Nieuw Amsterdam - Panama Canal Discovery: Costa Rica & Greater Antilles
A 12-night roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale that samples the Southern Caribbean before entering the Panama Canal's Gatun Locks for a partial transit into Gatun Lake — no flight home from the Pacific required. The route pairs big-hitter ports like Cartagena and Aruba with a day at Holland America's private Bahamian island and a rainforest stop in Costa Rica.
Price Range
$
Budget
*Prices vary by cabin type, sailing date, and availability. Confirm rates with Holland America Line before booking.
Ship Details — Nieuw Amsterdam
View full Nieuw Amsterdam details
Year Built
2010
Tonnage
86,700 GT
Passengers
2,106
Crew
929
Decks
12
Class
Signature
Itinerary & Route Map
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Where this cruise calls, day by day
8 ports and 5 sea days over 12 Nights.
- Day 1Fort Lauderdale, FL port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
Fort Lauderdale, FL
United StatesDepart - Day 2Half Moon Cay port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
Half Moon Cay
BahamasPort Day 3 · At sea
Day 4 · At sea
- Day 5Oranjestad port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
Oranjestad
ArubaPort Day 6 · At sea
- Day 7Cartagena port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
Cartagena
ColombiaPort - Day 8Panama Canal (Transit) port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
Panama Canal (Transit)
PanamaPort - Day 9
Puerto Limon
Costa RicaPortLimón is Costa Rica's Caribbean port and a working one - the pier is in town, the town is scruffy and humid, and almost nobody stays. This coast is the country's wettest and its most Afro-Caribbean, with Jamaican-descended Creole culture and rainforest starting right behind the city. Everything worth doing runs inland to the canals, the aerial trams and the whitewater rivers.
- Tortuguero canal boat trips
- The Veragua Rainforest or the Braulio Carrillo aerial tram
- Whitewater rafting the Pacuare or Reventazón
- Cahuita National Park and Puerto Viejo down the coast
- Getting ashore
- Ships dock at the pier in central Limón; you can walk into town in minutes, though there is little reason to linger.
- Best months
- Feb-Mar and Sep-Oct are the driest windows - the Caribbean side reverses the national pattern and rains hardest Nov-Jan
Day 10 · At sea
- Day 11George Town port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
George Town
Cayman IslandsPort Day 12 · At sea
- Day 13Fort Lauderdale, FL port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
Fort Lauderdale, FL
United StatesArrive
Onboard Amenities
Cruise Highlights
About the Ship
What Travelers Say About Nieuw Amsterdam
Reviews of the ship itself — the same for every Nieuw Amsterdam sailing. Distilled from 85 traveler threads, Cruise Critic member reviews and travel blogs.
Nieuw Amsterdam is a 2010 Signature-class, midsize Holland America ship carrying around 2,100 guests at double occupancy. It punches above its size on dining - widely regarded as one of the best-fed fleets in its segment - and on service, with a refined, traditional and unhurried vibe that skews toward an older, sophisticated crowd.
What People Love
- Among the best dining in the Holland America fleet, with strong specialty venues including Pinnacle Grill, Tamarind, Canaletto and the Morimoto by Sea added in 2024
- Midsize ship at around 2,100 guests, so venues rarely feel crowded and the atmosphere stays relaxed and uncrowded
- Outstanding for Alaska - the bow opens to passengers for excellent glacier and wildlife viewing
Common Complaints
- Cabins feel dated and small by modern standards, with worn decor and compact bathrooms cited as in need of refurbishment
- Skews heavily older, with an average passenger in their early sixties and programming aimed at a 55-plus crowd
- Mobility traffic - scooters and walkers in narrow hallways are noted by some guests
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