Day 4 on Nieuw Amsterdam was our second sea day in a row, and what a difference a day makes. Yesterday’s on-again, off-again rain, the kind that kept that poor crew member busy opening and closing the Lido roof, was gone, and the sun was out. It was very windy, though, with swells and whitecaps all around the ship, so it was a bit bumpy at times. We’re heading south toward our second port of call, Oranjestad, Aruba, where we arrive tomorrow (Thursday). Seems like I was just there! Well, I was last week.
Not going to complain about that, as it is one of my favorite stops.
As promised yesterday, today I’m taking you on a tour of every place to eat onboard Nieuw Amsterdam, from the free spots to the specialty restaurants that come with a cover charge. Fair warning: don’t read this one hungry.
Nieuw Amsterdam’s Restaurants
Here are the restaurant hours to use as a guide. Breakfast and lunch hours shift a little depending on whether it’s a sea day or a port day, and the dining room brunch is only offered on sea days, so always check the planner or the Navigator app.
| Restaurant | Cuisine | Hours | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dining Room | Cruising Classics | 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. |
Deck 2, aft |
| Canaletto ($) | Fresh Italian Pasta | 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. | Deck 9, mid-ship |
| Pinnacle Grill ($) | Steak & Seafood | 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. | Deck 2, mid-ship |
| Tamarind ($) | Pan-Asian Cuisine | 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. | Deck 11, mid-ship |
| Morimoto by Sea ($) | Contemporary Asian | 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. | Deck 11, mid-ship |
| Lido Market | Casual Dining | 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.* 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. 10:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.* |
Deck 9, mid-ship & aft |
| New York Pizza | Hand-made Pizza | 11:30 a.m. to midnight | Deck 9, aft |
| Dive-In | Burgers & Hot Dogs | 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Deck 9, mid-ship |
($) Cover charge applies. * Select stations only.
If you want to look at any of the menus before you sail, I keep a Holland America restaurant menus page with everything in text format, plus images you can save and PDFs you can download.
Lido Market
Let’s start with the Lido Market, Holland America’s version of a buffet. I say “version” because about 99% of it is served by the crew. You point, they plate. As a germaphobe, I love it. No wondering how many people handled the salad tongs before you got to them! There are bespoke salads made to order, sushi and a whole lot more, and the quality is top notch, especially at dinner. Plenty of Holland America cruisers eat dinner up here every single night, and honestly, I get why.

Canaletto
Canaletto is the ship’s Italian restaurant. It’s carved out of a section of the Lido, but it’s closed off and themed, so once you sit down, you’d never know the buffet is right next door. It’s open for dinner only, and at $25 per person plus 20%, it’s one of the best values at sea. Hang on to that thought, because that’s where I ended up for dinner tonight (more on that below).
If you want to see where everything is on Deck 9, including Canaletto, here’s my Lido deck tour video:
Pinnacle Grill
The Pinnacle Grill is $52 plus 20% at dinner. I had dinner here last night, and I’ll say it again: in my opinion, it’s the number one steakhouse at sea.
Here’s a tip a lot of people miss, though. On sea days, the Pinnacle Grill is also open for lunch at $25 plus 20%. If you’re onboard on a sea day, don’t skip the lunch burger. It’s fantastic, and you’ll see why I’m pushing it when we get to the Dive-In.

Tamarind
Tamarind is $35 plus 20%, and it’s where I ate on our first night. If you want a filet, this is my little hack since you’re paying $35 here instead of $52 at the Pinnacle Grill. Sushi is also available a la carte, and yes, I went a little overboard with it on Night 1.

Morimoto by Sea
On other Holland America ships, Morimoto by Sea is a one-night pop-up. On Nieuw Amsterdam, it’s open every day. It’s $55 plus 20% for a menu from Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, which makes it the priciest dinner onboard, and it’s one of the spots where the Mariner Society discount doesn’t apply. Sushi is also offered a la carte, either at the sushi bar or in the restaurant, and the sushi bar and Morimoto by Sea share space with Tamarind.
You can read about the latest Morimoto by Sea menu refresh and my 2024 Nieuw Amsterdam Tamarind dinner.
Dive-In
The Dive-In at the Lido Pool serves burgers, hot dogs, fries and chicken. I’ll be honest, I’m not in love with the burgers here, which is exactly why I pointed you to the Pinnacle Grill lunch burger, if you’re up for paying for it. Some ships’ Dive-Ins are better than others, but it’s still a favorite with a lot of cruisers, so don’t let me stop you.

