The Shops, Effy Jewelry, and the Photo Shop

The Nieuw Amsterdam devotes a significant amount of square footage on Deck 3 (Promenade Deck) to its shopping venues. Let's face it, there are a great many folk who enjoy shopping as a participatory sport and I know some of us are among them.

You can buy a fairly wide selection of items in The Shops. In addition to the expected souvenirs and HAL-branded clothing, you'll also find a pretty reasonable selection of more general (non-Holland America branded) sportswear for both men and women, watches, jewelry, and perfume as well as a liquor store, a small sundries shop (for those little necessaries you forgot to pack), and photos taken by the ship's photographer plus assorted cameras and related photographic accessories. In addition, they have a separate, high-end luxury jewelry shop, Effy Jewelry.

And because we're at sea, and in international waters, everything sold on the ship is duty free. (Before you get too excited, keep in mind that you're a captive audience, and prices of everything sold in The Shops and Effy Jewelry reflects that fact. Also, remember that anything you bring back must be declared to Customs when you return to the U.S. I know. Bummer.)

Also be aware that nothing you buy in the liquor store will be available to you for consumption on the ship. HAL will hang on to it for you until it's time to debark the ship. After all, they don't want to cut into business at the bars!