Holland America Line Nieuw Amsterdam Panama Canal Cruise Review – Day 6: November 13, 2026

Day 6 on Nieuw Amsterdam, and we’re back at sea after yesterday’s windy day in Aruba. We’re on our way to our next port of call, Cartagena, Colombia, and the sea day gods delivered: a beautiful, sunny and very warm day with a calm sea and a nice breeze to keep things comfortable.

Since there’s no port to talk about, today I’m taking you on a little tour of Deck 2, which is where a big chunk of the ship’s entertainment, dining and nightlife lives.

A Tour of Deck 2 on Nieuw Amsterdam

Here’s the deck plan so you can get your bearings. The World Stage is all the way forward, the Dining Room is all the way aft, and everything else is lined up in between.

And if you’d rather walk it with me, here’s the video:

World Stage

Starting up front, Deck 2 is where you’ll find the lower level of the World Stage, the ship’s main theater, where shows like Emily Viancourt’s “Let’s Fall in Love” and Brent and Sarah’s magic show have played so far this sailing.

Billboard Onboard

Heading aft, you’ll come to Billboard Onboard, the piano bar. Some Holland America ships have two pianos facing off in here. Nieuw Amsterdam has only one, so it’s one piano player doing classics, one-hit wonders and requests.

Billboard Onboard shares its space with the casino, but this is the nonsmoking side of the casino, so the smoke doesn’t really make its way into the whole area. There’s a bar here too, plus a lounge with plenty of seating.

The Casino

I just published a brand-new tour of the Nieuw Amsterdam casino, so if you want the full walk-through, here it is:

The main casino is all nonsmoking. That’s where you’ll find the slots (lots of Lightning Link at the moment), the players club desk, the cage and all of the table games, including roulette.

Yes, there’s a cruise duck claw game, so you can try to win your own ducks instead of hunting for them around the ship. It was turned off when I filmed, so no luck there either.

If you smoke, the smoking section is in what used to be the Gallery Bar. It was converted during one of the ship’s refits a few years ago. It’s a lot smaller than the nonsmoking side, has no table games and has its own bar, and a hallway leads from there to the Rolling Stone Lounge.

I already went over how the casino points work on Day 4, so I won’t repeat it here. You can also find the casino tour on my video page.

Rolling Stone Lounge

Rolling Stone Lounge is the spot for dancing at night, and as I’ve said just about every day so far, the band has been fantastic. It’s not just a nighttime venue, though. During the day it hosts trivia, Coffee with the Cruise Director and even cooking demos.

Pinnacle Bar and Pinnacle Grill

Moving aft, you’ll hit the Pinnacle Bar, a good spot for a drink before dinner, and right next to it is the Pinnacle Grill, Holland America’s steakhouse. More on the Pinnacle Grill below, because that’s where I ended up for dinner tonight.

Art Gallery

Next up is the art gallery, and it’s run by Park West. I’ll just say this, if you find yourself at one of the art auctions, go in with your eyes open and know what you’re actually buying before you raise that paddle. I’ve got more on that in my list of things to skip buying on your cruise.

Explorer’s Lounge

The Explorer’s Lounge is where you’ll find Vivace, the string group, playing their performances. Other than that, it’s really just a seating area, and honestly, it feels like a lot of wasted space to me.

The Dining Room

All the way aft is the two-level Dining Room. Deck 2 is the lower level and is used for anytime dining, while Deck 3 upstairs is for fixed dining times.

Champagne and Sparkling Wine Tasting

My afternoon activity was the Champagne and sparkling wine tasting, led once again by cellar master Rey Rey, who also ran the regional wine tasting on Day 4. This one is $49 per person.

The turnout wasn’t so big this time. There were only 10 of us. Rey Rey mentioned that when they have low numbers like this, they usually cancel these, but they didn’t cancel today, and I’m glad they didn’t.

We tasted three sparkling wines and two Champagnes, accompanied by a little meat and cheese plate. The whole thing lasted about an hour, and it was very enjoyable. Rey Rey is a lot of fun when he puts these on. And since there were only 10 of us and they’d opened all of those bottles, we definitely got more pours whenever we wanted them, which is always a good thing at a wine tasting.

You can sign up for any of these tastings at the bars, at the dining room or pretty much anywhere you can find a crew member with a sign-up sheet. I’ve still got a couple more wine tastings to go, plus the whiskey and bourbon tastings over the next few days. If you like sparkling wine and want to kill part of a sea day afternoon, this is one way to do it. Just know you’ll have that buzz afterward, so naturally, I went for a nap.

