Holland America Line’s largest ships are those in its Pinnacle class — MS Rotterdam, MS Nieuw Statendam and MS Koningsdam — while its smallest ship is the MS Volendam.
As is the case with so many cruise lines, Holland America’s largest vessels are its newest, and its smallest ships are its oldest, and so there’s a big difference between them, beyond mere size.
Here’s what you need to know if you’re thinking of booking a cruise on any of the 11 Holland America cruise ships.
In This Article:
MS Rotterdam
Holland America Line’s three newest ships, all in the Pinnacle class, tie for being the largest ships in the fleet. The ships in the Pinnacle class overall are about 15% larger than the ships in the cruise line’s Signature class.
The Pinnacle class ships include MS Rotterdam, MS Nieuw Statendam and MS Koningsdam, with MS Rotterdam, which debuted in 2021, being the newest of the three.
However, don’t let this fact convince you that the Pinnacle-class ships are big by today’s standards. When you look at the cold, hard numbers, Holland America Line’s biggest ships are still less than half the size of the largest cruise ships in the world by gross tonnage, and about a third the size of the largest cruise ships in the world by passenger capacity.
You may view this as a pro or a con, depending on the type of cruiser you are. Some cruisers prefer smaller ships, with fewer people, even if it means giving up some amenities. Other cruisers, though, want as much fun as possible, and as many options as possible, and they don’t care about crowds.
MS Rotterdam features 14 dining options, six bars and lounges, and a two-deck Lido Pool with a retractable magro-dome roof.
- Gross Tonnage: 99,863
- Length: 975 feet
- Width: 114.8 feet
- Passenger Capacity: 2,668
- Crew Capacity: 1,025
- Entered Service: 2021
MS Nieuw Statendam
The middle Pinnacle-class ship, MS Nieuw Statendam is pretty much identical to MS Rotterdam. Beyond being the same size by GT, they have the same number staterooms (1,339). They have the same restaurants. They have the same theaters and Holland America’s signature entertainment venues.
The few places where they differ? Holland America reports that MS Nieuw Statendam can hold just a few more passengers than MS Rotterdam, despite the ships’ equal size and number of staterooms.
Additionally, while the two ships have the same number of bars and lounges, MS Nieuw Statendam has the Taste venue, whereas MS Rotterdam has the Half Moon Bar. Likewise, Nieuw Statendam has an art studio and MS Rotterdam does not.
- Gross Tonnage: 99,863
- Length: 975 feet
- Width: 114.8 feet
- Passenger Capacity: 2,692
- Crew Capacity: 1,025
- Entered Service: 2018
MS Koningsdam
The very first Pinnacle class ship, when MS Koningsdam initially debuted, it was a pretty big deal. After all, as mentioned, the Pinnacle class was significantly larger than any of the other Holland America Line ships to come before them. That means that these ships introduced new venues and experiences previously unseen on the cruise line.
Though the exact same gross tonnage, length and width as its Pinnacle class sister ships, MS Koningsdam does carry fewer passengers, at 2,650 people, and it has just a handful fewer staterooms (1,331 to the other ships’ 1,339). Still, MS Koningsdam has a handful more crew members (1,036 to the other ships’ 1,025).
These differences, however, are so minute that you won’t notice them.
- Gross Tonnage: 99,863
- Length: 975 feet
- Width: 114.8 feet
- Passenger Capacity: 2,650
- Crew Capacity: 1,036
- Entered Service: 2016
MS Nieuw Amsterdam
The fourth Signature-class ship, MS Nieuw Amsterdam is approximately 15% smaller than the Pinnacle class ships, give or take. As such, it can hold about 500 fewer passengers and a couple of hundred fewer crew members.
The ship debuted in 2010 and received refurbishments in 2023. This refurbishment only really added one new space, but it’s one that you won’t find anywhere else, on any other ship in the Holland America Line fleet: Morimoto by Sea, a restaurant crafted in partnership with celebrity Chef Masaharu Morimoto.
Otherwise, the refurbishment focused on updating aspects of a ship that get a lot of wear and tear, such as carpeting and curtains.
- Gross Tonnage: 86,700
- Length: 936 feet
- Width: 105.8 feet
- Passenger Capacity: 2,106
- Crew Capacity: 874
- Entered Service: 2010
MS Eurodam
MS Eurodam is only very slightly smaller than MS Nieuw Amsterdam, at 86,273 gross tons, so about 400 GT less. The two otherwise are very similar, as they’re the only two ships in the Signature class.
