Holland America just gave us a peek at a public space coming to Oosterdam, and it’s a good one. The line is calling it Bar 1873, a new signature gathering spot in the ship’s atrium that mixes cocktails with live music and also gives us a glimpse into more than 150 years of company history. This is the first major venue reveal we’ve seen for Oosterdam besides the staterooms, so let’s dig in.
What Is Bar 1873?
Bar 1873 is part of the Holland America Evolution program, and Holland America says it’s going to be a major piece of it. The idea is that every Evolution ship gets its own take on the venue, with each one drawing from a different story, tradition or milestone in the line’s history.
On Oosterdam, the theme is May She Be Blessed, a nod to the maritime tradition of ship christenings and the godmothers who’ve launched generations of Holland America ships. The story behind it is the 1958 christening of Rotterdam V by Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, which reflects the line’s long connection to the Dutch royal family.
As the concept spreads to other ships, each bar will have its own personality.
A Glowing Tulip in the Middle of the Atrium
The venue sits in Oosterdam’s central atrium on Deck 2 and in the center of it all is a three meter illuminated tulip sculpture, inspired by the Netherlands’ national flower and Holland America’s signature orange tulip. It rises above the space, can be seen from several vantage points around the atrium, and casts patterns of light across the room.
Around it, you’ll find more than 200 heritage and repurposed objects, custom artwork and a visual timeline of the company’s history. Long time Holland America cruisers are going to love hunting for things like:
- Carpets inspired by the movement of light across the ocean, with a rug influenced by a clock in the main dining room of the SS Rotterdam
- A grand fireplace inspired by Holland America’s original headquarters, which is now Hotel New York in Rotterdam
- Vintage style maps and custom artwork that blend Dutch culture, maritime exploration and the spirit of travel
Live Piano and a Signature Cocktail
Music is a big part of this. Live piano will be the centerpiece of the experience during the cocktail hour before dinner and throughout the evening, with select appearances from vocalists and Holland America’s Vivace classical musicians.
The drink menu is anchored by a celebratory cocktail called May She Be Blessed, named for the blessing traditionally given to a ship before it enters service. Guests will be able to personalize it with their choice of essence, which Holland America says creates a personalized toast.
The Crow’s Nest Gets a Makeover Too
Bar 1873 isn’t the only spot getting attention. Oosterdam’s Crow’s Nest is being reimagined with more flexibility for activities and entertainment throughout the day and evening. Holland America is keeping the panoramic ocean views and relaxed feel that made it a favorite, but adding expanded live music programming.
Connecting the Dots on Oosterdam
This is where it gets interesting for those of us who’ve been paying close attention. When Holland America released the stateroom deck plans, we went deck by deck through the changes in our breakdown of Oosterdam’s deck plan changes. One of the big takeaways was that the Guest Services and Future Cruises area near the lower atrium was being converted into new staterooms, and we noted that we didn’t yet know where those public spaces were headed or what else was changing around the atrium. Bar 1873 is the first big public space reveal built around that atrium, so we’re finally getting a better picture of how the whole area is being reworked.
There’s also the timing. Holland America recently moved Oosterdam’s dry dock up by five weeks, so the newly transformed ship is now scheduled to return to service on October 31, 2027, after her refurbishment in Marseille. That means you won’t have to wait quite as long to see Bar 1873 in person.
Zuiderdam Is Next Under the Knife
Oosterdam is the first ship in the program, but she won’t be alone for long. Holland America named Zuiderdam as the next ship to get the treatment, which we covered when the line announced that Zuiderdam would be the next ship to get the Evolution treatment. Bookings are now open for both Oosterdam and Zuiderdam following their transformations.
Holland America calls Evolution the largest fleet update in its 153 year history. The program covers all six Vista Class and Signature Class ships, starting with Oosterdam and Zuiderdam and extending to the newly acquired Vista Class ship Arcadia, which we covered when Holland America added Arcadia and announced growth to 12 ships in 2029.