Main Dining Room & Lido Market Dinner Menus

For those having dinner in the Dining Room or the Lido Market, here’s a look at tonight’s menus:

Nieuw Amsterdam - MDR Dinner Day 6

Updated Nov 2026

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Drinks8 items

Dutch 75

$11.00

De Lijn Gin, sparkling wine, fresh lemon juice

Bahama Mama

$12.00

Flor De Cana Rum, Malibu Rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, grenadine

Harvey Wallbanger

$12.00

Skky Vodka, orange juice, Galliano with orange slice

El Presidente

$13.00

Planteray 3 Star, Vermouth blanc, dashes of orange curaçao and grenadine

PNW Penicillin

$17.00

Westland Flagship single malt, fresh lemon juice, ginger & honey syrup, float of Westland Peated Single Barrel Select

Featured Beer

$7.75

Bud Light

Featured White Wine

$13.00 / $52.00

Kendall Jackson Chardonnay (glass / bottle)

Featured Red Wine

$14.00 / $56.00

Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir (glass / bottle)

Appetizers8 items

Island Pork Cheese Slider

Chipotle mayo, island coleslaw (Port to Plate)

Watermelon and Feta Cheese

Mint, orange, arugula (vegetarian, gluten free)

Calamari & Shrimp Salad

Almond cream, mandarin segments, Venere rice salad

Classic Caesar Salad

Parmesan cheese, garlic croutons, anchovies

Boston Lettuce Salad, Haricot Vert

Walnuts, dried cherries, feta (vegetarian)

French Onion Soup

Gruyère cheese crouton

Carrot and Coconut Soup

Ginger, orange, chives, crème fraîche (vegetarian, gluten free)

Chilled Blackberry Soup

Honey, cream

Mains9 items

Cornmeal Crusted Rockfish*

Okra, tomato, coconut shrimp bisque (Port to Plate)

Fettuccine with Beef Short Rib Bolognese

Oregano, Parmesan

Prime Rib of Beef au Jus*

Green bean almondine, glazed carrots, baked potato (gluten free)

Lime Honey Marinated Pork Chop

Sweet potato cream, mushroom medley

New York Strip Loin, Steak Fries*

Garlic herb butter

Rustic Home-Made Lasagna

Chunky tomato sauce, basil

Chicken Parmigiana

Fresh mozzarella, zucchini, spaghetti, basil-tomato sauce

Charred Sugar-Crusted Salmon*

Corn, bell pepper, rice pilaf, pine nuts

Three Cheese Vegetable Enchilada

Salsa roja, black bean casserole (vegetarian)

Featured5 items

5 oz Filet Mignon & Lobster*

$18.00

Grilled asparagus, baked potato, garlic butter

12 oz Pinnacle Grill Strip Loin Steak*

$20.00

Baked potato, creamed spinach

Fresh Stone Crab*

$49.00

Mustard dipping sauce, frisée, lime

Grilled Nigerian Jumbo Prawn

$25.00

Morimoto E'pice, seasonal vegetables (by Global Fresh Fish Ambassador Chef Morimoto)

Broiled Lobster Tails

$25.00

Yuzu butter, roasted garlic mashed potatoes (by Global Fresh Fish Ambassador Chef Morimoto)

Desserts9 items

Coconut Bread Pudding

Warm rum vanilla sauce

Kiwi & Passion Fruit Pavlova

Strawberry, whipped cream (gluten free)

S'mores Cheesecake

Torched marshmallow, graham

Raspberry Mousse Swiss Roll

Whipped cream, chocolate shavings (no sugar added)

Artisan Cheese Selection

Edam, pepper jack, Swiss, brie (vegetarian)

Strawberry Sundae

Vanilla ice cream, strawberry compote, crushed biscotti

Ice Cream of the Day

Vanilla Ice Cream, Cookies & Cream, Chocolate (no sugar added)

Cappuccino

$3.75

Espresso

$2.75

All Holland America Restaurant MenusAll Holland America Bar Menus

Nieuw Amsterdam - Lido Dinner Day 6

Updated Nov 2026

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Wild Harvest4 items

Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

Southwest Avocado Salad

BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad

Citrus Tuna Salad*

Distant Lands Italian8 items

Penne Chicken Alfredo

Cheeseburger Macaroni Bake

Meat Lasagna

Create Your Own Pasta

Spaghetti or orecchiette with marinara (vegetarian), bolognese, alfredo (vegetarian) or basil pesto (vegetarian)

