ms Nieuw Statendam

The 2018-built MS Nieuw Statendam cruise ship is the second Pinnacle-Class vessel in the Holland America fleet, with sisterships and fleetmates Koningsdam (2016) and Rotterdam (2021), as well as Cunard's Queen Anne. The new Statendam is HAL's 16th vessel built by Fincantieri. Pinnacle-Class ships are the line’s newest and largest liners.

The vessel (IMO number 9767106) is currently Netherlands-flagged (MMSI 244140580) 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 and 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 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 (a private Caribbean island).

The 2700-passenger Nieuw Statendam was scheduled for delivery in November 2018. The vessel’s name (translated from Dutch as “New Statendam”) was announced on May 23, 2016. It honors MS Statendam (now Vasco da Gama) – the 5th Statendam-named liner since the company’s establishment. HAL’s other “new/nieuw” named ship is Nieuw Amsterdam (2010).

Decks and Cabins

MS Nieuw Statendam staterooms (1331 total, in 35 grades) include 164 Suites, 748 Balcony cabins, 147 Oceanviews (including 32x Family Oceanview and 12x Studios/single cabins) and 280 Inside cabins. Most cabins are sized ~180 ft2 / 17 m2. Most cabin balconies are sized 50 ft2 / 5 m2. Nearly 70% of the ship’s passenger accommodations have private step-out balconies. Wheelchair-accessible cabins are 27. The largest accommodation is the Penthouse/Pinnacle Suite (970 ft2 / 90 m2, with a 320 ft2 / 30 m2 terrace fitted with an outdoor Jacuzzi).

The boat has 13 passenger decks, of which 8 are with cabins.

Club Orange is an exclusive (Suite-only) venue integrated into HAL’s “Club Orange” program, providing premium amenities to passengers booked in the Neptune and Pinnacle Suite categories. Bonus perks under the Club Orange program include:

• priority services (check-in, disembarkation, tendering, dining reservations)
• 24-hour concierge service (assistance, information, reservations)
• exclusive dining venue (Club Orange Restaurant/deck 2) 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, including smoked salmon, steak and eggs)
• sparkling wine (embarkation day), Club Orange tote bag, premium bathrobes (for in-cabin use, available for monogramming and purchase)

Club Orange Restaurant occupies the former “Culinary Arts Center” space. Culinary Arts Center was a premium dinner-only restaurant (cover charge USD 39 pp, with unlimited wine included) operated via partnership with “Food & Wine Magazine.” This open/show kitchen venue was used daily for professional cooking shows, culinary classes, and workshops (cooking and cocktail) presented in demonstration kitchens. In the evenings, the venue transformed into “Dinner at the Culinary Arts Center.” This specialty dining concept (“America’s Test Kitchen”) provided a top-quality gourmet experience – the ship’s chefs prepared dishes in the demonstration kitchen while guests enjoyed each course with wine pairing. At the entrance, there were 9 interactive TV displays allowing guests to explore biographies, special recipes, cooking secrets, and tips from famous food and wine industry celebrities. Through Holland America Line’s partnership with Koppert Cress (microgreen specialist), the Culinary Arts Center featured a live garden for growing fresh ingredients. This enabled guests to enjoy farm-to-table items from the dinner menu (vegetable dishes, 5 choices, dessert, cheese plate). The ingredients were displayed in a glass-enclosed garden area and harvested just before being served. Once sown, the seedlings grew for up to 2 weeks. Microgreens used in the recipes included garlic, mustard, and licorice.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

The ship’s 2-level main restaurant serves open-seating breakfast and lunch, as well as a combination of flexible and set-seating restaurant-style dinners. Breakfast hours in the MDR vary but start as early as 7 am on port days and 8 am on sea days, usually ending by 9:30 am. Breakfast offerings include breads, cereals, French toast, blueberry pancakes, corned beef hash, egg dishes, and yogurt parfaits. Portions tend to be on the smaller side, so ordering an extra pastry is a good idea. Lunch in the MDR is typically limited to a single hour per day (from noon to 1 pm on sea days; it is closed when the ship is in port for the entire day). If you see a line of guests waiting to be seated, don’t be discouraged – it moves quickly and there are plenty of tables. Lunch fare includes sandwiches, soups, light salads, fish, and heartier entrees.

