Good value for the money, but a rough start and rough ending to the cruise
Embarkation
3 out of 5
We took an Uber to the cruise terminal and we were dropped off next to a Holland America ship. We dropped off our luggage and got on a very long line. As we finally approached the entrance to the terminal we realized that the driver ha dropped us off at the wrong ship. Even more disappointing was the fact that our luggage, which was tagged, was accepted for delivery to the wrong ship. After some anxious minutes a supervisor was able to retrieve our luggage before it got on the wrong ship. Then we had to drag the luggage through a parking garage and over to the Nieuw Statendam. The staff at check in could have been more pleasant.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
Quality of food and service was very good. My only complaint was the breakfast menu in the Main dining room never changed--the exact same selections every day.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
We used the Lido pool and hot tubs. It tended to be crowded with lots of chairs occupied only by towels. The ship does have a promenade deck that circles the entire ship (3 laps = 1 mile) so we were able to get our walks in without feeling like hamsters.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
We attended the World Stage shows twice. Both times it was to see a comedian. Both were excellent. There was plenty of comfortable seating.
The BB King Blues Club is a Motown Club. The same group did the same sets three times a night for the entire cruise. The Rolling Stones club also had the same band playing the same set three times a night for the entire cruise.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Room stewards were excellent and all the wait staff provided quality service.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Ship is new so everything is in tip top shape.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Cabin was as advertised. The bed was very comfortable and the bathroom has a shower that is bigger than a phone booth--you can actually turn around and move in the shower!
Area near the ship is filled with the usual tourist trap jewelry stores, T Shirt shops, etc. We booked an excursion to a nearby (30 minute drive) and went on a hike to a waterfall. There is a ladder there that you can use to climb up and then slide down into the water below.
Very colorful and nice to walk around and shop, drink, and dine. We also booked an eco-tour which meant that we bounced around in the bed of a 4 wheel drive pickup truck as we toured the rugged north shore of the island--lots of waves crashing into the rocky coast and very scenic. Take the tour only if you don't have any have back issues
We were there on a Sunday, and Aruba is pretty much closed down on Sunday. We did go sailing and snorkeling on a Catamaran. However, we needed to take a cab to the departure point (which we were not told about when we booked this excursion prior to cruise departure). The cost of the cab ride was $19 each way which should have been discloded upfront-buyer beware!
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