Delivering in 2010, the 86,000-ton Nieuw Amsterdam will be built at Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard and its interior design and art collection will reflect the glamour and history of New York City, formerly called Nieuw Amsterdam. Nieuw Amsterdam, joins the recently launched Eurodam to further define and expand the Holland America Line premium brand with new concepts such as the innovative pan-Asian Tamarind restaurant and Silk Den lounge surrounded by panoramic views overlooking the ocean expanse and the Lido pool. Other additions are an Explorer’s Lounge Bar, a premium wine-tasting lounge, an elegant luxury jewelry boutique, new atrium bar area, enhanced and reconfigured show lounge, and a new photographic and imaging center.

The ship will continue several much-admired Holland America Line features, including outside-view, glass elevators at midship; the Explorations Cafe — a cyber-coffee house powered by The New York Times; the Pinnacle Grill and Pinnacle Bar; the innovative Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine Magazine, where culinary experts provide cooking demonstrations and intimate classes in a state-of-the-art onboard show kitchens; an expanded Greenhouse Spa and Salon with thermal suites and hydro-pool, the largest gymnasium ever built for Holland America Line; and a youth facility that includes the teens-only Loft.

In addition the ship will feature the family-style Canaletto’s Italian restaurant. Nieuw Amsterdam will feature 11 guest decks and staterooms will spotlight all the Signature of Excellence premium amenities. Also featured are innovative spa staterooms with additional spa amenities. The first Nieuw Amsterdam was launched in 1906 and used both a full set of sails and steam engines. She was 17,149 tons and carried 2,886 passengers, 2,200 of them in third class. She sailed in regular service through World War I and then through to 1932. The famed Nieuw Amsterdam II joined the fleet in 1938 as the company’s flagship. The silhouette of this ship can still be seen today behind Henry Hudson’s Half Moon in the company’s logo. At 36,287 tons, “the Darling of the Dutch,” as she was known, was decorated in great style and was launched by Her Majesty Queen Wilhemina of the Netherlands. Nieuw Amsterdam II served proudly in World War II completing 44 war time voyages carrying nearly 400,000 passengers (mostly troops). Following the war, she was rebuilt and, as the queen of Holland America Line’s “spotless fleet,” hosted countless well-known figures among her guests, including Katherine Hepburn, Rita Hayworth, Spencer Tracey and Albert Schweitzer. Nieuw Amsterdam III was launched in 1983 as one of the most elegant ships of her time. At 33,900 tons, Nieuw Amsterdam III sailed in Alaska in the summers and in the Caribbean in the winters. With innovative design and guest offerings, Nieuw Amsterdam IV will continue the proud tradition of her name and continue to evolve of Holland America Line’s sophisticated mid-sized ships.

Click here for cabin photo.

• Towel Setup
• Bathrobes
• Handheld fans
• I-Pod with preloaded music selection
• Discount on selected spa services for days in port only
• 1 Evian Mister per cabana
• Chilled water bottles setup
• Chilled fruit skewers served at 10:00am
• Fruit Basket
• Small menu for lunch service: we will serve poolside favorites in the cabanas as requested from either the Lido and the pool grill during regular opening hours
• Ice-cream tray silver service at 02:00pm: tray with assortment of ice-cream and favorite condiments
• Frozen grapes, chocolate covered strawberries and a glass of house champagne at 03:00pm

To book you can go on Holland America’s website and book it under on board gifts, or call 800-541-1576.

Holland America

Holland America Line guests who purchase Cancellation Protection Plan (CPP) can cancel their cruise for any reason whatsoever to receive a refund of up to 90 percent of the cruise fare paid. Two variations of the plan allow cancellation of a cruise up to 24 hours prior to the cruise or cruisetour departure for Standard CPP and right up to departure for CPP Platinum.

Click here for more details on the two levels of protection.

Posted:           July 17th, 2009
Author:         Holland America Cruise Line
Category:     Cruise News

Seattle, July 17, 2009 – Sailing the Mediterranean from Venice to Barcelona, ms Oosterdam recently celebrated a milestone with her 300th cruise. The sailing came a few weeks after extensive upgrades in Fincantieri’s Palermo Shipyard in Italy to add new guest staterooms, dining options, public areas and a specialty wine bar.

“The Oosterdam’s recent enhancements are just one more example of Holland America Line’s commitment to delivering our Signature of Excellence,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. “Our guests will delight in new choices such as the Pinnacle Bar and the Canaletto Restaurant along with enjoying great, panoramic views in the newly located Explorations Café — powered by The New York Times.”