Holland America is renowned for its exceptional dining on every voyage, but the line’s newest ships, MS Koningsdam and MS Nieuw Statendam, offer even more culinary variety. The Dining Room is a 2-deck-high restaurant featuring an airy, sophisticated ambiance, floor-to-ceiling windows, curved architectural pillars accentuating the high ceiling, modern glass lighting, and chic custom furnishings. The restaurant’s centerpiece is a copper sheath surrounding the 2-story wine tower, showcasing an impressive premium wine selection. The menu features HAL’s classic selections, signature dishes, regionally inspired cuisine, and recipes from the Culinary Council – a group of world-renowned chefs including Council Chairman and Master Chef Rudi Sodamin and international chefs David Burke, Elizabeth Falkner, Jacques Torres, Jonnie Boer, and Mark Best.

In addition to the Dining Room, Nieuw Statendam offers fine dining in several alternative venues, including the redesigned Lido Market (with themed food stations), the new French seafood brasserie Rudi’s Sel de Mer, suite-exclusive dining (Club Orange Restaurant), Canaletto (Italian), Tamarind (pan-Asian/sushi bar), and Pinnacle Grill (steakhouse/seafood restaurant).

BLEND is a glass-enclosed winery room (capacity 10 seats) hosting daily wine-blending sessions. These are reservations-only events (90-minute sessions, USD 129 cover charge) with sommelier service. The BLEND venue is operated in partnership with Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery (Woodinville, Washington). Wine-tasting events are seminar-style, led by a wine expert. Each session includes sampling 5 single-vineyard red wines, which are then combined into a personal blend. After the event, you can bottle and take your custom wine to enjoy in the ship’s restaurants or in your stateroom. At BLEND, guests can also view the wines offered in Pinnacle Grill and Sel de Mer and select vintages from the extensive premium wine list.

Follows the complete list of MS Nieuw Statendam restaurants and food bars.

• Pinnacle Grill (reservations-only seafood/steakhouse restaurant with a fine wine selection; complimentary for passengers under 12 years old). The venue occasionally transforms into “De Librije” (USD 69–89), inspired by the Dutch land-based restaurant De Librije (two Michelin stars). A wine tasting is included with the meal (four 2 oz pours). A wine pairing option is available for an additional USD 20 per person (four 5 oz pours).
• Rudi’s Sel de Mer – dinner-only specialty restaurant serving French seafood. Compared to Koningsdam’s original Sel de Mer (upgraded during the 2018 drydock), the restaurant on Nieuw Statendam is larger (54 seats) but retains the curving shape and walnut, accordion-like column structure. The back wall is decorated with porcelain plates featuring Chef Rudi’s Food Faces culinary pop art (via a partnership with Bernardaud – French porcelain masters). The plates display classic ingredients (caviar, fruits, root vegetables, peppers, etc.). In January 2018, HAL released the coffee table book “Food Faces,” available for purchase on the ship. Signature dishes on the à la carte menu include Rudi’s Seafood Tower, Fruits de Mer, Broiled Lobster Tail, Whole Dover Sole Meunière, Clams au Beurre, Duck Cassoulet, Steak Tartare, Steak Frites, Soufflé au Fromage, and Salt-Crust Baked Branzino. Signature desserts include Rudi’s Face to Face Chocolate, Rudi’s Soufflé, Crêpes Suzette, Profiteroles with Hot Chocolate Sauce, Apple Tarte Tatin, and an Artisanal French Cheese Plate.
• The Dining Room (aft Dining Room; offers open-seating breakfast and lunch, and two dinner options – two fixed seatings or “Any Time” dining between 5:15–9 pm)
• Canaletto Restaurant (Lido Restaurant annex; operates as an Italian restaurant for dinner, reservations required)
• Dive-In (complimentary fast-food bar)
• New York Deli (fast-food bar)
• Gelato (ice cream parlor)

Lido Market (capacity 386 seats) is the ship’s self-service buffet, open for Breakfast (6–11 am), Lunch (11:30–2 pm), Afternoon Tea (3–4 pm) and Dinner (5:30–8 pm). Food is complimentary and displayed at 5 themed stations. Designed as a modern marketplace, Lido Market offers numerous grab-and-go and made-to-order options. The differently themed walk-up stations include fresh-made sandwiches, grilled items, international cuisine, salads, fruits, desserts, and daily specials. Station names are Breadboard (fresh-baked bread, pastries, sandwiches), Wild Harvest (salads, fruits, healthy bites), Homestead (comfort food, including egg dishes and grilled meats), Distant Lands (themed specialties from the regions visited on the itinerary), and Sweet Spot (desserts).

