ms Oosterdam

The 2003-built MS Oosterdam cruise ship is the 2nd Vista-class Holland America liner, with sisterships ms Westerdam, ms Noordam and 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. 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 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 2000-passenger ship Oosterdam underwent a “Signature of Excellence” drydock in 2009. Upgrades included 34 new cabins, the Pinnacle Bar, the Internet Café, the Italian restaurant Canaletto, and a new indoor screening room (cinema/lecture hall).

Decks and Cabins

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

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

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

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

• priority services (check-in, disembarkation, tendering, dining reservations)
• 24-hour concierge service (assistance, information, reservations)
• exclusive dining venue (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 on embarkation day, Club Orange tote bag, premium bathrobes (for in-cabin use; available for monogramming and purchase)
• Club Orange Restaurant as a VIP section within the Main Dining Room

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Oosterdam’s Vista Dining Room is a 2-deck venue at the vessel’s aft. One deck is for traditional fixed-seating dining and the other for open seating (guests may reserve or walk in). Passengers preferring small or large tables should use the reservation system. Breakfast features made-to-order waffles and eggs, plus baked goods and cereals. Lunch includes starters, mains and desserts, with entrees such as salmon piccata, Swiss steak and stuffed bell peppers. A daily “express combo” serves guests in a hurry. HAL’s Afternoon Tea is served daily in the upper dining room, with three themed teas—Cupcake, Indonesian and Royal Dutch—offered once per voyage. Signature nightly dishes include Caesar salad, French onion soup, grilled salmon, roasted chicken and broiled strip loin. At least one vegetarian entrée is always available, along with a full vegetarian and vegan menu (ordered the night before).

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

• Pinnacle Grill (145-seat reservations-only seafood/steakhouse with a fine wine selection; free for kids under 12). The venue transforms into “An Evening at Le Cirque” once per cruise via a partnership with NYC’s Le Cirque restaurant.
• Vista Restaurant (1045-seat aft Dining Room; open-seating Breakfast and Lunch; two Dinner options—fixed seatings or “Any Time” dining from 5:15 p.m. to 9 p.m.)
• Terrace Grill (fast food pool bar; complimentary)
• Lido Restaurant (446-seat complimentary buffet venue; self-service Breakfast 6-11 a.m., Lunch 11:30-2 p.m., Afternoon Tea, Dinner 5:30-8 p.m.)
• Canaletto Restaurant (annex of Lido; operates as an Italian dinner venue; reservations required)

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The Queen’s Lounge, an alternative lounge/theater on Vista-class ships, was transformed into The Culinary Arts Center, featuring permanent cooking and viewing equipment for culinary demonstrations. Operated in partnership with Food & Wine magazine, it offers wine tastings (US$15), cocktail tastings, mixology classes, and cooking, cake decorating, garnishing and flower-arranging workshops. In the evenings, the Queen’s Lounge hosts musical performances, including the B.B. King’s Blues Club experience five nights a week.

The Digital Workshop, powered by Microsoft, is an educational computing venue with two rows of computers facing a large monitor connected to the instructor’s system for step-by-step demonstrations.

Other amenities include complimentary 24-hour room service, supervised kids program (“Club HAL”), cruise ship weddings, Internet/WiFi access and laundry services.

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 main show lounge; also hosts HAL’s enrichment program via partnership with BBC Earth)
• Piano Bar; Sports Bar; Pinnacle Bar (36-seat wine bar); Ocean Bar (Atrium bar and lounge with dance floor and live music stage)
• Northern Lights Disco & Nightclub
• Queen’s Lounge & Culinary Arts Centre (live band entertainment, cooking shows, culinary classes; partnership with Food & Wine Magazine)
• Explorer’s Lounge & Bar (classical music performances)
• Meeting Rooms (Hudson, Half Moon, Stuyvesant)
• Photo Gallery & Shop; Art Gallery
• Casino (served by Casino Bar and Sports Bar)
• Tasman Room (formerly Screening Room) – 38-seat cinema with complimentary popcorn; also used as a conference venue
• Atrium Shops (duty-free tobacco and liquor, perfumes, watches, clothing, HAL merchandise and souvenirs); Marabella Luxury Shop
• Explorations Café (specialty coffee bar and patisserie; also the ship’s Library and Internet center)
• Neptune Lounge (exclusive venue for Deluxe Suite and Pinnacle guests)
• Fitness Center (gym with separate Aerobics Room); 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 nightclub at night)
• Sport Court (basketball, volleyball, soccer); Promenade Deck; Walking Track
• Club HAL (kids lounge, complimentary youth programs)
• The Loft (teen club lounge with Video Arcade, computers, PlayStations; teen disco)

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 starter kits in retail shops and includes Play Pickleball tutorial videos in cabin TV programming.