From the creation of new eateries — including the addition of Canaletto, a dedicated complimentary Italian restaurant — to the addition of 34 new staterooms, Oosterdam reflects spectacular and subtle additions from stem to stern. Also among new enrichment programming are the Digital Workshops powered by Windows. Led by Microsoft-trained “techsperts,” the innovative and complimentary digital workshops teach the latest computer skills, digital photography and social media applications in a dedicated space with laptops.

Oosterdam also added the Explorations Café — powered by The New York Times — in the Crow’s Nest, a larger Pinnacle Grill restaurant and a Pinnacle Bar with a focus on specialty Northwest wines. To reduce waste behind the scenes, the ship installed an environmentally friendly, state-of-the-art “wet cleaning machine” (for dry cleaning).

The 1,916-guest Oosterdam continues to offer several popular Holland America Line features: the innovative Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine Magazine, the Greenhouse Spa and Salon, and a youth facility that includes the teens-only Loft.

Additional Refinements
To add to the cruising pleasure of her guests, the Oosterdam now has an expanded and updated shopping arcade, featuring the exclusive, chic jewelry shop, Merabella. A new high-end home theatre-style screening room has also been added for small group audio-visual presentations, to view videos and DVDs, and to accommodate private parties.

Amenities
Amenities aboard Oosterdam represent the cruise company’s focus on providing an elegant ambiance and premium cruise experience. Staterooms include Elemis Aromapure specialty soaps, shampoo, conditioner and lotion and feature plush Euro-top Mariner’s Dream Beds, deluxe waffle/terry-cloth robes, Egyptian cotton towels, flat-panel TVs, DVD players, make-up mirrors with halo lighting, massage shower heads, professional-grade hair dryers, fresh flowers and complimentary fruit baskets.

For the remainder of 2009, Oosterdam will sail alternating 12-day eastern and western Mediterranean departures between Venice and Barcelona, a 16-day transatlantic crossing, one 19-day Panama Canal voyage and six 7-day Mexico roundtrip San Diego cruises.

Signature of Excellence Defines the HAL Experience
Oosterdam’s enhancements are part of the comprehensive Signature of Excellence product enhancement program totaling more than $525 million. Signature of Excellence features and amenities are evident in every aspect of the Holland America Line cruise experience.

MS Nieuw Amsterdam is a Signature class cruise ship under construction for Holland America Line. The Nieuw Amsterdam will be the 81st ship to enter Holland America’s service and the second largest Holland America ship to date.

Like its sister ship, the Eurodam, the Nieuw Amsterdam will feature a Pan-Asian restaurant, an Italian specialty restaurant and a redesigned atrium and show lounge. 86% of the cabins are ocean view, and of those, 67% have balconies.  Nieuw Amsterdam will feature 11 guest decks and staterooms will spotlight all the Signature of Excellence premium amenities of plush Euro-top Mariner’s Dream Beds, deluxe waffle/terry cloth robes, Egyptian cotton towels, flat panel TVs, dvd players, make-up mirrors with halo lighting, massage shower heads, professional grade hair dryers, fresh flowers and complimentary fruit baskets. The ship will also feature innovative spa staterooms with additional spa amenities.

The ship will continue several much-admired Holland America Line features, including outside-view, glass elevators at midship; the Explorations Cafe — a cyber-coffee house powered by The New York Times; the Pinnacle Grill and Pinnacle Bar; the innovative Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine Magazine, where culinary experts provide cooking demonstrations and intimate classes in a state-of-the-art onboard show kitchens; an expanded Greenhouse Spa and Salon with thermal suites and hydro-pool, the largest gymnasium ever built for Holland America Line; and a youth facility that includes the teens-only Loft. In addition the ship will feature the family-style Canaletto’s Italian restaurant.

On the technical side, Signature Class ships will feature the latest state-of-the-art navigation and safety systems including dynamic positioning abilities to hold the ship in a precise position. The vessels will be powered by six diesel generators and propelled by the latest Azipod propulsion technology.

The first Nieuw Amsterdam was launched in 1906 and used both a full set of sails and steam engines. She was 17,149 tons and carried 2,886 passengers. She sailed in regular service through World War I and then through to 1932. Nieuw Amsterdam II joined the fleet in 1938 and Nieuw Amsterdam III was launched in 1983 as one of the most elegant ships of her time.

