ms Noordam

The 2006-built MS Noordam cruise ship is the fourth and final Vista-class Holland America liner, with sisterships ms Westerdam, ms Oosterdam and ms Zuiderdam.

The vessel (IMO number 9230115) is Netherlands-flagged (MMSI 246028000) 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 providing regular Transatlantic crossings between the Netherlands and the Americas. Founded in 1873 as the Dutch-American Steamship Company and headquartered in Rotterdam, the line was acquired by Carnival Corporation in 1989 for approximately EUR 530 million. HAL’s assets also include the Westmark Hotels (Alaska–Yukon), Worldwide Shore Services (warehousing and logistics), and the private Caribbean island Half Moon Cay.

The 1214-passenger Noordam was the first ship built with the full set of upgrades introduced by Holland America’s 2003 “Signature of Excellence” initiative. This fleetwide program added Euro-style mattresses, upgraded bedding, waffle-weave bathrobes, massage showerheads, flat-screen TVs and DVD players, expanded youth facilities, and transformed several public rooms into modern multipurpose venues. The Culinary Arts Center (replacing the Wajang Theatre’s original setup) and the Explorations Café (replacing Windjammer Lounge, Café Bar and the library) were among the most notable changes.

Noordam also received unique modifications. The Lido Deck was extended by 27 ft aft, and 35 new staterooms were added by reshaping the stern to a more vertical profile. The redesign proved highly successful and was later applied fleetwide to the other Vista-class ships during refits.

Decks and Cabins

MS Noordam staterooms (986 in total, across 30 categories) include 162 Suites, 499 Balconies, 163 Oceanviews and 162 Inside cabins. Most cabins range from 170–205 ft² (16–19 m²). Nearly 70% of all staterooms have private step-out balconies. The ship has 28 wheelchair-accessible cabins. The largest accommodations are the Pinnacle Suites (1000 ft² / 93 m², with a 320 ft² / 30 m² terrace).

The ship has 11 passenger decks, 7 of which contain cabins.

Implemented fleetwide in 2019, the “Club Orange” program offers exclusive amenities to guests booked in Neptune and Pinnacle Suites. Perks include:

• priority check-in, disembarkation, tendering and dining reservations
• 24-hour concierge service
• exclusive dining venue (complimentary Pinnacle Grill breakfast and enhanced Dining Room dinner with exclusive dishes)
• dedicated Concierge Desk (Guest Services and Shore Excursions)
• à la carte breakfast room service with complimentary gourmet dishes (e.g., smoked salmon, steak and eggs)
• sparkling wine on embarkation day, Club Orange tote bag, premium bathrobes (for in-cabin use; available for purchase and monogramming)
• Club Orange Restaurant, a private VIP section within the Main Dining Room

Shipboard dining options – Food and Drinks

Noordam’s two-level main dining room is joined by a grand staircase. Breakfast includes made-to-order waffles and eggs along with baked goods and cereals. Lunch features starters, mains and desserts, with dishes such as salmon piccata, Swiss steak and stuffed bell peppers. A daily “express combo” caters to guests in a hurry. HAL’s signature Afternoon Tea is served daily, with themed teas—Cupcake, Indonesian and Royal Dutch—offered once per voyage. Nightly signature dishes include Caesar salad, French onion soup, grilled salmon, roasted chicken and broiled strip loin. A full vegetarian and vegan menu is also available by pre-order.

Follows the complete list of ms Noordam restaurants and food bars.

• Pinnacle Grill (145-seat reservations-only steakhouse/seafood venue with fine wine selection; free for guests under 12). Once per cruise, it hosts “An Evening at Le Cirque,” in partnership with New York’s Le Cirque.
• Vista Restaurant (1050-seat aft Dining Room with open-seating Breakfast and Lunch; Dinner features two fixed seatings or “Any Time” dining from 5:15–9:00 pm)
• Terrace Grill (poolside fast food bar; complimentary)
• Lido Restaurant (420-seat buffet offering self-service Breakfast 6–11 am, Lunch 11:30–2 pm, Afternoon Tea, and Dinner 5:30–8 pm)
• Canaletto Restaurant (Italian dinner venue located within the Lido Restaurant; reservations required)

Shipboard entertainment options – Fun and Sport

The Vista Lounge hosts the ship’s resident cast in musical productions, along with guest entertainers including musicians and comedians. The venue offers plush seating and excellent sightlines from both the balcony and main floor.

The B.B. King’s Blues Club on Deck 2 serves multiple functions—it is also the Culinary Arts Center and the Queen’s Lounge. Most evenings, the B.B. King All-Star Band performs three high-energy sets featuring rock ’n’ roll, funk, soul and blues. It is one of the liveliest venues onboard and typically closes around midnight.

Other amenities include complimentary 24-hour room service, the supervised “Club HAL” youth program, wedding services, Internet/WiFi access and self-service laundry.

