness crab cakes with shaved cucumber and sweet chili sauce, seared duck breast with pickled Walla Walla sweet onion and blackberry relish, a dish called Smoked Pleasures of the Sea featuring black cod, salmon and scallops with wasabi cream. The fish sliced for the Pinnacle seafood carpaccio were way too thick, but it was tasty and fresh anyway. Salads are prepared tableside: Seasonal greens with pear, pecan-crusted Oregon blue cheese, and cider-pear vinaigrette, or the Caesar with romaine tossed with Holland America’s dressing. As an amuse-bouche we were served mushroom cappuccino in an espresso cup, delicious with a truffle accent.

For entrées, the focus is on beef, and all the classics are covered—filet mignon, bone-in ribeye, porterhouse and New York strip steak—each served with a choice of sauces like sun-dried tomato, béarnaise and horseradish-mustard. Other offerings include lamb rack chops with apple-spice chutney and mint sauce, quick-seared king salmon, served with lemon garlic herb slash or sesame soy Korean kalbi, and grilled diver scallops with wok-seared vegetables in a Thai green curry, with jasmine rice and sweet orange leek marmalade. Our porterhouse steak was almost as big as the plate, cooked to perfection and served with béarnaise. The cut had a lot of fat and sinews, but also ample meat; on the side, mushrooms and rice were good but nothing special, while the onions were overdone.

Desserts included a trio of creme brûlée (vanilla, coffee, chocolate) and one can have a soufflé, though it needs to be ordered with the main course.

On sea days, the Pinnacle Grill also hosts lunch, with a $10 surcharge. Pinnacle Grill is also open for breakfast, but only for guests staying in suites.

Note that the Master Chef’s Room is quite popular, with very limited seating—book it before you board. A pan-Asian menu highlights this top-deck dining room that reveals wonderful views.

Featuring a fusion of various Asian cuisines—Chinese, Thai, Japanese—Tamarind is attractively accented with rice paper lamps and dark bamboo furniture. Perched mid-ship on the top deck, the 144-seat venue also boasts panoramic views of the sea. When there’s nothing to see outside you can watch the chef prepare your sushi from the open kitchen. There is a $15 surcharge for dinner here, but lunch—a set menu of dim sum only—doesn’t require a supplement.

Lunch at Tamarind starts with a hot and sour soup, followed by an Asian herb Szechuan sesame salad sprinkled with shrimp chips. We found the salad boring—it tasted like nothing. But the traditional steamed dumplings were satisfying and included chicken, pork, vegetable, and shrimp shu mai. Dim sum from the wok included vegetable spring roll, shrimp won ton sticks, shrimp spring roll and spicy crab Rangoon—the latter was awesome. Four sauces were available to accompany these bites and we found them quite good and not too spicy.

Dinner starts with a traditional soup followed by shrimp chips with various sauces for dipping: hot, medium, sweet, soy sauce—delectable. Shrimp tempura was accompanied by a chili dip and green papaya salad. This papaya slaw was refreshing—acidic, not sweet. For sushi we enjoyed nigiri with tuna, salmon and halibut—these tasted just right. Our favorite was the pork dish with coconut. This delicious dish can be spiced as hot as you want (or not) and we really hit it. The accompanying bok choy with oyster sauce was lovely.

For dessert there was mango sorbet, coconut ice cream, an egg tart, and green tea tiramisu. We chose the vanilla soufflés with mango sauce and chunks of mango pieces (delightful) and loved the chocolate mousse with ginger, though it was a tad heavy.

In addition to Holland America’s signature drinks, Tamarind's bar is the adjoining Silk Room, which specializes in saketinis—drinks served in cocktail glasses using sake as a mixer and wearing names like Sake Tumi, Sweet Raspberry and Samurai Mojito. The main buffet restaurant also features cooked-to-order items.

Occupying the center of the Lido Deck, the decor of this casual dining room is simple but elegant, with accents of dark wood, green and red. There is also an outdoor dining section, for days (or evenings) when the sea air proves irresistible. Lido provides a wide variety of international dishes—from sushi to Jamaican jerk chicken—and every day reveals new offerings.

During the first two days of a cruise, plates are served by the dining staff, a policy that Holland America says has greatly reduced the opportunity for contagious diseases to spread. On the third day of our cruise, Lido became self-service.

Continental breakfast started at 6 a.m. for early risers, and 30 minutes later the full, hot buffet emerged. On offer were pancakes and waffles, cold cuts, fresh fruits, breads, pastries, yogurts and cereals, along with a station preparing made-to-order omelets.

Lunch featured international cuisine, including an Asian stir-fry, pizzas, pastas, soups and sushi. There were lots of salads, fruits and other healthy pickings, but also a carving station, burgers and fresh sandwiches (you can even make your own grilled Panini). On the first day of the cruise, there was a barbecue on the Lido Deck.

For dinner, when passenger attention to shifts to some of the ship’s more refined offerings, half of the buffet is closed and choices aren’t as diverse as earlier in the day. The casual dinner changes nightly, but choices included wiener schnitzel, New York sirloin steak, Jamaican jerk chicken and seared beef tataki. There were lots of desserts on offer, many bite-sized or in small shot glasses—from cakes and brownies to healthier choices—and we loved the ice cream bar with all the fixings, including fresh cookies, for your own ice cream and sundaes.

Between 11 p.m. and midnight the Lido opens again for light meals—cold cuts, breads, etc.

{{photo_gallery "Venue 4 Food Photos"}} Like magic, each evening one corner of the Lido Restaurant transforms into an Italian bistro.

Repurposing one corner of the Lido Restaurant, this dinner-only venue offers casual, a la carte Italian cuisine—salads and soups, pasta, meat, fish and poultry. White tablecloths, tableside service, and an Italian-heavy wine list distinguish Canaletto from the usual Lido ambience. There’s no surcharge for dining here, and it’s popular enough that reservations are recommended.

Olive bread and focaccia arrived first, followed by antipasti prepared for us at the table, with zucchini, olives, tomatoes, prosciutto and mozzarella. For soup there was minestrone and zuppa die pesce (seafood with vegetables)—the latter was hearty, with lots of vegetables, mussels and fish. Pastas included penne a la vodka, linguini frutti di mare and meat lasagna. For an entrée we enjoyed the marsala scaloppini, made with thinly sliced veal—the sauce was amazing.

The dessert choices properly reflected Italy’s sweet tooth, and included limoncello cream, a millefeuille of Madagascar chocolate, and various gelati. We chose the trio of tiramisu—the traditional espresso was properly delicious, and the amaretto interpretation was good, but the lemon disappointed.

The wine list at Canaletto focuses more on Italian bottles, but wines from the regular wine list are also available.

{{photo_gallery "Venue 5 Drink Photos"}} The main pool area has a bar and grill.

{{photo_gallery "Venue 6 Drink Photos"}} No kids here and lots of loungers for relaxing.

{{photo_gallery "Venue 7 Drink Photos"}} Go for a stroll, but don’t break into a run to work off those extra calories.

