If you're very interested in Spanish architecture and culture, this is a good cruise. It is a pity Ireland is not listed in future ones for this particular route.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Embarkation was fast. All staff was efficient and very pleasant and welcoming.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
The main dining room staff was amazing. The entrees we tried we're excellent and very well presented.
The buffets offered a very nice variety of dishes. High quality food.
Lemonade was wonderful.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
The Nieuw Statendam has 2 pools. The area surrounding them was kept well stocked. Unfortunately, this was also a smoking area.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
The BB King's Blues Club performers were superb. We attended three of their shows and they were all different.
At the World Stage they had The Roundaround Kids Rock Band. That was quite a surprise and a treat. Wish they were a permanent feature.
Children's Programs
Don't have any children.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Waiters and room stewards we're consistently friendly, professional and efficient. Everyone made us feel welcome.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Beautiful ship. It was constantly well maintained throughout the voyage.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
This aft verandah was good sized with plenty of storage space for my husband and I. We are light travelers though. Bed and pillows were very comfortable. Nice overall layout. Shower is outstanding. Beware though, if you are prone to sea sickness, you will feel the motion in this cabin more than in other areas of the ship. It was not an issue for us.
We enjoyed the old historic center. Made a point of learning how to use the very efficient public transportation system. The ticket kiosk staff were very helpful with this. Travelled to Utrecht to visit the DeHaar Castle: worth the trip.
The harbor town of Cobh is just magical. The people are so friendly and jolly. The cathedral is beautiful and on a very fortunate location. We took the train to Cork. That town had a gritty look in some spots but also worth a visit. Magnificent cathedral and great little pubs.
This was the only port where we felt unsafe in some areas. A pee smelling maze of streets. A map might not be enough to help you here. The Market Building is a very nice area.
Cádiz is clean, beautiful and easy to navigate with a map. Very walkable. Again, locals in the Spanish ports we visited were not as openly friendly as other countries, but not unfriendly.
We climbed this rock on foot. No cable car or taxi for us. It was quite an experience. The tunnels were interesting. Apes left us alone. The Irish Town was a nice area for a rest and people watching.
The port itself is not very remarkable but they do know how to get you on your way to Rome: free shuttle from ship, bus to train terminal, and train to Rome. Actually it was quite easy to figure out, the whole transfer less than €12.
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