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Discover the eastern Caribbean and transit the iconic Panama Canal on this 21-night cruise from Florida, visiting stunning islands and historic ports
- Explore the natural beauty and colonial history of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Antigua, and Tortola
- Transit the legendary Panama Canal, a marvel of engineering
- Relax on the beaches and enjoy the vibrant culture of Aruba, Cartagena, and Grand Cayman
Trip Details
- Departs
- 12 March 2027
- Returns
- 2 April 2027
- Operator
- Holland America Line
21-night Caribbean cruise from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida aboard Nieuw Amsterdam.
Calling at Antigua, St. Thomas, Tortola, San Juan, RelaxAway Half Moon Cay, Aruba, Cartagena, Gatun Lake, Colon, Limon and Grand Cayman, with 8 days at sea.
Nieuw Amsterdam is a Holland America Line Signature-class ship that entered service in 2010, carrying around 2,100 guests. Her art collection celebrates New York City — the original Nieuw Amsterdam — alongside the line's hallmarks of spacious staterooms, the Greenhouse Spa and refined dining.
Stateroom categories range from Interior to Neptune Suite.
Departures & Pricing
- 12 Mar 2027 - 02 Apr 2027
from $4,039 pp twin share *
- Interior from $4,039 pp twin share
- Ocean View from $5,299 pp twin share
- Verandah from $6,319 pp twin share
- Signature Suite from $12,359 pp twin share
- Neptune Suite from $15,899 pp twin share
* Prices and category availability are subject to change without notice.
Upgrades, transfers, accommodation and more can be quoted on enquiry — call 1300 414 198.
Nieuw Amsterdam
Nieuw Amsterdam is a Holland America Line Signature-class ship that entered service in 2010, carrying around 2,100 guests. Her art collection celebrates New York City — the original Nieuw Amsterdam — alongside the line's hallmarks of spacious staterooms, the Greenhouse Spa and refined dining.
- Guests
- 2,106
- Crew
- 929
- Gross tonnage
- 86,700
- Speed
- 23.9 knots
- Length
- 285.3 m
- Launched
- 2009
- Deck plans
- 12
Deck 12 — Sun Deck
Source: Holland America Line, captured 5 August 2026. Deck plans are provided by the cruise line and are subject to change at any time.
Itinerary
- 1
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Departs 04:00 pm.
According to the popular 1960 beach movie, Fort Lauderdale is "where the boys are." The city's reputation as America's Spring Break capital, however, has been replaced with the more favorable image of a prime family tourist destination, attracting more than 10 million visitors annually. The most popular beach resort in Florida is even more rightly famed as the "Yachting Capital of the World," with more than 40,000 registered crafts calling its waters home. The city also prides itself on being the "Venice of America" with more than 300 miles of navigable waterways. Fort Lauderdale boasts world-class theaters, museums, sightseeing, and shopping. The city sits 24 miles north of Miami and is named after a series of forts built by the United States during the second Seminole War. The forts took their name from Major William Lauderdale, who was the commander of the detachment of soldiers who built the first fort. Look hard and you might find remnants of three of them today. More people seem to be interested in taking a water tour aboard the "Carrie B."
- 2
At Sea
- 3
At Sea
- 4
Antigua
Arrives 09:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.
The largest of the British Leeward Islands, Antigua (pronounced an-tee-ga) boasts one of the Caribbean's most spectacular coastlines with secluded coves and sun drenched beaches. The island's rolling hills are dotted with stone sugar mills, relics from the bygone era when sugar was king. Historic Nelson's Dockyard, where Admiral Horatio Nelson quartered his fleet in 1784, attests to Antigua's long and colorful nautical history during colonial times. And St. John's, the island's bustling capital, offers visitors a wealth of boutiques, restaurants and pubs.
- 5
St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
Arrives 08:00 am, departs 11:00 pm.