{{photo_gallery "Venue 8 Overview Photos"}} What’s a cruise ship without cabanas?

{{photo_gallery "Venue 9 Overview Photos"}} This spans most of the ship.

{{photo_gallery "Venue 10 Sports and Fitness Photos"}} Work on your tan or muss your hair.

{{photo_gallery "Venue 11 Overview Photos"}} The ship’s libarary.

{{photo_gallery "Venue 12 Drink Photos"}} The grand lobby on the ms Nieuw Amsterdam .

{{photo_gallery "Venue 13 Overview Photos"}} A lounge for deluxe level guests.

{{photo_gallery "Venue 14 Overview Photos"}} Holland America’s designated kids area is on Deck 10 and features a pair of side-by-side facilities based on age.

{{photo_gallery "Venue 15 Overview Photos"}} This is a smallish spa with a thermal pool, hair and beauty salon, and a gym.

{{photo_gallery "Venue 17 Overview Photos"}} The shops have luxury in common.

{{photo_gallery "Venue 18 Overview Photos"}} Pick up your photos at the photo gallery.

{{photo_gallery "Venue 19 Overview Photos"}} Auctions and exhibits are on display at this art gallery.

{{photo_gallery "Venue 21 Overview Photos"}} Stay connected at this computer lab.

{{photo_gallery "Venue 22 Overview Photos"}} Expect some expert cooking demonstrations here.

Queen’s Lounge doubles as the tender station and has a stage for karaoke, comedians etc. during the evening. A small bar and lounge.

Located on Deck 2, just off the Manhattan Dining Room, this intimate lounge has big windows for taking in the waves by day, and during the evening a string quartet plays classical and contemporary music. The bar is on a dais and you can sit there, or at bar stools with attractive floral patterns, or in well-padded barrel chairs clustered around small tables.

The menu includes the usual array of Holland America’s signature drinks, including a long list of martinis (Flirtini, Tuscan lemon drop), as well as a selection of beers, wine and mocktails.

Live music by the ship’s string quartet most nights. A bar and nightclub high atop the ship.

Perched on Deck 11, this is a huge room designed for enjoying the view, with an attractive blue and brown color scheme. There are chairs and sofas along the wall, and a row of high-back recliners lining the panoramic windows. There is a dance floor and a bandstand.

During the day this venue is often used for trivia games, while dancing percolates through the evening with live music. Music every night.

This stylish bar on Deck 2, right off the casino, is decked out in red chairs and sofas and purple carpet and walls. In the afternoon it is a good place to get away from the noise of the casino next door; at night is the ship’s sing-along piano bar where requests are taken (the pianist seemed to know most of the requests).

The menu includes the usual array of Holland America’s signature drinks, including a long list of martinis (Flirtini, Tuscan lemon drop), as well as a selection of beers, wine and mocktails. An Asian inspired cocktail lounge.

Adjoining the Tamarind Restaurant, this seductive Asian inspired bar on Deck 11, offers wonderful views of both the sea and the Lido Pool area. There are chairs at cocktail tables for the view, or cute raised alcoves where four can congregate over drinks. This is a nice place to relax during the day though, being open only during Tamarind’s hours (lunch and dinner) it is often empty.

In addition to Holland America’s signature drinks, Silk Room specializes in saketinis—those would be drinks served in cocktail glasses using sake as a mixer and wearing names like Sake Tumi, Sweet Raspberry and Samurai Mojito.

{{photo_gallery "Venue 27 Drink Photos"}} A discotheque for you tonight?

Nieuw Amsterdam’s nightclub is located on Deck 2 next to the casino and sparkles with snow motifs. The bar looks like an ice bar (white back light and blue lights surrounding it), while the huge dance floor is surrounded by small niches with benches, tables and ottomans. It’s a suitably dark venue, as it should be.

Located mid-ship on Deck 3 this bar features lots of ship and navigational motifs, with dark brown and ochre tones dominating the chairs, sofas and tables. It’s a big space, with a dance floor and bandstand, and a huge bar with bar stools. A huge chandelier/sculpture of the New York skyline is suspended outside the bar, in the Atrium.

Trivia contests are scheduled here, and dancing sometimes blossoms. Games of chance, mysterious women, risk, reward, adventure, and dry cocktail can all be found here.

{{photo_gallery "Venue 30 Drink Photos"}} The performance center on the ms Nieuw Amsterdam .

{{photo_gallery "Venue 31 Overview Photos"}} Business at sea can be held in these conference rooms.

{{photo_gallery "Venue 32 Overview Photos"}} A good place for a pre-dinner aperitif.

This elegant bar opposite the Pinnacle Grill is an inviting lounge to anticipate a big meal at the chophouse, or elsewhere. Hors d’oeuvres are usually available.

In addition to Holland America’s signature drinks, Pinnacle Grill (and restaurant) hoards the ship’s high-end wine selection, with cabinets storing the bottles lining each end of the room.

Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

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Nieuw Amsterdam Cruise Ship Review

Cruise ship review – nieuw amsterdam, holland america line’s latest ship tips its hat to its new york roots..

By Michel Verdure

Discovered by Henry Hudson for the Dutch West India Company in the 17th century, Nieuw-Amsterdam was the first European name given to what is now New York City. The ship of the same name — Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam — reflects a marriage of old world Dutch charm and New World amenities, tipping its hat to New York and all of its wonders.

The second of the Signature class, Nieuw Amsterdam is the most elaborate “Dam” ship yet. The floor plan and architecture are largely based on Eurodam , which came out exactly two years ago; these two built on the design of previous vessels Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, Westerdam , and Noordam . This means that every detail has been analyzed and reengineered to perfection. Enhancements on Nieuw Amsterdam (and Eurodam ) include an additional deck located midship, Deck 11, home of Silk Den, a bar with amazing views, and Tamarind, an upscale Pan-Asian restaurant.

Nieuw Amsterdam also debuts a new and exclusive dining experience: the Master Chef’s Table at the Pinnacle Grill, which offers seven-course gourmet dinners served by the venue’s culinary expert, paired with the perfect wine selected by the chef sommelier. Exotic Versace china and fine linens, silverware, and glassware help make the meal even more memorable. Intimate, exclusive (the room is limited to 18 guests), and delicious, this unique culinary experience is well worth the charge of $89 per person.

Passengers can also discover the $3 million collection of artwork, both original and commissioned, that adorns the ship. To learn more, take the complimentary self-guided iPod tour available at reception.

Nieuw Amsterdam continues to expand on the rich tradition of Holland America Line in this premium cruising market, delivering excellence in design, every comfort of a modern vessel, and the attention of a stellar crew.

Behind Closed Doors

Since the introduction of Holland America Line’s Signature of Excellence program in 2003, every ship offers outstanding bedding. Amazing mattresses, high-grade cotton sheets, and oversized pillows will certainly enhance rest in any category of stateroom. Egyptian cotton towels and amenities by Elemis will undoubtedly satisfy the most discriminating passenger.