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

• The Casino (Deck 2) was expanded into the former Gallery Bar space and gained 34 new slot machines and a digital gaming table.
• The Crow’s Nest Lounge now includes an Arts Studio, a Games Room and a dedicated Puzzle Area.
• The Greenhouse Spa & Salon were redesigned. Additions include a co-ed Sauna Room, a Couple’s Massage Suite, an expanded Thermal Suite with Laconium Room, Steam Chamber and experiential Rain Shower, plus new manicure and pedicure stations in the Beauty Salon.
• The Sea View Pool area (aft Deck 9) received new luxury whirlpools/hot tubs.
• The retail complex was expanded with the Effy Lounge and Effy Boutique, taking over the former Cinema space on Deck 3.

Itineraries

MS Oosterdam’s itinerary program is based on Alaska cruises from Seattle WA during summer. She also operates South Pacific Islands sailings and Australia/New Zealand voyages from Auckland and Sydney. MS Oosterdam visits Hawaii on repositioning cruises between Alaska and Australia. In 2017, HAL deployed Oosterdam from Europe to Alaska.

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

One of HAL’s four “compass ships,” Oosterdam is Holland America’s second VISTA-class liner, with sisterships Noordam, Westerdam and Zuiderdam. “Ooster” means “East” in Dutch.

The vessel (Fincantieri Marghera yard / hull number 6076) has a volume of 82,820 GT, a deadweight of 10,965 tons and a max draught of 8 m. The powerplant consists of 5 Wartisla-Sulzer marine diesel engines (3x 16ZAV40S and 2x 12ZAV40S) with a combined output of 75.14 MW (100,764 hp). Propulsion is diesel-electric, based on 2 ABB Azipod thrusters providing a combined output of 35.24 MW (47,260 hp). The registered shipowner is HAL ANTILLEN NV, while the vessel is managed by HOLLAND AMERICA LINE NV.

Construction of HAL Oosterdam began on January 16, 2002, with the keel-laying ceremony at the Marghera yard (Venice, Italy). The ship was launched (floated out) on November 18, 2002.

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

During her inaugural 2003 season, Oosterdam was deployed in Northern Europe and the Baltic for summer, operating 12-night itineraries from homeports Copenhagen (Denmark) and Harwich (England, UK). In October-November 2003 she sailed in the Mediterranean before arriving in the USA on December 4, beginning a Caribbean program homeporting from Fort Lauderdale / Port Everglades (Florida).

The ship’s midship Atrium features a large crystal globe as its centerpiece.

Oosterdam had a scheduled 2017 European season but was instead redeployed to North America (Alaska) for summer 2017, operating 7-day roundtrips from Seattle, WA. Other HAL ships homeported in Seattle for the 2017 Alaska program included Amsterdam (now Fred Olsen Bolette), Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Volendam and Zaandam.

MS Oosterdam refurbishments review

Drydock 2025

The vessel’s most recent drydock refurbishment was conducted on April 6–19, 2025, at Grand Bahama Shipyard (Port Lucaya) in Freeport.

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

Interior updates included an expanded Casino, created by incorporating the space of the former Gallery Bar. The venue now features 34 new slot machines and a digital gaming table.

Public spaces throughout the vessel were refreshed. The Crow’s Nest Lounge now includes an Arts Studio, a Games Room and a dedicated Puzzle Area, each furnished with new decor. The Neptune Lounge (suite-guests-only) received new furniture, drapes and lighting.

In the wellness complex, the Greenhouse Spa & Salon were fully 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 received new manicure and pedicure stations. The Fitness Center was equipped with modern machines and new flooring.

The Lido Market and Canaletto Restaurant were updated with new tiling, countertops and plush upholstery.

At the Sea View (aft) swimming pool, luxury whirlpools/hot tubs were added and all teak decking was replaced, including the areas around both main 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, occupying the former Cinema space.

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

Drydock 2016

During the May 2016 drydock, new staterooms were added on Observation Deck 10 (see Deck 10’s layout).

The project also added The Retreat (adults-only sundeck area on Sports Deck 11), replacing two former Canvas Cover areas.

Drydock 2009

The 2009 drydock introduced major constructive changes, including the addition of 34 new passenger staterooms and the Pinnacle Bar.

The project also added the Internet Café, the Canaletto (Lido Restaurant’s annex, a dinner-only Italian venue), and the indoor Cinema/intimate screening room.