Holland America - Nieuw Statendam Review
I spend a week aboard Holland America’s newest ship in the Caribbean
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
Click to expand
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.
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
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.
Pizza at New York Deli & Pizza
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.
Tamarind ($30 pp)
Panang Red Curry
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.
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.
Ham and Cheese Omelette
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 World Stage on Nieuw Statendam
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.
Lido Pool
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.
Sea View Pool
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.
Precor Weight Machines
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.
Half Moon Cay, Bahamas
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.
Beautiful Pool in Grand Turk
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.
Swimming Pool at Amber Cove
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.
3D Mini-Me
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.
Queen Victoria. A Cunard European Wine Cruise. Tasteful Elegance.
Our fourteen day “Voyage du Vin” on Cunard’s Queen Victoria left Southampton and headed south towards some of the prime grape growing areas in Spain, Italy and France.
By John and Sandra Nowlan
Samuel Cunard would be very pleased with a cruise that focused on vineyards and wine. According to Cunard historian John Langley, the Canadian-born founder of the famous shipping and cruise line was probably a teetotaler. But the steamship pioneer saw the virtue (and profit potential) of stocking even his early paddle wheelers with fine wines from Europe.
Queen Victoria Docked in Gibraltar
Our fourteen day “Voyage du Vin” on Cunard’s Queen Victoria left Southampton and headed south towards some of the prime grape growing areas in Spain, Italy and France. Ahead of us were tours of some outstanding European vineyards, guest speakers with broad knowledge of wines, elaborate dinners with matching wines for each course and onboard tasting sessions featuring many of the best of the more than 400 wines from the Queen Victoria’s extensive cellars.
Arriving in England a day in advance we stayed at a Cunard-recommended hotel, Chewton Glen, a magnificent Relais and Chateaux historic inn adjacent to the New Forest and close to the port of Southampton. With sumptuous surroundings and some of the best seafood we’ve ever enjoyed, we felt totally pampered.
Chewton Glen
Boarding the Queen Victoria the next day was quick and efficient. The elegant grand lobby led to many spacious public rooms designed for comfort and convenience. The centerpiece is the huge Queens Room, used for big band dancing, afternoon teas, concerts with the resident string trio or guests like the outstanding classical guitarist, Carlos Bonell, daily exercise classes (like line dancing and aerobics) and formal receptions on gala nights.
Queen Victoria Grand Lobby
Fencing Class
The 730 seat Royal Court Theatre is designed to look like a large, historic London West End playhouse with comfortable, red velvet seats, great sight lines and even 16 private boxes along the sides. Unlike many cruise lines, Cunard emphasizes live music and employs two orchestras (one in the theatre and one in the Queens Room) along with a talented ensemble of ten dancers and four vocalists who present six different, complex song and dance shows over the course of the cruise plus a full length play (in our case, it was Neil Simon’s witty California Suite). The musical highlight was a brand new staging of the award-winning West End tap dancing musical, Top Hat, based on the 1935 movie starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Marvelous entertainment with familiar Irving Berlin tunes.
Theatre. 16 Boxes
Every day, in addition to the wine themes, there were dozens of choices of things to do (from sporting challenges like darts, ping pong, shuffleboard and fencing to trivia, art and bridge classes to guest speakers on a wide variety of subjects like astronomy, climate change and the Royal Family). If guests prefered to read and relax, the 6,000 volume library (covering two decks via a spiral staircase) is one of the best at sea.
Top Hat. Exciting new production
Big Bands in two venues
On most cruise ships, the main buffet restaurant is usually crowded and unappealing. On Queen Victoria, the Lido (covering the back half of Deck 9) was never crowded and offered a wide variety of British and international dishes. In fact some guests told us they preferred to dine each day in the Lido rather than the more formal Britannia dining room on decks two and three. As most cruise lines become more casual, Cunard alone retains the tradition of requiring men to wear a jacket (tie optional) each night at dinner and, for several formal nights each cruise, a dark suit, tuxedo or dinner jacket. Clearly, Cunard guests love to dress up. One guest from Wales told us the formal nights were great because they reflected the ship’s opulence and style.
