Great Cruise but service lacked
Nieuw Statendam Cruise Review to Caribbean - Eastern
7 Night Eastern Caribbean (Ft. Lauderdale Roundtrip)
Sail date: November 19, 2022
Ship: Nieuw Statendam
Cabin type: Balcony
Cabin number: 4147
Traveled as: Couple
Reviewed: 2 years ago
Review summary
I'm sure it would have been a different experience if it wasn't during Thanksgiving, there was not near enough staff for a sold out cruise, every person we talked to said the same thing. If you don't want to be around kids, this is not the cruise to book during Thanksgiving or other holidays, in talking with other seasoned guests, they said there are not normally as many kids as there were. Book early for excursions and main dining room. If you choose the "Drink Package" it covers drinks up to $15, there is a 18% gratuity added to that and then there is a place to put an "additional tip" on a paper receipt every time you order a drink! Definitely noticed if you didn't tip over & above the 18%, the servers generally bypassed you. If you order a double, you will end up paying an extra cost. The food was okay, not fantastic other than in the specialty restaurant. The BB Kings All Star Band was fantastic, as well as the Dance Group in the World Stage. The cruise ship itself is really nice, it's modern, clean, easy to get around.Embarkation
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
Onboard Activities
Entertainment
Service and Staff
Ship Quality
Cabin / Stateroom
Ship tip
Be mindful of where you pick your cabin
Ports of call
Ft. Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida
Half Moon Cay, Bahamas (Private Island)