Tamarind (aft on deck 10) is a reservations-only Asian restaurant, complimentary for lunch and at surcharge for dinner (per-person cover charge). Tamarind Bar serves the venue with cocktails and other beverages. Part of Tamarind is the Japanese food bar Nami Sushi (capacity 7 seats), also serving popular Asian spirits. Nami Sushi is open for lunch and dinner, both at surcharge per person. Tamarind’s sushi menu is created by chef Andy Matsuda and additionally features four of his signature rolls.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The World Stage is the main theatre, featuring 270-degree LED screens and flexible stage configurations. Lido Pool (one of the ship’s two swimming pools) has an outdoor movie screen, 3 whirlpools, and 2 levels of cushioned loungers. The central pool area (Magrodome) spans 2 levels, creating a glass-enclosed space. The lower level has traditional poolside elements, while the mezzanine level offers additional seating, a large LED screen for poolside movies, and Deli and Pizza (complimentary fast-food bars).

Onboard live music and entertainment are centered in the Music Walk area (forward-midship on Plaza Deck 2), which houses the music-themed venues Lincoln Center Stage & B.B. King’s Blues Club, Rolling Stone Rock Room, and Billboard Onboard.

The 2-tier Lincoln Center Stage & B.B. King’s Blues Club (formerly Queen’s Lounge, decks 2–3) is a grand ballroom/concert hall/nightclub with two grand pianos (on deck 2), the largest dance floor in the HAL fleet (deck 2), its own bar (deck 2), balcony seating (deck 3), and a resident 8-piece band (2 vocalists, drummer, pianist/organist, bassist, guitarist, saxophonist, trumpeter). The lounge hosts live performances (concerts, classical pieces, blues, popular hits from the 1960s, sing-alongs) as well as daily enrichment activities (guest speakers, seminars, special events). Lincoln Center Stage is a collaboration with the “Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts” (NYC), featuring classical and chamber music performed by a quintet combining piano and strings.

Rolling Stone Rock Room is a classic rock club (via partnership with Rolling Stone Magazine) offering live performances by a 5-piece band. Rolling Stone Rock Room debuted on MS Nieuw Statendam.

Billboard Onboard is a signature sing-along bar with live performances (pianists, guitarists, DJ) across multiple genres (pop, rock, classics, country). There are 3 programs per night (each 45–60 minutes). The music bar features dynamic evening shows, a central stage (with two grand pianos), wood-paneled walls, three large TVs, and comfortable seating (plush sofas, chairs, round tables).

Other amenities include complimentary 24-hour room service, the supervised kids program (“Club HAL”), cruise ship weddings, Internet/WiFi access, and laundry services. Ship’s laundry rooms are not self-service (no passenger-use laundrettes); all laundry is handled by hotel staff at an additional charge.

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

• Atrium (3-deck-high midship open-floor area with live performances. The Atrium features a stainless-steel sculpture evoking the feeling of being inside and surrounded by a musical instrument. The experience changes as passengers move around and through it, with no two perspectives the same. The atrium is capped by a skylight (glass roof), serving as the backdrop for HD video projections or live views of the night sky.
• Stuyvesant Room (multi-purpose venue used for card games, group meetings, presentations, “Club HAL” kids program)
• World Stage (theatre/main show lounge; also used for Holland America’s enrichment program in partnership with BBC Earth)
• Lincoln Center Stage & B.B. King’s Blues Club (formerly Queen’s Lounge) – 2-deck grand ballroom/concert hall (with two grand pianos and a large dance floor) hosting live classical, chamber, and blues performances.
• Digital Workshop/Microsoft Studio (powered by MS Windows)
• Photo Gallery & Shop; Art Gallery
• Shore Excursions Desk; 4 Meeting Rooms
• Signature Shops (boutiques for duty-free tobacco and liquor, perfumes, watches, clothing, HAL logo merchandise, souvenirs); Marabella Luxury Shop; Dive-In (scuba and diving equipment)
• Club Orange (suite-only restaurant)
• Ocean Bar (formerly Explorer’s Lounge & Bar) – Atrium bar lounge with dance floor, stage for live performances, and wine tastings.
• Billboard Onboard (sing-along bar with live music performances)
• BLEND (glass-enclosed winery room)
• Grand Dutch Cafe – Holland-themed à-la-carte patisserie bar for traditional Dutch snacks/sweets and beverages (including coffees and Heineken draft beer) as well as premium European beers.
• Neptune Lounge (club venue for Deluxe Suite and Pinnacle Suite guests only)
• Sport Court (basketball, volleyball, soccer); Sun Deck; Promenade Deck; Walking/Jogging Track
• Club HAL (kids lounge with complimentary youth programming)
• The Loft (teen club lounge with Video Games Arcade, computers, PlayStations, and teen disco)