Lido Buffet. Large and usually uncrowded
After a day at sea, our Voyage du Vin began in earnest. The Queen Victoria docked in Vigo, Northern Spain, and we chose a tour to the Galician wine region. The normally damp, cool climate produces some wonderful white grape varieties, especially the Albarino. To avoid rotting on the wet ground, grape vines are supported by wooden or cement pilings, sometimes a couple of yards high.
Vineyard in Galician Region of Spain. High enough to provide shade
Over the course of the cruise, several wine experts gave talks and hosted opulent dinners in the Verandah Restaurant. One evening we chose a Bordeaux theme dinner with Wall Street Journal and Sunday Times wine writer Will Lyons. At a “nominal” extra cost of $US 230, the chef went all out with his cuisine (Gin & Tonic Smoked Salmon, Tea-smoked Duck Breast, Dry Aged Black Angus Beef Fillet and a decadent Strawberry Pavlova dessert) while Will Lyons introduced our seven Bordeaux classic wines including Chateau La Fleur des Graves Blanc, Chateau l’Evangile Pomerol, Chateau Magdelaine Grand Cru Classé and, for dessert, Chateau d’Yquem, 1996. Excellent food and high end wines
Will Lyons at Bordeaux Dinner
Our next stop was in Mallorca, Spain, where our tour took us to small, rural winery run by a family proud of its botanical garden (exotic cactus) and historic farm implements. Seated in the garden along two long tables, we were served several excellent Mallorcan white and red wines along with an outstanding sweet wine.
Spanish Wine Tasting near Mallorca
Following another activity-filled day at sea we docked in La Spezia, Italy (unremarkable since it was reconstructed after heavy bombing in World War Two) but, like many tourists, headed for nearby Pisa and its famous Leaning Tower (now leaning less, thanks to clever engineering). But Italian wine beckoned as our tour then proceeded to a 17th Century farmhouse in Tuscany where the wine maker provided generous samples of his excellent vintages along with snacks and cheese.
Italian Wine Samples in 17th Century Farmhouse
In Cannes, France, we had to anchor the Queen Victoria and use lifeboat tenders to reach the port. We’d seen the glamorous film city before and opted for a tour to Old Antibes, an ancient town dating back to the Iron Age. The town has an excellent Picasso Museum and includes the largest yachting harbour in Europe. We enjoyed the lively provincial market, including colourful spice shops, reminiscent of Istanbul.
Spice Market
After docking in Barcelona, another non-wine tour took us to the old Roman city of Terragona. Its amphitheatre dates from the second century while the impressive town cathedral was begun in 1154. There are lots of tourists in Terragona…and lots of pickpockets.
Back on board Queen Victoria, we chose another opulent, extra cost dinner, this time focusing on Italian wines. Our host and wine guide was Canadian Master of Wine, David Gleave. For our “nominal” $US 130 we had another superb dinner featuring Herb Gnocchi, Smoked Venison Carpaccio and Chateaubriand. Our favourite wines among the eight served were a dry, well-balanced La Rocca Pieropan, a 2016 Fontodi Chianti Classico and a 2014 Barolo Aldo Conterno.
Smoked Venison Carpaccio. Italian Dinner
Our final Cunard tour, before sailing back to Southampton, was from the fascinating port of Gibraltar We left the British Territory, crossed the airport runway (traffic stops when planes come and go) and entered Spain again. Our destination was a cork and cattle ranch where the friendly owner showed us how cork is stripped from the trees every nine years and then regenerates. The main use is for wine stoppers but purses, hats and toys can also be made from the material. With screw caps becoming more common, the cork farm owner is trying to diversify and use his acreage as a wedding venue and a kind of cork theme park with animals and educational exhibits.
Arriving back in Southampton was as seamless and efficient as embarkation. This Voyage du Vin was an excellent way to combine traditional Cunard hospitality with increased knowledge of and enjoyment of wines. Next year Cunard is planning its “Food and Wine” event aboard the Cunard flagship Queen Mary 2 as it crosses from Southampton to New York in June. Like this year, the crossing will feature many wine-focused events and expert speakers. Samuel Cunard would be delighted.
