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Holland America Line

Holland America Line features 31 CruiseTour itineraries in 2023 exploring Alaska and the Yukon Territory. More Info >>

For lovers of fine art and antiques, the multi-million dollar art collection onboard the luxurious ms Amsterdam can be enough to seal the deal to book this particular ship for an Alaska cruise. This beautiful ship truly is a floating museum, with magnificent art everywhere, including wonderful paintings by the celebrated Bermuda maritime artist, Stephen Card. And the ms Amsterdam Atrium is its crowning glory, soaring three decks high. This is the front office and reception area for the ship, and it resembles the grand lobby of an elegant turn of the century European hotel.

The centerpiece of the ms Amsterdam Atrium is its magnificent and stunning astrolabe, an ancient celestial clock with four faces: the astrolabe itself, a planetarium, the world time, and an astrological clock. An astrolabe was used by classical astronomers, mariners, and astrologists to chart the paths of the sun, moon, stars, and planets. In the medieval Islamic world, it was also used to calculate the qibla, the direction of Mecca, which one is required to face during the five daily prayers. We would spend time here just to admire this gorgeous golden work of art, and it was the always the place where we would meet after we'd spent the day enjoying separate activities.

It is fitting that the ms Amsterdam Atrium has the ship's art gallery within it. This is also the location of the shore excursions office, where you can book your wildlife tours and get other information on the ports of call, and the photographic shop. Just off the Atrium are a wine tasting bar, gourmet shops, and the Wajang Theater and Culinary Arts Center. On the same deck (Promenade - Deck 4) you will also find one of the main dining rooms, the elegant Pinnacle Grill, and the Queen Lounge showroom.