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

• Atrium (three-deck midship open-floor area with live performances)
• Vista Lounge (846-seat theatre/show lounge; also hosts Holland America’s enrichment programming via BBC Earth)
• Piano Bar; Sports Bar; Pinnacle Bar (36-seat wine bar); Ocean Bar (Atrium lounge with dance floor and live music)
• Northern Lights Disco & Nightclub
• Queen’s Lounge & Culinary Arts Centre (170-seat venue for live music, cooking shows and classes; in partnership with “Food & Wine Magazine”)
• Explorer’s Lounge & Bar (also hosts classical concerts)
• Meeting Rooms (Hudson, Half Moon, Stuyvesant)
• Photo Gallery & Shop; Art Gallery
• Casino (with Casino Bar and Sports Bar)
• Screening Room (38-seat cinema)
• Atrium Shops (duty-free boutiques for liquor, tobacco, perfumes, watches, clothing, HAL logo items, souvenirs); Marabella Luxury Shop
• Explorations Café (specialty coffee bar and patisserie; also the ship’s Library and Internet/Online Centre)
• Neptune Lounge (private lounge for Deluxe Suite and Pinnacle Suite guests)
• Fitness Center (gym with separate aerobics studio); 5 Jacuzzis
• Greenhouse Spa & Salon; Lido Pool with Lido Bar and Terrace Grill; Sea View Pool with Sea View Bar; The Retreat (adults-only)
• Crow’s Nest (observation lounge with bar and dance floor; becomes a disco at night)
• Sport Court (basketball, volleyball, soccer); Promenade Deck and Walking Track
• Club HAL (kids’ lounge with complimentary activities)
• The Loft (teen club with arcade games, PlayStations, computers and a teen disco)

Since 2023, all HAL ships feature pickleball courts (located on the top deck) through an exclusive partnership with the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA). HAL also offers complimentary beginner lessons led by onboard instructors, sells branded pickleball starter kits in the onboard shops, and includes “Play Pickleball” tutorial videos in cabin TV programming.

Itineraries

MS Noordam’s earlier deployment included Mediterranean and Caribbean itineraries (from Fort Lauderdale, Florida), with seasonal Transatlantic repositioning cruises.

Due to the Coronavirus crisis, Noordam was paused for two years (March 2020–2022). The “Grand World Voyage 2022” (a 129-day roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, scheduled for Jan 3–May 12) was canceled. Operations resumed on May 8, 2022, with 7-day Alaskan cruises (between Vancouver BC and Whittier AK), followed by Australia–New Zealand itineraries (between Auckland and Sydney).

As one of HAL’s “compass ships,” Noordam is Holland America’s fourth and final Vista-class liner, with sisterships Oosterdam, Westerdam, and Zuiderdam.

“Noor” means “North” in Dutch.

The vessel (built by Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard / hull number 6079) has a volume of 82,897 GT, a deadweight of 10,939 tons, and a maximum draught of 8 m. Her powerplant consists of five Wärtsilä-Sulzer marine diesel engines (3× 16ZAV40S and 2× 12ZAV40S) with a combined output of 75.14 MW (100,764 hp). Propulsion is diesel-electric, provided by two ABB Azipod units delivering a combined 35.24 MW (47,260 hp). The registered shipowner is HAL ANTILLEN NV and the registered manager is HOLLAND AMERICA LINE NV.

Noordam’s Inaugural Cruise/Maiden Voyage took place on February 22, 2006.

The ship’s Godmother is Marlee Beth Matlin (born 1965), an American actress, author, and activist. She remains the world’s only deaf performer to have won the Academy Award for Best Actress, received for the 1986 film “Children of a Lesser God.”

The Noordam can produce up to 1,700 tons (450,000 US gallons) of freshwater daily using desalination technology. Her daily fuel consumption is approximately 216 tons (57,000 US gallons) of HFO (heavy fuel oil) plus 90 tons (23,000 US gallons) of MGO (marine gas oil).

MS Noordam refurbishments review

The ship’s most recent refurbishment took place from November 24 to December 8, 2024, at Singapore’s Seatrium Tuas Boulevard Yard. The drydock focused on routine maintenance and class works, machinery and systems overhauls, hull cleaning and repainting, and general upgrades to public areas and staterooms (including new carpets, upholstery, and bathroom tiling).

Noordam’s previous drydock was in November 2019 at Victoria Shipyards (Victoria, BC Canada). Upgrades included the addition of Billboard Onboard (in the Music Walk area), Microsoft Studio (in Explorations Café), and a new Fujifilm Wonder Photo Shop. A pickleball court (20×44 ft / 6.3×13.4 m) was added on Sports Deck.

All Suites (cabins and bathrooms) were renovated with new furniture. Pinnacle Bar, Pinnacle Grill, the Dining Room Restaurant, Lido Market buffet, and the Greenhouse Spa & Salon were also refreshed with new furniture and carpeting.

During the May 2015 drydock, all passenger cabins (including bathrooms) were upgraded with new furnishings—sofas, chairs, headboards, carpets, wall coverings, privacy curtains, draperies, bed runners, bed skirts, quartz-stone vanity tops, vanity lighting, dressers, dressing tables, nightstands—along with smart HDTVs and BOSE SoundDock iPod stations. New USB charging ports, power outlets, and LED lights were installed.

MS Noordam’s 2015 drydock was part of Holland America Line’s USD 300 million fleet renovation program (2016–2018).