Photos by John and Sandra Nowlan
Regent Seven Seas Explorer: The Most Luxurious Ship Ever Built?
Our cruise review of Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Explorer
Itinerary: Miami, At Sea, At Sea, Bermuda, Bermuda, At Sea, At Sea, At Sea, At Sea, Horta (Azores), Ponta Delgada (Azores), At Sea, Funchal, At Sea, Lisbon (Disembark).
April 28, 2019 - It's a bold claim, for sure. Regent Seven Seas Cruises declares quite vehemently that Seven Seas Explorer is "The Most Luxurious Ship Ever Built." But, is it? It's a claim we decided to put to the test during our 14-night transatlantic sailing from Miami to Lisbon.
The Ship
We embark on Deck 5, just above the grand staircase. One glance at this lobby and you immediately get a sense of style and elegance.
Visually, there is no question that Seven Seas Explorer's designers hit all the right marks when it comes to creating a luxurious environment. The ship is one of the most beautiful and tastefully decorated on which we have had the privilege to sail.
The public spaces are filled with beautiful works of art and clad in expensive marble, leather and coordinated fabrics. Function follows form throughout the ship, making it one of the easiest to find your way around. The Constellation Theater (Deck 4/5 forward) is spacious, has good sight lines and excellent acoustics
Constellation Theater
Deck 11 is the Lido Deck with a large pool flanked by two large hot tubs, the Pool Bar and the Pool Grill. Aft on 11 is La Veranda, the ship's Lido Buffet.
Deck 12 features the ship's jogging track, a very nice mini-golf course, a golf driving net, pickle ball court, Bocce court, and of course, shuffleboard.
Top quality wicker loungers surround the pool on Deck 11. Each is covered with terry cloth, and plush towels are provided.
Accommodations
A chilled bottle of champagne and two glasses have been placed in each suite to greet guests when they arrive.
Our Superior Suite was 332 sq. ft. with an additional 115 sq. ft. of balcony. The king-sized bed faces the balcony, and is one of the most comfortable beds you will find on a cruise ship. Each night stand has USB ports, electrical outlets and there is a clock on one of the nightstands.
Next to the bed is a long desk/dresser with a marble top. The desk has electrical outlets and is a comfortable workstation if you travel with a laptop. The desk becomes a vanity with a lighted makeup mirror (something that every cruise line should provide) and drawers to hold all of the potions and lotions that women require.
The bathroom is huge and is one of the nicest we have seen in a suite/stateroom this size on any ship. There is a full-sized bathtub with its own shower head and a separate shower stall,too. This makes it very easy for two people to shower at the same time.
The large vanity has two sinks and lots of storage in the form of shelves and drawers. Top-quality L'Occitane amenities are provided and replenished as needed. Large, plush towels are as nice as you will find in any five-star hotel. And, the toilet flush is very quiet for a cruise ship toilet.
The walk-in closet is not only large, but houses another dresser with tons of drawer storage. One of our favorite features of the closet are the hooks provided for hanging jackets, caps, pajamas, or whatever you desire.
The balcony is wide and deep with two padded lounge chairs that can recline to become mini-loungers.
The large wicker and glass table is perfect for al fresco dining. We enjoyed a beautiful room-service breakfast on the balcony on the morning we arrived in Bermuda.
The large flat-screen television is mounted in the sitting room, but is hinged so that it can swing into view of the bedroom. There is excellent programming with a variety of news channels, closed-circuit programming and movie channels. There is also a nice selection of movies on demand (complimentary).
The sitting room has a small sofa and glass coffee table on one end and the mini-fridge/bar, television and even more storage drawers at the opposite end of the room. The space can be segregated somewhat from the bedroom by pulling the curtain provided between the spaces.
It should be noted that our suite was whisper quiet throughout the entire 14-night cruise. We never heard our neighbors. As far as comfort goes, we would rate the Superior Suite a 5 out of 5. It is simply one of the very best stateroom/suites we have had the pleasure of occupying.
