Holland America Line is adding a specialty sushi bar to five ships in its fleet, expanding its existing partnership with chef Masaharu Morimoto, the cruise line's Global Fresh Fish Ambassador.
The Morimoto By Sea sushi bar will debut on Rotterdam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam and Eurodam between March and June 2025. Nieuw Amsterdam introduced the sushi bar alongside the Morimoto By Sea stand-alone restaurant in 2023.
The intimate dining venue will seat 12 guests at the bar on Rotterdam, Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam, with additional table seating in the surrounding space. Eurodam will feature a smaller counter for sushi preparation with nearby seating.
"With chef Morimoto's knowledge and expertise in the sushi world, it made sense for him to expand beyond his Morimoto By Sea restaurant and develop a specialized sushi bar featuring his signature style and flavors," said Michael Stendebach, vice president of food, beverage and rooms division for Holland America Line.
The menu will feature chef Morimoto's signature sushi, sashimi, rolls and smaller plates. Offerings include nigiri and sashimi selections with seasonal white fish, tuna, salmon, yellowtail and other varieties. The venue will also serve specialty rolls such as shrimp tempura, lobster tempura and aburi salmon.
Beyond traditional sushi items, the menu includes signature plates like tuna pizza with anchovy aioli, sticky ribs with hoisin sweet chili sauce, poke bowls and lobster pad Thai.
The sushi bar, which will replace the former Nami Sushi venue, will operate with an a la carte menu for an additional charge. Guests with existing bookings can make pre-cruise reservations or book once onboard.
The expansion is part of Holland America Line's Global Fresh Fish program, which sources locally caught fresh fish that goes from port to plate in under 48 hours, offering over 80 varieties from a worldwide network.
In addition to the new sushi bars, Holland America Line continues to feature chef Morimoto's floating restaurant concept as a stand-alone venue on Nieuw Amsterdam and as a pop-up experience at least once per cruise on the remainder of the fleet's ships.
Editor’s Note: This article was generated by AI, based on a press release distributed by Holland America Line. It was fact-checked and reviewed by a TravelAge West editor.