MS Eurodam was refurbished and updated in the 2010s, so not long at all after it debuted. This refurbishment added a Gallery Bar, and made updates to cosmetic features like carpet and furniture, as needed.
- Gross Tonnage: 86,273
- Length: 936 feet
- Width: 105.8 feet
- Passenger Capacity: 2,104
- Crew Capacity: 876
- Entered Service: 2008
MS Noordam
Just a bit smaller, MS Noordam is a member of the Vista class. The Vista class was the Signature class’s predecessor, and there aren’t a huge amount of differences between the two classes, except for size.
MS Noordam is considered quite small by modern cruise ship standards, but the ship still features six restaurants, five bars and lounges, six entertainment venues and public spaces such as a casino and pickleball courts.
- Gross Tonnage: 82,318
- Length: 936 feet
- Width: 105.8 feet
- Passenger Capacity: 1,924
- Crew Capacity: 811
- Entered Service: 2006
MS Westerdam
Another member of the Vista class, MS Westerdam continues the trend of being just ever-so-slightly smaller than its newer sister ships. It weighs in at about 13 GT less than MS Noordam — such a small amount that you won’t even be able to tell. The ship also carries about eight fewer passengers, technically.
Interestingly enough, MS Westerdam does offer two dining experiences that MS Noordam does not: Tamarind and the Morimoto by Sea pop-up (not to be confused with the Morimoto by Sea restaurant that can only be found on Nieuw Amsterdam). It also features the Gallery Bar, which is not on MS Noordam.
- Gross Tonnage: 82,305
- Length: 936 feet
- Width: 105.8 feet
- Passenger Capacity: 1,916
- Crew Capacity: 812
- Entered Service: 2004
MS Oosterdam
MS Oosterdam entered service just a year before MS Westerdam, and the two sister ships are pretty similar. In fact, MS Oosterdam, MS Westerdam, and the older MS Zuiderdam all tie for size, with the same gross tonnage.
MS Oosterdam underwent a dry dock in April 2025. Refurbishments focused in on making the ship more accessible per ADA standards. The spa was overhauled.
The casino was expanded, as was seating around the Lido Pool (removing the ship’s taco bar in the process). Many other spaces also received cosmetic enhancements through decisions like replacing carpeting.
- Gross Tonnage: 82,305
- Length: 936 feet
- Width: 105.8 feet
- Passenger Capacity: 1,964
- Crew Capacity: 812
- Entered Service: 2003
MS Zuiderdam
As mentioned, MS Zuiderdam is equal in size to sister ships MS Oosterdam and MS Westerdam. MS Zuiderdam was the first ship in the Vista class. It’s been refurbished throughout its lifetime and is known in part for its large ratio of ocean view and balcony staterooms to interior rooms.
MS Zuiderdam’s last refurbishment was in 2017, but since MS Oosterdam underwent a dry dock much more recently, there’s hope that perhaps MS Zuiderdam will be brought up to current standards soon as well.
- Gross Tonnage: 82,305
- Length: 936 feet
- Width: 105.8 feet
- Passenger Capacity: 1,988
- Crew Capacity: 812
- Entered Service: 2002
MS Zaandam
When looking at Rotterdam-class member MS Zaandam, and contrasting the ship against MS Zuiderdam, there’s a stark difference in size. MS Zaandam is about 20,000 GT smaller and about 150 feet shorter, and carries about 500 fewer people and 200 fewer crew members.
MS Zaandam has eight dining experiences, five bars and lounges, three entertainment venues, a casino, game room, kids club, pickleball courts and more.
- Gross Tonnage: 61,396
- Length: 781 feet
- Width: 105.8 feet
- Passenger Capacity: 1,432
- Crew Capacity: 604
- Entered Service: 2000
MS Volendam
MS Voldendam is both the smallest and the oldest ship in the current Holland America fleet. It’s pretty close in size to MS Zaandam, but it’s still clenched the honor of “smallest ship” by weighing in at a few hundred GT less.
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When you compare this smallest ship to the largest ship in the fleet, MS Rotterdam, the difference equates to approximately a 40% reduction in size.
Still, for only fitting around 1,400 people at max, this ship manages to give you lots of options, including eight restaurants, five bars and lounges, a casino, pool, spa and pickleball courts.
- Gross Tonnage: 61,214
- Length: 781 feet
- Width: 105.8 feet
- Passenger Capacity: 1,432
- Crew Capacity: 604
- Entered Service: 1999
