Bookings are open for the Premiere Voyage and 2018-19 inaugural Caribbean cruise season of Holland America Line’s ms Nieuw Statendam. Due for delivery Dec. 1, 2018, the second Pinnacle Class ship in the fleet currently is under construction at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Italy.

When Nieuw Statendam departs the yard, it will be delivered in Venice, Italy, Dec. 1. After arriving at Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy, Nieuw Statendam departs Dec. 5 on its Premiere Voyage with guests — a 14-day transatlantic crossing to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The ship will then spend the winter season cruising roundtrip from the South Florida port on seven-day Caribbean itineraries, with select three-, four- and 10-day options.

“Every milestone we reach with Nieuw Statendam brings us closer to delivery, and opening for bookings in the inaugural season is an exciting step as we officially give guests the opportunity to start planning their vacations on this beautiful new ship,” said Orlando Ashford, Holland America Line’s president. “The crossing is a great chance for guests to really get to know the ship and explore every corner during the sea days, and the Caribbean season is a perfect blend of ports that highlight the beauty, diversity and relaxed ambiance of that region.”

Premiere Voyage Repositions to Caribbean Winter Home Port
When Nieuw Statendam departs Civitavecchia Dec. 5 on its Premiere Voyage, it will spend 14 days crossing the Atlantic Ocean to Fort Lauderdale. After leaving Italy, the ship will call at Cartagena and Málaga, Spain, and Funchal, Madeira, before spending seven days at sea where guests can experience all the newbuild’s amenities. Guests will enjoy an overnight call at Fort Lauderdale before leaving the ship Dec. 19.

Nieuw Statendam to Offer a Variety of Caribbean Cruises in Winter/Spring 2018-19
From December 2018 through April 2019, Nieuw Statendam will spend its inaugural season exploring the golden beaches and sun-kissed skies of the Caribbean on roundtrip Fort Lauderdale cruises. All Caribbean itineraries include a call at Half Moon Cay, the line’s award-winning private Bahamian island known for its pristine landscapes, exciting shore excursions, exclusive beach cabanas and child-friendly activities.

Nieuw Statendam’s first Caribbean cruise is a four-day itinerary that calls at Half Moon Cay and Key West, Florida, departing Dec. 19. The ship then embarks on a series of seven-day sailings, including a Dec. 23 Holiday cruise that calls at Amber Cove, Dominican Republic; San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Half Moon Cay. A Dec. 30, 2018, New Year’s cruise departure calls at Half Moon Cay; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Cozumel, Mexico. A similar Jan. 6 cruise replaces Ocho Rios with Montego Bay, Jamaica. The ship then sets sail Jan. 13 on a seven-day cruise to Nassau, Bahamas; San Juan, Charlotte Amalie and Half Moon Cay.

Guests looking for an extended Caribbean adventure on Nieuw Statendam can depart Jan. 20 on a 10-day cruise to the ABC Islands with calls at Half Moon Cay; Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos; Amber Cove, Dominican Republic; Kralendijk, Bonaire; Willemstad, Curaçao; and Oranjestad, Aruba.

For a quick get-away, a three-day cruise departs roundtrip Fort Lauderdale Jan. 30 and includes a call at Half Moon Cay, Bahamas.

For the remainder of the season, the ship will feature western and eastern Caribbean itineraries: the first calls at Half Moon Cay, Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, while the second features calls at Grand Turk, San Juan, St. Thomas and Half Moon Cay — with the March 17 departure swapping Amber Cove for Grand Turk.

About Nieuw Statendam
The 99,500-ton ship will reflect the ongoing evolution of the Holland America Line experience. While much of the ship’s design will be similar to ms Koningsdam, the first Pinnacle Class ship, Nieuw Statendam will carry 2,666 guests and have exclusive public spaces and its own style created by leading hospitality designer Adam D. Tihany and designer and architect Bjorn Storbraaten.

Holland America Line’s first ship to be called Statendam sailed in 1898, and this will be the sixth ship in the company’s history to carry the name. In combining the Dutch word for “new” with the classic Statendam, Holland America Line is celebrating the company’s past, present and future.