New York Pizza
New York Pizza is at the Sea View Pool, serving Sicilian-style pizza at lunch and personal round pizzas until midnight, plus grab-and-go salads and desserts. On Day 1 I said Queen Elizabeth’s pizza was worse than a 99-cent frozen one. This is the complete opposite. It’s very good, and it’s really hard to walk past without grabbing a slice.
Regional Wine Tasting with Rey Rey
At 2 p.m. I headed to the main dining room for the Regional Wine Tasting. It’s $35, but it’s complimentary for 4- and 5-Star Mariners, one of the perks I talked about yesterday. It was led by cellar master Rey Rey, whom I know from Rotterdam. He’s a fun guy with a great sense of humor, and that makes a big difference at one of these.
The tasting has been slimmed down, though. It used to be a sparkling, two whites and two reds. Today it was a sparkling, one white and two reds. There was no placemat or tasting card this time either, but we did get the usual cheese and fruit plate, so not all was lost.
There were a lot of empty seats, and honestly, those who skipped it missed out. Rey Rey told stories and shared pairing tips the whole time, and he kept it going for a full hour. And if you wanted more of a particular wine, refills were definitely not a problem!
After the tasting, I took a nap, because getting old sucks.
Tonight’s Show: Emily Viancourt
Tonight on the World Stage was vocalist Emily Viancourt with “Let’s Fall in Love,” a show built around the golden era of music with songs from legends like Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, Bette Midler, Barbra Streisand and Nat King Cole. She performed at 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Later, I stopped by Rolling Stone Lounge. Like I said yesterday, this band knocks it out of the park every night. If you like to dance, this is your spot.
Meanwhile, over at the Ocean Bar, Gaby, the regional solo guitarist I mentioned yesterday, was playing a mix of songs across genres.
The Casino and How the Points Work
No luck in the casino tonight. I’m seriously tempted to learn roulette or blackjack. Can’t do any worse, right?
If you play, here’s how the casino points work. Every $2.50 you cycle through earns one point. That’s the same on Carnival, Princess and the other Carnival Corporation brands, since the casinos are all run by Ocean Players Club, the Carnival company behind them. On Holland America, the program is called the Holland America Players Club.
Here’s the catch. The perks vary by cruise line, and so do the point thresholds, so the same points may not get you the same cabin on another line. The perks have also been getting tougher to earn, and in the end, it’s all at the casino’s discretion.
Main Dining Room & Lido Market Dinner Menus
For those wanting to dine in the MDR or Lido Market, here’s a look at this evening’s menus:
Dinner at Canaletto on Nieuw Amsterdam
The big news tonight is that the osso buco is back at Canaletto! For the past several months, it had been replaced by veal scaloppine, and there was an uproar. Holland America listened, and my server confirmed it returned a few months ago. It’s a lot like when the Vivace strings came back. Sometimes complaining actually works!
As I mentioned, Canaletto is $25 per person, and 4- and 5-Star Mariner Society members get 50% off, which makes a good deal even better. I walked up around 8:15 p.m. with no reservation and was seated right away.
I started with bread and spreads.

Then the meatballs and the tomato mozzarella salad.
And then the main event. The osso buco was just as fantastic as I remember. Welcome back, old friend!

I finished with gelato. The service and the food were both excellent, and it was a great way to wrap up a sea day.