The 10-night Inaugural cruise for the ms Nieuw Amsterdam will be on July 4, 2010 out of Venice and will visit Dubrovnik, Katakoln, Corfu, Kotor, Split and Ravenna. Prices from $1,999 pp on inside cabins; $2,149 pp ocean view; $2,799 balcony and $3,499 suites. (prices are based on availability and are subject to change and do not include taxes) The ship will continue in the Med through Oct. Holland has yet to announce further itineraries.

For pictures of the Nieuw Amsterdam’s sister ship, the Eurodam, click here

3-Day Sale Begins Wednesday, June 17 with fares from $329*

Act Fast! Sale ends Friday, June 19 at 11:59 p.m., Pacific Time

Sale applies to various sailings in Alaska, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, Hawaii, Mexico, South America, Panama Canal & the Caribbean.

Featured sailings:

December 5th: Eurodam
From FLL visiting Grand Turk, San Juan, St. Thomas & Half Moon Cay
Includes cocktail party & $50 ship board credit per cabin
Inside cabins from $599 pp plus tax; Ocean view $719 pp plus tax; balcony from $849 pp plus tax

January 16th, 2010:  Eurodam
From FLL visiting Grand Turk, San Juan, St. Thomas & Half Moon Cay
Includes Pinnacle Grill lunch & 2 bottles of wine per cabin
Inside cabins from $694 pp plus tax; Ocean view $749 pp plus tax; balcony from $949 pp plus tax

January 2, 2010  Zuiderdam
FLL visiting Aruba, Curacao, Panama Canal, Gatun Lake, Half Moon Cay
Pinnacle Grill Dinner for 2, $100 ship board credit & a bottle of wine per cabin
Inside cabins from $999 pp plus tax; Ocean view $1129 pp plus tax; balcony from $1399 pp plus tax

January 12, 2010 Zuiderdam
FLL visiting Aruba, Curacao, Panama Canal, Gatun Lake, Half Moon Cay
$75 ship board credit, 3 bottles of wine, Pinnacle Grill dinner for 2 & 1 complimentary photo 
Inside cabins from $999 pp plus tax; Ocean view $1129 pp plus tax; balcony from $1399 pp plus tax

Posted:        June 8, 2009
Author:       CLIA
Category:   Press Release | Cruise News
Topic:         You Deserve A Cruise Promotion

When times are tough, a well-deserved vacation is therapeutic, doctor says Dr. David Hubschmitt, a New Jersey-based psychologist specializing in depression, agrees that vacationing during stressful times can be a good remedy. “A well-timed vacation may offer significant benefits for mental health. The relaxation provides a much-needed change of gears in a time-starved society, and may be an ideal time to reconnect with loved ones traveling with you. For those traveling alone, vacations may lead to a higher level of self discovery.”

A well-chosen vacation, according to experts, offers significant benefits and opportunities, including:

• Relaxation,shifting gears and change of scenery are good for one’s health – physical, mental and spiritual
• There is no better time or setting for reconnecting with family and friends and renewing relationships
• A vacation is an opportunity to discover or rediscover oneself
• There’s no better time to recharge and re-energize and to look forward with confidence and enthusiasm

What makes a cruise the perfect vacation therapy? There’s the ease of planning and the convenience of having a “home away from home” for the length of the trip, plus all-inclusive pricing that delivers excellent value. The diversity of cruise experiences means that there is a vacation for every taste, interest and budget. With more than 30 domestic ports of embarkation, millions of Americans are within driving distance of a cruise. And CLIA member lines are doing everything they can to create irresistible incentives. So take a cruise; it’s good for you!

That is the key message of the summer-long “You Deserve a Cruise” promotion just announced by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and its member lines.

From June 8 through August 31, 2009, families, singles, seniors, first-time cruisers, honeymooners and groups of all descriptions will discover the important therapeutic benefits of vacationing as they take advantage of unprecedented cruise values, the latest savings and special cruise incentives.

Many cruise lines and thousands of CLIA-member travel agents are participating to tell consumers across the country that it is okay to travel – that the travel industry is vital to the economy, and they deserve to put daily worries on hold and take a break.

In fact, research, surveys of consumer attitudes and trends, and health professionals increasingly point to the beneficial effects of vacationing. Combined, these realities provide good cause to encourage consumers to take the break they deserve.

Now more than ever, a vacation is what people really need – a break from everyday stresses to get in touch with themselves, their families and what’s important, to reflect on the next steps which could be life-changing, and to renew physically and emotionally.

We are living in challenging times; we deserve the opportunity to reward ourselves while at the same time making a small contribution to the country’s well-being as well.