Rustic Ciabatta Wheel

Mixed Herb and Pecorino Focaccia

Garlic Scrolls

Italian Fruit Salad

Chopped fruits, citrus sugar syrup, mint

Bread Board6 items

Tomato, Grilled Eggplant, Mozzarella and Basil Focaccia

Cheese, Antipasto and Cold Cuts

Salami, Black Forest ham, prosciutto, antipasto, Gruyère, cheddar, blue cheese

Selection of Fruits

Waldorf Salad

Caribbean Roasted Pork Sandwich

Cumin, allspice, mayonnaise, chipotle mayo, lime zest, ciabatta roll, lettuce, tomatoes

Caribbean Accompaniments

Six kinds of hot sauce, salsas, jalapeno, cornbread, fried plantains

Homestead14 items

Carrot and Coconut Soup

Smoked Pork Loin

Cornmeal Crusted Rockfish*

Charred Sugar-Crusted Salmon*

Three Cheese Vegetable Enchilada

Vegetarian

Chicken Parmigiana

New York Strip Loin (6 oz)*

Whole Roasted Chicken

Mashed Potato

Roasted Potatoes

French Fries

Vegetarian

Stir Fry Vegetables

Vegetarian

Roasted Carrots

Vegetarian

Selection of Fruits

Distant Lands Asia8 items

Stir Fried Beef and Tofu

Fried Rice

Steamed Rice

Vegetarian

Aloo Methi

Vegetarian

Dal Fry

Vegetarian

Chicken Do Pyaza

Indian Bread and Condiments

Paratha, papadum, raita, kachumber

Mango Tapioca

Sweet Spot6 items

Chocolate Croissant Pudding

Kiwi & Passion Fruit Pavlova

Raspberry Mousse Swiss Roll

No sugar added

S'mores Cheesecake

Ice Cream

Vanilla, chocolate with chocolate, mango, berry or butterscotch sauce and assorted cookies

Crepes Made to Order

Rum butter caramel sauce with choice of fresh fruit toppings

All Holland America Restaurant MenusAll Holland America Bar Menus

Steak Night at the Pinnacle Grill

As for me, I was in the mood for a steak, so I went back to the Pinnacle Grill. The first time I ate here this sailing, on Day 3, I skipped the steak and went with the Dover sole filleted tableside. Not tonight.

Pinnacle Grill - Dinner

Updated Nov 2026

$52 per person

• Dinner
• Specialty
• Book ahead

My personal favorite steakhouse at sea, always a fantastic meal with equally great service and atmosphere.

Available on All ships

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Wines7 items

Pinnacle Grill Wine Pairing

$23.00

Three 3 oz pours: Holland America Line Sparkling Wine (Washington), Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand), Rocky Pond 11 Dams Bordeaux Blend (Washington)

Taittinger Brut Champagne

$22.00 / $88.00

France (glass / bottle)

Domaine Du Vieux Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc

$16.00 / $64.00

France (glass / bottle)

Conundrum White Blend

$16.00 / $64.00

California (glass / bottle)

Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Noir

$15.50 / $62.00

Oregon (glass / bottle)

Rocky Pond 11 Dams Bordeaux Blend

$14.00 / $56.00

Washington (glass / bottle)

Oberon Cabernet Sauvignon

$18.00 / $72.00

California (glass / bottle)

Cocktails5 items

Table-Side De Lijn Gin Tonic

$14.00

Double Dutch tonic, seasonal botanicals

Green Swizzle

$14.00

Planteray 3 Star Rum, Velvet Falernum, lime, absinthe, soda, Angostura bitters

El Presidente

$13.00

Planteray 3 Star Rum, vermouth blanc, orange curaçao, grenadine

Myrtle Bank Special Punch

$13.00

Planteray 3 Star and Smith & Cross pot stilled Jamaican rums, lime, demerara syrup, cherry brandy, cayenne

Big Youth

$13.00

Planteray Xaymaca Rum and Smith & Cross rum, condensed milk, coconut water, bitters, nutmeg

Appetizers8 items

Table-Side Caesar Salad

Heart of romaine, Parmesan, croutons, anchovies

Vine Ripened Beefsteak Tomato Salad

Sliced purple onion, balsamic vinaigrette or blue cheese dressing (gluten free, vegetarian)

Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes

Cucumber, sweet chili-mustard

Lobster Bisque

Crème fraîche, aged cognac

Steakhouse Wedge Salad by David Burke

Crispy bacon, blue cheese, tomato, candied walnuts, ranch dressing (gluten free)

