THE MS Amsterdam is the third ship to bear the name of the Dutch capital over the Holland America Line’s 135-year history.
Built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy, the MS Amsterdam blends the very latest in shipbuilding technology with the artistry, personalised touches and superior service that has made Holland America Line (HAL) one of the highest-rated cruise lines in the world.
The Amsterdam has almost 700 cabins and guests can choose from an inside, ocean view, balcony or suite. The ship offers some of the largest rooms on a cruiser liner with suites ranging from 556 to 1,159 sq ft with balcony while an Ocean View room is about 197 sq ft with a picture window or porthole.
There is a wide variety of dining options and the ship recently introduced ‘As You Wish’ dining allowing passengers a flexible dining schedule. Restaurants onboard include the Lido Restaurant serving buffet dining for breakfast and lunch, the Terrace Grill for day-time casual dining on the Lido Deck, the La Fontaine main dining room, the Pinnacle Grill specialty restaurant, which offers. There is also a selection of bars and lounges for guests seeking a quiet drink or a place to meet up with friends.
Leisure activities include three pools including the kids’ pool on the Sky Deck, the Lido Deck Pool located mid-ships with its sliding glass roof and two spa tubs and a quieter Sea View Pool is at the rear of the Lido Deck.
For fitness enthusiasts, a large gym offers elliptical trainers, treadmills and stationary bikes. There are also weight training machines and free-weights available. A certified trainer can assist guests with personalised fitness programs or classes and The Greenhouse Spa & Salon offers a wide variety of spa and wellness treatments.
The ship’s main entertainment venue is the Queen’s Show Lounge located on the Promenade Deck offering two seatings of theatrical, musical or comedic productions every evening. There is also a casino on the Upper Promenade Deck which is open while the vessel is at sea.
Guests on the MS Amsterdam can enjoy a variety of original Art Deco pieces that once graced the Nieuw Amsterdam of 1938, while contemporary artworks of maritime artist Stephen Card adorn other public spaces.
At the heart of the ship is the Planeto Astrolabium, a commissioned signature sculpture soaring in a three-story atrium. The Astrolabe tracks constellations, the planets, world time and ship time.
Guests can also ‘show and tell’ their vacation memories through a digital workshop powered by Windows.
Holland America Line has recently launched its 2012 summer European sailing programme featuring 44 unique itineraries including four new notable journies and five maiden ports of call.
Ranging from seven to 35 days, Holland America Line will deploy seven of its 15 ships — MS Eurodam, MS Maasdam, MS Nieuw Amsterdam, MS Noordam, MS Prinsendam, MS Rotterdam and MS Ryndam — to cruise throughout Europe on 103 departures that span from the northern tip of Norway to the Baltic and Black Sea and the Mediterranean.