Holland America MS Nieuw Amsterdam Cabins To Avoid

The MS Nieuw Amsterdam has been sailing for Holland America Line since 2010, and she continues to be one of the more popular ships in the whole fleet.

She’s a Signature-class ship, one of only two alongside MS Eurodam, meaning she offers slightly more space and accommodation options than the Vista-class ships she expanded on.

If you’re planning a cruise on MS Nieuw Amsterdam, you’re going to want to know about those extra accommodation options and the full range of staterooms you can choose from.

There are various options available to suit different budgets, and then there are some which are better than others based on their location on the ship.

In this guide, I’ll take you through everything you need to know about Nieuw Amsterdam’s accommodation options, with feedback from real reviews and information from the ship’s deck plans, and tell you the best and worst cabins on the ship that you can book.

MS Nieuw Amsterdam Cabin Types

There are four main cabin types you can choose from on MS Nieuw Amsterdam. These each have subtypes of cabins within them…

Let’s take more of a look at each of these cabin types, so you can get an idea of which one is the best for you…

Interior Staterooms on MS Nieuw Amsterdam

MS Nieuw Amsterdam has three different types of Inside cabins that you can book:

Room	Sleeps	Size
Standard	2 people	141-284 sq. ft.
Large	2-4 people	169-267 sq. ft.
Spa	2 people	141-284 sq. ft.

As they are with any cruise ship, Interior cabins are always going to be the cheapest option. They’re great if you’re on a budget and plan on spending most of your time outside of your cabin, exploring everything that MS Nieuw Amsterdam has to offer.

There are three different types on MS Nieuw Amsterdam, including Standard and Large. Both of these have two twin beds which are convertible into a single Queen bed if preferred – you just need to let your cabin attendant know.

Some of the Large Interior Staterooms sleep 3 or 4 guests. There’ll always be a sofa-bed, and those quad rooms will have an additional upper bed for a fourth guest.

I often like to cruise in the cheapest inside stateroom with my children, so these would be the rooms to go for on this ship. But honestly, if you’re looking for the cheapest family cruise, Holland America probably isn’t the cruise line for you. It’s a more premium option.

The third type of Interior Stateroom is a Spa Interior Stateroom – more on those in a little bit.

Ocean View Staterooms on MS Nieuw Amsterdam

There are three types of Ocean View Stateroom available for guests to book on MS Nieuw Amsterdam. These are:

Room	Sleeps	Size
Large	2-4 people	169-267 sq. ft.
Large Obstructed	2-3 people	169-267 sq. ft.
Large Spa	2 people	169-267 sq. ft.

The next step up from an Interior Stateroom, Ocean View Staterooms have a window that lets you see out over the ocean. The window is nice and big, and lets a lot of bright, natural light into the room.

It’s also handy if you just want to check what you should be wearing before you head out of your cabin for the day – it’s more reliable to look out the window than check any weather app you might have on your phone, after all!

As all of the Ocean View Staterooms on Nieuw Amsterdam are considered ‘large’, they are considerably larger than the Inside Staterooms.

Some of the Ocean View staterooms – those on Deck 4 – have an obstructed view. This is because the lifeboats are stored directly outside the room. Some are classified as fully obstructed, while others are partially obstructed.

They’re cheaper, as you’d hope, and they’re a good choice if you don’t care about the view but just want the natural light.

Again, there are Spa versions of Ocean View staterooms, and there are also some that suit families with options for 3 or 4 guests. And again, those for 4 people have a sofa bed and a Pullman bed.

Verandah Staterooms on MS Nieuw Amsterdam

Here are the three types of Verandah Stateroom on MS Nieuw Amsterdam:

Room	Sleeps	Size
Standard	2-4 people	213-379 sq. ft.
Aft-View	2 people	213-379 sq. ft.
Spa	2 people	213-379 sq. ft

Verandah Staterooms are always some of the most popular on a cruise ship. You don’t just get a view, but you get your own private balcony where you can sit and soak up the fresh sea breeze, and hopefully some of the warm sun too.

Verandah Staterooms are an ideal choice if you like to spend more time in your stateroom. It’s always refreshing to sit on your balcony on a pleasant day, drink in one hand, book in another.

There are three types of Verandah Stateroom, and the room sizes above include the balcony floor space too.

Of the Standard Verandah Staterooms, some again are suitable for 3 or 4 guests. So your kids can enjoy the view with you – although you will only get two chairs on the balcony.

