MS Nieuw Statendam
Product brand
UnclaimedA Pinnacle-class cruise ship operated by Holland America Line.
Last updated August 24, 2026
Overview
MS Nieuw Statendam is a Pinnacle-class cruise ship operated by Holland America Line, the cruise brand within Carnival Corporation & plc. The vessel is the second of three Pinnacle-class ships built for Holland America Line by the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. It follows MS Koningsdam, which entered service in 2016, and precedes MS Rotterdam, delivered in 2021. The ship’s name continues Holland America Line’s long-running Statendam naming tradition and refers to five earlier vessels in the company’s fleet that carried the Statendam name. The ship was ordered as part of Carnival Corporation’s expansion program for its cruise brands. The order for two new ships was announced in December 2014, with the second vessel intended to be a sister ship to Koningsdam. Holland America Line announced the name Nieuw Statendam in May 2016, during the christening of Koningsdam. Construction began with a steel-cutting ceremony at Fincantieri’s Palermo shipyard in July 2016. Although the initial block was produced in Palermo, subsequent construction was transferred to Fincantieri’s Marghera yard near Venice. The keel was laid there in March 2017, followed by a coin ceremony in December of that year and the ship’s float-out later that month. Nieuw Statendam completed two rounds of sea trials in August 2018. The trials included a short voyage from Marghera to Trieste and a second test voyage before the ship returned to Marghera for final work. Fincantieri delivered the vessel to Holland America Line on 29 November 2018. Its inaugural voyage began in December 2018 with a transatlantic itinerary from Rome to Fort Lauderdale, calling at Cartagena, Málaga and Funchal. The ship was subsequently introduced to Holland America Line’s seasonal deployment pattern, operating Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale during the winter and repositioning to Europe during the warmer months for Northern European and Mediterranean itineraries. Nieuw Statendam is approximately 299.75 metres long and has 12 passenger decks. Its diesel-electric propulsion system uses four MaK generator engines with a combined output of 50.4 megawatts and two ABB Azipod propulsion units. The ship has a reported service speed of 18 knots and a maximum speed of 22 knots. Its maritime equipment includes lifeboats and tender boats supplied by Hatecke, while infrastructure and information-technology systems were supplied by Lufthansa Systems. The design carries forward the general dimensions and many of the passenger-oriented features established by Koningsdam, while retaining Holland America Line’s emphasis on a premium, traditional cruise experience. The ship was christened at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on 2 February 2019. Media personality Oprah Winfrey served as godmother, and the ceremony followed a three-night sailing to Half Moon Cay hosted by Winfrey and Gayle King. In 2025, Nieuw Statendam was featured prominently in the documentary series Supercruising: Life at Sea, which followed the vessel and its sister ship Rotterdam on voyages to destinations including the Caribbean, the Panama Canal and North Africa. The program provided behind-the-scenes coverage of crew work, shipboard operations and the guest experience. Nieuw Statendam remains an active Holland America Line vessel serving international cruise routes.
History
MS Nieuw Statendam was developed as Holland America Line’s second Pinnacle-class cruise ship. Carnival Corporation announced in December 2014 that it had ordered two ships for its cruise brands, including a new vessel for Holland America Line. The ship was planned as a sister ship to MS Koningsdam, the first Pinnacle-class vessel, while incorporating the class’s established dimensions, systems and passenger facilities. Holland America Line revealed the name Nieuw Statendam in May 2016. The name revived a historic designation used by five earlier Holland America Line ships and linked the new vessel to the company’s Dutch maritime heritage. Construction began on 12 July 2016 with steel cutting at Fincantieri’s Palermo facility. The first block was subsequently moved to Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard, where the rest of the ship was assembled. The keel-laying ceremony took place in Marghera on 20 March 2017. The keel block measured approximately 11.3 metres in length, 34.8 metres in width and weighed about 260 tonnes. A coin ceremony followed on 6 December 2017. Anne Marie Bartels acted as madrina and welded an 1898 Dutch guilder to the forward mast, following a maritime tradition associated with good fortune. The vessel was floated out on 21 December 2017 and then underwent final outfitting. Nieuw Statendam carried out two sets of sea trials in August 2018. The first trial departed Marghera on 10 August and lasted two days before the ship proceeded to Trieste, where trial data was reviewed and hull maintenance was performed. The second trial began on 18 August, with the ship returning to Marghera on 22 August. After completion of the remaining work, Fincantieri delivered the ship to Holland America Line on 29 November 2018. The vessel’s inaugural service was a transatlantic crossing from Rome to Fort Lauderdale in December 2018. The route included calls at Cartagena, Málaga and Funchal. Nieuw Statendam was then placed into Holland America Line’s seasonal operating schedule. During the winter it operates Caribbean itineraries from Fort Lauderdale, while during the European season it repositions to offer cruises from Amsterdam in Northern Europe and from Rome in the Mediterranean. The ship was christened at Port Everglades on 2 February 2019. Oprah Winfrey served as godmother, and the ceremony followed a three-night voyage to Half Moon Cay hosted by Winfrey and Gayle King. The event connected the vessel’s launch with a high-profile media partnership while also presenting the ship to the North American cruise market. Nieuw Statendam is 299.75 metres long, with a 35-metre beam, an 8-metre draft and 12 passenger decks. Its diesel-electric plant consists of four MaK engines producing a combined 50.4 megawatts. Two ABB Azipods provide propulsion, giving the ship a service speed of approximately 18 knots and a maximum speed of approximately 22 knots. It carries 14 lifeboats and six tender boats, each tender having a stated capacity of 150 passengers. Lufthansa Systems supplied the ship’s infrastructure and information-technology systems, while Hatecke supplied the lifeboats and tenders. In 2025, Nieuw Statendam became a prominent subject of the documentary series Supercruising: Life at Sea. The series followed the ship and Rotterdam on voyages including Caribbean, Panama Canal and North African itineraries, documenting crew routines, operational work and the passenger experience. The ship continues to operate as an active Holland America Line vessel.