The wellness complex (forward on decks 9–10) consists of a Fitness Center (gymnasium with a separate Aerobics Room for classes) and the Greenhouse Spa & Salon (therapy rooms, treatment rooms for massages, hydrotherapy pool with heated seawater, thermal suites, relaxation lounge with heated ceramic loungers, sauna, aroma steam room, general relaxation area, beauty salon/manicure-pedicure, and barber services).

Spacious sundecks extend over 3 levels (decks 9–10 midship and aft, deck 11 aft) and are fitted with 2 swimming pools and 5 outdoor Jacuzzis (deck 9). The Lido Pool area (midship) is served by Lido Bar (beverages), Gelato (ice cream bar), Dive-In (formerly Terrace Grill), New York Deli & Pizza (fast food), and Panorama Bar (beverages). The Sea View Pool area (aft) is served by Sea View Bar.

“Movies by the Pool Deck” is a 2-deck outdoor cinema served by New York Deli & Pizza (deck 10), offering light snacks (including popcorn, sandwiches, pizza, fresh chips, nachos). During movie nights, loungers and blankets are provided, as well as chair-side waiter service from the food bars (Gelato, NY Deli & Pizza, Dive-In/Terrace Grill) and drinks from Lido Bar.

The Retreat (deck 12) is an adults-only sundeck/relaxation zone with private cabanas available for rent. Daily rental prices include access to a massage tent, lunch, and concierge service.

Explorations Central & Cafe (formerly Crow’s Nest & Explorations Cafe/forward on deck 11) is an indoor observation lounge with panoramic (270-degree) windows, its own Bar (beverages), Cafe (patisserie, specialty coffees/teas), and a large dance floor. The lounge is also used for scheduled events within HAL’s enrichment program (daily dance classes, trivia games, card games, karaoke, live grand piano performances, and HAL Cats 8-piece party band in the afternoons and evenings). Explorations Central doubles as a disco/nightclub (with live DJ music and dance contests) and as a library (1000+ volumes, resident librarians). Multimedia series of interactive videos and guides related to the current itinerary’s destinations are also offered. Explorations Central provides digital media (videos, ebooks, maps) accessible via Wi-Fi during the voyage and online before and after the cruise. Paperback books and printed maps for the visited regions and ports of call are also available.

The Casino is a large gaming lounge with gambling tables, 140 slot and video poker machines, and a PokerPro digital touchscreen table. It is served by the Casino Bar and has a separate non-smoking area. In 2023, HAL carried out 5 wet-dock refurbishments to expand casino spaces on its Pinnacle-class (Rotterdam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam) and Signature-class (Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam) ships.

Since 2023, all HAL ships feature 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 (in the onboard retail shops), and “Play Pickleball” tutorial videos are included in the cabin TV programming.

Itineraries

Initially, there was speculation about the ship’s deployment in booming cruise markets such as Australia and Asia. However, HAL decided to operate the liner primarily in the Caribbean and Europe, with seasonal Transatlantic repositioning crossings.

MS Nieuw Statendam’s itinerary program is based on Caribbean roundtrips from homeport Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades, Florida) on 7-day Western Caribbean and Eastern Caribbean itineraries. Most voyages can be combined (booked together) as B2Bs (back-to-back cruises). All Caribbean itineraries include a call at HAL’s private Bahamian island Half Moon Cay.

In Europe, the ship operates seasonally (summer) Norwegian Fjords and Baltic Sea cruises (to ports in Norway, Scandinavia, and Russia) roundtrip from homeport Amsterdam, Holland. From Amsterdam, some itineraries also visit the British Isles and Iceland. The ship additionally operates Western Mediterranean and Greek Islands cruises departing from homeport Civitavecchia–Rome, Italy.