Aft-View Verandah Staterooms often book up first. They have what many consider to be the best views of the ship, overlooking the wake as you sail. Plus you tend to be more shielded from the wind. You will pay a little more for the privilege though.

Finally, there are also Spa Verandah Staterooms that you can book. (More on those below).

Suites on MS Nieuw Amsterdam

The different types of Suite on MS Nieuw Amsterdam are:

Room	Sleeps	Size
Signature Suite	2-3 people	273–456 sq. ft.
Neptune Suite	2-4 people	506–590 sq. ft.
Spa Neptune Suite	2-4 people	506–590 sq. ft.
Pinnacle Suite	2-4 people	1,357 sq. ft.

There are three main types of suites on MS Nieuw Amsterdam. She doesn’t have any Vista Suites like you’ll find on some other ships in the Holland America fleet, but considering how Vista Suites aren’t much better than a Verandah Stateroom, that’s no big loss.

Signature Suites

Signature Suites are really the start of the real suite class for Holland America ships, with a much more spacious room and a longer list of perks that you get, although it’s still not super-lengthy.

You get a queen-size bed (worth noting, as some Signature Suites on other ships get you a king-sized one) and a sofa bed for a third guest.

Neptune Suites

Neptune Suites are larger again, and they have a lot more additional benefits. Just a heads up if you were checking the deck plans yourself – Neptune Suites are marked as sleeping up to three guests, but their sofa beds are bigger and can accommodate two smaller guests. So you can comfortably fit four people in one.

Pinnacle Suites

Pinnacle Suites are the very best rooms on Nieuw Amsterdam. They’re extremely spacious with a Verandah that’s bigger than most of the actual staterooms on the ship!

There’s a whirlpool on the balcony and an oversized whirlpool bath in the bathroom as well. Again, a sofa bed large enough for two guests is included if you want to enjoy this suite with your family.

If you like the idea of a suite but aren’t sure which to choose, then you should be sure to compare the different perks that you get with each. Take a look at my Holland America Line Suite Benefits Guide to find out more.

Special Cabin Types on MS Nieuw Amsterdam

Beyond the standard selection of staterooms on MS Nieuw Amsterdam, there are a few more choices you can make.

Spa Suites and Staterooms

A popular choice for guests who like to pamper themselves, MS Nieuw Amsterdam has a selection of Spa Suites and Staterooms to choose from, across the Interior, Ocean View, Verandah and Neptune Suite categories.

These staterooms and suites are no bigger than their non-spa counterparts, but what sets them apart is their location and the facilities you’ll find in the room.

These accommodations are all situated close to the Greenhouse Spa & Salon, so you never have far to travel if you want to enjoy a relaxing massage or beauty treatment.

Inside the rooms, you’ll also find a selection of spa-themed amenities, including organic bathrobes and slippers, upgraded toiletries, and a loofah mitt with bath salts.

You’ll also get yoga mats and pedometers to help you stay active during your cruise, while the room has a countertop water feature so that you can set the perfect relaxing ambience.

If you’re someone who likes visiting the ship’s spa during your cruise, then these rooms are absolutely worth checking out. Otherwise, the additional cost means they probably aren’t worth it for you.

Accessible Rooms

Almost all cruise ships have accessible stateroom and suite options – designed for guests with additional accessibility needs. And MS Nieuw Amsterdam is no different.

On MS Nieuw Amsterdam, the accessible rooms are split into two categories – Ambulatory Accessible, and Fully Accessible.

Ambulatory Accessible rooms are those which aren’t designed for wheelchair users, but that have small modifications to handle other accessibility needs for guests. On MS Nieuw Amsterdam, these rooms include:

• 14 Verandah Staterooms
• 6 Ocean View Staterooms

Fully Accessible rooms are suitable for wheelchair users, with widened doorways and a roll-in shower. These include:

• 2 Neptune Suites
• 2 Signature Suites
• 2 Verandah Staterooms
• 4 Interior Staterooms

Connecting Rooms

While there are some staterooms on MS Nieuw Amsterdam that are suitable for 3 or 4 guests, the additional beds aren’t the biggest. They’re fine if you’re travelling with younger children, but for teenagers or other adults, they will be a little cramped.

But there is another option – there are connecting cabins that guests can book if they want two staterooms side-by-side. These have a doorway between them, which is normally locked. If your party has booked both rooms, you can ask for the door to be unlocked, giving all guests access to both rooms.

