Overall a wonderful experience, and a great new addition to Holland America’s fleet.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Embarkation was a breeze once we arrived at the terminal. Traffic around the Fort Lauderdale Cruise port on embarkation and disembarkation can be a disaster. With 8 ships in port that day we waited on our Transfer bus for well over an hour but once we arrived at the terminal things went very quick.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
We had a wonderful table and wait staff in the main dining room at the late seating. The dining room is a departure from Holland's previous ships being open and airy with bright colors and Murano glass globes throughout it is a lovely venue. The food we found to be excellent with many choices each night. The portions seemed to be smaller which in our opinion was a good thing. Desserts were simply decadent. We probably ate 50% of the time in the main dining room as we ate at the Pinnacle Grill, the Tamarind and Sel de Mar and when we discovered Club Orange for Suites guests we became regulars there. Although maybe not as pleasing esthetically the service, chef and food (prepared ala carte) was magnificent. We cannot say enough good things about Club Orange for Suite Guests you must avail yourself of this suites dining option. The people there literally became our family for the 28 days we were aboard. Kudos to Holland for this innovation and addition. Highest of praise to the staff in Club Orange. Led by Ady and Sharee, Lilis, Anne, Ardika, Arya, and Sukoso provided outstanding service. Christina the Club Orange Wine Steward was outstanding. Nela and Renato the two chefs were superb and cooking up some absolutely fabulous specials (each night they had one) our favorites were the Lemon Shrimp and Veal Chop...…..Wow!!!
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
There was not a great deal to do on board during this crossing. There were a couple of interesting speakers and America's test kitchen was excellent but after those two hours each day was pretty much and entertain yourself cruise. The thermal spa was very nice, clean and new but they had problems regulating temperatures in the hydro-pool and in the sauna's. We were given a gift of a private Cabana on Deck 12 and for the first 14 days in the Caribbean we lived up there. Services were wonderful and the views from atop the ship were spectacular. Its a very nice addition. However when we found what it costs per day while in port or when at sea this would only be something we would avail ourselves of on rare occasions.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
The arrangement with the Lincoln Center in our opinion has reduced the entertainment to nothing special. The Dance troupe although talented and energetic did the same two shows all four weeks we were on board, so once we saw them the first week we were disappointed that the dance, stories did not change during the next 4 weeks. The comedians and mentalist were mediocre at best in our opinion and the vocalists brought aboard sang or produced music much more to today's young adults rather than the tunes most 50's, 60's and 70 year old's relate to or recognize. The standard entertainment in the "Music Walk" was good to excellent. BB King's was outstanding and packed every night they had shows. It was almost impossible to get a seat in the BB King Lounge when they were on. The Rolling Stones band were talented and got things rocking but they were extremely loud sometimes to much so. The dueling Piano's in Billboard on Board were talented and entertaining. The Lincoln Center Quartet were excellent but not well promoted which we found sad. If you weren't into any of these four, the cruise at night would have been boring.
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
Room Steward's, Table Staff in the Main Dinning Room, in Club Orange and in the Tamarind were absolutely some of the finest we have ever had on Holland. Being 5 Star Mariner's and Silver Medallion holders we've been on quite a few Holland ships and these folks were the absolute best. Service in the Pinnacle Grill was very much a mixed bag. We dined there 3 times had one truly wonderful experience and two not so much so, slow service, lack of service the other two times caused to cancel our 4th night. We dined in the Canaletto once and it was excellent and the food was wonderful. A hint you may want to order Half Portions in Canaletto if you want to leave feeling comfortable. We dined in the Tamarind 3 times during our 4 weeks and it was excellent each time, although the menu becomes somewhat limited when dining there that frequently it still was a celebration each time we dined there and the staff there tried to make every request come true, they acted as though they really and truly appreciated our dining with them.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Although a departure from Holland's traditional old world ship styling the open, airy, bright, artsy style of Nieuw Statendam is very appealing. It's pleasing to the eye and provided easy access to most areas of the ship. The dining areas were clean and welcoming and the EXC Lounge on deck 12 was a nice new addition were you could find out more about your voyage, ports of call and progress on our journey. Our only criticism which is a minor one is that at busy time elevators were hard to come by another bank of elevator's would make things easier.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
We had to switch cabins between the first 14 day segment in the Caribbean and the 2nd 14 day Transatlantic Crossing. We were in 7077 the first 14 days and 7076 the second 14 days. Both cabins were excellent, well appointment and provided access to the Neptune Suite, the Concierge's and the Club Orange for Breakfast and dinner. Our stateroom stewards Komar & Nyoman were two of the very best we have ever had. Friendly, accomodating, eager to please and prompt to respond to our requests, they made our voyage wonderful.
Ship tip
Lunch at the New York Grill is great and away from the hustle and bustle of other restuarants. If your going to shows or presentations get there early in many of the shows, talks, and demonstrations people ended up sitting on the steps or standing along the walls !
We have been to Ponta Delgada a number of times. We find the scenary wonderful but the people to be warm, friendly, optimistic and hardworking. The old world Architecture is nice but the scenary up in the clouds is breath taking.
I visited Normandy, the Overlord Museum, Omaha Beach and the American cemetary. If your history buff then this is your cup of tea from William the Conqueror to World War this area of France oozes history. Walking the beach at Omaha and looking up at those bluffs above I marvel at what was accomplished that day June 6, 1944. The walk though the Cemetary and the associated monument to those who gave their lives in Liberating France and Europe was both emotional and humbling. When the National athem tolled out across the cemetary from the bell tower, I did shed a tear and when taps followed I gained alittle understanding of how revered those heros who made the ultimate sacrafice are still revered in this part of France. ( Every telephone pole and every electrical pole and street lamp has a picture of an American, British, or Canadian soldier, nurse, pilot, seaman stating "Our Hero". It's quite wonderful and appropriate I think.
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