Currently rocking and rolling as we head to Aruba with an arrival time set for 8 a.m. More on that tomorrow, and as always, thanks for following along.
Nieuw Amsterdam Day 4 Daily Planner
Click here to download the daily planners as a PDF.
| TIME | EVENT | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30am | Abs Class | Fitness Center, 9 |
| 8:00am | Morning Catholic Prayer (Led by the congregation) | Explorer's Lounge, 2 |
| 8:00am | RYDE Indoor Cycling $20 | Fitness Center, 9 |
| 8:00am | Tai Chi for Everyone | Rolling Stone Lounge, 2 |
| 8:45am | Walk a Mile | Ocean Bar, 3 |
| 9:00am | Tech for Travelers: Sharing Your Journey | Explorer's Lounge, 2 |
| 9:00am | Captain's Selection Deck Sale | Lido Poolside, 9 |
| 9:00am | Coffee with Cruise Director Zaid (Featuring Environmental Officer David) | Rolling Stone Lounge, 2 |
| 9:00am | Pickleball Instruction: Scoring | Sports Court, 11 |
| 9:30am | Caribbean Brunch | Lower Dining Room, 2 |
| 9:30am | Watercoloring: Lavender (Repeats at 10:30am & 11:30am) | Art Studio, 11 |
| 9:30am | Lipstick Blending Experience | The Shops, 3 |
| 10:00am | Mahjong Players Meet until 2:00pm | Upper Dining Room, 3 |
| 10:00am | Party Bridge Play until 2:00pm | Upper Dining Room, 3 |
| 10:00am | Wrinkle Remedies Seminar | Ocean Bar, 3 |
| 10:00am | Introduction to Iris Photography | Photo Gallery, 3 |
| 10:00am | Learn to Line Dance with Abbie | Rolling Stone Lounge, 2 |
| 10:00am | Pickleball Open Play | Sports Court, 11 |
| 10:30am | Guess the Weight to Win! | Art Gallery, 2 |
| 11:00am | Jigsaw Puzzle Meetup | Crow's Nest, 11 |
| 11:00am | Increase Your Metabolism Seminar | Explorer's Lounge, 2 |
| 11:00am | Lanyards are Available | Photo Gallery, 3 |
| 11:00am | $1,200 Jackpot Bingo: Tickets on Sale at 10:00am | Billboard Onboard, 2 |
| 11:00am | Diamond & Gemstone Enrichment Seminar | Rolling Stone Lounge, 2 |
| 11:00am | Veterans Day & Remembrance Day Commemorative Service | World Stage, 1, 2 & 3 |
| 11:30am | Military Meetup | Ocean Bar, 3 |
| 12:00pm | Exotic & Phenomenal: Rare Gemstones Reveal | Effy Jewelry, 3 |
| 12:00pm | Grand Opening Art Auction | Explorer's Lounge, 2 |
| 12:00pm | The Hair Show | Greenhouse Spa, 9 |
| 1:00pm | Needlework Meetup | Art Studio, 11 |
| 1:00pm | Friends of Bill W. Meet | Upper Dining Room, 3 |
| 1:00pm | International Beer Tasting $15 | Ocean Bar, 3 |
| 1:00pm | Today's Trivia: Lightning Trivia | Billboard Onboard, 2 |
| 1:00pm | Revitalize Your Legs with Moor Mud | Greenhouse Spa, 9 |
| 1:00pm | The Caribbean Up Close: Treasure Islands | World Stage, 1, 2 & 3 |
| 2:00pm | Shop Like a Local in Aruba | Explorer's Lounge, 2 |
| 2:00pm | Health Seminar: Improve Your Posture | Fitness Center, 9 |
| 2:00pm | Dance Class: Cha Cha | Rolling Stone Lounge, 2 |
| 2:00pm | Shuffleboard Challenge | Shuffleboard Court, 10 |
| 2:00pm | Fragrance Quiz: Find Your Signature Scent | The Shops, 3 |
| 2:00pm | Port Talk: Puerto Limon and Ocho Rios | World Stage, 1, 2 & 3 |
| 2:30pm | Origami Folding: Fortune Teller (Repeats at 3:30pm) | Art Studio, 11 |
