This Vista Class-vessel was built in 2006 by Fincantieri and was last refurbished in 2019. 

Fresh from a year-ender 13-day New Zealand Holiday sailing, Holland America Line’s MS Noordam is all set to start its 2024 cruising down under via an 11-day South Australia Discovery cruise. 

This Sydney-homeported lady of the sea spans 285.23 metres in length and 32.2 metres in width with a gross tonnage of 82, 318 and travels with the speed of 24 knots. It had its maiden voyage in February of 2006 via a 10-day Eastern Caribbean itinerary. 

Suites and staterooms

Noordam features 1591 spacious and comfortable cabins 85% of which have ocean view and can accommodate 1, 972 passengers. The vessel’s staterooms include 162 Suites, 499 Balconies, 163 oceanviews, and 162 Insides. The ship also features 28 wheelchair-accessible cabins and 272 connecting rooms. 

The two-stateroom Pinnacle Suite is the biggest of all staterooms with an area of 93 square metres and a 30 square metre-balcony. On the other hand, the 60-stateroom Neptune Suite ranges from 25 suware metres to 37 square metres with a balcony size of 12 square metres. 

Meanwhile, the Signature Suite has 100 staterooms and an area that ranges from 26 square metres to 27 square metres with a uniform balcony size of nine metres. 

Noordam’s 499-stateroom Balcony Cabin measures 14 square metres to 28 square metres with a uniform balcony that measures five square metres. 

The ship’s Oceanview Cabin features 163 staterooms with an area of 16 square metres to 18 square metres. Furthermore, the 162-stateroom Interior Cabin measures 16 square metres to 19 square metres. 

Suites and Balcony accommodations have floor to ceiling sliding doors leading to a private veranda. In addition, the luxe Pinnacle Suites feature a whirlpool bathtub, a living room and a dining room.  

Dining and culinary experience

Holland America Line features both “As You Wish” dining and “Traditional Dining” and caters to every guest’s taste and interest. With the line’s Culinary Council and Fresh Fish Program, MS Noordam passengers are always in for exciting culinary treats for their entire cruising experience. 

Complimentary dining

Vista Dining Room

The Vista Dining Room is the ship’s main dining room that offers breakfast, lunch, and multi-course dinner. This restaurant serves the best of HAL’s classics such as Boneless Lamb Loin en Croute and Rosemary Roasted Chicken with a wide selection of wines selected by famous wine curator James Suckling. 

Lido Restaurant

As the name suggests, Lido Restaurant is located at the ship’s Lido deck  and offers casual buffet dining with a wide array of menu selections. From pastries to salads, decadent desserts, chilled juices and brewed beverages to well-crafted global cuisines, this restaurant has all of these to offer to its hungry guests. 

The Dive-In

The Dive-In serves made-to-order casual treats like sandwiches, hotdogs, burgers, and fries. Dive-In burgers are famous for being one of the best burgers at sea where guests could choose from different secialties such as The Gainer, Veggie Burger, Skinny Dip, The Cannonball, The Freestyle, The Back Flipand the Free Dive. On the other hand, assengers also have these secialties for a hot dog: The Dive-In Dog, The Dunkin’ Dog, and Jack Knife. Furthermore, this restaurant is perfect for guests who wish to have a bite by the poolside.  

Explorations Cafe

For guests who are into complimentary espressos and decadent pastries while marvelling at the fantastic views, this restaurant is the perfect dining hub. Since Explorations Cafe is located at the ship’s library which is midship of the Promenade Deck (deck 3), guests may opt to grab some books to read while enjoying the relaxing vibe of the lace. 

Specialty dining

Aside from free dining hubs, Noordam also has several restaurants that offer dining for fee. 

Canalleto

For guests who are Italian cuisine-lover, Canalleto is one restaurant that’s worth your dining even for a fee. From small plate specialties such as grilled tiger shrimp, antipasti plate and veal and sage meatballs, to different pasta specialties which are made fresh everyday, the line is truly in keeing with its mantra to offer nothing but the best cuisine at sea. Additionally, the restaurant also offers Canalleto Pairing, a classic beverage pairing when you book the resto for your dinner.

Meanwhile, kids 12 years and below enjoy a 50% discount when they order meals in the restaurant and free when they order from the kid’s menu. 

Pinnacle Grill

The famed Holland America Line’s The Pinnacle Grill, is said to be the ultimate steakhouse at sea. This dining hub for a fee caters to guests onboard upon reservation. Menus range from Ossetra Malossol Caviar for appetizer with wine pairing, Lobster Bisque, Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes, to the house’s finest steak, Beef Tenderloin with Lobster Dumplings by David Burke. In addition, the restaurant also offers classics like grilled lamb chops and the jidori chicken breast, and seafood menu such as seared jumbo scallops and Alaskan king salmon.  For vegetarians, Pinnacle Grill has Heirloom Tomato and Eggplant Tarte Tatin and the Beyond Meat Kofta to offer. 

Onboard activities

MS Noordam offers a long list of things to do onboard the ship. The Vista Lounge that spans three decks serves as the vessel’s main theatre and offers various performances all throughout guests’ cruising journey. There’s also the Explorations Café which offers a wide selection of books perfect for guests who want to enjoy reading while having coffee and mouth watering pastires. Additionally, 

Additionally, MS Noordam also has a number of bars and lounges conveniently located on decks 2, 3, 9 and 10. Some of these are the Atrium Bar, Explorer’s Lounge, King’s Blue Club, Ocean Bar, and the Lido Bar. 

The ship also has a wellness complex that houses the famous Greenhouse Sa and Salon plus three swimming pools. In addition, one of the pools has a retractable glass roof. 

When it comes to recreational activity, Holland America Line features Pickleball At Sea which is available for playing anytime of the day. Meanwhile, Noordam also has the Kids Club for kids between 3 and 17 years old and the Kids Programs that offer activities such as Dino-Mite Night and Ships Ahoy Pirate Treasure Hunt Adventure. This program is for kids between the age of 3 and 6 years old. 

Noordam’s deck plan

Holland America Line’s Noordam features 986 staterooms that can accommodate 1972 passengers. This 11-decker lady of the sea has three swimming pools, five outdoor jacuzzis, and 14 elevators. 

Deck 1 houses the ship’s World Stage and the Atrium while Deck 2 features the Pinnacle Grill, the Explorers’ Lounge, the Vista Dining Room, and the Lincoln Center Stage. In addition, this deck also houses several bars such as Nothern Lights, B.B. King’s Vlues Club, and the Pinnacle Bar. 

Passenger cabins are situated in decks 1, 4 through 7, and some art of deck 10. In addition, the Crow’s Nest, The Loft, and the Club Hall are all housed in the Observation Deck at Deck 10.

The Noordam’s deck plan can be viewed here.