Food and Dining
Seven Seas Explorer offers guests a wide variety of dining options. La Veranda is the ship's lido buffet on Deck 11 aft. La Veranda is open for breakfast and lunch, offering a variety of choices. Seating is very elegant for a buffet with linen tablecloths, napkins and nice table settings. Waiters are on hand for drink orders and a selection of complimentary wines is offered at lunch.
One of our favorite features of La Veranda is the endless supply of fresh boiled shrimp each day. And, the spicy cocktail sauce is quite good.
The Pool Grill is located just forward of La Veranda on Deck 11. A smaller buffet is offered here and is the perfect lunch spot for those lounging poolside. On the port side, there is a covered dining space with great ocean views and table service. The Pool Grill menu offers a choice of sandwiches, hot dogs, panini, and burgers.
The burgers served at the Pool Grill are quite good, as are the French fries (when served hot). We were served cold fries a couple of times and had to ask the waiter to bring a fresh batch, which they always were happy to do.
Cheeseburger and Fries at the Pool Grill
Our only disappointment at the Pool Grill was with the pizza. It sort of tasted like a frozen pizza and was not up to the standard of Regent's other food offerings.
Pizza at Pool Grill
Extensive Room Service Breakfast Menu
Room Service was excellent on our sailing. We had breakfast in our suite three different times and, each time, the food arrived on time and warm. A Room Service breakfast menu is placed on the bed each evening. The menu is extensive. Just fill out the menu before going to bed, hang it outside on your doorknob, and the food arrives the next morning at the requested time.
Eggs Benedict
When the food arrives, the server prepares the coffee table (or balcony table, if you choose to dine al fresco) with a linen tablecloth, napkins and every other amenity you would expect if you were dining in Compass Rose. It is five-star room service, for sure. Our Eggs Benedict arrived warm, with perfectly poached eggs and topped with delicious Hollandaise.
The 24-hour room service menu is quite extensive and, during dinner hours, you can order from the Compass Rose menu.
Compass Rose is the ship's main restaurant (Deck 4 midship).
Compass Rose
Compass Rose is open for breakfast and dinner each day. This the place to come if you want full service with a menu that changes each evening. Compass Rose has the most elegant charger plates and table settings we have seen to date.
Compass Rose also has the largest "always available" menu selection we have ever seen on a cruise ship. The entire left side of the menu (and, it is a very large menu) lists items that are always available.
Lobster Bisque at Compass Rose
Prime 7 (Deck 10 aft) is Regent's steak house and it quickly became one of our favorites on board Seven Seas Explorer. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner and reservations are required for dinner. There is also a small bar at Prime 7 where you can enjoy a cocktail while waiting for your table.
Prime 7 is deceptively large. If you arrive early for lunch, you should be able to find a nice table for two with an ocean view. Rickee enjoyed the BBQ pulled pork sliders on more than one occasion.
BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders
The best part of lunch at Prime 7 is the dessert carousel containing six different delicious treats that are the perfect size for two to share.
Dessert Carousel at Prime 7
Dinner at Prime 7 is very elegant and service is top notch. The menu features many prime beef offerings, but there are other options for those who enjoy seafood. Rickee's Filet Mignon was perfectly cooked, tender and delicious, as was my Rib Eye.
Chartreuse is the ship's French-themed restaurant, also located on Deck 10 aft (port side). Like Prime 7, Chartreuse is open for lunch and dinner each day. We had lunch and dinner here only once. The restaurant is beautiful, however, we felt like the service was slower here than any of the other restaurants.
French Onion Soup at Chartreuse
Lamb Chops
Our dinner here was somewhat disappointing. My lamb chops were well seasoned, but very tough. And again, service was slow. In their defense, the restaurant was full. But, Prime 7 was full when we dined there, and service was crisp.
Beautiful bread basket at Sette Mari
In the evenings, the port side of La Veranda becomes Sette Mari, an Italian-themed bistro. Sette Mari is sort of a hybrid between a buffet and table service restaurant, which is a little confusing at first. The menu is quite large, and changes every couple of days.
Soups and main courses are ordered from the menu while salads, antipasti and desserts are self-serve from the buffet area. However, several antipasti selections are also placed on the table by the waiter.