Connecting rooms are available for Interior, Ocean View and Verandah Staterooms, and if you request a connecting Verandah, then the balconies can also be connected, opening up that space more too.

You can even book a Neptune Suite and a Verandah Stateroom with connecting doors if you want to really maximise your space.

How To Choose The Best Room

There are a lot of different decisions that factor into picking the best cabin for your cruise, and as you can tell, there are many different stateroom options on MS Nieuw Amsterdam to choose from too!

To help you out, I’ve created a checklist that you can work from, which will tell you what you should be looking for when you decide to book a cruise.

All you need to do is pop your email address below and it’ll be sent straight to your inbox.

MS Nieuw Amsterdam Cabin Grades

When choosing the best room on Nieuw Amsterdam, one thing that you’ll need to get your head around is the cabin grades.

Every cruise ship labels rooms with a cabin grade – this is usually one or two letters at the start of the room number which tell you what kind of room it is. 

Different cruise lines have systems that vary slightly, but with Holland America, you just need to know what the letters stand for – that tells you the type of room. Then the digits afterwards will tell you what deck you are on, and specifically which room you’re in.

If your cabin has a four-digit number then it’s on the first 9 public decks, from the Main Deck (staterooms 1001-1130) right up to the Navigation Deck (staterooms 8001-8175). There are no staterooms on the ninth deck, which is the Lido Deck.

If your cabin has a five-digit number, it means you’re either on the tenth deck, which is the Panorama Deck (staterooms 10001-10046) or the Observation Deck (staterooms 11001-11010).

Here’s a rundown of the different grades of cabins on MS Nieuw Amsterdam:

Cabin Grade	Type
PS	Pinnacle Suite
SQ	Spa Neptune Suite
SA, SB, SC	Neptune Suite
SS, SY, SZ	Signature Suite
VQ	Spa Verandah Stateroom
V, VA, VB, VC, VD, VE, VF, VH	Verandah Stateroom
CQ	Spa Ocean View Stateroom
C, D, DD, E, F	Ocean View Stateroom
G	Ocean View Stateroom – Partially Obstructed View
H, HH	Ocean View Stateroom – Fully Obstructed View
IQ	Spa Interior Stateroom
I, J, K, L, M, MM, N	Interior Stateroom

The Worst Cabins on MS Nieuw Amsterdam

Now before we get to the best cabins on this ship, let’s take a look at some rooms that you may wish to avoid.

It’s not that these are always bad, but depending on your circumstances, you may wish to steer clear of these rooms…

1. Cabins That Could Make You Seasick

8118 to 8175, 10001 to 10046, 11001 to 11010

Some people are more prone to getting seasick than others, and most cruise passengers never need to worry about it. However, if you are one of the unlucky ones who suffers, there are certain staterooms you should avoid that can make things worse.

Those are mainly the staterooms and suites on Decks 10 and 11, at the very front of the ship. This is where you’ll feel the most motion.

It’s not a terrible problem on MS Nieuw Amsterdam – the ship is medium-sized in terms of cruise ships, which helps (the bigger the ship, the less you feel the movement). And it has modern stabilisers.

Some cabins at the aft of the ship can feel the effects too, particularly nearer the top – so consider avoiding the rear cabins on Deck 8. This isn’t helped thanks to the sponson, which is the ducktail of the ship that extends from the stern – this can cause the occasional shudder on the aft-facing cabins which isn’t pleasant if your stomach is churning. 

If you do suffer from seasickness, choose a mid-ship cabin on a lower deck.

2. Spa Staterooms and Suites if You’re Not Interested

Cabin grades SQ, VQ, CQ and IQ

The option of booking a Spa stateroom or suite on MS Nieuw Amsterdam is good if you’re someone who is really into their spa treatments and lifestyle. The fact that you’re so close to the spa is convenient, and the additional touches in your room can make it feel much nicer.

But they are just little touches – so think about whether you’ll really use the yoga mats and the pedometer, or if you’d want to have the countertop water feature running.

If you’re not sure, then is it worth paying the premium for one of these staterooms, especially if you plan on spending most of your time elsewhere on the ship? The answer’s probably no.

Depending on your sailing, a spa stateroom might not cost much more than its equivalent standard room in the same category, so it’s up to you – but if the costs are substantially different, really weigh up if it’s worth the extra.

You can always take your own yoga mat.

3. Connecting Staterooms if You Don’t Use Them

Various

On any cruise ship, connecting staterooms are handy for families and larger groups. Even more so on MS Nieuw Amsterdam, where there aren’t as many standard staterooms that sleep more than two guests.

