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).

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)

In 2023, on Nieuw Amsterdam debuted the restaurant Morimoto By Sea (sushi bar via a partnership with Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto). The 12-seat dining venue's menu includes Appetizers (Toro Tartare), Sushi & Sashimi (Chef’s Combo, Nigiri & Sashimi), Chef’s Signature Rolls (Shrimp Tempura, Lobster Tempura, Tako Yaki, Aburi Salmon, California Snow Crab, Spicy Tuna, Spicy Salmon), Signature Plates (Tuna Pizza, Sticky Ribs, Pork Gyoza Dumplings, Poke Bowl, Chicken Katsu Curry, Angry Lobster Pad Thai), and Desserts (White Chocolate Lime Ganache).

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)
• Sports 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.

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.