Holland America Line's newest ship is the sister vessel to Koningsdam (launched in May 2016). The name "Nieuw Statendam" (Dutch for "New Statendam") was announced on May 23, 2016. It honors the MS Statendam (now Vasco da Gama), the fifth ship to carry the Statendam name since the company’s founding in 1898. HAL’s other “nieuw” ships include Nieuw Amsterdam (2010, the fourth Amsterdam-named vessel) and Nieuw Rotterdam (2021).

The vessel (Fincantieri Marghera Yard number 6244) is powered by four MAK marine diesel engines (model 12V43C) with a combined output of 50.4 MW. Propulsion is provided by two ABB Azipods (azimuth thrusters) with a total output of 28 MW.

Like Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam’s design is by “Tihany Design” (New York, USA) and “Yran & Storbraaten Architects AS” (Oslo, Norway). The ship features a two-level theatre (“World Stage”), a three-deck Atrium, the “Digital Workshop” (powered by Microsoft), numerous dining venues (including several new concepts for HAL), signature lounges and bars, expanded kids’ and teens’ facilities, the fleet’s largest “Greenhouse Spa,” and the adults-only retreat “Sea View.”

On May 23, 2016, HAL officially announced the name of its second Pinnacle-class vessel—the sixth ship in the company’s history to carry the Statendam name. On July 12, 2016, the steel-cutting ceremony was held at Fincantieri’s Palermo shipyard, where the first block was constructed before being transferred to Marghera for final assembly.

On March 20, 2017, the keel-laying ceremony took place at the Marghera Shipyard (near Venice, Italy). The first building block—measuring 11.3 m in length, 34.8 m in width, and weighing 260 tons—was positioned as part of the midship section.

On December 6, 2017, the ship was launched (floated out of the drydock). The event included the traditional coin ceremony, during which a silver dollar was welded onto the vessel. The launch ceremony’s godmother was Anne Marie Bartels (member of HAL’s “President’s Club”). Attendees included Keith Taylor (HAL’s EVP Fleet Operations) and Antonio Quintano (Director of Marghera Shipyard).

On June 13, 2018, HAL announced the ship’s godmother—Oprah Winfrey (US media icon, talk show host, producer, and philanthropist). The official christening ceremony took place on February 2, 2019, in Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale). The event was attended by ~1000 guests and watched online by nearly 1 million viewers.

The vessel completed two sets of successful sea trials (August 10–12 and August 18–22), during which all systems, engines, and machinery were tested.

The cruise ship was officially delivered to HAL on November 29, 2018. The ceremony was attended by Edoardo Rixi (Italy’s Vice Minister of Transport and Infrastructure), Micky Arison (Carnival Corporation Chairman), Arnold Donald (Carnival Corporation President & CEO), Stein Kruse (Holland America CEO), Orlando Ashford (Holland America President), Giampiero Massolo (Fincantieri Chairman), and Giuseppe Bono (Fincantieri CEO). Nieuw Statendam became Fincantieri’s 87th cruise ship built since 1990, with another 53 vessels on order or under construction.

The ship’s senior officers include Captain Sybe de Boer (Dutch, with HAL since 1994), Staff Captain Kevin Beirnaert (with HAL since 2006), Hotel Director Don Habets (with HAL since 2002), Chief Engineer Eric van Loenen (with HAL since 2002), and Environmental Officer Dolf Kramer (with HAL since 2004).

Inaugural cruise itineraries 2018

The following tables show the ship’s inaugural cruise itineraries, listing ports of call, sequence, and times. Prices are in USD, per person (pp), based on double-occupancy inside cabin rates.

Repositioning cruise: 13 nights / 14 days “Inaugural Cruise” (maiden voyage), Transatlantic from Civitavecchia–Rome to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA. Prices started from USD 1200 pp.

11 nights / 12 days Inaugural Caribbean cruise (themed "The Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean Collector", prices from USD 1800 pp)

4 nights / 5 days Inaugural Bahamas and Key West cruise (prices from USD 500 pp)

7 nights / 8 days Inaugural Western Caribbean cruise (prices from USD 1400 pp)

Godspeed!