The new Spa Stateroom categories cater to cruisers seeking an at-home holistic spa experience. Amenities include an iPod docking station, organic cotton bathrobes and slippers, aromatherapy bath soaps, and invigorating showerheads. The list doesn’t stop there: specialty waters, fruit trays, yoga mats, a fitness DVD, and other details will transform your cruise into a wellness retreat where you can refresh and revitalize body and soul in the most peaceful and private environment.

Destination Dining

For most passengers, dining is a top priority. If you favor classic cruise ship dining for dinner, one level of the Manhattan dining room offers a traditional fixed seating time that promises the same excellent service from your waiter every night. The other level features an open-seating “As You Wish” dining option for which reservations are recommended, but not required.

Of course, you have the option of sampling other diverse dining venues as well. The Lido Restaurant offers a more casual open dining every night. Or make a reservation at Tamarind where, for a small extra cost, you can dine on Pan-Asian specialties including sushi.

A reservation at the Pinnacle Grill provides the chance to savor some of the finest in food and service offered at sea (at an additional cost). Your waiter will present a tray of sumptuous cuts of beef — rib eye, filet mignon, porterhouse — for you to choose from, and then the chef will sizzle it to perfection on the famous 1,600-degree grill. If you’re not a meat eater, then seafood options abound as well.

At night, a section of the Lido turns into Canaletto Italian restaurant. (Reservation required, but no extra charge.) Be sure to order the mille-feuille of Madagascar chocolate for dessert.

Meet You There

Holland America Line’s three-deck-high atriums are enhanced by the extravagance of their artwork. Nieuw Amsterdam shows off a masterpiece from Gilbert Lebigre. This evocative sculpture, “Manhattan Skyline,” is made of optical plexi-glass and weighs more than a ton. It rotates slowly, giving you the chance to appreciate the various angles; colorful LED lights enhance the effect.

On the lower level of the atrium, beside the reception and the shore excursion desks, you’ll find a comfortable sitting area and the perfect meeting point. The Atrium Bar, located just below the grand glass staircase, provides an interesting distraction while you enjoy a cocktail with friends.

Great Escapes

A very large section of Deck 9 forward is dedicated to the Greenhouse Spa and Salon. Just about every massage and spa treatment you can imagine is offered in its 11 private rooms. If you’d like to make amends for last night’s excess of good cheer, the extensive fitness center will welcome you to work it off.

Relax your sore muscles in the large hydrotherapy pool, which is like a super-large Jacuzzi with jets and water fountains in a beautiful and peaceful space. The thermal suite allows for a detoxifying escape. Treat yourself to steam or sauna; then relax on comfy ceramic heated chairs that face the ocean. If you time it right, you can watch the sunset from here and end the day perfectly relaxed and rejuvenated.

The Showroom at Sea features Broadway-caliber entertainment with new shows every night put on by the ship’s fantastic cast of singers and dancers as well as talented special guest performers.

For more interactive entertainment, visit the Piano Bar, where the energetic and engaging “Piano Man” will have you singing along to jukebox favorites in no time. If midship is your territory, the Pinnacle Bar and the Ocean Bar are perfect locales to have a drink with friends (or make new ones). Further aft on Deck 2, don’t miss the Explorer’s Lounge, with its large mural of the early New York City skyline as viewed from the Hudson River.

Aboard Nieuw Amsterdam , I wished I could be a child again. Yours will have a fabulous time in Club HAL. Smartly designed with separate play areas for kids by age group, the kids’ area is on Deck 10 midship, away from usual public traffic. Teens have their own cool hideaway and hangout called The Loft. With its unique Manhattan vibe and NYC vendor cart, teens will enjoy playing foosball, socializing on beanbag chairs and comfortable seats, or just lounging on couches close to the ground.

In addition, kids can play their favorite video games, watch a movie on a large flat-screen TV, or play board games. The younger kids have their own colorful areas completely designed for them (as cute as could be!). Facilities and activities are all under the supervision of a qualified team of professional counselors.

Even if you don’t have kids, you must take a peek at Club HAL. Right off the elevator on Deck 10 midship, you will find three rooms. One leads to the main hangout where you’ll find a real full-size New York City yellow cab. You’ll marvel first at the immaculate old-style Manhattan taxi, and then wonder how it got there. Obviously, it was installed before the roof was put on and will stay there for many years to come.

Best-Kept Secret

Among the items found on the breakfast buffet are fresh fruits, eggs of all kinds, and an array of Danishes, including the wonderful chocolate croissants. Expect a good selection of juices, including the best-kept secret of the line’s famous freshly squeezed orange juice.

Check out the machine — an engineering marvel — that takes an orange, drops it down a guided slide, slices it in half, squeezes both halves simultaneously, and, in record time and efficiency, gives you perfectly squeezed OJ. There’s no charge, just simply forego the regular OJ on display and ask for a glass of fresh-squeezed instead.

At a Glance

Entered service: July 2010 Tonnage: 86,700 Passenger capacity: 2,106 (double occupancy) Staterooms: 1,053 (68 percent with verandah) Passenger decks: 11 Pools: Lido Pool (midship) and Seaview Pool (aft) On-deck activities: Walking, jogging, basketball, volleyball Dining: Manhattan Dining Room, Pinnacle Grill, Lido Restaurant, Canaletto Restaurant, Tamarind Restaurant; in-room dining Nightlife: The Showroom at Sea, Queen’s Lounge, Casino, Casino Bar, Northern Lights Disco, Pinnacle Bar, Ocean Bar, Explorer’s Lounge, Crow’s Nest Fitness and Spa: The Greenhouse Spa and Salon is a large area with fitness center, Rehair salon, treatment rooms, relaxation room, thermal suite, and a large hydrotherapy pool. Onboard shopping: Numerous shops featuring clothing, perfumes, jewelry, and souvenirs Communications: Internet Café, WiFi and cellular service in most public rooms, WiFi available in all staterooms, satellite communications available. Itineraries: Caribbean itineraries from Fort Lauderdale in winter; returns to Mediterranean sailings in April 2011 .

