A beautiful ship but mixed service levels
Nieuw Statendam Cruise Review
10 Night Newfoundland & New England Discovery (Quebec To Boston)
Sail date: September 07, 2022
Ship: Nieuw Statendam
Cabin type: Oceanview
Cabin number: 4038
Traveled as: Singles/Friends
Reviewed: 1 year ago
Review summary
This was my second cruise with Holland America and most likely my last. The food was good for a cruise (on par with its competitors), however, the service was rather poor. The pricing for this itinerary was more than competitive brands and had many disappointing moments. A beautiful ship, but, it was over crowded with long lines constantly and the poor dining service made for a disappointing vacation.Embarkation
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
The Dining Room
Terrible, slow service. The food was average for a cruise ship. Dressy nights menu was lacking the expected staples like lobster. The guests at the table would ask for something (refill, a glass of wine, etc.) and it might take an hour for a waiter to get back. I will not plan on booking another Holland cruise because of this venue.
Tamarind
I liked what I had, however, my mom who was also traveling with me had an allergy to onion. They could not accommodate her very well and even the few selections that were supposed to be safe, she still had issues with her allergy.
Explorations Cafe
Great for the morning coffee or an afternoon drink.
Rudi's Sel de Mer
The best place on the ship to eat, and, also it had the best service. We ate here multiple times and look forward to visiting again some day if we change our minds and decide to cruise with Holland again.
Pinnacle Grill
The food was great however we had a bad server. Overall slow service, could not explain the menu items, didn’t note a allergy and that caused issues. It is a busy spot and reservations fill up fast.
Lido Market
Great for breakfast. The dinner menu did not appeal to me but others liked it.
Canaletto Restaurant
The food was good and the service was excellent.
Dive In at the Terrace Grill
Great hot dogs.
Grand Dutch Cafe
Great staff and food. Very unique options and a hidden gem.
Onboard Activities
Entertainment
BBC Earth in Concert
This is a great show, it really showcases the world stage.
B.B. King's Blues Club
My favorite spot on board!
Service and Staff
Ship Quality
Cabin / Stateroom
Ship tip
Go to Rudi’s Sel De Mar. On nights with two shows in the World Stage, the earlier show would be very crowded, so arrive early to get a seat. Some people were sitting in the aisles. Alternatively go to the second show time and it’s about half full. Expect dining to take up half the night, very slow service at the restaurants. People said to eat at 5:00 as soon as they opened so you could see the other entertainment.
Ports of call
Disembarkation
Traveler Photos