The US Virgin Islands are America's paradise, offering an easygoing blend of island ways and American practicality. St. Thomas, capital of the island group, offers every imaginable sport: snorkeling, golfing, hiking, and sailing. Just a few miles away lay St. John and Virgin Islands National Park. Stunning mountain scenery, crystalline waters, and white-sand beaches with palms swaying in the breeze - the US Virgin Islands are truly a slice of paradise. The harbor is easily one of the Caribbean's most scenic. The United States purchased the Virgin Islands from Denmark for $25 million in gold. St. Thomas has a reputation as a duty free-mecca for shopping.
- 6
Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.
Once known as a hideaway for pirates and freebooters, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) are today a lure for sun worshippers and yachtsmen alike. Constant trade winds along the Sir Francis Drake Channel make for ideal sailing conditions, while the secluded beaches, incredible vistas, and friendly inhabitants make the islands a wonderful place to visit. Tortola, the largest island in the BVI, is home to Road Town, the islands' capital. Browse the many small shops, enjoy a drink at a harbor café, or simply relax on the spectacular beach at Cane Garden Bay. The island's mountainous terrain makes for fabulous views. On a clear day, you can glimpse the U.S. Virgin Islands. For a real treat, take a ferry across the channel to Virgin Gorda, home of the famous Baths. At this unique beach, gigantic boulders create secluded coves and form picturesque grottos.
- 7
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Arrives 08:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.
The oldest city under the American flag, San Juan vibrates to a lively salsa beat. There's an unmistakable zest in the air here. Perhaps it's the stunning natural setting: the verdant peaks, tropical forests, and gleaming white-sand beaches. Or maybe it's Puerto Rico's mix of cultures, the blend and occasional clash of four centuries of Spanish heritage overlaid with a century spent as America's only Commonwealth. Whatever the reason, San Juan is one of the most enticing ports in the Caribbean, and it only gets lovelier with age.
- 8
At Sea
- 9
RelaxAway Half Moon Cay, Bahamas
Arrives 08:00 am, departs 03:00 pm.
- 10
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Arrives 07:00 am, departs 04:00 pm.
According to the popular 1960 beach movie, Fort Lauderdale is "where the boys are." The city's reputation as America's Spring Break capital, however, has been replaced with the more favorable image of a prime family tourist destination, attracting more than 10 million visitors annually. The most popular beach resort in Florida is even more rightly famed as the "Yachting Capital of the World," with more than 40,000 registered crafts calling its waters home. The city also prides itself on being the "Venice of America" with more than 300 miles of navigable waterways. Fort Lauderdale boasts world-class theaters, museums, sightseeing, and shopping. The city sits 24 miles north of Miami and is named after a series of forts built by the United States during the second Seminole War. The forts took their name from Major William Lauderdale, who was the commander of the detachment of soldiers who built the first fort. Look hard and you might find remnants of three of them today. More people seem to be interested in taking a water tour aboard the "Carrie B."
- 11
RelaxAway Half Moon Cay, Bahamas
Arrives 08:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.
- 12
At Sea
- 13
At Sea
- 14
Aruba
Arrives 08:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.
Dutch influence still lingers on this balmy Caribbean island, part of the former Netherlands Antilles until its independence in 1986. Aruba is a contrast: the island's arid interior is dotted with cactus and windswept divi-divi trees while secluded coves and sandy beaches make up its coast. Aruba's long and colorful heritage is reflected in its dialect. Called Papiamento, it is a tongue that combines elements of Spanish, French, Portuguese, Dutch, African and English.
- 15
At Sea
- 16
Cartagena, Colombia
Arrives 07:00 am, departs 02:00 pm.
One of the more interesting cities on your itinerary steeped in history. This was the transit port for all the wealth Spain derived from South America. The famous "Old City" is comprised of 12 square blocks filled with attractions, boutiques and restaurants. Throughout Colombia, the Spanish Empire's influence in the New World is self-evident. Its fortress walls, quaint narrow streets, and balconied houses are all vivid reminders of Spain's hold on Cartagena and throughout the Caribbean and South America. This is the land of El Dorado and flamboyant adventurers in search of the ever-elusive gold. Cartagena's well-constructed fortifications defended its borders against seafaring pirates whose attacks lasted for more than 200 years. Today this modern and bustling city, seaport, and commercial center still boasts much of its original colonial architecture. Your journey here will provide you with a significant link to the region's grand past.**Please note that passengers may encounter numerous local vendors at various tourist locations and may find them to be persistent in their sales offers.
