ms Oosterdam

The 2003-built MS Oosterdam cruise ship is the 2nd Vista-class Holland America liner, with sisterships ms Westerdam, ms Noordam, ms Zuiderdam.

The vessel (IMO number 9221281) is currently Netherlands-flagged (MMSI 245417000) 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 2000-passenger ship Oosterdam went through a "Signature of Excellence" drydock in 2009. Constructive changes included the addition of 34 new cabins, the Pinnacle Bar, the Internet Cafe, the Italian restaurant Canaletto, the indoor screening room (cinema/lecture hall).

Decks and Cabins

MS Oosterdam staterooms (1012 total, in 30 grades) include 162 Suites, 515 Balconies, 163 Oceanviews, 172 Inside cabins.

Most staterooms are sized 170-205 ft2 (16-19 m2). Nearly 70% of all passenger cabins have private step-out balconies. Wheelchair-accessible cabins are 28. The largest accommodations are the Pinnacle Suites (1000 ft2 / 93 m2, with terrace sized 320 ft2 / 30 m2).

The boat has 11 passenger decks, of which 7 have 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

Oosterdam's Vista Dining Room is a 2-deck venue at the aft end of the vessel. One deck is allocated for the guests who choose conventional fixed-seating dining and the other for open seating (passengers can either make a reservation or simply walk in). For those who prefer to be seated at small or large tables should use the reservation system. Breakfast consists of made-to-order waffles and eggs, plus the usual baked goods and cereals. Lunch offers starters, mains and desserts. Entrees might include salmon piccata, Swiss steak and stuffed bell pepper. A daily "express combo" caters to those who are in a hurry. One of HAL traditions is Afternoon Tea, served in the upper dining room daily. Three themed teas - Cupcake, Indonesian and Royal Dutch - are served once during a sailing. Signature dishes available nightly feature Caesar salad, French onion soup, grilled salmon, roasted chicken and broiled strip loin. There is at least one vegetarian entree plus a full vegetarian menu with vegan selections, which should be ordered the night before.

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

• Pinnacle Grill (145-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.
• Vista Restaurant (1045-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 (fast food pool bar; complimentary)
• Lido Restaurant (446-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).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The Queen's Lounge, which is an alternative lounge/theatre on Vista Class ships, had a makeover and was transformed into The Culinary Arts Center by day, featuring permanent cooking and viewing equipment to instruct guests on the preparation of various dishes. The Culinary Arts Center is operated via a partnership with Food & Wine magazine and offers wine tastings ($15), cocktail tastings and mixology classes, as well as cooking, cake decorating, garnishing and flower arranging classes. The Queen's Lounge offers musical performances with B.B. King's Blues Club experience for five nights per week. 

The Digital Workshop, powered by Microsoft, is a dedicated computing education venue, with two rows of computers fronting a big, wall-mounted monitor hooked into the computer of the instructor, to graphically demonstrate each step. 

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 Oosterdam lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Atrium (3-deck high midship open-floor area with live performances)
• Vista Lounge (867-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 (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)
• Meeting Rooms (Hudson, Half Moon, Stuyvesant)
• Photo Gallery & Shop; Art Gallery
• Casino (served by Casino Bar and Sports Bar)
• Tasman Room (fka Screening Room) is a 38-seat cinema (complimentary popcorn provided) also used as a conference center.
• 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); 5 jacuzzis
• Greenhouse Spa & Salon; Lido Pool area, served by Lido Bar and Terrace Grill; Sea View Pool area served by Sea View Bar; The Retreat (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).

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.

Next are reviewed new venues and amenities introduced on MS Oosterdam following the 2-week drydock refurbishment in 2025.

• The Casino (Deck 2) was expanded by using the space of the former Gallery Bar, and now has 34 new slot machines and a digital gaming table.
• The Crow’s Nest Lounge now has an Arts Studio, a Games Room, and a dedicated Puzzle Area.
• In the wellness complex, the Greenhouse Spa & Salon were redesigned. A new co-ed Sauna Room and a Couple’s Massage Suite were added. The Thermal Suite was expanded with a Laconium Room, Steam Chamber, and experiential Rain Shower. The Beauty Salon received manicure and pedicure stations.
• To the Sea View (aft pool and sundeck on Deck 9) were added luxury whirlpools/spa hot tubs.
• The retail shopping complex was expanded with the new Effy Lounge and Effy Boutique, taking the space of the Cinema (indoor screening room on Deck 3).

Itineraries

MS Oosterdam itinerary program is based on Alaska cruises from Seattle WA in the summer. The ship also operates on South Pacific Islands sailings, Australia and New Zealand voyages from Auckland and Sydney. MS Oosterdam visits Hawaii on repositioning crossings between Alaska and Australia. In 2017 HAL shifts Oosterdam from Europe to Alaska.

