Reviewed by: Grant Blake

Date: 13 December 2018

Cruise line and ship: Holland America Line – ms Nieuw Statendam

Cruise name or itinerary: Pre-maiden voyage – Venice to Civitavecchia (Rome)

Capacity: 2,666 passengers

Year built: 2018

Size of the ship: 99,500 GRT

Where the ship cruises: Caribbean and Europe

Currency onboard: USD

Main features/highlights: In my opinion this new Pinnacle class ship of Holland America’s is the best I have seen and experienced among the more mainstream cruise lines.

I have never been on a brand new ship before and everything was so immaculate. This ship is elegant, contemporary and spacious with an absence of gimmicks.

Embarkation: Boarding in Venice was quick and very easy – I was onboard within 20 minutes of arrival at the port.

Most suited to: In general 40’s+.  With its contemporary feel, this ship appeals to a younger traveller than you might think or expect.

Atmosphere: There are plenty of great spaces on this ship. I think particularly the accent on music makes this ship ideal for a younger passenger mix than traditionally sails on Holland America.

Unique Aspects: The artwork on board is fantastic and mainly contemporary. It is truly varied and the gallery on board is as good as any you would find on land. The theme of the ship is music and the variety of work in the foyers is an attraction in itself.

Encounters with service staff: All staff encountered were friendly and polite.

Staterooms: Nieuw Statendam has 1,339 cabins, including 280 interior rooms, 103 ocean-view and 851 veranda and spa balcony cabins – plus 12 ocean view rooms dedicated for solo travellers. My Category VD stateroom with balcony was on Deck 7. It was very pleasant and about the same size as comparable cabins on other ships. It was tastefully decorated and featured a minibar/fridge, good sized flat screen tv conveniently positioned for watching from your very comfortable bed.

The shower was larger than usual, however, the bathroom was overall a normal ship size so the toilet and vanity fitted in snugly. The balcony had two chairs with detached footstools and a small table – the same size and features as most ships.

Dining: The main public rooms including the impressive two-level main dining room located on Decks 2 and 3. In all there are 12 dining venues including a number of speciality restaurants and a well-designed buffet style restaurant.

The buffet area is called the Marketplace and is designed providing plenty of space between serving stations to minimise congestion. The stations are duplicated on both sides of the ship which even further reduces congestion.

Entertainment: There is a great variety of live music from classical through to rock and blues. The large theatre is versatile and offers a variety of shows.

On Deck 2 there is the ‘Music Walk’. During the day there are concert performances at the Billboard Bar, this venue changes at night to become BB King’s Blues Club, definitely one of the entertainment highlights on board. Here there is a bar with two grand pianos and the players interacting with each other while playing popular songs.

Across the walk from here is the Rolling Stone Rock Room which has a great rock and roll band. The venues work in conjunction with each other, as one finishes the set, another venue starts up maintaining the music atmosphere – a great innovative idea.

Shopping: Deck 2 and 3 are where the main entertainment venues and shops are located.

Onboard Facilities: Aft of the buffet area on Deck 9 is an outside pool at the stern. There is a small bar and plenty of seating for both those wanting to enjoy the sun and those wanting weather protection.

The main Lido Pool is located further forward on Deck 9, with a novel balcony on Deck 10 overlooking the pool area and a glass retractable roof covering the whole space. For the first time on a Holland America ship, there is a large TV screen for watching movies and other entertainment. Far forward on Deck 9 is the well-appointed gym with windows facing forward. It’s a great space for lovers of yoga, spin and features modern equipment. The spa facilities are also located here with the usual range of beauty treatments.

Up on Deck 12 behind the mast is The Sanctuary area where you can book a cabana to escape fellow passengers should you desire. Just forward of this is Explorations Central & Cafe – a forward looking observation lounge with lots of comfortable seating, a good selection of library books, interactive information and even a coffee bar. This is also the area where shore tours are booked.

One of my favourite places on board that I regularly visited was the Grand Dutch Cafe where you could purchase good coffee or speciality teas  and enjoy a complimentary delicious pastry or Dutch treat.

Activities: Holland America Line is increasingly focusing on destinations and experiences ashore. There are also plenty of onboard activities as per usual cruises.

Family facilities: YES – there’s a kids’ club! Club HAL is located on Deck 10 and is divided up to separate the different age groups. The space provides tons of natural light and wonderful views of the ocean. It’s also bright and colourfully decorated – just as it should be to suit its audience.

Inclusions: Accommodation, meals (except at speciality restaurants) and entertainment

Exclusions: Gratuities, drinks (packages available for purchase), speciality coffees and teas and anything else of a personal nature

Insider tips: There is a USB outlet in staterooms but a universal adaptor should be taken for other items that may need charging.

I could not find any negatives about the ship – she exceeded my expectations!