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Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam Deck Plans & Reviews

Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam

Activities & entertainment

Afternoon Tea
America's Test Kitchen Cooking Classes
Art and Craft Classes *
Art Gallery *
Basketball Court
Beer Tasting *
Cigars Under the Stars *
Digital Workshop *
Digital Workshop Computer Classes
Explorations Central Port Lectures
Fitness Center
Fitness Classes *
Greenhouse Spa & Salon *
Happy Hour Drink Special *
Hot Tubs (5)
Hydro Pool *
Hydrotherapy Pool *
Martini Tasting *
Onboard Lectures
Solo Traveler Get-Togethers
Team Trivia
Volleyball Court
Wine Tasting *
Cabana Club *
Afternoon Musical Concerts
BBC Earth Onboard Features
Billboard Onboard
Feature Movie Matinees
Lincoln Center Stage
Live Nightly Music
Queen's Lounge & Culinary Arts Center
Screening Room
The Mainstage
Dining Room - American
Gallery Bar - Art Bar *
Tamarind Restaurant - Asian Fusion *
Atrium Bar - Atrium Bar *
Ocean Bar - Atrium Bar *
Lido Market - Casual
Explorer's Bar - Classic Bar *
Explorations Café - Coffee Bar *
Dive-In - Fast Food
Crow's Nest - Forward Lounge *
Canaletto Restaurant - italian *
New York Pizza - Pizza
Lido Bar - Pool Bar *
Sea View Bar - Pool Bar *
Pinnacle Grill - Steakhouse *
Pinnacle Bar - Steakhouse Bar *
Neptune Lounge - Suite Guests
Tamarind Bar - View Bar *
Excellent 58
Very Good 31
Terrible 19
All languages ( 142 )
English ( 142 )

Upcoming itineraries

CruiseMapper
Holland America

ms Nieuw Amsterdam

Former name: nieuw amsterdam iv.

Cruise line Holland America

Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades, Florida)
Vancouver (BC Canada)
Whittier (Alaska)
San Diego (California)

ms Nieuw Amsterdam current position

ms Nieuw Amsterdam current location is at North America West Coast (coordinates 12.39130 N / -90.34520 W) cruising at speed of 18.9 kn (35 km/h | 22 mph) en route to MX HTO. The AIS position was reported 33 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of ms Nieuw Amsterdam

ms Nieuw Amsterdam current cruise is 24 days, one-way from Fort Lauderdale to San Diego , themed as "Easter,Tropical". The itinerary starts on 30 Mar, 2024 and ends on 23 Apr, 2024 .

Specifications of ms Nieuw Amsterdam

Itineraries
Review
Wiki

ms Nieuw Amsterdam Itineraries

Ms nieuw amsterdam review, review of ms nieuw amsterdam.

The 2010-built MS Nieuw Amsterdam cruise ship is the 2nd of two Signature-class Holland America liners, with sistership ms Eurodam .

The vessel (IMO number 9378450) is currently Netherlands- flagged (MMSI 246648000) and registered in Rotterdam .

History - construction and ownership

Holland America Line (HAL) is a Seattle -based cruise company owned by Carnival Corporation (shipowner). Between 1873-1989, HAL was a Dutch cargo and passenger shipping company operating regular Transatlantic crossings between Holland and the Americas. HAL was founded in 1873 as "Dutch-American Steamship Company" headquartered in Rotterdam Netherlands . In 1989, HAL was acquired by Carnival Corporation for around EUR 530 million. Among the company's assets are the Westmark hotel chain (Alaska-Yukon), Worldwide Shore Services (warehouses-logistics) and Half Moon Cay (Caribbean private island).

Holland America MS Nieuw Amsterdam cruise ship

The 2100-passenger ship Nieuw Amsterdam debuted on July 4, 2010. The ship was christened by Her Royal Highness Princess Màxima of the Netherlands. MS Nieuw Amsterdam is classified as a mid-size cruise ship and has exclusive Signature features, such as the Asian Pan restaurant and Explorer’s (in African theme). The vessel keeps going HAL's more recent tradition of offering an onboard atmosphere that blends elements from past and present. The stylish art collection, excellently trained crew - that hail mainly from the Philippines and Indonesia - and courtly evening amusement, from a nightly string quartet to cheek-to-cheek dancing, all connect cruisers to Holland America's magnificent inheritance.

Decks and Cabins

MS Nieuw Amsterdam staterooms (1053 total, in 38 grades) include 116 Suites, 602 Balcony, 179 Oceanviews, 156 Inside. Most cabins are sized 175 ft2 (16 m2). Most balconies are sized 45 ft2 (4 m2). Nearly 70% of all staterooms have private step-out balconies, and 86% of all cabins are outside, On Deck 11 are located Juliet cabins (false/French balcony rooms). Wheelchair-accessible cabins are 30. The largest are the Pinnacle Suites (1000 ft2 / 93 m2, with terrace sized 320 ft2 / 30 m2). The ship also has Spa cabins (54) and Spa suites (2).

The boat has 12 passenger decks , of which 8 are with cabins.

Implemented fleetwide in 2019, "Club Orange" program provides exclusive amenities to Suite passengers booked in categories Neptune and Pinnacle. Bonus perks by this program include:

priority services (check-in, disembarkation, tendering, dining reservations)
24-hour concierge service (assistance, information, reservations)
exclusive dining venue (serving complimentary Pinnacle Grill breakfast and Dining Room dinner, plus exclusive dishes)
dedicated Concierge Desk (Guest Services and Tours)
room service (a la carte breakfast menu with complimentary gourmet dishes - including smoked salmon, steak and eggs)
sparkling wine (embarkation day), Club Orange tote bag, premium bathrobes (cabin use, available for monogramming and purchasing).
Club Orange Restaurant is part of the Main Dining Room (designed as a separate VIP dining section).

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

MS Nieuw Amsterdam boasts more dining options than any other ship in the fleet of Holland America besides her sister ms Eurodam. With the addition of the Master Chef's Table, which serves an awesome tasting dinner in its own classy room, Nieuw Amsterdam cruise ship is now offering 4 distinct gourmet menus, which include those found at the Pinnacle Grill, Tamarind and the weekly Le Cirque presentation. When mixed with great-dining experiences in the other dining venues, cruisers might count on a diversity of choices for longer cruises in Europe and back-to-back sailings in the winter season to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. The Rembrandt Restaurant is ship's 2-deck Main Dining Room, and it's open daily for open seating breakfast and occasionally for open seating lunch. At breakfast, there are a lot of choices, from yogurt, fruit and granola, to corned beef hash, pancakes and eggs prepared in many ways. When lunch is served in the Rembrandt, the choice of options is perfect and includes salads, starters, soups, entrees and desserts. It's a relaxing and civilized alternative to the Lido buffet.

Follows the complete list of ms Nieuw Amsterdam restaurants and food bars.

Pinnacle Grill (112-seat reservations-only seafood/steakhouse restaurant with fine wines selection; free for passengers under 12 yo). The venue transforms into “An Evening at le Cirque” once per cruise via a partnership with NYC “Le Cirque” French restaurant.
Master Chef’s Room (Pinnacle Grill annex; reservations only)
Manhattan Restaurant (1114-seat, aft Dining Room; features open seating Breakfast and Lunch, two Dinner options – 2 fixed seatings or “Any Time” dining between 5:15 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Terrace Grill (46-seat fast food pool bar; complimentary)
Lido Restaurant (470-seat complimentary buffet restaurant; offers self-service Breakfast 6-11 am, Lunch 11:30-2 pm, Afternoon Tea, Dinner 5:30-8 pm)
Canaletto Restaurant (Lido Restaurant annex; operates as an Italian restaurant for Dinner, reservations required)
Tamarind (142-seat Asian specialty restaurant; reservations-only)
Slice (complimentary Pizzeria, poolside).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Much of the action onboard ms Nieuw Amsterdam takes place on decks 2 and 3. On these decks, guests will find the casino, bars, lounges, a 36-seat cinema and rooms for computer and culinary classes. Deck 11 is home to the Silk Den bar, which offers a great sea view. Holland America Line provides opportunities for classes in the Culinary Arts Center, built like the set of a TV show, presented by Food & Wine magazine. A free photo is also available (editing photos, operating your camera, etc.) and computer classes at Digital Workshop, via a partnership with Microsoft. The enrichment programs take place during the day and most of them are free, with the exceptions of some sessions at the Greenhouse Spa and food classes with alcohol. Other amenities include: complimentary 24-Hour Room-Service, Supervised Kids Program ("Club Hal"), cruise ship weddings, Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry.

