Recently, my husband and I were invited on the Holland America cruise ship MS Nieuw Statendam to look around.
What Type of Cruise Line is the Holland America Line?
The ship, the Nieuw Statendam, was launched in December 2017 and delivered in the winter of the following year. Christened by Oprah Winfrey, the new godmother, it soon became renowned for its classy, refined elegance, the music venues, the quality of the acts, as well as the exceptional food.
The capacity of the ship is 2666, and the crew are 1053. This ensures a high staff-to-guest ratio, which is especially great for customer service.
Design
It also has a musical theme throughout, from artwork on the walls to a dedicated Music Walk area. This area features the BB King's Blues Club venue, The Rolling Stone Rock Room, and the Billboard on-board lounge. More of that later. The interior is also inspired by musical instruments, as evident in the architectural design.
What is especially good about the Pinnacle class ship is the retractable roof on the swimming pool, perfect for changeable weather, which is especially good when you are sailing from the UK!
The atrium is modern and colourful and three decks high. It's a great place to sit and people-watch.
Entertainment
The Music Walk is a definite highlight for me. With a mix of music from blues, rock and pop, it had wide appeal.
Other entertainment on the ship included trivia nights, cocktail and beer tastings and enrichment talks. There is also a casino.
Live music is played around the ships and production shows like “Song & Dance”, “Class Act”,
On the Lido Deck, there is an open-air cinema for movie nights under the stars with plenty of seating, perfect for when you want a relaxed evening.
Regardless of cabin tier, all accommodations have thoughtful, modern touches including mini fridges, cosy bathrobes, video-on-demand TVs and a signature bed with premium linen.
The design is fresh and modern with light beige, blue, and orange accents. Bathrooms are surprisingly spacious with showers and Elemis toiletries. There are plugs by the bed and USB ports for your phone.
The verandas are spacious, and some are bigger than others. I think if I were going to somewhere like Alaska on Holland America, I would definitely get a veranda to watch the beautiful scenery and hope to glimpse some of the wildlife.
Dining
The main dining room is on two floors and is elegant and classy. The Lido market is the buffet with a decent choice of food, and there are more casual places to eat as well as the Dive In, with burgers and hot dogs, New York Deli and Pizza, Gelato selling ice cream and the Dutch Cafe, A Holland America signature spot with Dutch snacks (bitterballen, pea soup, apple pie), beer, coffee, and light meals. Some items are complimentary, others à la carte.
Rudi’s Sel de Mer - a French seafood brasserie by Master Chef Rudi Sodamin. Dishes like bouillabaisse, Dover sole, and seafood towers.
Pinnacle Grill - an upscale steakhouse featuring aged beef, lamb chops, and seafood, with a Pacific Northwest wine focus.
Canaletto - an Italian trattoria with family-style pasta, antipasti, and signature dishes. More casual speciality option.
Tamarind - a Pan-Asian dining with Thai, Chinese, and Japanese dishes, plus sushi. Stylish, with great views
Nami Sushi (inside Tamarind)- an à la carte sushi bar with rolls, sashimi, and sake pairings.
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