The Itinerary

Embarkation (Port Everglades), Half Moon Cay, At Sea, Grand Turk, Amber Cove (Puerto Plata), At Sea, Key West, Disembarkation (Port Everglades)

The Ship

The newest Pinnacle-class ship from Holland America makes a great first impression. These Pinnacle-class ships are beautiful ships and they are well-designed. Public spaces are found on Decks 2, 3, 9, 10, 11 and 12. There are elevators and stairs forward, midship and aft. The ship’s two Azipod engines pull the ship along smoothly and quietly.

Accommodations - Veranda Stateroom

My Veranda Stateroom (5 074) was located on Gershwin Deck (Deck 5) just forward of midship. Staterooms in this category range from 228 to 405 sq ft. My stateroom was definitely in the 228 sq. ft. category. This is fairly typical of balcony or veranda staterooms on newer ships.

The layout and design of the stateroom, however, has been very well thought out and executed. It is about as comfortable as you can make 228 sq. ft.

The closet area is large enough to hold hanging clothes for a 14-day cruise for two people. There are plenty of shelves and drawers for smaller or folded items. Storage space should not be an issue in this stateroom. There is a refrigerator/mini-bar stocked with soft drinks, and a few not-so-soft drinks. A menu is provided with the pricing of the items.

The king-sized bed (or, two twins) is very comfortable. It is a little on the firm side, which I prefer. Bedding is top quality. There are two nightstands, each with drawers and a shelf for additional storage.

There is a small desk with drawers and plenty of power outlets. The balcony is large enough for two people to enjoy days at sea, or early morning coffee. There are two chairs with foot rests and a small table.

The bathroom is compact, but has a very nice, large walk-in glass shower that is the full width of the bathroom. I love the glass door on the shower as opposed to a shower curtain that tends to chase you around the shower and stick to you. There are three small shelves for storage, as well as the sink surround. A shelf under the sink can also be used for storage. The toilet seat and lid are soft close so as to not slam down in the middle of the night and wake a neighbor.

Video

Overall, this is one of the most comfortable Veranda Staterooms I have occupied. There’s plenty of storage, good lighting, a huge flat-screen television with excellent programming, and I really like the light wood tones. The only improvements I would request might be better insulation from noise in the hallway, and a small coffeemaker might be a nice touch. But, overall, Holland America did a great job designing this stateroom.

Food and Dining

Food is the most subjective topic to cover because everyone has different tastes. Overall, the food on Nieuw Statendam is good. There are some exceptional meals that stick out in my mind, and some that were less impressive.

Lido Market (included)

Lido Market is the ship’s buffet located on Deck 9. There is a wide selection served here at breakfast, lunch and dinner. I should preface my comments with letting you know that I am generally not fond of buffets, and try to avoid them if possible. The Lido Market has identical serving lines on the port and starboard sides of the ship, each with multiple themed stations: “breads”, “sandwiches”, “desserts”, etc. On the port side, you will find an Asian station serving different Asian dishes each day.

The food I tried here was pretty typical buffet fare. I did not find anything unusually good or bad. The Asian station had the most interesting items, in my opinion.

One thing I did like about Lido Market is that the food is served by crew members behind the serving line as opposed to guests grabbing utensils and serving themselves. This is a much more sanitary system.

The Dining Room (included)

The Dining Room is the ship’s main “traditional” restaurant. Breakfast and dinner are served here each day and the dinner menu changes each evening. I only dined in The Dining Room a couple of times during this cruise, once for breakfast and once for dinner.

My breakfast was good, but my poached eggs were overcooked (read my Day Two blog). My dinner meal here was the Gala Night dinner which featured Surf and Turf. Of course, I ordered the Surf and Turf (Tenderloin and Lobster). My Shrimp Cocktail starter was excellent, as was the Chicken Orzo soup. The Lobster was very good, but the beef was not as tender as I expected. Overall, I enjoyed The Dining Room. Service on both occasions was excellent.

Dive In (included)

This is the ship’s burger joint located on Deck 9 poolside. Here you can get hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, etc. The burgers are served fresh, made-to-order and are okay. The French fries are some of the best you will find, served hot and very crispy.

New York Deli and Pizza (included)

If you are in the mood for a morning bagel or afternoon pizza, this is the spot. From 7:00am until 11:00am, you can get bagels, cream cheese and a variety of other breakfast sandwiches and pastries. Starting at 11:30am, you can get made-to-order pizzas, sandwiches and salads. There is no ‘pizza-by-the-slice’.