Follows the complete list of ms Nieuw Amsterdam lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

Atrium (3-deck high midship open-floor area with live performances)
The Showroom at Sea (890-seat theatre/main show lounge; also serves Holland America’s enrichment program (via a partnership with BBC Earth)
Piano Bar; Sports Bar; Pinnacle Bar (36-seat wine bar); Ocean Bar (Atrium bar and lounge, with dance floor and stage for live performances)
Northern Lights Disco & Nightclub
Queen’s Lounge & Culinary Arts Centre (166-seat, with live band entertainment, cooking shows, culinary classes; via a partnership with “Food & Wine Magazine”)
Explorer’s Lounge & Bar (lounge with bar; classical concert performances); Silk Den Lounge
King’s Room (complimentary workshops, Internet computers room, by a partnership with Microsoft)
Photo Gallery & Shop; Art Gallery
Casino (served by Casino Bar and Sports Bar)
Screening Room (36-seat indoor cinema)
Atrium Shops (boutiques for duty-free tobaccos and liquor, perfumes, watches, clothing, HAL logo merchandise, souvenirs); Marabella Luxury Shop
Explorations Cafe (specialty coffee bar and patisserie; also serves as ship’s Library and Online Centre/Internet computers room)
Neptune Lounge (club venue for Deluxe Suite and Pinnacle guests only)
Fitness Center (gym with separate Aerobics Room); 7 jacuzzis
Greenhouse Spa & Salon; Lido Pool area, served by Lido Bar and Terrace Grill; Sea View Pool area served by Sea View Bar; Cabana Club (adults-only)
Crow’s Nest (observation lounge; bar and dance floor; becomes disco at night)
Sport Court (basketball, volleyball, soccer); Promenade Deck, Walking Track
Club HAL (kids lounge, complimentary youth programming)
The Loft (teens club lounge area, with Video Games Arcade, computers, PlayStations; teen disco).

In 2023, HAL conducted 5 wet-dock refurbishments to expand the casino space on its vessels in the Pinnacle-class (Nieuw Rotterdam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam) and Signature-class (Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam). Each of the enlarged gambling facilities now has 140 of the gaming industry's newest slot and video poker machines. In addition, a separate non-smoking area was added in the casinos of Nieuw Rotterdam, Nieuw Statendam and Koningsdam.

Since 2023, all HAL ships have pickleball courts (installed on the top deck) operated via an exclusive partnership with PPA-Professional Pickleball Association. HAL also offers complimentary beginner lessons (led by onboard instructors), sells branded pickleball starter kits (at the ship's retail shops) and Play Pickleball tutorial videos are included in the cabin TV programming.

Itineraries

MS Nieuw Amsterdam itinerary program is based on Mediterranean voyages from homeports Venice and Barcelona , and Caribbean voyages out of Fort Lauderdale FL . Transatlantic repositioning crossings (Europe-USA-Europe) are offered during spring and fall.

ms Nieuw Amsterdam - user reviews and comments

Photos of ms nieuw amsterdam.

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Other Holland America cruise ships

ms Koningsdam
ms Nieuw Statendam
ms Oosterdam
ms Rotterdam
ms Volendam
ms Westerdam
ms Zuiderdam

ms Nieuw Amsterdam Wiki

Nieuw Amsterdam is Holland America's 2nd (last) Signature-class vessel, with sistership Eurodam . Named and themed after New York City (initially named "Nieuw Amsterdam" / "New Amsterdam"), the Inaugural Cruise/Maiden Voyage was on July 4, 2010. This is the 81st HAL ship servicing the company and the 4th HAL ship with this name - the previous same-named liners were launched in 1906 (17,150 GT tons), 1938 (36,300 tons), and 1983 (33,900 tons).

Holland America's "Nieuw Amsterdam IV" has 10 staterooms with floor-ceiling and wall-to-wall windows, 86% of all cabins are outside, 67% are with a balcony. In the ms Nieuw Amsterdam ship's Atrium area there's a sculpture of the inverted NYC skyline made from translucent blocks (created by G. Lebigre and C. Roger, Italy).

HAL's other "nieuw" named vessels are Nieuw Statendam (2018 - the 6th "Statendam" since company’s establishment in 1898) and Nieuw Rotterdam (2021).

Nieuw Amsterdam's last major drydock refurbishment was in April 2017.

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Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam Review: Is it Kid-Friendly?

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We took a family cruise last week and chose the Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam to accommodate our multi-generational family. We were traveling with ten people ranging from 2 to 68 years old. Since we had three children (ages 2, 4 and 6) and the grandparents, we were looking for a cruise that would appeal to both young and old(er).

My sister-in-law, who is an avid cruiser, chose the newest Holland America ship, Nieuw Amsterdam, for our voyage. While I had my reservations about this cruise line, the “3 rd and 4 th Passenger Sail Free” promotion last year was too good to pass up.

Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam Video

To be honest, I was concerned that Holland America is known to cater to an older crowd. While I figured the grandparents would have a ball, this cruise line isn’t known for its kid-friendly amenities that others are known for. I was willing to go with the flow and check it out. At the very least, I could report back to all our Baby Gizmo parents about our experience with three young kids on a 7-day Holland America cruise.

Embarkation

We arrived at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale at 11:30am on Sunday morning to a massive line. Thinking that we would beat the crowd since the rooms weren’t scheduled to be available until after 1pm, I was surprised by the crowds. After a random miscommunication (nothing to do with this review or Baby Gizmo!), we were able to skip the line and board the ship right away at the front of the line. While this was crazy good luck for us, a few of the waiting passengers were not so happy. Opps. Sorry, guys!

We proceeded into the cruise terminal at 11:40a and we were through the check-in process with keys in hand and walking on-board by 12:20p. Due to the whole line skipping thing, I’m not sure how long it would have taken to check in otherwise. Sorry. Every Holland America employee that we encountered to this point was absolutely amazing. Friendly. Polite. Patient (we have 3 kids!). Perfect with the kids.

We booked a Verandah Room on the 5 th floor. This is your standard balcony room and our party had four rooms in a row so that we could open up the balcony dividers and walk from room to room. I was a wee bit nervous about the balcony with small children but was happy to see a solid plexiglass half-wall on the balcony that the kids could see out but couldn’t climb.

