ms Nieuw Amsterdam

The 2010-built MS Nieuw Amsterdam cruise ship is the second 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. Between 1873 and 1989, HAL operated as a Dutch cargo and passenger shipping company running regular Transatlantic crossings between Holland and the Americas. HAL was founded in 1873 as the “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 and logistics), and Half Moon Cay (HAL’s private Caribbean island).

Nieuw Amsterdam debuted on July 4, 2010, and was christened by Her Royal Highness Princess Máxima of the Netherlands. The ship is classified as mid-size and features exclusive Signature-class amenities, including the Asian Pan restaurant and the African-themed Explorer’s Lounge. The vessel continues HAL’s tradition of blending classic maritime elegance with contemporary comforts. Its stylish art collection, highly trained crew (primarily from the Philippines and Indonesia), and refined evening entertainment—from the nightly string quartet to ballroom dancing—reflect the line’s long-standing heritage.

Decks and Cabins

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

The vessel has 12 passenger decks, with cabins on 8 of them.

Implemented fleetwide in 2019, the “Club Orange” program provides exclusive amenities to Suite passengers booked in Neptune and Pinnacle categories, including:

• 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 (à la carte breakfast menu with complimentary gourmet dishes such as smoked salmon, steak and eggs)
• sparkling wine on embarkation day, Club Orange tote bag, premium bathrobes (in-cabin use, available for monogramming and purchase)
• Club Orange Restaurant, designed as a separate VIP dining section within the Main Dining Room

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

MS Nieuw Amsterdam offers more dining options than any other HAL ship besides her sister Eurodam. With the addition of the Master Chef’s Table—serving an elegant tasting dinner in a private room—the ship now offers four distinct gourmet menus, including selections from Pinnacle Grill, Tamarind and the weekly Le Cirque presentation. Combined with the ship’s other dining venues, guests enjoy exceptional variety on longer European voyages and winter-season Caribbean sailings.

The Rembrandt Restaurant is the ship’s 2-deck Main Dining Room, open daily for open-seating breakfast and occasionally for open-seating lunch. Breakfast options range from yogurt, fruit and granola to corned beef hash, pancakes and various egg dishes. Lunch offerings include salads, starters, soups, entrees and desserts. It provides a relaxed, refined 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 a fine wine selection; complimentary for passengers under 12). The venue transforms once per cruise into “An Evening at Le Cirque,” via partnership with New York’s Le Cirque French restaurant.
• Master Chef’s Room (Pinnacle Grill annex; reservations only)
• Manhattan Restaurant (1114-seat aft Dining Room; open-seating breakfast and lunch, and two dinner options: fixed seatings or “Any Time” dining between 5:15–9:00 p.m.)
• Terrace Grill (46-seat complimentary fast-food pool bar)
• Lido Restaurant (470-seat complimentary buffet; Breakfast 6–11 am, Lunch 11:30–2 pm, Afternoon Tea, Dinner 5:30–8 pm)
• Canaletto Restaurant (Lido annex; Italian dinner venue, reservations required)
• Tamarind (142-seat Asian specialty restaurant; reservations only)
• Slice (complimentary poolside pizzeria)

In 2023, Nieuw Amsterdam introduced Morimoto By Sea (sushi bar via partnership with Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto). The 12-seat venue’s menu includes Appetizers (Toro Tartare), Sushi & Sashimi (Chef’s Combo, Nigiri & Sashimi), 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, Poke Bowl, Chicken Katsu Curry, Angry Lobster Pad Thai) and Desserts (White Chocolate Lime Ganache).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Most onboard activity takes place on decks 2 and 3, home to the casino, bars, lounges, a 36-seat cinema and rooms for computer and culinary classes. Deck 11 features the Silk Den bar with panoramic sea views. HAL offers culinary classes in the Culinary Arts Center—designed like a TV studio—presented in partnership with Food & Wine Magazine. Complimentary photo-editing sessions and computer classes (via Microsoft partnership) are also available. Enrichment programs take place throughout the day, with only some spa and alcohol-related classes requiring a fee. Other amenities include complimentary 24-hour room service, the supervised kids’ program (“Club HAL”), cruise weddings, WiFi/Internet and laundry service.

Follows the complete list of ms Nieuw Amsterdam lounges, clubs and 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 hosts HAL’s enrichment program in partnership with BBC Earth)
• Piano Bar; Sports Bar; Pinnacle Bar (36-seat wine bar); Ocean Bar (Atrium lounge with dance floor and live performances)
• Northern Lights Disco & Nightclub
• Queen’s Lounge & Culinary Arts Center (166-seat venue with live band entertainment, cooking shows and culinary classes)
• Explorer’s Lounge & Bar (classical music performances); Silk Den Lounge
• King’s Room (complimentary workshops, Internet room via Microsoft partnership)
• Photo Gallery & Shop; Art Gallery
• Casino (served by Casino Bar and Sports Bar)
• Screening Room (36-seat cinema)
• Atrium Shops (duty-free boutiques for tobacco, liquor, perfumes, watches, clothing, HAL merchandise, souvenirs); Marabella Luxury Shop
• Explorations Café (specialty coffee bar and patisserie; also serves as the ship’s Library and Internet centre)
• Neptune Lounge (Suite-only club venue)
• Fitness Center (gym with Aerobics Room); 7 Jacuzzis
• Greenhouse Spa & Salon; Lido Pool (served by Lido Bar and Terrace Grill); Sea View Pool (served by Sea View Bar); Cabana Club (adults-only)
• Crow’s Nest (observation lounge with bar and dance floor; becomes a disco at night)
• Sports Court (basketball, volleyball, soccer); Promenade Deck; Walking Track
• Club HAL (kids’ lounge, complimentary youth programming)
• The Loft (teen lounge with Video Games Arcade, computers, PlayStations and a teen disco)

In 2023, HAL conducted five wet-dock refurbishments to expand casino spaces on its Pinnacle-class (Nieuw Rotterdam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam) and Signature-class (Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam) ships. Each enlarged casino now features 140 of the latest slot and video poker machines, plus a separate non-smoking area (Nieuw Rotterdam, Nieuw Statendam, Koningsdam).

Since 2023, all HAL ships feature pickleball courts (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 (in onboard retail shops), and includes Play Pickleball tutorial videos in cabin TV programming.

Itineraries

MS Nieuw Amsterdam’s itinerary program includes Mediterranean voyages from homeports Venice and Barcelona, and Caribbean voyages from Fort Lauderdale, FL. Transatlantic repositioning cruises (Europe–USA–Europe) are offered in spring and fall.

Nieuw Amsterdam is Holland America’s 2nd (and last) Signature-class vessel, with sistership Eurodam. Named and themed after New York City (historically called “Nieuw Amsterdam” / “New Amsterdam”), the ship’s Inaugural Cruise/Maiden Voyage took place on July 4, 2010. This is the 81st HAL ship to serve the company and the 4th to carry the name—the previous Nieuw Amsterdam ships were launched in 1906 (17,150 GT), 1938 (36,300 GT) and 1983 (33,900 GT).

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

HAL’s other “nieuw” named vessels are Nieuw Statendam (2018 – the 6th “Statendam” since the company’s founding in 1898) and Nieuw Rotterdam (2021).

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