- 2025
Featured in Supercruising: Life at Sea
[1]The ship was featured in a documentary series focused on cruise operations, crew life and passenger experiences.
- 2019
Christening at Port Everglades
[1]Oprah Winfrey christened Nieuw Statendam at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale following a hosted sailing with Gayle King.
- 2018
Sea trials completed
[1]Nieuw Statendam completed two sea trials in August before returning to the shipyard for final work.
- 2018
Delivered to Holland America Line
[1]Fincantieri formally delivered Nieuw Statendam to Holland America Line on 29 November.
- 2018
Inaugural transatlantic voyage
[1]The ship began service with a transatlantic crossing from Rome to Fort Lauderdale, calling at Cartagena, Málaga and Funchal.
- 2017
Keel laid at Marghera
[1]The keel was laid at Fincantieri’s Marghera yard, marking the assembly of the ship’s first major block.
- 2017
Coin ceremony and float-out
[1]A traditional coin ceremony took place in December, and the ship was floated out later that month for final outfitting.
- 2016
Ship name announced
[1]Holland America Line announced the name Nieuw Statendam, reviving a historic fleet name used by five earlier vessels.
- 2016
Steel cutting begins
[1]Fincantieri began construction with a steel-cutting ceremony at its Palermo shipyard.
- 2014
Carnival Corporation orders new Pinnacle-class ships
[1]Carnival Corporation announced orders for two new ships, including Holland America Line’s second Pinnacle-class vessel, later named Nieuw Statendam.
Products and positioning
A premium, large-scale Holland America Line cruise ship combining Pinnacle-class amenities, traditional maritime styling and seasonal itineraries in the Caribbean and Europe.
Cruise ship · 2018
MS Nieuw Statendam cruise ship
Nieuw Statendam is a Pinnacle-class cruise ship operated by Holland America Line. The vessel is approximately 299.75 metres long, has 12 passenger decks and uses a diesel-electric propulsion system with four MaK engines and two ABB Azipods. It serves as a platform for seasonal cruise itineraries, including Caribbean voyages from Fort Lauderdale and European cruises in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.
Marketing campaigns
- 2019Nieuw Statendam christening and hosted sailing
United States · International cruise market
Holland America Line presented Nieuw Statendam to the market through a Port Everglades christening hosted by Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King. The event used the ship’s launch ceremony and a short Half Moon Cay sailing to generate public attention around the new vessel.
Outcome. The ship was formally christened on 2 February 2019 and entered regular Holland America Line service.
Brand decisions
2016
Continuation of the Statendam naming traditionStrategyBackground
Holland America Line had previously operated five ships named Statendam, making the name part of its historical Dutch maritime identity.
Action taken
The company selected Nieuw Statendam as the name of its second Pinnacle-class ship.
Aftermath
The vessel linked the new Pinnacle-class generation with Holland America Line’s historic fleet nomenclature.
2014
Order for a second Pinnacle-class Holland America Line shipM&ABackground
Carnival Corporation announced orders for two new ships for its cruise brands, including a second Pinnacle-class ship for Holland America Line.
Action taken
The company proceeded with a sister ship to MS Koningsdam, which became Nieuw Statendam.
Aftermath
The order expanded Holland America Line’s Pinnacle-class fleet and led to the vessel’s delivery in November 2018.
Recent events
- 2025
Nieuw Statendam featured in Supercruising: Life at Sea[1]
Other
The ship appeared prominently in a documentary series covering its voyages, crew operations and passenger experience, alongside sister ship Rotterdam.
- 2019
Nieuw Statendam is christened by Oprah Winfrey[1]
Campaign · Other
The ship was formally christened at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale after a three-night sailing hosted by Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King.
- 2018
Nieuw Statendam completes sea trials[1]
Other
The ship completed two sets of sea trials in August before returning to Marghera for final outfitting and preparation for delivery.
- 2018
Nieuw Statendam is delivered to Holland America Line[1]
Other
Fincantieri delivered the completed Pinnacle-class vessel to Holland America Line at Marghera on 29 November 2018.
- 2016
Holland America Line announces the name Nieuw Statendam[1]
Other
Holland America Line announced that the second Pinnacle-class ship would be named Nieuw Statendam, continuing the company’s historic Statendam naming tradition.
- 2016
Nieuw Statendam begins construction[1]
Other
Fincantieri marked the start of construction with a steel-cutting ceremony in Palermo. Construction of the ship was later continued at the Marghera shipyard.
Sources1 sources
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