The room was a standard, small cruise room but I have to say that Holland America was amazing at making a small space work. They created more storage space in our room than we even needed which is no small task since I had “stuff” for 5 people. Under the bed was storage space which had two big drawers for our stuff and space for our 2 suitcases, folded Inglesina Zippy stroller, folded Radian XTSL car seat and additional blankets. There was also a huge closet full of shelves and hangers with plenty of space for all our clothes.

We had a comfy queen-size bed, a love seat, a small (movable) table, a desk area with ottoman chair, and a mini-fridge. The mini-fridge was stocked with liquors and drinks that were an additional cost so I had the cabin steward quickly clean it out so that my kids wouldn’t get into it. We were then able to use the mini-fridge for our own drinks and snacks. This was great for keeping milk on hand for the 2 year old.

This type of room sleeps 4 comfortably. The loveseat pulled out to a bed and there was a hideaway bunk above the queen bed that the cabin steward unlocked and pulled down each evening for us. Needless to say the bunk was a huge hit with my kids!

The bathroom was standard with a sink and toilet but surprisingly had a full bathtub shower which came in handy with the kids. Overall, the room was a bit tight for all of us to walk around at the same time (very common on all standard cruise rooms!) but definitely had room for all our stuff plus more!

Our first plan of action was to find about the kid’s program called ClubHAL for our two older children (4 and 6). I have to say that there was a consensus among our group that ClubHAL definitely sounds like “Club Hell” if you say it quickly. Maybe they should reconsider the name since the kids’ uncle giggled every time we said the kids were going to ClubHAL?

ClubHAL is for kids 3+, so our 2 year old had to hang with us for the week as he was too young to join in the fun. During busier weeks, ClubHAL divides the kids into age groups 3-7, 7-12 and teens. Since there were so few kids during our week, all kids 3-12 were put together into what would normally be just the 7-12 year old room. I think there were only 4 teenagers on board so I’m not sure what they did.

We quickly heard that there were only 35 kids onboard this week which is basically no kids when there are almost 3,000 passengers aboard. This made me nervous as I thought the kids might not like ClubHAL with so few kids. Wrong. The kids LOVED it! Seriously, they begged each day to go back!

With so few kids visiting ClubHAL, there were basically two counselors. They were friendly but definitely ran a tight ship which was prefect for my two “spunky” kids that needed that. The ClubHAL room was very fun and kid-friendly. It had a real taxicab in the center of the room that the kids could climb in and out of, a large area full of bean bags to chill, art tables, various TVs mounted on the wall for Wii or Xbox playing, a large screen for movies and lots of space to roam.

There were planned activities each day from pizza and movie night to a pirate-themed evening. The kids even attended a show with their ClubHAL friends one evening. The ClubHAL hours of operation varied from day to day depending on if it was a port day or sea day. For example, on sea days it was open from 9-11a, 1-4 and 7-10p.

Besides the snack in the evening, the Club was closed during mealtimes. I would have loved to see ClubHAL open earlier in the evenings. The kids didn’t really want to sit in the dining room every night with us but the grandparents wanted to go to dinner earlier than 7pm. If the Club had opened at 5pm, it would have been perfect.

Food/Dining

The food on the ship was excellent. For lunch and breakfast each day, we visited the casual buffet restaurant (Lido Restaurant) and the Terrace Grill that served hamburgers and hotdogs poolside. The kids’ favorite part was the ice cream and dessert bar, of course. While we tried the Lido for dinner, we definitely preferred the main dining room in the evening.

The Manhattan Dining Room had a complete kid’s menu with yummy kid’s favorites like chicken tenders, mac and cheese and quesadillas. Let’s just say that the Lido wasn’t so kid-friendly with their food choices in the evenings. Not a chicken tender in sight.

For the adults, the Manhattan Dining Room offered a menu with many choices from steak to seafood to pasta. If a guest didn’t like the daily specials, there was always a standard selection that was offered daily such as top sirloin, caesar salad and chicken breast. The food was always delicious, hot and cooked perfectly. For the kids, there was a special kid’s menu that included kid favorites such as mac and cheese, quesadillas and chicken tenders. The service was outstanding with the waitstaff paying special attention to the kids with paper animals each night.

Alternative Restaurants

On board there are three specialty restaurants that are an additional charge per person to eat at: Pinnacle, Tamarind and Canaletto. We decided to try the Pinnacle and the Tamarind.

The Tamarind is an Asian-fusion restaurant. The food was excellent and the atmosphere was phenomenal. If you are a fan of Asian-fusion food, including great sushi, this is a definitely can’t-miss restaurant on board at only $15pp!

While the Tamarind was great, the Pinnacle was by far our favorite dinner of the week. The Pinnacle is a steakhouse and carries a $25/per person charge with it. Let me just say, it’s definitely worth it to drop the kids at ClubHAL and eat there. If you plan to make reservations (you have to have reservations!) that coincide with ClubHAL hours, I definitely recommend making those reservations in advance.

The only reservation we could get was 8:30pm no matter which night we chose, so one member of our party had to leave dinner before dessert was served to get the kids from ClubHAL when it closed at 10pm. Okay, back to the Pinnacle food. It was exceptional. Seriously, so good! While we could have had top sirloin every night in the dining room, it didn’t even hold a candle to the filet mignon and shrimp (“Land and Sea” entrée) at the Pinnacle.

The service was also excellent in the Pinnacle. Our waiter, Bonie, was fantastic and even attentive to our 2 year old who joined us. (Remember he couldn’t go to ClubHAL.)

There are two pools on the Nieuw Amsterdam: the Lido Pool and the Adult Pool. The adult pool is just that – for adults. They are serious about that! The Lido pool is where you will find the few kids on board. The Lido pool was surrounded by comfortable deck chairs and no matter when we visited the area, we could always find chairs. This isn’t the kind of cruise that you need to hit the pool with your towels at 8am just to get a chair. Chairs are always available. There were three hot tubs surrounding the pool.

The kids had a good time each day laughing, splashing and playing in the pool and we never seemed to worry about upsetting any other guests in the area. Most of the time the only ones in this pool were the kids and the parents. Any other guests who wanted to lounge on the side of the pool were smart to hang by the adult pool.

It’s important to note that like all major cruises, toddlers/babies in diapers (even swim diapers!) are not allowed in any of the pools. This is a safety regulation in order to avoid the pools from being contaminated on the ship.

Ports/Excursions

Our Western Caribbean cruise had four port days and two days at sea. Our itinerary included Half Moon Cay, Bahamas, Grand Cayman, Roatan, Honduras and Costa Maya, Mexico.

Half Moon Cay

The first port on day two was Half Moon Cay which is Holland America’s private island. It was a great day to hang at the beach. We chose to do a horseback riding excursion in the morning and beach lounging in the afternoon. The “Horseback Riding by Land & Sea” was an excursion through the cruise line and five adults from our party participated. We had a great time with this 1 hour and 20 minute excursion. We spent about 25 minutes riding along the beach and an additional 20 minutes galloping in the water. Yes, we rode the horses in the sea! It was thrilling and a little scary all at the same time.

