Five Things to Know About Holland America's Nieuw Amsterdam Cruise Ship

There’s live music, and then there’s live music. After dinner, passengers only have to walk a few feet to take in the B.B. King's All Stars in the Queen’s Lounge, the perfect spot to sit down, sip cocktails, and listen to blues music. Want to work off that porterhouse? There’s a dance floor for that.

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Cabins on the ship feel larger than they are, thanks to their smart floor plans. They range from 141 square feet for the smallest interior cabin to 1,357 square feet for a Pinnacle Suite, which features a living and dining room, Bose sound system, sofa bed, and a private balcony with a whirlpool. Note: Neptune and Pinnacle suite guests get exclusive use of the Neptune Lounge, as well as a 24-hour concierge service.

Holland America is partnering with O, The Oprah Magazine for several O, The Oprah Magazine Adventure of Your Life-themed sailings in 2017 and 2018. (The first is hosted by Oprah and Gayle King; the rest will be led by a member of Oprah’s SuperSoul 100.) Even if you don’t make it to one of the special sailings, you’ll still find new Oprah-approved activities on more than 300 Holland America voyages, including a book club, tai chi, meditation, and healthy cooking classes.

There are multiple restaurants on board, ensuring that passengers will never get bored with their options. The dining room is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; choose between two set seating times, or simply walk in and ask for a table whenever you wish. But it’s in the for-fee restaurants where the cuisine really shines. Nieuw Amsterdam is the only ship in the fleet with a Master Chef’s Room, an intimate restaurant with a seven-course tasting menu designed by the line’s master chef Rudi Sodamin. (Think pan-seared goose liver and potato mustard-seed-crusted black cod.) Holland America favorites Pinnacle Grill steakhouse, Italian nook Canaletto, and pan-Asian Tamarind continue to be crowd pleasers. Tip: try to score reservations on a night when Le Cirque takes over Pinnacle Grill, dishing up classic upscale fare like chateaubriand or rack of Colorado lamb.

The ship’s Culinary Arts Center hosts demos and hands-on workshops. Soon, all Culinary Arts Centers fleetwide will be run by America’s Test Kitchen. Sign up to learn how to make homemade pasta, pick up some new cake decorating techniques, and master your brunch game with a class on eggs.