Bruschetta selections are brought to the table
Sette Mari quickly became another one of our favorite 'go-to' restaurants because reservations are not required here. The service was excellent from our three-time waiter, Armando. And, you can watch your meal being prepared in the open kitchen there.
Open Kitchen at Sette Mari
One of my personal favorite dining venues is Pacific Rim, the Asian-fusion restaurant on Deck 5 aft which is only open for dinner.
The menu here offers a variety of Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, and Chinese-inpsired dishes. The Peking Duck Salad was one of our favorites.
Peking Duck Salad
Shu Mei dumplings
The atmosphere, service and food at Pacific Rim were among the best we found on Seven Seas Explorer. All restaurants on board are complimentary and complimentary wine is offered at lunch and dinner. The complimentary wine selection was as good as any we have found on any luxury ship, and better than most. Overall, food quality was very good and service was what you would expect from a five-star cruise line.
Entertainment
We were extremely pleased with the quality and variety of entertainment on board Seven Seas Explorer. The production shows (3 on our cruise) were as good as we have seen on any ship, of any size. We counted twelve singers and dancers, which is unheard of on a ship this size.
Seven Seas Explorer Production Cast
The vocalists were extremely talented, as were the dancers. Costumes, and lighting were also very well done. The Constellation Theater adds to the experience with excellent acoustics, a great sound system and good sight lines.
Janneke displays her amazing vocals
In addition to excellent production shows, the guest entertainers were the best we have ever seen on any cruise ship. (Remember, we have been on more than 135 cruises, so when we say they were that good, it should not be taken lightly). Jenene Caramiello was quite simply one of the best female vocalists we have ever seen in person.
Janene Caramiello
Juliette Primrose
We were equally impressed with violinist, Juliette Primrose. Between 2003 and 2011, Ms. Primrose toured the globe as lead fiddle-player for Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance.
There were other excellent entertainers throughout the cruise that we missed due to late dining. However, we heard nothing but praise from other guests for these acts, which included, among others, a magician, a comedian, a classical pianist, and vocalists. Veteran Cruise Director, Lorraine Weimerskirch, knows how to entertain guests and is quite a performer herself.
Cruise Director, Lorraine Weimerskirch
Rickee, knocking down bowling pins
Throughout our many cruises, there are only a handful of cruise directors that we remember and are anxious to meet again. Lorraine is now a member of that small group. On transatlantic cruises, Regent often puts on a County Fair on one of the sea days. Typically, the County Fair is held on the pool deck, but with the cool and windy weather we had, the activities were moved into the main lobby. Each department comes up with their own game for guests to play and raffle tickets are handed out for points scored. Nice prizes are raffled off at the end of the fair to those holding the winning tickets.
Everyone had a great time at the County Fair, and it is something unique to a Regent cruise. At one point, a huge group of guests broke into a Mama Mia flash mob.
Mama Mia Flash Mob at County Fair
There were also a whole host of games and other activities offered throughout the cruise. Team Trivia was held each afternoon and was so popular it had to be held in the Constellation Theater on sea days to accommodate everyone. Guests can earn Regent Reward points for playing trivia, or completing the daily Mensa Quiz, or with other activities around the ship.
Regent Rewards
The Regent Rewards can be redeemed on the last day of the cruise for some very nice logo items.
Some of the Regent Reward logo items
Another very popular activity is the Culinary Arts Kitchen (Deck 11 forward). This full-blown training kitchen allows guests to learn various cooking techniques and knife skills from a professional chef. Each guest has a cooking station with two induction cooktops, cookware, tools, knives, cutting boards, aprons and towels.
The chef introduces each course to be prepared and demonstrates the technique before students return to their stations to replicate what the chef has shown. In my class, we created a delicious roasted vegetable bruschetta, seared scallops, and a grilled flank steak.
Chef Celms demonstrates techniques for the class
The Culinary Arts Kitchen is one of the best activities I have enjoyed on any cruise. It is well worth the $89 per person fee. The classes fill up quickly, with many guests taking several during the cruise. The best part of the class is, at the end, you get to eat what you have prepared!