| 3:00pm | Board Game Meetup | Crow's Nest, 11 |
| 3:00pm | Caribbean Afternoon Tea | Upper Dining Room, 3 |
| 3:00pm | $1,300 Jackpot Bingo: Tickets on Sale at 2:00pm | Billboard Onboard, 2 |
| 3:00pm | Today's Movie: Marty Supreme (Drama, Rated R, 2hrs 30mins) | Rolling Stone Lounge, 2 |
| 3:00pm | Meet for a Game of Cornhole | Shuffleboard Court, 10 |
| 3:00pm | Around the World Basketball | Sports Court, 11 |
| 4:00pm | Over $658,000 Paradise Lotto Jackpot Drawing | Casino, 2 |
| 4:00pm | Ask Your Travel Guide | Crow's Nest, 11 |
| 4:00pm | The Teen Zone is Open until 6:00pm | High Score, 10 |
| 4:00pm | 50% Off Happy Hour | Ocean Bar, 3 |
| 4:00pm | Team Trivia Challenge | Billboard Onboard, 2 |
| 4:00pm | Pickleball Open Play | Sports Court, 11 |
| 4:00pm | Live Music: Regional Soloist | Ocean Bar, 3 |
| 4:30pm | Dam Dots Challenge | Art Studio, 11 |
| 4:30pm | Guess the Price of the Yellow Diamond | Effy Jewelry, 3 |
| 5:00pm | Body Sculpt Boot Camp $20 | Fitness Center, 9 |
| 5:00pm | Ping Pong Tournament | Lido Poolside, 9 |
| 5:00pm | Collect Aruba Shopping Cards | Port Shopping Desk, 1 |
| 5:00pm | Have Your Casual Portrait Taken | Portrait Studio, 2 |
| 5:00pm | Live Music: Regional Soloist | Ocean Bar, 3 |
| 6:00pm | Evening Stretch | Fitness Center, 9 |
| 6:00pm | Singles & Solo Travelers Meetup | Crow's Nest, 11 |
| 6:00pm | Family Fun Time until 10:00pm | High Score, 10 |
| 6:30pm | Music Trivia: 60s | Billboard Onboard, 2 |
| 6:30pm | PRIDE Meetup | Tamarind Bar, 11 |
| 7:00pm | Modern Art Exhibition | Art Gallery, 2 |
| 7:00pm | Walk-In Acupuncture Clinic | Greenhouse Spa, 9 |
| 7:00pm | Effy Beauty: Gift with Purchase | The Shops, 3 |
| 7:30pm | Game Night: Beat The Buzzer | Rolling Stone Lounge, 2 |
| 7:30pm | Ladies' Night in the Thermal Suite | Greenhouse Spa, 9 |
| 7:30pm | Tonight's Show: Vocalist Emily Viancourt | World Stage, 1, 2 & 3 |
| 8:00pm | Cruise & Cash Scratch-Off Tickets | Casino, 2 |
| 8:00pm | Heat Wave Hot Seats | Casino, 2 |
| 8:00pm | Live Music: Regional Soloist | Ocean Bar, 3 |
| 8:00pm | Live Music: Rolling Stone Lounge Band - Legendary R&B | Rolling Stone Lounge, 2 |
| 8:15pm | Live Music: Billboard Onboard - The 1960s | Billboard Onboard, 2 |
| 8:30pm | A Time to Celebrate Event | Effy Jewelry, 3 |
| 9:00pm | Port & Sherry Tasting $35 | Explorer's Lounge, 2 |
| 9:00pm | Tonight's Show: Vocalist Emily Viancourt | World Stage, 1, 2 & 3 |
| 9:00pm | Live Music: Regional Soloist | Ocean Bar, 3 |
| 9:00pm | Live Music: Rolling Stone Lounge Band - Funky Good Times | Rolling Stone Lounge, 2 |
| 9:15pm | Live Music: Billboard Onboard - Coming to America | Billboard Onboard, 2 |
| 10:00pm | Live Music: Rolling Stone Lounge Band - Pop and Rock | Rolling Stone Lounge, 2 |
| 10:15pm | Live Music: Billboard Onboard - All Requests | Billboard Onboard, 2 |
| 11:00pm | Over $658,000 Paradise Lotto Jackpot Drawing | Casino, 2 |
| 11:00pm | Live Music: Rolling Stone Lounge Band - On the Floor! | Rolling Stone Lounge, 2 |














