Just as the celebrity chefs fight it out on TV over who's the best, so it appears that Cruise lines are competing hard on dining options on board their ships. The bar just seems to keep going up and up, which is great for customers and for the whole cruise sector. Having just returned off Holland America's Nieuw Amsterdam luxury liner, I can confirm that their restaurants are right up there. The service is super slick, with attentive waiting staff without being intrusive. The fare in some of the speciality restaurants is nothing short of exceptional. Over a 3 day trip we tried three specialist restaurants, starting with the Canaletto which unsurprisingly features classic Italian food. The pasta was aldente, the antipasti a delight with softly roasted aubergines and grilled artichokes. Next up, Tamarind, a pan-Asian affair. The decor is amazing, you really feel like you're in the orient - and of course most of the waiters are Asian - adding to the authenticity. We has the most sumptuous dim sum, and fabulously fresh tempura, topped off with an exotic mix of spiced sauces. Finally the aptly named Pinnacle Grill. Gourmet grilled steaks, and succulent seafood kebabs delivered with panache, and washed down with a spectacular Californian Beringer Cab Sauv! Nieuw Amsterdam's raised the bar again for sure.