My grilled flank steak
If staying in shape is important to you, you are in luck. An outdoor jogging/walking track on Deck 12 is the perfect place for a few laps around the ship while enjoying a view of the ocean. A fully-equipped fitness center offers every conceivable cardio machine as well as TehnoGym weight machines.
TechnoGym weight machines
The Canyon Ranch Spa offers a wide variety of massages as well as full salon services, just in case your hair and nails require some attention. The Casino on Deck 4 midship has a variety of table games including Blackjack and Roulette and quite a few "one-arm bandits." You can also see a magic act here. Right before your eyes, the slot machines can turn a $20 bill into a 15-cent voucher!
And, of course, sea days were filled with a host of other activities, too many to list here. Enrichment lectures, an Iron Chef-style cooking competition, and Bingo are just a few of the many things going on around the ship.
Shore Excursions
Perhaps the greatest value of a Regent Seven Seas cruise is the unlimited free shore excursions. Of course, they are not really free (since you pay for them as part of your cruise), but they are included in the cruise fare, which is rather unique in the luxury cruise market. However, because the excursions are free, they can fill up very quickly. When we tried to pre-book excursions through the website more than 30 days in advance, many excursions were already fully booked and unavailable. Lesson learned: book your cruise well in advance, and book your excursions as soon as you receive your confirmation.
When you pre-book your excursions online, your excursion tickets will be waiting for you in your suite upon embarkation. If you wish to change an excursion to a different choice, you can request a change up to 48 hours before the date of the excursion. You can also request to be placed on a waiting list if an any spots open up on a fully-booked excursion in which you are interested. We found the folks at the Destination Services desk to be very nice and helpful, even though our one request to change an excursion did not materialize. If you wish to explore a port on your own, Regent often provides a complimentary shuttle service from the port into town. This is a very nice service, and a great benefit.
There were not many ports on our 14-day transatlantic sailing so we only ended up taking two excursions. Both excursions were very well managed, and they could easily cost $100 per person or more on any other cruise line. On a port-intensive sailing, the complimentary excursions would become a huge value proposition that any luxury cruise enthusiast should take into consideration.
Bars and Lounges
There are several bars/lounges on Seven Seas Explorer. The Pool Bar is obviously located on the Pool Deck, 11 midship. Explorer's Lounge (our second favorite) is on Deck 4 midship, just outside of Compass Rose. Meridian Lounge is on Deck 5 midship. Our favorite lounge was Observation Lounge on Deck 11 forward. There are also small bars at Prime 7 and Chartreuse. Cocktails are served in the Constellation Theater before shows. You could also get a drink at The Cafe on Deck 5 and in the Connoisseur Club on Deck 11.
Regardless of where you choose to quench your thirst, bar service is excellent and bartenders are generous with their pours. We frequented Observation Lounge enough that, by the third visit, our waiter knew my drink preference. All cocktails, beer and wine (except for some premium wines), bottled water and soft drinks are complimentary. At 6:00pm each evening in the bars and lounges, trays of canapés are offered.
The Coffee Connection on Deck 5 midship is a popular place to meet for a Cappuccino or Double Latte. A Barista is on hand starting at 6:30am to prepare your favorite coffee drink. In the mornings, an extensive continental breakfast buffet is available here including cold cuts, pastries, donuts, cookies, fruit, cereal and yogurt. There is also an automated coffee machine available which is available around the clock.
Summary
In order to be accurate in my assessment of the 'luxuriousness' of Seven Seas Explorer, I thought it appropriate to Google the definition of 'luxury', and here's what I found:
“A condition of abundance or great ease and comfort; sumptuous environment lived in luxury; something adding to pleasure or comfort but not absolutely necessary; an indulgence in something that provides pleasure, satisfaction, or ease”
In trying to determine whether or not Seven Seas Explorer is, in fact, 'The Most Luxurious Ship Ever Built', why not rely on Merriam Webster to make the call? Our experience on the ship was such that every word in italics in the definition above applies to Seven Seas Explorer. She could, indeed, be the most luxurious ship ever built.