But that’s not the reason to avoid booking them if you don’t need them. True, someone else might make better use of them, but there’s an even more practical reason why you should avoid them if you won’t be booking the adjacent room too.

Cruise ship staterooms are made from a metal frame, which offers a decent level of soundproofing. Cut a door into it – even a closed one – and that soundproofing is partially compromised.

The door may stay locked, but you’ll likely hear your neighbours, especially if they’re loud. Which also means they may hear you.

If you value your privacy, book a non-connecting room instead.

4. Obstructed Ocean View Staterooms

4055 to 4130

This really depends on whether the view is important to you or if you just like the idea of having some natural light.

Obstructed Ocean View Staterooms are situated on Deck 4 and are facing the lifeboats, so your view is going to be at least partially blocked – how much so depends on the individual stateroom.

If you don’t care about the view, then these are a good option since they’re cheaper.

And if the view does matter to you, then you won’t want it spoiled by a reminder of the emergency boats attached to the ship.

5. Verandah Staterooms With Solid-Steel Railings

4001 to 4042

Some Verandah Staterooms also offer a limited view, except this is a little different.

These staterooms are situated at the front of the ship, where the wind is at its strongest. As such, the plexiglass that would normally be used for a railing isn’t strong enough, meaning they’re made from solid steel, which you can’t see through.

This isn’t ever problem if you’re standing up, but if you like to sit on your balcony, your view is definitely going to be impacted. The sky will look pretty at least!

The worst part is that these aren’t considered Obstructed View, so they don’t get the same discounts – after all, your view is completely uninterrupted if you don’t mind standing at the railing.

While these balconies are larger than average, they will be less comfortable due to the wind, so you may wish to look elsewhere.

6. Rooms Directly Above the Mainstage

4001 to 4050

The Mainstage is a fantastic theatre on the ship, taking up the height of two decks on the Lower Promenade Deck (Deck 2) and the Promenade Deck (Deck 3).

Because it’s so impressive, and it hosts amazing live performances, they have quite the sound system in order to fill the room. And if you’ve booked a cabin on the Upper Promenade Deck directly above (Deck 4) then that sound may well carry through the floor.

The live entertainment shows don’t run on too late, but if you’re someone who likes to be up early and then get an early night ahead of the next day, you might be disturbed.

Thankfully the bars that are open later into the evening are situated above staterooms on Deck 1, and the sound tends to travel upwards, so it’s not too bad late into the night. It’s just those evening hours when music and theatre performances at World Stage may cause you problems if your room is close by.

7. Rooms Directly Below the Pools

8027 to 8077

If you’ve just read the section above and thought that the sound of the World Stage wouldn’t concern you, as you like to stay up at night, then definitely avoid the rooms directly below the Sea View and Lido pools.

You won’t hear the noise at night here, because it just disperses into the open air. But what you may well hear is the sound of people grabbing a lounger first thing in the morning or of tables and chairs being put out.

And not just reserving a lounger, but dragging it along the decked floor – and that is a sound that will carry right through your ceiling.

If you appreciate a good lie-in, and you don’t want early risers on the pool deck waking you up, book a room elsewhere on the ship.

8. Rooms Next to Lots of Lifts/Elevators

C1081, C1082, H4089, H4092, G4091, G4094, SS5093, SS5098, V5095, V59100, SS6082, SS6084, SS6087, SS6089, SS7057, SS7058, SS7059, SS7060, VA8074, VA8076, VA8077, VA8079

On most decks of MS Nieuw Amsterdam, there are 14 elevators/lifts to help passengers get from floor to floor. Four of these are nearer the front of the ship and four are towards the aft, but the more problematic ones are right in the middle of the ship.

Because there are six elevators here, most passengers tend to come here because there’s more chance of them getting a ride. But they are adjacent to rooms on most floors too.

So if you get a stateroom or suite alongside this area, you might hear a lot of noise – not so much from the elevators themselves but from the congregating passengers.

The Best Cabins on MS Nieuw Amsterdam

So those are the worst cabins you could book on MS Nieuw Amsterdam – depending on you and your travelling party. What about the best? Which are the real gems of the ship that are always worth your consideration? Let’s take a look…

1. Extended Balcony Rooms

4166, 4168

There are two staterooms on Nieuw Amsterdam that come with huge balconies, for no extra cost. In fact, these are four times as big as a standard balcony – a huge 205 square feet! They also come with four lounge chairs rather than the standard two.