- 17
Enter Panama Canal Cristobal
Arrives 06:00 am, departs 07:00 am.
- 17
Cruising Panama Canal and Gatun Lake
- 17
Gatun Lake, Panama
Arrives 11:00 am, departs 11:00 am.
- 17
Cruising Gatun Lake and Panama Canal
- 17
Exit Panama Canal Cristobal
Arrives 02:00 pm, departs 03:00 pm.
- 17
Colon, Panama
Arrives 05:00 pm, departs 09:00 pm.
- 18
Limon, Costa Rica
Arrives 07:30 am, departs 04:30 pm.
Costa Rica's Limon Province boasts a lush tropical climate, sprawling banana plantations and dense rainforest. These Caribbean lowlands are still sparsely populated -- nearly a third of the province's population lives around Puerto Limon--and conservation efforts have led to growing eco-tourism. Limon Province offers other charms as well. Afro-Caribbean influences abound, from the lilting speech and reggae rhythms brought by Jamaican settlers to the colorful bungalows lining small fishing villages. Limon is a zesty little slice of heaven.
- 19
At Sea
- 20
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Arrives 07:00 am, departs 04:00 pm.
When Columbus made his landfall in the Caymans in 1503, he found tortoises and sea turtles in such profusion that he promptly named the islands Las Tortugas. But the name that stuck for the islands was the Carib word "Caimanas." Fitting, since the caiman is a New World crocodilian and the islands were long the lair of pirates, buccaneers, and assorted freebooters. Despite their past, the Caymans are a Caribbean demi-paradise of white-sand beaches, coral gardens, and offshore waters harboring spectacular shipwrecks. Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman also boast the highest standard of living in the entire Caribbean. This union of natural beauty and cosmopolitan style makes Grand Cayman a spectacular port of call for today's adventurers. Note: Grand Cayman is an anchorage port. Passengers transfer to shore via ship's tender. In certain sea conditions, an alternate pier is used to transfer passengers ashore. This may cause tour durations to vary.
- 21
At Sea
- 22
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Arrives 07:00 am.
According to the popular 1960 beach movie, Fort Lauderdale is "where the boys are." The city's reputation as America's Spring Break capital, however, has been replaced with the more favorable image of a prime family tourist destination, attracting more than 10 million visitors annually. The most popular beach resort in Florida is even more rightly famed as the "Yachting Capital of the World," with more than 40,000 registered crafts calling its waters home. The city also prides itself on being the "Venice of America" with more than 300 miles of navigable waterways. Fort Lauderdale boasts world-class theaters, museums, sightseeing, and shopping. The city sits 24 miles north of Miami and is named after a series of forts built by the United States during the second Seminole War. The forts took their name from Major William Lauderdale, who was the commander of the detachment of soldiers who built the first fort. Look hard and you might find remnants of three of them today. More people seem to be interested in taking a water tour aboard the "Carrie B."
Inclusions & exclusions
What’s included
- Dining in the main Dining Room and casual venues
- Live music venues and nightly entertainment
- Fitness centre and swimming pools
- Enrichment programme and port talks
Accommodation
Nieuw Amsterdam is a Holland America Line Signature-class ship that entered service in 2010, carrying around 2,100 guests. Her art collection celebrates New York City — the original Nieuw Amsterdam — alongside the line's hallmarks of spacious staterooms, the Greenhouse Spa and refined dining.
Stateroom categories available on this sailing: Neptune Suite, Signature Suite, Verandah, Ocean View and Interior.
Common questions about this voyage
How long is this journey?
When can I travel?
What is generally included?
What style of accommodation is used?
Book this cruise
Send us an enquiry and a consultant will be in touch, or call 1300 414 198 for personal help choosing a departure.
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