Acclaimed Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s First Restaurant at Sea Opens Aboard Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam

The new nightly specialty venue “Morimoto By Sea” welcomed dinner guests for the first time

Seattle, Wash., Dec. 22, 2023 — Morimoto By Sea, Holland America Line’s newest specialty restaurant, officially opened its doors aboard Nieuw Amsterdam Dec. 21. Morimoto By Sea is the first stand-alone restaurant at sea by Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, who also serves as the cruise line’s Fresh Fish Ambassador, which is part of the brand’s global fresh fish program. Chef Morimoto was present for opening night, along with Holland America Line executives and Nieuw Amsterdam guests.

During the opening celebration, Chef Morimoto conducted a traditional sake barrel ceremony where he cracked open the barrel and shared the sake with opening-night attendees for a toast.

“We recently transformed space on Nieuw Amsterdam into a beautiful Morimoto By Sea restaurant, and we are thrilled to be here to officially open the dining experience for our guests,” said Michael Stendebach, vice president of food, beverage and rooms division at Holland America Line. “Adding Morimoto By Sea both as a stand-alone venue and a pop-up is another way we continue to elevate our culinary offerings, and we are honored to have Chef Morimoto on board to celebrate the launch.” 

The Morimoto By Sea restaurant on Nieuw Amsterdam is part of Holland America Line’s global fresh fish program, which also includes a Morimoto By Sea pop-up experience once per cruise on the fleet’s other 10 ships in either Pinnacle Grill or Tamarind. The dishes served at Morimoto By Sea — and seafood offerings across Holland America Line’s fleet — are sourced from a global network of 60 ports to serve 80 types of fresh fish on board.

Morimoto By Sea on Nieuw Amsterdam can be found adjacent to the Tamarind restaurant on the Observation Deck. Guests dining at Morimoto By Sea, which is open nightly, enjoy a multi-course meal highlighting the cuisine of Chef Morimoto and the cruise line’s fresh fish program. The menu also includes a selection of beef, chicken, vegetarian and vegan options, and a sushi menu for additional purchase.

“I am always excited to open a new restaurant, and this grand opening is very special because it is my first restaurant on a cruise ship,” said Chef Morimoto. “I’ve cooked on land, on television, and now on the oceans. I look forward to Holland America Line guests experiencing my dishes.”

In addition to cuisine, the restaurant features Chef Morimoto’s exclusive alcoholic beverages, including Morimoto Dream Brut Rosé and Morimoto Junmai Daiginjo Sake, that complement the dishes on the menu.

For its opening night, Morimoto By Sea was fully booked, with guests indulging in a selection of dishes including Hamachi Tacos, Ishiyaki Buri Bop, Japanese Vegetable Curry, Slow Cooked Alaskan King Salmon and White Chocolate Lime Ganache. A full menu can be found on Holland America Line’s website.

Guests can make Morimoto By Sea reservations on Holland America Line’s Navigator App or on board. The restaurant carries a cover charge of $55 per person, plus an additional 18% gratuity.

For more information about Holland America Line, consult a travel advisor, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com.

Photos are available here.