I found the Caesar salad here to be good, but the pizza was somewhat lacking. The crust tasted like it was undercooked and a little “doughy” (is that a word?). The Meatball Sub sandwich was quite good, but could have used more marinara sauce. This is a popular place at lunch, so get here early.

Canaletto ($19 pp)

Canaletto is the ship’s evening Italian-themed bistro dining located on Deck 9 starboard. Actually, Canaletto is a section of Lido Market that is transformed into the bistro dining each evening. Caneletto is only open for dinner and reservations are required.

The menu is different than my last visit to Caneletto (on Nieuw Amsterdam). Sadly, the Braised Beef Short Ribs have been moved from the regular menu to a daily special, and I am not there on that day.

For a complete review of Canaletto, read my post in the Cruise Ship Dining blog click here.

Review

Tamarind ($30 pp)

Tamarind is the Asian-fusion restaurant found on all Pinnacle-class ships. Tamarind is located on Deck 10 aft. I dined here my first evening on board and the meal was excellent. Tamarind remains one of my favorite restaurants on Holland America ships.

You can read my full review of Tamarind here.

Nami Sushi (a la carte)

Nami Sushi is located in the same space as Tamarind on Deck 10 aft. Nami Sushi is a new restaurant serving sushi, sashimi, sushi rolls and a variety of main courses, starters and desserts. I dined here one time and loved it.

You can read my full review of Nami Sushi here.

Rudi’s Sel de Mer (a la carte)

Rudi’s Sel de Mer is an intimate, very upscale French seafood restaurant located on Deck 2 midship. I dined here one evening and enjoyed the meal. However, I did not order a seafood dish, which was a mistake. The bread served here is to die for.

You can read more about my meal at Rudi’s Sel de Mer in my Day Two blog.

Pinnacle Grill (Lunch $15, Dinner$39 pp)

This is the first Holland America cruise in recent history where I did not dine in Pinnacle Grill, other than for lunch one day. I did have reservations to dine at Pinnacle one evening, but I somehow screwed them up when I got on board the ship. My bad.

I did, however, have lunch at Pinnacle Grill one day and it was AMAZING. You can read all about my experience in my Day Three blog.

Review

A Taste of De Librije ($49 pp)

De Librije is the only three-Michelin-star restaurant in the Netherlands. The restaurant has teamed up with Holland America to deliver a unique dining experience on Pinnacle-class ships. One evening per cruise, the Pinnacle Grill is transformed into “A Taste of DeLibrije”. To read all about my incredible dining experience here, click here.

Room Service (included and a la carte)

Room service is available 24 hours a day and there are items throughout the day that are offered at no charge. There are, however, some room service items for which you pay. For example, you can order a Ham and Cheese Omelette for breakfast at no charge. If you want Steak and Eggs, it will cost you $9.50 (US). I had room service breakfast on the day of disembarkation and it was delivered to my stateroom on schedule and my omelette and coffee were hot. The toast, however, was ice cold. I did not order the toast, so it did not matter. Even the best room service has difficulty keeping toast warm without it getting soggy. I also had coffee delivered to the stateroom one morning, which was hot and quite good.

Club Orange

There is a private dining room on Nieuw Statendam for guests who have upgraded to the Club Orange VIP experience.

Bars and Lounges

You will not have a problem finding a place to quench your thirst aboard Nieuw Statendam. Drink prices have increased since the last time we sailed with Holland America. Soft drinks have gone from $2.00 to $2.50, a 25% increase. A glass of sparkling wine is now $9.50, a Crown Royal is $8.50, beers range from $7 to $9. And, all drinks come with a 15% gratuity add-on.

Bar service is the one area where the ship felt understaffed. I was on the Lido deck, poolside during sail away from Port Everglades and I never saw a waiter taking drink orders. I was there for more than an hour. The bar, however, was very busy with guests crowding around to order and receive drinks.

On the Lido Deck, they have placed little electronic buttons to request drink service, but I cannot tell if they work or not. I pressed one several times at the pool and no waiter ever arrived.

Beverage service in the Lido Market was very good. I visited the Lido Market three times, and within just a couple of minutes, a waiter or waitress arrived asking for a drink order. This was true of every dining venue. Only in the bars did I find slow or non-existent service.