In the afternoon at Half Moon Cay, we hit the beach. My kids were pleased to see a large water playground with two waterslides right on the beach. On busier weeks, we were told that there are water trampolines out in the water but sadly not the week we visited. There was a floating mat that the kids (and the guys!) had a great time “walking on water”. ClubHAL held a “playdate” on the beach in the morning but since our horseback riding conflicted with that AND the parents had to attend with the kids, we opted out of that ClubHAL activity.

Grand Cayman

On our fourth day, we docked at Grand Cayman. We chose a “Dolphin Memories and Turtle Farm” excursion through the cruise line at this port. We chose this particular excursion not only because swimming with dolphins sounded super fun but also because it was one of the few excursions that the kids could participate in. My husband, I and our 4 and 6 year old did the Dolphins trip. After a 25 min bus ride, we arrived at the Turtle Farm and Dolphin place. The turtle farm was great fun for the kids as they walked around looking at huge turtles all the way down to 12 week old baby turtles that they got to pick up and hold.

After visiting the turtles, we headed across the street to the Dolphins. We suited up with life jackets and went with a group of about 20 people into the pool with a dolphin. We petted, kissed, shook hands and played with the dolphin for about 30 minutes. Each person in the group (including the kids) got to take a turn with the dolphin.

We weren’t allowed to take a camera into the pool with us and opted not to pay the $25 per photo charge for our dolphin encounter pictures so these general pictures will have to be good enough. Even without photos, it was one of the coolest excursions we have ever done and we are really glad we took the kids to join us. It’s not everyday that they get to have an encounter with a dolphin.

Roatan, Honduras was our 3 rd port on our fifth day. We chose to skip all excursions and visit the beach instead. We loaded up all ten people in our party and played in the sand and water at a gorgeous beach. If you visit the Rotan Beach, I highly recommend walking the path to the beach instead of taking the ski lift chair that costs you $12/each. The walk is a 10 minute walk and unless you have people in your party who can’t walk that far, skip the chair lift!

Costa Maya, Mexico

Costa Maya was our 4th and final port. We had pre-planned a shore excursion to visit the Mayan Ruins through a local Costa Maya company rather than through Holland America. We had a private, air-conditioned van for our party of 10 and our own private tour guide for the same price as a group tour through the cruise line.

While the adults in the party really enjoyed this excursion, the almost 4 hour excursion was just too much for the kids in the group. It was an hour drive each way to get to the ruins and a hour and a half tour through the actual ruins. I think the travel time was what put my kids over the top with this one.

By the time we arrived at the tour, within 10 minutes both my 4 and 6 year old were whining about returning to the ship to go swimming. We spent a lot of the ruins tour carrying children. Part of it was our fault because we didn’t realize that a stroller would have come in handy with this excursion.

The tour was fun and educational but I just wouldn’t recommend it for antsy kids between the ages of 2-6. And if you have to take them, I recommend bringing a stroller for the tour and a car seat for the van ride.

Activities/Entertainment

Since Holland America caters towards an older crowd, you will find different types of activities and entertainment than you would on other cruise lines. Instead of the volleyball tournaments, belly flop contests, and parades down the promenade, they have things like trivia contests, afternoon tea, card/scrabble player meet-ups and ballroom dance request hours. Besides the planned ClubHAL activities, there are not many kid-friendly activities. Sure, they have the traditional daily bingo games but they are not really meant for kids.

The ship has a basketball court/tennis court that is open all the time. There are rackets, tennis balls and basketballs ready to be used. Every time we went up to the court, it was empty and ready for play.

In the ship’s theater, there are nightly shows to entertain. I have to be honest though, the shows are definitely not up to par with other cruise lines. I love show tunes. Love Broadway. Love musicals. Love theater.

The shows that I saw during our cruise were just not that spectacular. I would compare it to a high school musical vs. the extravagant Broadway-style shows that I have seen on other cruise lines. They aren’t bad (the grandparents in our group thought the mid-week show was “cute”) but just know people don’t cruise Holland America because of the shows. All the adults under 40 in our group walked out after 10 minutes of sitting in the first show and headed to the casino.

Speaking of a casino, the adults in our party were very happy to see a casino onboard! It had all your typical casino games like roulette, blackjack and craps, as well as, many slot machines to keep the gambling going.

Overall, we had a fabulous week! We did miss all the kid-friendly activities of other cruises, but because of the pool, we never had a shortage of things to do. My kids could basically spend the entire day at the pool and that’s pretty much what we did when we weren’t getting off the ship at the various ports.

Yes, the ship is full of older people. I’m talking about 85% of the passengers were over 60! To be honest, I was nervous from time to time during the week that my kids were upsetting the older passengers so I had to really keep them in check more than I normally would. An innocent run down the hall would worry me that a lady with a walker or a gentleman on a scooter would be around the corner.

Most of the passengers were super sweet and smiled at my kids or told us that they looked just like their grandchildren who they missed. There were a few though that looked as if they didn’t appreciate the kids on board. Honestly, you’ll find that anywhere though. Some people are nice and understanding and some people aren’t. The staff on the other hand was excellent with the kids! Many of them said they had kids of their own and loved when kids were onboard. They really went out of their way to accommodate their requests and keep them happy.

Holland America is a different type of cruise for kids. There are no waterslides, mini-golf courses, rock walls, arcades, FloRiders, Johnny Rockets or even shuffleboard on the Nieuw Amsterdam. You have the pool, ClubHAL and a tremendous group of Holland America employees that give you the royal treatment. That being said, you don’t have the drunks in the hallways, the loud partying at night, the pools that you have to get to at 8am just to get a chair, pools with wall to wall people and a ship with 1/3 of the passengers being kids.

If you are looking to take the family on a cruise, I would definitely recommend Holland America if you are traveling with grandparents and looking for a low-key cruise. It’s one of those cruise ships that the grandparents will appreciate the lack of drunks and super loud music, but the kids will still have fun hanging with new friends at the pool and in ClubHAL.

For more information on a Holland America Cruise, visit their website at http://www.hollandamerica.com/

*Disclosure: This was a personal family vacation. We’d like to thank Holland America for 2 of our 3 excursions and for covering the charge for the alternative restaurants. As always, all opinions and statements are our own.

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Sunday 25th of February 2018

Best review for parents about Holland America. Excellent!

Thursday 12th of February 2015

Question: Is Club Hal available to leave the children in on port days, if we go to shore without them?

Monday 23rd of February 2015

It depends on the days and ports. You will need to check with them to be certain.

Friday 23rd of January 2015

Did they allow 5 passengers to be booked in 1 room?

Hollie Schultz

Sunday 25th of January 2015

Nope. We had to put one of the kids in the grandparent's room. Limit is 4 per room - no exceptions.

