A sushi counter on a cruise ship is one thing. A full menu overhaul from Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto is another. Holland America Line just refreshed its Morimoto by Sea menu, and the timing isn’t random.
Chef Morimoto joins guests at sea in 2027, so this new menu gives fans a preview of what’s coming. He’s a familiar name from “Iron Chef Japan,” and his partnership with Holland America keeps growing.
Morimoto by Sea is a standalone restaurant on Nieuw Amsterdam. On the rest of the fleet, it shows up as a pop-up, so cruisers can get a taste of his cooking either way.
A Fleet-Wide Rollout Begins This Fall
The refreshed menu starts rolling out this fall, beginning aboard Nieuw Amsterdam. Holland America expects it on all 11 ships by mid-November.
Travelers sailing later this year should find the new menu no matter which ship they pick.
What’s New On The Menu
The specialty dining lineup starts with Chef Morimoto’s Shokupan Bread Service, his take on soft, slightly sweet Japanese milk bread.
New starters include:
- Popcorn Shrimp with Morimoto-style gochujang.
- Vegetable Wonton in Asian sesame garlic chili sauce.
- Lobster Miso Soup in a white miso broth.
New mains include:
- Tan Tan Noodles in a red curry broth with miso-infused ground chicken.
- Miso Lamb Chop with kombu-braised daikon and gochujang-infused lamb jus.
- Butter Poached Lobster Tail with warm yuzu butter.
Returning favorites are sticking around too, including Pork Gyoza, Taco Two Ways, Sticky Ribs, Japanese Curry and Morimoto Buri-Bop, the dish that made him famous on “Iron Chef Japan.” An updated Morimoto Sushi Mori rounds things out, with Morimoto picking the sushi assortment himself based on his pop-up dinners.
Morimoto Is Sailing To Alaska In 2027
Morimoto’s connection to Holland America goes beyond the menu. He’s the line’s Global Fresh Fish Ambassador, championing the onboard seafood program.
He’ll bring that role to life in person when he joins Nieuw Amsterdam’s May 8 sailing, an eight-day round-trip cruise to Alaska from Vancouver. Guests on his 2026 Grand World Voyage stint got intimate dinners, a live cooking demo and Japanese cuisine trivia with him, so his Alaska sailing should offer something similar.
The new Morimoto by Sea menu is already showing up in Holland America’s dining rooms this fall, and it should reach every ship by November. The chef himself joins the fun in May 2027, sailing to Alaska aboard Nieuw Amsterdam.