Happy Hour has also changed on Holland America. As I recall, there used to be Happy Hour in all bars and lounges at the same time each day, and waiters would circulate through the lounges (or at least a couple of the lounges) with trays of complimentary canapés. Happy Hour is now offered in the Ocean Bar (Deck 2) from 4pm to 5pm and in the Boardwalk Bar from 6pm to 7pm. The Happy Hour special is “buy a drink and get the second for only $2.” Oh, and the canapés are no longer offered.

Happy Hour Example - Crown Royal Double

1st Crown Royal - $8.50
2nd Crown Royal - $2.00
15% gratuitiy - $1.58

Total: $12.07

By having Happy Hour at only one bar at a time, it creates huge crowds and puts the bartenders and waiters under extreme pressure to deliver drinks to all the guests in attendance. A better system, in my opinion, would be to have Happy Hour at the same time (4pm to 5pm, or 5pm to 6pm) in at least two lounges to spread the crowd out a bit. On one afternoon at the Ocean Bar, I waited 20 minutes for my drink to arrive, and an additional 30 minutes to get my key card back from the bar waiter.

Entertainment and Activities

The variety of entertainment aboard Holland America’s Pinnacle-class ships is unmatched for ships of this size. The World Stage is the ship’s main theater, and it is the most innovative theater we have seen on any cruise ship. Guests are not only seated in front of the stage, but around it as well creating sort of a “theater-in-the-round”.

The seating is not the only innovative part of World Stage. The lighting and wrap-around LED screens literally surround the audience with images and sound. And, the sound system is one of the best I have heard on any cruise ship. However, what was interesting on my seven-night sailing was that there were no vocalists performing in either of the production shows. The cast from StepONE Dance Company consisted of six dancers, all of whom were quite good. Other performances in World Stage included Wayne Hoffman (magician); Doug Funk, comedian;and singer/impersonator, Karen Grainger.

The World Stage is on Deck 2 Forward and as you exit, you walk through a literal corridor of entertainment venues that make up the forward half of Deck 2. The Rolling Stone Rock Room was packed with guests every night jamming to the THE ROCK ROOM BAND. It was one of the most popular entertainment venues on the ship. Just across from Rolling Stone Rock Room is Billboard Onboard with dual pianos facing each other where musicians play popular music.

Shows are staggered at various times throughout the evening between the various venues, making it easier for guests to hop from one venue to another, so as not to miss any of the fun.

B.B. Kings Blues Club and Lincoln Center Stage share the same venue midship. If you love heart-pounding jazz, you will love B.B. Kings. And for those who prefer the more sedate tones of classical music, the ship’s quintet performs at various times throughout the day at Lincoln Center Stage. I cannot think of any cruise ship that offers as much variety of entertainment as Holland America does on its Pinnacle-Class ships.*

*They may offer this entertainment on other ships, but we have not sailed on any non-Pinnacle-class ships in many years.

Swimming Pools

There are two swimming pools on Nieuw Statendam. The Lido Pool is located midship on Deck 9. There are three hot tubs at one end of the pool, and a large TV screen at the other end with programming throughout the day. In the evenings, movies are shown on this screen so guests can enjoy “movies under the stars”. Colorful loungers surround the pool and towels are complimentary and readily available.

Nearby, you will find the Lido Bar, Gelato (ice cream), Dive In (burgers), New York Deli and Pizza and the Lido Marketplace (buffet) is just aft of the Lido Pool. This seemed to be the pool where most families would congregate. The Lido Pool’s exposure to the sun can be somewhat hindered by the large sliding glass roof which can be closed during rain or cold weather. However, the roof remained open during our entire cruise.

The Sea View Pool is located aft on Deck 9 and offers the best exposure to the sun of the two pools, since there is no roof overhead. There are plenty of loungers here as well as on Deck 10 just above and overlooking the Sea View Pool.

The Sea View Pool is served by the Sea View Bar and the Lido Marketplace is just steps away, should you get hungry while soaking up the sun.

Fitness Center/Spa

Nieuw Statendam has a very large and well-equipped fitness center located on Deck 9 forward. Those who use treadmills will have one of the best ocean views on the ship as they face a wall of glass. Excellent weight training machines from Precor can be found here as well as free weights.