The reason that these exist is that there is a crew stairwell next door. That means that these rooms get the balcony from what would be the next-door cabin in addition to their own. So they’re double-width.

And because these cabins are at the aft of Deck 4, they’re double depth as well. Bonus!

These rooms will likely sell out quite quickly, but it’s certainly worth checking to see if they are available on your cruise.

There are other rooms with larger balconies too, where the ship draws inwards at the middle of the ship, but these tend to cost more than the equivalent rooms in the same category.

2. Aft-View Verandah Staterooms

4178, 4180, 4182, 4185, 4187, 4189, 5188, 5189, 5190, 5191, 5192, 5193, 6166, 6168, 6170, 6177, 6179, 6181, 7134, 7136, 7138, 7139, 7141, 7143, 8164, 8166, 8168, 8171, 8173, 8175

The most sought-after views on most cruise ships are those over the wake at the aft of the ship. As you’re sailing you get to see the churning waters you leave behind, and you have the benefit of shelter as the ship moves in the opposite direction.

There are Neptune Suites with an aft-view as well, but these are a lot more expensive. So while they are great choices, you do have to pay that premium to get the view.

3. Pinnacle Suite

PS7031, PS7036

No list of the best accommodations on the Nieuw Amsterdam cruise ship would be complete without a mention of the Pinnacle Suites, the largest suites on the ship by a significant distance.

As a guide, you could fit as many as six Interior Staterooms inside the Pinnacle Suite, and that’s just the indoor space – the balcony is also twice the size of the smaller Interior Staterooms too.

It’s not just about space though – the amenities and the perks you get for booking this suite are what really make it special. Relax in a whirlpool bath, enjoy a complimentary Mimosa each morning in your suite with breakfast, skip past lines almost everywhere on the ship – you’ll really get the VIP treatment.

Read more: Holland America Line Suite Benefits Explained

It is, of course, extremely expensive compared to other staterooms and suites so it’s not for everyone. But if you have the budget available and want to treat yourself, it’s a fine choice.

4. Navigation Deck Aft Staterooms if You Smoke

8118 to 8175

On most cruise ships these days, you are very limited in where you can smoke. It’s banned in your stateroom (including on the balcony) and in most public areas of the ship. On the Nieuw Amsterdam ship, there are two smoking areas – the casino, if you’re playing, and the Sea View Bar on Deck 9.

If you’re a smoker (which includes e-cigs), it can be inconvenient to trek halfway across the ship when you want to smoke. But there are some staterooms situated just one deck below the Sea View Bar, so it’s only a short walk to the staircase or the elevator and you’re in a comfortable, sheltered smoking space.

Don’t worry if you’re a non-smoker and you book one of these rooms – it doesn’t tend to drift down, since it is an open-air bar – the wind will carry the smoke away. That makes these rooms a good choice for smokers, but not a bad choice for non-smokers. 

Unless you get seasick, as these are some of the cabins I’d suggest avoiding for that reason too.

What Is the Best Deck on MS Nieuw Amsterdam?

The best decks on MS Nieuw Amsterdam are the Verandah Deck (Deck 5), the Upper Verandah Deck (Deck 6) and the Rotterdam Deck (Deck 7). These decks are surrounded by staterooms above and below, and so are best shielded from noise. 

But really, most people across any deck won’t have many problems at all with sound coming through the floor or ceiling and so are likely to be fine.

The best deck could instead come down to whether you’re prone to seasickness (aim for a lower deck) or you want to be nearer the pool (aim for a higher deck).

Final Thoughts

Despite not being the newest ship in the Holland America fleet, MS Nieuw Amsterdam is still a great choice for your cruise. She is well-maintained, and her accommodation options are excellent – and choosing between them can sometimes be tricky.

But with this guide, you should find it much easier to narrow down your options and find the one that best works for you. And remember, while I’ve called out the ‘worst’ staterooms on the ship, that doesn’t mean they are ‘bad’.

When researching this guide, I used the Holland America deck plans as well as these other resources:

• Holland America Line Cruisers (Facebook)
• Cruise Critic Forums – Holland America

If you still have any questions about the accommodation on the Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam, then those would be excellent places to ask. There aren’t any ship-specific Facebook groups for Nieuw Amsterdam, but the main Holland America one should be able to help.

Related Posts:

• Holland America Line Drink Packages: Worth It Or Not?
• Holland America Ships By Size & Age
• The Best Deck on a Cruise Ship