Cruises Cruise Lines Holland America Line Nieuw Amsterdam - Bars and Lounges By Linda Garrison Linda Garrison Linda Paull Garrison is a travel writer who has taken over 150 cruises and spent over 1,100 days at sea. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 06/26/19 Fact checked by Erin Medlicott Fact checked by Erin Medlicott New York University Rutgers University Erin Medlicott is a fact checker and researcher with a background in lifestyle and finance. Prior to her work at TripSavvy, she did financial research for the American Express Departures Magazine as well as the Wall Street Journal. She earned a TripSavvy's fact-checking Silk Den, one of the 12 bars and lounges on the Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam. Linda Garrison The Holland America Line Nieuw Amsterdam has a dozen bars and lounges spread over 11 decks. This deluxe mid-sized ship carries over 2,100 guests and has simple, elegant decor throughout the interiors of the ship and a classic look outdoors. Explorations Cafe, the specialty coffee bar, opens as early as 7:00 am, and some of the other bars open at 9:00 am. Many of the cruise ship's bars do not close until the early morning hours. Several venues have live music in the evening for either listening or dancing. Nieuw Amsterdam guests staying in the Deluxe Verandah Suites or Penthouse Verandah Suites have key access to a private area on deck 7 called the Neptune Lounge. This lounge features refreshments throughout the day and is a good place to relax and socialize with other suite guests. While on a Mediterranean cruise on the Nieuw Amsterdam cruise ship, we had the opportunity to try out most of these. 01 of 12 Nieuw Amsterdam - Casino Bar Nieuw Amsterdam (c) Linda Garrison The Casino Bar on the Nieuw Amsterdam is found on deck 2 next to the casino. It serves as the cruise ship's sports bar, and has several flat screen televisions tuned into ESPN or other sports networks. The Casino Bar usually opens about 5 pm and stays open until closing time. In addition to the bar seats, it also has comfortable chairs and cocktail table seating. Continue to 2 of 12 below. 02 of 12 Nieuw Amsterdam - Crow's Nest Nieuw Amsterdam (c) Linda Garrison The Crow's Nest is the large Nieuw Amsterdam observation bar forward on deck 11. It offers expansive ocean views, much like the captain sees from the navigation bridge. The Crow's Nest bar usually opens before lunch (about 10 am), and it is in the same area as the library, computer area, and the Explorations Cafe Coffee Bar. The area has wonderful leather lounge chairs, and guests can usually be found reading (or napping) when the ship is at sea. The Crow's Nest is also a popular place for guests to read the wide variety of library books available onboard. Those who like to keep up with what's going on in the world will appreciate one of the daily newspapers printed by the ship and found in the library/Crow's Nest area. Continue to 3 of 12 below. 03 of 12 Nieuw Amsterdam - Explorations Cafe Coffee Bar Nieuw Amsterdam (c) Linda Garrison Like the Crow's Nest, the Explorations Cafe Coffee Bar is found forward on deck 11. It usually opens about 7:00 am for those who want a specialty coffee and are willing to pay extra for it. The coffee bar also serves snacks like muffins and brownies to go along with the coffee drinks. The library and computers with Internet access are also found next to the Explorations Cafe Coffee Bar. Continue to 4 of 12 below. 04 of 12 Nieuw Amsterdam - Explorer's Lounge Nieuw Amsterdam (c) Linda Garrison The Explorer's Lounge is found mid-ship on deck 2 on the Nieuw Amsterdam. It has a gorgeous expansive piece of artwork along one wall that is an image of New York City. History buffs will remember that New York City was originally settled by the Dutch in the 16th century and named New Amsterdam. On our Mediterranean cruise on the Nieuw Amsterdam, a classical string quartet performed in the Explorer's Lounge most evenings, making for a quiet place to have a drink and enjoy the music. Continue to 5 of 12 below. 05 of 12 Nieuw Amsterdam - Lido Bar Nieuw Amsterdam (c) Linda Garrison The Lido Bar is outdoors on deck 9 next to the Lido Pool. The casual bar has both table and bar seating. I love the funky bar stools shaped like fish. You sit on the fish's tail! The Lido Bar opens early in the morning (about 9:00 am) and stays open until about 10 pm for those who like to have an after-dinner drink outdoors in a casual seating. Continue to 6 of 12 below. 06 of 12 Nieuw Amsterdam - Northern Lights Disco and Bar Nieuw Amsterdam (c) Linda Garrison Northern Lights is perfect for those Nieuw Amsterdam guests who like to dance and party into the late night hours. The disco/dance club doesn't open until 9 pm but stays open as long as there are those who want to listen to the DJ's music or dance. The Northern Lights decor is very modern, and the dance floor is large. Continue to 7 of 12 below. 07 of 12 Nieuw Amsterdam - Ocean Bar Nieuw Amsterdam (c) Linda Garrison The Ocean Bar is on deck 3 and looks down on the atrium. On our cruise, the 4 pm to 5 pm Nieuw Amsterdam happy hour was well-attended, and the Ocean Bar had live music most evenings before dinner. The bar also has a small dance floor. Continue to 8 of 12 below. 08 of 12 Nieuw Amsterdam - Piano Bar Nieuw Amsterdam (c) Linda Garrison The small Piano Bar on the Nieuw Amsterdam was packed most evenings on our Mediterranean cruise. The pianist plays a variety of fun piano music, with each evening featuring a different decade like the 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's, or 80's. Other nights are devoted to Gershwin, Billy Joel, Elton John, or other famous pianists. The piano bar has seating both around the piano and at cocktail tables nearby. Continue to 9 of 12 below. 09 of 12 Nieuw Amsterdam - Pinnacle Bar Nieuw Amsterdam (c) Linda Garrison The Pinnacle Bar is across from the Pinnacle steakhouse restaurant on deck 2 of the Nieuw Amsterdam. The bar serves premium martinis and other drinks as well as regular cocktails. Continue to 10 of 12 below. 10 of 12 Nieuw Amsterdam - Queen's Lounge Nieuw Amsterdam (c) Linda Garrison The Queen's Lounge on the Nieuw Amsterdam is in the Culinary Arts Center on deck 2 next to the Northern Lights disco and the casino. Like Northern Lights, it usually doesn't open until about 9:00 pm and stays open late. Continue to 11 of 12 below. 11 of 12 Nieuw Amsterdam - Sea View Bar Nieuw Amsterdam (c) Linda Garrison The adults-only Sea View Pool and Bar are aft on deck 9 behind the Lido Restaurant. This area is very popular for those who like to be away from the kids and family groups. Continue to 12 of 12 below. 12 of 12 Nieuw Amsterdam - Silk Den Nieuw Amsterdam (c) Linda Garrison The Silk Den was my favorite bar on the Nieuw Amsterdam. I loved the way that drinks like martinis and Cosmopolitans were served in a fancy glass surrounded by ice. No danger of your drink getting warm! It is found mid-ship on deck 11 across from the Tamarind Restaurant, but you do not have to be dining in Tamarind to enjoy a drink at Silk Den. This bar has marvelous ocean views, and if the sliding roof is open on the Lido pool, you get great views of the activity around the pool area. The Silk Den has a lovely Asian decor and also has small semi-private alcoves that are perfect for small groups or couples. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Tell us why! Submit