The Greenhouse Spa and Salon is just aft of the Fitness Center and offers every possible massage treatment as well as hair and nail services. If you choose to partake of the beautiful Hydro Pool, sauna, steam and other spa area goodies, plan on spending $40 per day/per person. They do offer a discounted weekly plan, which is a good value if you plan to visit more than twice per cruise.

Itinerary - 7-Day Tropical Caribbean

My seven-day itinerary included port calls in Half Moon Cay (Holland America’s Private Island), Grand Turk, Amber Cove and Key West. There were two days at sea. Our first stop was on day two at Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas. This is Holland' America’s private island and a highlight of any HAL Caribbean cruise. The island is spotlessly clean and has a beautiful white sand beach for those who want to take in some sun, or some snorkeling in the clear blue Caribbean waters.

In addition to plenty of complimentary loungers to enjoy, there are other beach activities available. Bar service is also available and you can use your shipboard account to purchase drinks. An Island BBQ (complimentary) is offered for lunch with burgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, and a variety of salads and desserts.

After a day at sea, we made a stop in Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos. There are many excursions offered by Holland America in Grand Turk, or you may just want to walk to the cruise shopping area, just a five-minute stroll from the ship. There is also a public beach in Grand Turk visible from the ship and you can rent two loungers and an umbrella for $25 a day. There is also a large swimming pool next to Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville restaurant that is free to use, as are the loungers! So, you don’t have to spend money on a ship’s excursion unless you just want to.

Our next stop was Amber Cove, a relatively new cruise port in Puerta Plata, Dominican Republic. This was my first time to visit Amber Cove, and I was quite impressed. The cruise terminal/shopping plaza is similar to the one in Grand Turk, but without a beach. However, what they do have is an even bigger and nicer swimming pool, free for cruise guests to use, a zip line that you can enjoy all day long, as many times as you like, for only $20! There are also private cabanas for rent as well as a variety of water toys (kayaks, peddle boats, etc.). Coco Caña restaurant and bar is located poolside for those who don’t want to walk back to the ship for lunch. I heard from some guests who ate there that the food was very good.

In Amber Cove, you will also find plenty of shops and local vendors selling tours. I found a vendor selling a 2.5 hour, air-conditioned motor coach tour of the island for $29 per person. Of course, many will feel more comfortable booking their excursions through the Shore Excursions desk onboard, but the options are available for those who prefer to go it on their own. I should also mention that the entire shopping plaza area was spotlessly clean. This is a place I would like to visit again.

After another day at sea, our final stop was at Key West, Florida. Key West has become a popular cruise destination over the past few years. It is always fun just to walk around town, see the sights, or stop in for some Key Lime Pie at one of the many pie shops. Our favorite is Key Lime Pie Company on Greene St.

During this visit to Key West, I was able to re-visit 3D Mini-Me, a small business that I found a few years back. They make 3D figurines after taking a 3D scan/photo of you. I think the coolest thing you can do in Key West is to get your own “Mini Me” made using their 3D printer. It only takes a few minutes for them to shoot the photo and they ship the Mini-Me to you in two to four weeks. I had one made a few years ago and loved it. So, I am getting another one made. I think the technology has improved since I got mine, so I can’t wait to see it when it gets here!

The Holland America Experience

Everyone invariably asks, “so, what does Holland America compare to?” In the Carnival family of cruise brands I would say the HAL experience is pretty close to that of Princess Cruises, with each brand having some unique features not found on the other. HAL’s Pinnacle-class ships definitely have nicer Veranda staterooms than Princess, but Princess’ newest ships have that amazing Sanctuary (private cabana experience), which tops HAL’s “The Retreat”. Holland America is still a more adult-focused product compared to Princess or Carnival for sure, but that is changing. Where Holland America has really distinguished itself is with lounge entertainment. No other cruise line comes close.

When comparing to non-Carnival brands, anyone considering a Celebrity cruise should give these new Holland America ships a closer look. And, don’t forget, Holland America is a leader when it comes to Alaska cruises.

Summary

It is clear that Holland America has radically changed its target audience with this new series of Pinnacle-Class ships. It is not uncommon to find families with young children onboard these new ships, something that was almost non-existent 20 years ago. You may pay a little more for Holland America than you would on a “budget” or “mass-market” cruise line, but what you will get in return is some excellent dining options, unmatched entertainment choices, excellent itineraries and perhaps nicest Veranda staterooms in the industry.

Have a question about my Holland America experiences? Post your comment or question below.

Cruise Ship Reviews

Holland America - Nieuw Statendam Review