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June 1, 2023

Ablaze in autumn color and alive with tales of the past, the New England Atlantic coastal region is steeped in history.  A cruise on Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam makes the journey even more exciting.

The cruise begins in Boston and stops in Bar Harbor, Maine. In Canada, the stops are Halifax, Sydney, Prince Edward Island and ends in  sophisticated  Quebec City with all its European flair.

Nieuw Amsterdam is an award winning vessel that features exclusive dining experiences, such as Rudi’s Sel de Mer and for music, the Rolling Stone Rock Room, in addition to Holland America’s signature BB Kings Blues club.

This innovative vessel stays true to HAL’s emphasis on its key features: food and music. Music Walk is an exclusive collection of four live music venues focusing on Memphis R and B and rock and roll. Chamber music is offered throughout the cruise at different locations and draws large crowds of classical music fans.

HAL is one of the few lines to appoint a six member culinary council of world-renowned chefs who guide the dining experience to infuse the flavors of the region on board and onshore. HAL also has a partnership with Food and Wine Magazine for shore excursions which inspires its progressive luncheon to the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City.

The food focus is on creativity and diversity. Rudi’s Sel de Mer, a lively brasserie offers a modern twist on classic French dishes. Coffee, savory Dutch snacks and pints of lager can be ordered at the Grand Dutch Café which is open most of the day.while intimate dinners are held at the private Club Orange dining room.  The gracious, friendly service means that every meal becomes a special event.

Other dining areas include the main Dining Room for breakfast, lunch and dinner; the Pinnacle Grill for fine dining; Canaletto serving authentic Italian fare; the Tamarind, inspired by the culinary traditions of Southeast Asia; and New York Pizza at poolside. Dive In serves gourmet burgers and hot dogs.

On shore, cruisers are able to taste unique flavors of the ports of call, such as New England clam chowder, plates of Poutine, the traditional French Canadian delicacy, and  flavorful sweet maple syrup from the Canadian countryside.

The sophisticated design and level of gracious service reflect the mastery of detail refined and reflected in HAL’s 150 year history.

The spacious design is ideal for discovery. Nieuw Amsterdam was built for exploration along the rugged and beautiful Atlantic Coast. Spacious public areas, wraparound decks and easy walkways. With capacity for 2,668, the ship is comfortable and unpretentious with a gracious and helpful staff and crew.

Inviting towns, historic seaports and idyllic landscapes are the charm of this itinerary. A unique service, Explorations Central, offers an inside look and extensive history of popular spots on the itinerary.

Favorite music venues are the BB King’s Blues Club and its All Star Band, and the Rolling Stone Rock Room which chronicles rock history from the pages of Rolling Stone Magazine. Step One Dance Company features contemporary dance and cutting edge video technology performances on the ship’s World Stage.

Pianists at Billboard Onboard keep the music going to entertain guests.

Nieuw Amsterdam has received numerous awards, among them Best Itineraries from  Cruise Critic; Best New Ship from Travel Age West; and Gold-Best midsize cruise ship from Travel Pulse Travel Savvy Awards.

This year the Atlantic cruise will be on the Zaandam and Zuiderdam, with similar styling, design and service levels one can expect from Holland America.

Sailing dates are:

September 2- Quebec to Boston

Septembe r9 – Boston to Quebec

September 16 – Quebec to Boston

September 23 – Boston to Quebec

HAL’s excursions are well-planned and well-organized assisted by local tour guides who know the history and anecdotes of the region. Tours may be pre-booked on line or on ship at the service desk or at the shore excursions desk in Explorations Central, whose staff gives an inside look and deeper exploration of the inviting towns, historic seaports and enchanting landscapes of the itinerary.

BAR HARBOR, MAINE

Acadia National Park is one of the most visited national parks in America. We took the drive through the park on the 37 mile Park Loop Road which goes to the edge of the ocean cliffs, past Sand Beach, Schooner Overlook and within sight of expansive mansions owned by wealthy moguls at the turn of the century.  This tour takes in gorgeous views of the Penobscot Mountains. If there is no fog, the bus will head to the top of Cadillac Mountain. Here, visitors can see a 360 degree view of Frenchman’s Bay where the ship is anchored and the Cranberry Islands.

Back in Bar Harbor, walk around this charming town, once the world’s most exclusive and illustrious resort town, a mecca for the one per centers, the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers and others who owned fabulous Victorian mansions, some of which have been repurposed for modern use.

CANADIAN ATLANTIC

HALIFAX

The Halifax Food Tour stops at local restaurants where one can sense the influence of both British and French culinary cultures. Try poutine, a national French Canadian dish.

SYDNEY

The Walk Around Sydney tour gives an overview of this delightful British town. The ladies of the local hospitality committee welcomed us to the museum where they served tea and their famous Oatcakes, as they related the history of the town.  Part of the town was settled by loyalists fleeing the American Revolution of 1785. Sydney’s harbor is the second largest in Nova Scotia Province and was a vital strategic importance during World War II.

It is clear that while small, Sydney demonstrates big values in respecting and preserving the past.

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

This island is the smallest of Canada’s provinces with a population of just over 170,000. It was fought over by the French and English, each seeking a stake in the new territories.

A walk through historic downtown Charlottesville reveals several churches with facades made of red island stone from the rolling red cliffs along the north shore.  Fish and chip restaurants abound, as well as abundant ethnic food

A drive around the island takes in some of the 89,000 acres of potatoes grown annually, as PEI is the largest producer of potatoes in Canada.  Harness racing is popular here and horse farms grace the countryside.  PEI is famous for its delicious blue mussels and lobster. Fish and chips are also popular. Not surprisingly, PEI has a large number of parks, notably its expansive national park, sprawling sandy beaches and rolling red cliffs of the North Shore.  Take a photo op of the miles of white gold sand surrounded and protected by gorgeous sand dunes.

A scenic drive to Heritage Place, the Anne of Green Gables National Historic Site is one of HAL’s well-attended excursions. Visitors can browse the museum, barn and homestead which inspired to write her well-loved novel, Anne of Green Gables.  This tour stops for a lobster lunch. Chicken can also be ordered.

QUEBEC CITY

Take a guided stroll through the cobblestone streets of Quebec’s Old Town, best experienced on foot, to discover four centuries of history in what is essentially a living museum. The Place Royale is the home of the oldest Catholic stone church in North America—Notre-Dame-des-Victoires.

Visitors take the funicular to reach the elegant Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac. Perched on a hill overlooking the St. Lawrence River, the Chateau is the best known landmark in Quebec and one of the most photographed hotels in the world..

Some tours drive along the Beaupre Coast to Montmorency Falls. At 270 feet high, the falls are a full 98.4 taller than Niagara Falls. The views are spectacular in summer or winter. There are walking paths to watch the water roar down the cliffs and meet the St. Lawrence River.

Back on the ship, it is time to relax and use the welcoming spa facilities. Awaiting the traveler are a busy fitness center, indoor cycling room, saunas, massage rooms, thermal suites with hydro-therapy pool, steam and aromatic room and heated lounges. A beauty salon and barber shop are also on site.

The Zuiderdam joins the Zaandam in late August for an end of the summer fall foliage season. Owing to the consistent appeal of theses itineraries, HAL plans to continue them in 2024.

Don’t miss more updates, news and reviews of Holland America Line on Cruising Journal with photos, videos and cruise offers.

Marci DeWolf

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