Holland America Line is adding a new two-story bar called Bar 1873 to its ship Oosterdam. The cruise line built the space around one ceremony from its own past, and a Dutch queen played the lead role.
Queen Juliana of the Netherlands christened the ship Rotterdam V in 1958. Oosterdam’s Bar 1873 interprets that story through its artwork and design under the theme May She Be Blessed, honoring ship christenings and the godmothers who helped launch generations of Holland America ships. Each ship in the Holland America Evolution program will get its own version of Bar 1873, each drawing on a different piece of the company’s history.
A 6-Ship Update Starts With Oosterdam
Bar 1873 is part of a six-ship fleet update that Holland America Line calls the largest in its 153-year history. Oosterdam goes first, and the updated ship starts sailing in fall 2027. “On Oosterdam, we’ve taken an important part of our history and transformed it into a completely new venue,” said Beth Bodensteiner, president of Holland America Line.
A Glowing Tulip Rises Above the Atrium
London-based firm SMC designed Bar 1873 with Holland America. A 3-meter (about 10-foot) illuminated tulip sculpture rises above Oosterdam’s central atrium on Deck 2, drawing on the Netherlands’ national flower and the cruise line’s signature orange tulip. More than 200 heritage and repurposed objects surround the tulip, along with custom artwork and a visual timeline of the company’s history.
The bar’s centerpiece rug borrows its design from a clock in the main dining room of SS Rotterdam. The lounge’s grand fireplace takes its cue from the cruise line’s original headquarters in Rotterdam, a building that now operates as Hotel New York.
A Cocktail Named for a Ship’s Blessing
May She Be Blessed, the bar’s signature drink, takes its name from the blessing a ship traditionally receives before it enters service. Guests pick an essence to personalize their drink. The rest of the menu mixes modern takes on classic cocktails with original drinks tied to the stories behind each Bar 1873.
Live piano is the centerpiece of the entertainment during pre-dinner cocktail hours and through the evening. Vocalists and Holland America’s Vivace musicians also make select appearances.
Crow’s Nest Adds More Live Music
Oosterdam’s Crow’s Nest, the lounge with panoramic ocean views, is getting more live entertainment as part of the same update. By day, the space hosts activities and enrichment programs. At night, it switches to live music, with sets covering songs from the 1970s through today.
Check the Carpets at Bar 1873
Holland America Line is already taking bookings for Oosterdam’s updated sailings, along with spring 2028 cruises on Zuiderdam. On an Oosterdam sailing, save a minute at Bar 1873 for the floor, not just the glowing tulip overhead. The carpets take their pattern from the way light moves across the ocean.