Tuesday 2nd of December 2014

I know this is a fairly old review, but I just booked on the Nieuw Amsterdam and I have a question. The rule is that no diapers of any kind, and no non-toilet trained child (whether in or out of a diaper) is allowed in any pool or hot tub, not even family tubs. Is this enforced? Did you follow this rule?

Yes, this is enforced on the ship because older people don't let things like that slide. :)

Paul Palmeri

Saturday 24th of August 2013

Hi Many thanks for your post. I have to say that I use to work on the Old and retired Nieuw Amsterdam as as Hair stylist and now after 20 years ago of missing being on the ship i want to do a cruise with my family. I dont remember much about the company catering for children and have been a little worried if it might be the right decision to go with them. Your posting has helped me tremendously so many thanks for your time. My only concern is one of my children is 2 and a half and the other is 3 and a half. (13 months between them) I am concerned that my youngest wont be allowed with his brother and excluded completely and as they are very close this may cause some problems. Are they flexible with ages.. We always have people asking us if they are twins because the younger brother is quite tall and chunky. Any feedback woudl be welcome.. Many thanks again for your post. I have to say i really wanted to cruise with my family with HA.

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Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam Cruise: Expert Review (2023)
4.5. Very Good. Overall. Cynthia Drake. Contributor. Nieuw Amsterdam is a ship whose name is associated with a rich and celebrated history for Holland America Line, and being on the ship gives you ...
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Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam - Deck Plans, Reviews & Pictures - Tripadvisor. Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam. 142 reviews. 1-855-932-1711 Website. All photos (2,630) Traveler ( 435) Common Areas ( 1,539) Dining and Bars ( 603) Itineraries for this ship.
Nieuw Amsterdam Reviews from Travelers
In conclusion, the Nieuw Amsterdam seven-day cruise had moments of beauty and the potential for greatness but was ultimately marred by poor organization, weak communication, and seeming disregard for creating a 'value for money' experience for its passengers. Additional cabin surcharges were a total of $1100 on disembarkation, that was 1 'fancy ...
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Great cruise but people need to wash their hands. Mar 13th, 2024. Great cruise. HAL and crew are always fantastic. Unfortunately, a blast of norovirus ran its course through the entire ship ...
Nieuw Amsterdam Reviews, Ship Details & Photos
Nieuw Amsterdam overview. The second of Holland America's signature-class ships, ms Nieuw Amsterdam celebrates historic New York City, once called Nieuw Amsterdam, with its inspired design and an art collection valued at more than $3 million. While on board enjoy cooking classes and hands-on workshops from America's Test Kitchen.
Nieuw Amsterdam Review
Rankings. Nieuw Amsterdam ranks # 6 out of 11 Holland America Line Cruise Ships based on an analysis of expert and user ratings, as well as health ratings. #6. in Best Holland America Line. #18 ...
Nieuw Amsterdam Cruise Ship Review Scorecard
Overall Nieuw Amsterdam Cruise Ship Scorecard Review. Not knowing what to expect from our first cruise with the brand, Holland America Line's Nieuw Amsterdam impressed us on several fronts. With tasteful dining options, a variety of talented live music and nightly entertainment, and just the right amount of onboard enrichment, it was an ideal ...
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Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam Cruises: Read 964 Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam cruise reviews. Find great deals, tips and tricks on Cruise Critic to help plan your cruise.
Holland America Line ms Nieuw Amsterdam Review
Launched in 2010, this is the fourth Holland America ship to be sailing with this name, and perhaps the most elegant. While the original Nieuw Amsterdam was a sail and steam ship launched in 1906, this "nieuwest" version is an 86,000-ton vessel that represents the largest ship in Holland America's fleet, the second in the Signature class line.
Holland America's Nieuw Amsterdam
Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam Deck Plan. The Nieuw Amsterdam is an easy to navigate ship. The deck plan is easy to figure out - and the boat is small enough you can get from your cabin to restaurants, entertainment, the pools very easily. Deck 1 is mostly cabins, along with an atrium and this is where you will find guest services.
Holland America Line ms Nieuw Amsterdam Cruise Review
Launched in 2010, this is the fourth Holland America ship to be sailing with this name, and perhaps the most elegant. While the original Nieuw Amsterdam was a sail and steam ship launched in 1906, this "nieuwest" version is an 86,000-ton vessel that represents the largest ship in Holland America's fleet, the second in the Signature class line.
Cruise Review: Holland America Returns to Alaska on Nieuw Amsterdam
Cruise Review: Holland America Returns to Alaska on Nieuw Amsterdam. Clients can kayak in Sitka during a cruise with Holland America Line to Alaska. It was not even 8 a.m. on the first morning of our sailing onboard Holland America Line's (HAL) Nieuw Amsterdam, but a handful of humpback whales had already brought smiles to the faces of more ...
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Join Danny as he tours the beautiful Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam. The updated decor, staterooms, and dining venues provide a luxury experience. From the ...
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Nieuw Amsterdam Cruise Ship Review Cruise Ship Review - Nieuw Amsterdam Holland America Line's latest ship tips its hat to its New York roots. By Michel Verdure. Discovered by Henry Hudson for the Dutch West India Company in the 17th century, Nieuw-Amsterdam was the first European name given to what is now New York City.
Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam
Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam. 142 reviews. All photos (2,630) Traveller ( 435) Common Areas ( 1,539) Dining and Bars ( 603) Itineraries for this ship. Itinerary. 5 Night Cruise to Pacific Coastal.
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Join us as we take you on a comprehensive tour of Holland America Line's Nieuw Amsterdam, filmed during our 7-day sailing of the Southern Caribbean in March ...
ms Nieuw Amsterdam Itinerary, Current Position, Ship Review
Nieuw Amsterdam is Holland America's 2nd (last) Signature-class vessel, with sistership Eurodam.Named and themed after New York City (initially named "Nieuw Amsterdam" / "New Amsterdam"), the Inaugural Cruise/Maiden Voyage was on July 4, 2010. This is the 81st HAL ship servicing the company and the 4th HAL ship with this name - the previous same-named liners were launched in 1906 (17,150 GT ...
Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam Review: Is it Kid-Friendly?
We took a family cruise last week and chose the Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam to accommodate our multi-generational family. We were traveling with ten people ranging from 2 to 68 years old. Since we had three children (ages 2, 4 and 6) and the grandparents, we were looking for a cruise that would appeal to both young and old(er).
Nieuw Amsterdam
Nieuw Amsterdam. 2106 guest. 936 ft. length. 105.8 ft. width. The second of our Signature Class ships, Nieuw Amsterdam, celebrates historic New York City with an inspired design and art collection. While on board, rejuvenate in the tranquil Spa & Salon, play pickleball at sea, or enjoy a tantalizing meal at fine dining restaurants.
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Explore the world on Nieuw Amsterdam, a spacious and elegant ship with signature dining, entertainment, and activities for all ages.
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Plan activities, purchase shore excursions, make reservations and more right from your phone while on board.

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