Good first experience, but catered towards older demographic

Item: Nieuw Statendam
Rating: 3.7
Author: eg450

Nieuw Statendam Cruise Review to Caribbean - Eastern

eg450

Contributor Level: Deck Hand

Cruises: 1 cruise (first)

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 10

Overall rating:

3.7 out of 5

Verified Review

11 Night Explorer Holiday (Ft. Lauderdale Roundtrip)

Sail date: December 27, 2023

Ship: Nieuw Statendam

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 6024

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 4 months ago

Review summary

Overall a good first experience, but HAL definitely caters towards an older demographic, which may not work best for everyone. Their brand identity is pretty locked-in, and I did not get a sense that they are looking to change anything about it. The response from their officers and crew about any suggestions for improvement was pretty much what you see is what you get, and they have been doing it this way for past 150 years, etc. So make sure you understand what you are getting yourself into before booking.

Embarkation

3 out of 5

Port Everglades was very easy to get in and out of, but the porters broke my luggage, suggest handling your own luggage if possible

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

4 out of 5

Specialty restaurants, room service, and main dining room were amazing, both food and service. However, the buffet was not good. The food got cold quickly, and generally it felt like the food was either soggy or not fresh. All the food also was cooked with no salt, so it tasted bland unless you add salt and pepper yourself.

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

Generally the activities were catered towards older demographic, so nothing too strenuous, and almost everything was over by midnight. Pools were nice, but wish the aft pool was designated as adults only. Fitness center, sauna and thermal suite was probably the best part of the ship. Casino was terrible, the staff were super rude. I wish they had kept one of the outdoor bars open later in the evening.

Entertainment

3 out of 5

BB King, Rolling Stones and Billboard were great. World stage was hit or miss. Generally the music was catered towards older demographic, and lacked in variety. After a while, it was a bit boring. The NYE party was terrible, it was hot as hell, there was no MC, and half the seats were cordoned off for reservations, which seemed to be reserved for family and friends of the officers.

Children's Programs

No kids

Service and Staff

4 out of 5

Generally speaking the crew was amazing, they worked tirelessly to make sure everything was smooth. Beware that most of the crew only speaks English, and they don't have many people who speak other languages. Also, I found the officers on the ship to be quite standoffish, I spoke to at least 3 of them to share some concerns, which were basically ignored. They either seemed too preoccupied about their family and friends having a good time, or were not empowered to change anything.

Ship Quality

4 out of 5

The ship was really nice, however, some areas in the interior of the ship are already starting to look dated and having a lot of wear and tear. That being said, the crew did an amazing job to ensure everything was constantly clean and spotless.

Cabin / Stateroom

4 out of 5

I found my cabin overall to be great, the bed was really comfortable, the amenities were great, balcony size was good, the decor was timeless. The only thing I did not like was how loud the toilet was, storage was a bit tight, and the sofa was somewhat impractical. Before going on the ship I was concerned the location of the cabin was too far forward, but it was actually great, and I did not feel the movement of the ship that much.