A Look Around Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam

by Janis on January 29, 2014

In late December, we sailed on a 7-Day Holiday cruise on Holland America Line’s newest cruise ship, the Nieuw Amsterdam.

It was our second sailing on the ship named after the Dutch settlement at the mouth of the Hudson River on the southern end of Manhattan Island established in 1624. Nieuw Amsterdam was the capital of New Netherland until 1664, when it was captured by the British and renamed New York.

The 86,000-ton Nieuw Amsterdam cruise ship, launched in 2010, celebrates the glamour and history of New York City in artwork and design elements throughout its interiors.

art- Nieuw Amsterdam Hanging from the ceiling of the 3-story atrium is a sculpture of the inverted New York skyline made from clear translucent blocks that hang upside-down. The sculpture was created by husband and wife Italian artists Gilbert Lebigre and Corinne Roger of Creazioni Lebigre & Roger.

The ship features two swimming pools. The Lido Pool is mid-ship and is enclosed under a retractable roof for swimming regardless of the weather.

The roof opens for daytime sunning and swimming. The Cabana Club, two decks above the pool, offers a private area for sunning and relaxing for those who rent the cabanas.

The Sea View pool is at the back of the ship, with the Slice pizzeria and the Sea View Bar nearby.

The Sea View pool is designated as an adults-only pool area on most cruises. The deck is the perfect spot to get some sun and watch the world sail by.

On afternoons in the Caribbean, a steel drummer often provides background music in the Sea View pool area.

The wrap-around teak deck is one of our favorite features found on all Holland America ships.

Three laps equals one mile and the views are stunning.

The deck is also where the “On Deck for a Cause” 5k fundraising walk takes place on every cruise benefiting six global charities aimed at fighting cancer. Participants donate $20 and receive a t-shirt and wrist band, and if they want, walk the 10 laps necessary to complete the 5K.

The Queen’s Lounge, located mid-ship, offers an intimate venue for entertainment and culinary classes.

The 3-level Showroom at Sea is the larger entertainment venue.

On our cruise, we enjoyed the fast-paced, noisy, audience-banging Vegas show, Recycled Percussion.

Dining Venues on the Nieuw Amsterdam

In addition to the Manhattan Dining Room, the Nieuw Amsterdam offers the Lido, the Canaletto Italian Restaurant and several other dining options.

On Deck 2 is the Pinnacle Grill, one of our favorites, is a Pacific Northwest-themed steak and seafood restaurant, with reservations required and a $29 per person extra charge. Check out some of our favorites from the recently updated menu here.

One night per cruise, the Pinnacle is transformed to “An Evening at Le Cirque“, simulating the menu, the china and the service of the famous New York City restaurant. If you go, don’t miss the lobster salad.

Another favorite is the pan-Asian Tamarind restaurant located mid-ship on Deck 11, across from the romantic Silk Den bar. The cuisine covers a variety of Asian styles and includes sushi.

On Deck 11, the Crow’s Nest offers the ideal indoor location to view the scenery, such as sailing out of Fort Lauderdale.

The bar in the Crow’s Nest features complimentary hot appetizers each evening during pre-dinner cocktails, while the Exploration’s Café offers coffees and pastries surrounded by a library filled with New York Times bestsellers for reading on sea days.

Mid-ship on Deck 3, the Ocean’s Bar offers live music for those looking to dance the night away. It was also the location of our favorite bartender on the ship.

Have you sailed on the Nieuw Amsterdam? What’s your favorite spot on the ship? Please share in comments below.

You may want to check out these other posts on the Nieuw Amsterdam and other Holland America Line cruise ships…