Shrimp Cocktail

Brandy-horseradish cocktail sauce (gluten free)

Clothesline Candied Bacon by David Burke

Maple, black pepper, half-sour pickles (gluten free, non-dairy)

Ossetra Malossol Caviar*

$50.00

Crème fraîche, buckwheat blinis (gluten free)

Entrées6 items

Braised Beef Short Ribs with Chow Fun Noodles by David Burke

Wild mushrooms, carrots, scallions

Grilled Lamb Chops*

Controne bean purée, garlic chips

Honey-Lemon Glazed Chilean Sea Bass*

Dill butter (gluten free)

Table-Side Dover Sole, Lemon Butter

$15.00

Boiled new potatoes

Panko Fried Stuffed Mushroom Caps

Beyond Meat mince, vegan mayonnaise remoulade, parsley, quinoa salad (vegetarian)

Mafaldine, Marinated Grilled Eggplant, Burrata & Chiles

Preserved lemon, Calabrian chili, olive oil (vegetarian)

Steaks5 items

8 oz Filet Mignon*

Choice of sauce: shallot and red wine bordelaise, green peppercorn or béarnaise. Add a 5 oz lobster tail for $12.

12 oz New York Strip*

Choice of sauce: shallot and red wine bordelaise, green peppercorn or béarnaise. Add a 5 oz lobster tail for $12.

15 oz Boneless Rib Eye*

Choice of sauce: shallot and red wine bordelaise, green peppercorn or béarnaise. Add a 5 oz lobster tail for $12.

10 oz American Wagyu Strip Loin*

$28.00

Choice of sauce: shallot and red wine bordelaise, green peppercorn or béarnaise. Add a 5 oz lobster tail for $12.

36 oz Tomahawk Bone-In Rib Eye for Two*

$49.00

Choice of sauce: shallot and red wine bordelaise, green peppercorn or béarnaise. Add a 5 oz lobster tail for $12.

On the Side8 items

Creamed Spinach

Vegetarian, gluten free

Asparagus with Hollandaise

Vegetarian, gluten free

Roasted Baby Beets with Blue Cheese

Vegetarian, gluten free

Mashed Potatoes

Vegetarian, gluten free

Baked Potato

Vegetarian, gluten free

French Fries

Vegetarian, non-dairy

Sautéed Mushrooms

Vegetarian, gluten free

Beecher's Lobster Mac & Cheese

$12.00

Caribbean Starters2 items

Jerked Chicken Bao

Mint, coriander, tomato chutney

Crab & Shrimp Cakes

Charred spring onion & pineapple salsa

Caribbean Entrées4 items

Lobster Agnolotti

Spiced tomato cream, crab butter

Yellow Tail Snapper*

Golden curry, spiced orange marmalade, kumquat butter (gluten free)

Mojo Pork Chop*

Pickled fennel & mango slaw, vermouth jus

12 oz Lobster Tail

$19.00

Broiled, lemon-garlic butter (gluten free)

Caribbean Dessert1 item

Coconut Pudding

Cinnamon, coconut flakes, caramelized banana (non-dairy, gluten free)

All Holland America Restaurant MenusAll Holland America Bar Menus

For starters, I had the wedge salad and the crab cakes, and both were very good. The crab cakes were especially nice and crispy and loaded with crab meat. The salad? You really can’t screw up a wedge.

For my main course, I went with the New York strip, cooked to a perfect medium-rare. Sautéed onions aren’t on the menu, but I asked if they could do some on the side for me, and they did. The steak was very well seasoned, a nice thick cut and absolutely incredible. On the side, I got the French fries, which are ridiculously good.

When it came time for dessert, I was planning on the baked Alaska, but I was completely full, so I went with a little bit of the evening’s gelato instead. Tonight it was strawberry, served with strawberries and blueberries on the side.

Service was impeccable, as it always is here, and everything was on point from start to finish. That’s exactly why the Pinnacle Grill is my number one steakhouse at sea.

A Quiet Night at the Ocean Bar

After dinner, I wandered around the ship for a bit and ended up having a couple of cocktails at the Ocean Bar. It was very quiet tonight because there was no live music. Gaby, the regional soloist who usually plays there, and the Dam Band both had the night off, so all of the action was downstairs in the Rolling Stone Lounge, where the band was doing a fantastic job once again. I caught a little of their show before calling it a night.

We’re currently sailing toward Cartagena, Colombia, and it’s going to be a short one. We arrive at 7 a.m. and all aboard is 1:30 p.m. More on our stop in Cartagena tomorrow, and as always, thanks for following along.

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