Public Area & Facilities

Amsterdam is a sister ship to Rotterdam, which sails on world cruises and extended voyages, and both share Holland American Line flagship status. One of the most traditional ships in the fleet, Amsterdam interiors display abundant wood appointments in the public areas on Promenade and Lower Promenade decks in addition to priceless works of art throughout.

The Ocean Bar, Explorer's Lounge, Java Cafe, and Crow's Nest are familiar lounges to longtime Holland America passengers. Newer additions are a thermal suite in the spa, a culinary-arts demonstration center in the theater, and expansive areas for children and teens.

Restaurants

The formal dining room has four set dinner seatings. Alternatives are the upscale specialty restaurant Pinnacle Grill and the casual Lido restaurant. The Lido and poolside buffets also serve breakfast and lunch. Servers circulate through lounges before and after dinner with canapes.

What Works & What Doesn't

The Crow's Nest is the center of late-night activity. Lounges on the Promenade and Upper Promenade decks are lively before and after dinner, but passengers tend to call it a night early after either taking in a movie or one of the production shows. Although outside cabins on the Lower Promenade deck are ideally situated for easy access to fresh air, occupants should heed the warning that the so-called one-way window glass does not offer complete privacy -- passersby can see in, especially after dark, when interior lights are on.

Accommodations

Layout: Staterooms are spacious and comfortable, although fewer have private balconies than newer fleetmates. Every cabin has adequate closet and drawer-shelf storage, as well as bathroom shelves. Some suites also have a whirlpool tub, powder room, and walk-in closet.

Amenities: All staterooms and suites are appointed with Euro-top mattresses, 250-thread-count cotton bed linens, magnifying halo-lighted mirrors, hair dryers, a fruit basket, flat-panel TVs, and DVD players. Bathrooms have Egyptian cotton towels, shampoo, body lotion, and bath gel, plus deluxe bathrobes to use during the cruise.

Suites: Extras include duvets on beds, a fully stocked minibar, and personalized stationery. Penthouse Verandah and Deluxe Verandah suites have exclusive use of the private Neptune Lounge, personal concierge service, canapés before dinner on request, binoculars and umbrellas for use during the cruise, an invitation to a VIP party with the captain, and complimentary laundry, pressing, and dry-cleaning services.

Good to Know: Connecting cabins are available in a range of categories. Although there are a number of triple cabins to choose from, there are not as many that accommodate four. Twenty-one staterooms are designed for wheelchair accessibility.

Category	Size (square feet)
Penthouse Suite	973
Deluxe Verandah Suite	374
Verandah Suite	225
Ocean View	197
Inside	182

Favorites

Best Place to Escape the Crowds: When there are few children on the ship, adults like to take over the Oasis, which is normally reserved for young cruisers.

From Classic to Wacky: Four very special art deco pieces are mounted on the landing just outside the Crow's Nest. The gold-plated Four Seasons first graced the Nieuw Amsterdam of 1938, and Holland America Line was able to purchase them from a collector. At the polar opposite of the artistic spectrum, realistic landscapes with surreal touches accent the dining alcoves in the Pinnacle Grill (look closely and you'll notice a Swiss Army knife strutting through a tranquil garden scene).

Our Favorite Spot for a Nightcap: The Ocean Bar is the ideal spot not only for sipping a brandy, but also for a bird's-eye view of the astrolabe. When it's quiet, you can hear the carillon bells play a melody on the hour.