And, with the incredible, never-seen-before, and likely never to be seen again, values offered by CLIA member lines today, what better time could there be to get some ‘cruise therapy?

Terry L. Dale, President & CEO
Cruise Lines International Association

American Cruise Lines is offering a free category upgrade if you reserve a stateroom on a 2009 10-night Grand New England Cruise before Aug. 31.

Carnival Cruise Lines assures the lowest rate available if you book a three- to five-day cruise three months in advance, or a six-day or longer cruise five months in advance.

Celebrity Cruises is offering rates as low as $64 per day for Alaska, Europe and Trans-Panama Canal cruises, with price protection when those bookings are made by June 30.

Crystal Cruises’  “All Inclusive-As You Wish” promotion extends up to $2,000 in shipboard credits on nearly every voyage for 2009 and 2010.

Cunard is offering 30 percent off early booking fares on Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria 2010 World Cruise full, liner and segment voyages.

Disney Cruise Line is giving onboard credits for verandah stateroom bookings on Caribbean cruises, with a $700 credit for most seven-night cruises sailings June 20-Aug. 8; a $400 credit for most four-night trips June 28-Aug. 9, and $300 for most three-night sailings June 25-Aug. 6.

Holland America Line is offering 50 percent off your deposit for each booked 2010 cruise, with no deposit required for the third or fourth guest, plus reduced fares on some sailings.

MSC Cruises is offering balcony staterooms on European cruises from $999 per person (savings of 60 percent), plus a “Kids Sail Free” offer, through June 30. Some Caribbean cruises are on sale for $399 plus “Kids Sail Free.”

Norwegian Cruise Line is offering weekly “Hot Deals” Atlas is also offering a 1 month NCL Sale (ends June 30th) with shipboard credit offers on every sailing. Pepsi promotion also offers complimentary soda package with 7+ day cruises.

Oceania Cruises is launching 2010 European sailings with a $2,000 price reduction off two-for-one cruise fares, with a free airfare per stateroom on all 2010 sailings to Europe.

Princess Cruises is offering free upgrades for balcony staterooms on certain cruises beginning June 15.

Royal Caribbean is offering $100 onboard credit per person on select fall Caribbean sailings booked by July 24.

Windstar Cruises offers free airfare from New York on select 2009 Europe sailings.

America is introducing new itineraries aboard the Volendam, including a new 34 day circumnavigation of Australia. The cruise will begin in Sydney and visit Melbourne, Adelaide, Albany, Exmouth, Darwin, Cairns, Whitsunday Island and Brisbane.

There will also be a new series of 14 day round trip cruises from Sydney to Australia & New Zealand. Beginning January 20th or February 28, 2010, the cruise will visit 6 ports: . The 14 day cruise starting January 6, 2010 ill include New Caledonia, Vanautu and Fiji. Fares for the 14 day cruises begin at $1,599 per person, double occupancy.

Collectors’ Voyages sail to the Great Barrier Reef and includes port-intensive visits in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific:For travelers who enjoy time aboard ship as well as the unique experiences that Down Under offers, Holland America Line provides the opportunity to explore Australia, New Zealand and the Fijian islands with four Collectors’ Voyages: a 28-day, Pacific Treasures and New Zealand, roundtrip Sydney, Australia, departs Jan. 6, 2010, with fares beginning at $3,599; a 48-day, New Zealand and Australia Circumnavigation, roundtrip Sydney, Australia, departs Feb. 28, 2010, with fares starting from $5,599; a 74-day, New Zealand, Australia and South Pacific cruise from Sydney, Australia, to Vancouver, B.C., departs Feb 28, 2010, with fares from $7,999; and a 60-day, Australia Circumnavigation and South Pacific sailing, from Sydney, Australia, to Vancouver, B.C., departs March 14, 2010, with fares from $6,599.

In searching Google, I found it difficult to find a lot of pictures on Holland America’s new ship, the Eurodam,  so I was on a mission!

Our BDM was able to schedule a self-guided ship tour & luncheon onboard the ship last weekend.  My overall impression of the ship was that Holland America found a way to appeal to their current demographic, as well as open up to younger passengers who will enjoy the added dining options, private cabanas, culinary arts center and more.

Now back to the topic of Eurodam pictures! I must warn you, I was very thorough, taking almost 300 pictures in a couple of hours! In retrospect, perhaps I went “overboard,” but you’ll be able to see most areas of the ship and several photos of the different cabin categories.

I invite you to visit my FLICKR account. Hope you enjoy!