The Nieuw Amsterdam is a beautiful ship. I was impressed immediately upon boarding. Granted, I have no idea what she looked like prior to her recent dry dock, but I was generally knowledgeable of what was old and what was new. I think the new changes are wonderful. First of all, the new carpeting is perfect. The color scheme is spot-on and provides an elegant foundation in the public spaces, especially near the elevators. I thought the new venues, especially Billboard Onboard, the Gallery Bar, and the Crow's Nest (I forget its new name), looked fantastic. I agree with some others that the Crow's Nest now has a bit of an identity crisis, but I think this can be remedied in time. The new technology up there has limited use but certainly looks impressive. And I love how the casino, piano lounge, and Gallery Bar now have this fluid, open feel to them. And bravo to making the casino non-smoking. The atrium looked nice as well, but as I mentioned, I did not see it before the removal of the stairs. Overall, the ship was stunningly beautiful and easily navigable.

We stayed in two adjacent (non-adjoining) obstructed view cabins on Deck 4, mid-ship (Cabins 4101 and 4103). I was hesitant to book these cabins but did so anyway, given the great rate that was offered. I had only ever sailed with a balcony, so I was a tad spoiled. Needless to say, we loved these rooms for the value they provided and the natural light allowed in by the full-length windows (essentially, non-opening balcony doors). For the first time, I had a cabin all to myself, and that was quite a treat. The rooms were wonderfully appointed. The carpets and sofas were either new or well-kept. The bathroom was just the right size and had a tub/shower combo. My petite-sized aunt appreciated the ability to take baths, although the tub probably would have been uncomfortable for me. One of the best things about the cabin, and what surprised me the most, was the huge selection of on-demand movies available on the fairly-large flat-panel television mounted on the wall. The movies played with ease and in great clarity. This is a far cry from out small, desk-mounted television on the Noordam a couple years ago, which offered only snowy views of very few channels. Our stateroom attendants were very personable, remembered our names, and did a fantastic job with their twice-per-day visits. My only complaint was that the A/C did not get my room as cold as I normally like.

The food ranged from good to great. We ate most breakfasts and lunches in the Lido, 4 dinners in the main dining room, and one dinner, each, in Canaletto, Tamarind, and the Pinnacle Grill. Breakfast and lunch were great in the Lido. I found the servers to be very kind and welcoming, and I think I prefer being served my food vs. using utensils that have been touched by others. The Lido was crowded during obvious times (breakfast on port days and lunch on sea days), but it was manageable. I enjoyed having fresh-fried eggs for breakfast. I wish I hadn't discovered the French toast and crepes, but I did. Delicious! Read more