Due to the Coronavirus crisis, HAL's Oosterdam ship was paused for 2+ years (March 2020 thru May 2022). Operations restarted on May 8, 2022 (Europe-Mediterranean voyages from Venice, Rome, Barcelona, Athens) followed by South American deployment (homeporting in Buenos Aires Argentina, and San Antonio Chile).

One of the four HAL's "compass ships", Oosterdam is Holland America's second VISTA-class liner, with sisterships Noordam, Westerdam, Zuiderdam. Ooster means "East" (in Dutch).

The vessel (Fincantieri Marghera yard/hull number 6076) has volume 82820 GT-tons, DWT-deadweight tonnage 10965 tons, max draught 8 m. The powerplant is based on 5x Wartisla-Sulzer marine diesel engines (models 3x 16ZAV40S plus 2x 12ZAV40S) with combined output 75,14 MW (100764 hp). The propulsion is diesel-electric and based on 2x ABB Azipod thrusters with combined output 35,24 MW (47260 hp). The registered shipowner is HAL ANTILLEN NV, while the registered manager is HOLLAND AMERICA LINE NV.

HAL Oosterdam's construction started on January 16, 2002, with the keel-laying ceremony at Marghera yard (Venice Italy). The ship was launched/floated out from drydock on November 18, 2002.

The Inaugural Cruise/Maiden Voyage departed from Port Rotterdam on July 29, 2003. The ship was officially named two days earlier (on July 27th) by godmother HRH Princess Margriet of the Netherlands. Curiously, in 2003, Holland America Line celebrated its 130th anniversary.

During the inaugural season (2003) Oosterdam was deployed in Northern Europe/Baltic during summer. The program included 12-night itineraries leaving from two homeports - Copenhagen (Denmark) and Harwich (England UK). In October-November 2003, the ship was in the Mediterranean, and arrived in the USA on December 4th, starting a Caribbean program based on homeporting in Fort Lauderdale/Port Everglades (Florida).

The midship open-floor Atrium area features a huge crystal globe.

Oosterdam had a scheduled 2017 season in Europe, but it was redeployed instead in North America (Alaska) for summer 2017, to operate 7-day roundtrips from homeport Seattle WA. The list of 2017 Alaska (Seattle-based) HAL ships also included Amsterdam (now Fred Olsen Bolette), Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Volendam and Zaandam.

MS Oosterdam refurbishments review

Drydock 2025

The ship's last drydock refurbishment was in 2025 (April 6-19) conducted at the Grand Bahama Shipyard (Port Lucaya) in Freeport.

The 2-week drydocking included regularly scheduled maintenance and classification works, technical overhauls, hull cleaning/repainting.

Interior updates included the Casino which was expanded by using the space of the former Gallery Bar (now having 34 new slot machines and a digital gaming table).

Public spaces throughout the ship were upgraded. The Crow’s Nest Lounge now has an Arts Studio, a Games Room, and a dedicated Puzzle Area, each adorned with new furnishings. The Neptune Lounge (suite guests-only venue) received new furniture, drapes, and lighting.

In the wellness complex, the Greenhouse Spa & Salon were redesigned. A new co-ed Sauna Room and a Couple’s Massage Suite were added, the Thermal Suite was upgraded with a Laconium Room, Steam Chamber, and experiential Rain Shower. The Beauty Salon was upgraded with manicure and pedicure stations. The Fitness Center's equipment was replaced with modern machines and its flooring was changed.

The Lido Market and Canaletto Restaurant received new tiling, countertops, and plush upholstery.

To the Sea View (aft swimming pool) were added luxury whirlpools/spa hot tubs and the teak decking was replaced, including around both main swimming pools.

The Photo Studio & Gallery received new lighting, carpeting, and a facial recognition digital photo system.

The retail shopping complex was expanded with the new Effy Lounge and Effy Boutique, taking the space of the Cinema.

Top-tier accommodations (all suites and verandah cabins) were renovated with new carpets, and select balcony cabins received new deck furniture. Bathrooms in some staterooms were completely refurbished.

Drydock 2016

During the ship's previous drydock refurbishment (in May 2016), new staterooms were added on Observation Deck 10. These accommodations are shown in Deck 10’s layout.

The project also added the Retreat (adults' sundeck area on Sports Deck 11), replacing the two Canvas Cover areas there.

Drydock 2009

Constructive changes made during the ship's drydocking in 2009 included the addition of 34 new passenger staterooms and the Pinnacle Bar.

The project also added the Internet Cafe, the Canaletto (Lido Restaurant's annex, doubles as a dinner-only Italian restaurant), and the indoor Cinema/intimate screening room.