Holland America debuts state’s fifth new cruise ship this year

And then there were five. Holland America’s new cruise ship Nieuw Statendam arrived to Port Everglades last week, making it the fifth new cruise ship to call Florida home this year.

Carnival Horizon arrived in September to Miami followed in November by the largest cruise ship in the world, Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas, as well as Norwegian Bliss while Celebrity Edge made its debut at Port Everglades.

The latest arrival is the 2,666-passenger vessel, the second in the cruise line’s Pinnacle class, a sister ship to Holland America MS Koningsdam.

“Holland America Line has been a primary customer for Port Everglades since the mid-1930s,” said Port Everglades Chief Executive and Port Director Steven Cernak. “This winter season, we will welcome 10 Holland America cruise ships, and have the distinct honor of being the host port for the Nieuw Statendam’s official naming.”

That will take place with the ship’s godmother, Oprah Winfrey, on Feb. 2.

Most of Nieuw Statendam is the same as Koningsdam, but there are few differences including the addition of eight more staterooms.

While both feature the “Music Walk” venue that includes the Lincoln Center Stage, Billboard Onboard and B.B. King’s Blues Club, new to the ship will be the Rolling Stone Rock Room, a venue formed in partnership with Rolling Stone, and in which will be a live fivepiece band that chronicles the history of rock. A smaller version is also coming to Koningsdam in December, though.

The ship also has traded out the Culinary Arts Center for a new venue called Club Orange, a specialty restaurant that’s included in the cost for suite-class passengers, or for a fee for other passengers ($50 per person per day). It features breakfast and dinner that is the same as eating at the Pinnacle Grill, but with added menu items. Club Orange is also rolling out to Koningsdam and will be added to spaces in other Holland America ships in 2019. In addition to a specialty dining, Club Orange will offer priority boarding and disembarkation, tender services, alternate restaurant reservations and other benefits.

The popular America’s Test Kitchen will still be around, but migrate venues, as it had been in the Culinary Arts Center on Koningsdam.

Also, for the first time the line will offer al fresco dining at its Pan-Asian restaurant Tamarind while Rudi’s Sel de Mer gets more seating.

The ship will also give sushi its own space adjacent to Tamarind with the addition of Nami Sushi, with rolls designed by sushi chef Andy Matsuda, a member of the cruise line’s culinary council.

The Pinnacle suite will have a more modern feel while the Neptune Lounge gets more seating and the ship is promised to have a more open feel.

On Deck 12, Nieuw Statendam will have a much larger venue for exploring its ports of call options in the expanded Explorations Central & Cafe, taking over the Crow’s Nest space that was found on Koningsdam.

The ship begins voyages from Port Everglades today, with itineraries that include stops at the line’s private Bahamas destination Half Moon Cay. The ship stays in South Florida through April 2019.

For more information, call 877-724-5425 or visit hollandamerica.com.