Cruises Five Things to Know About Holland America's Nieuw Amsterdam Cruise Ship By Travel + Leisure Editors Travel + Leisure Editors Since 1971, Travel + Leisure editors have followed one mission: to inform, inspire, and guide travelers to have deeper, more meaningful experiences. T+L's editors have traveled to countries all over the world, having flown, sailed, road tripped, and taken the train countless miles. They've visited small towns and big cities, hidden gems and popular destinations, beaches and mountains, and everything in between. With a breadth of knowledge about destinations around the globe, air travel, cruises, hotels, food and drinks, outdoor adventure, and more, they are able to take their real-world experience and provide readers with tried-and-tested trip ideas, in-depth intel, and inspiration at every point of a journey. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on March 18, 2017 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Courtesy of Holland America Passengers:2,106 Best for: Passengers looking for sophisticated dining and entertainment without a sky-high price tag Sails: Alaska, the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, the Pacific Coast, the Panama Canal At a Glance: Built in 2010, this Holland America ship shines with crowd-pleasing restaurants, cooking classes, and lots of grown-up-friendly activities. Explore 100+ ships with the T+L Cruise Finder 01 of 05 Drinks at BB King’s Are a Must Courtesy of Holland America 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. Five Things to Know About Holland America's Rotterdam Cruise ShipFive Things to Know About Holland America's Koningsdam Cruise ShipFive Things to Know About Holland America's Eurodam Cruise Ship 02 of 05 The Staterooms Are Spacious Courtesy of Holland America 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. 03 of 05 Oprah Has a Ticket to Cruise Ida Mae Astute/ABC via Getty Images 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. 04 of 05 The Restaurants Impress Courtesy of Holland America 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. 05 of 05 The Cooking Classes Are Worth It Courtesy of Holland America 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. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit