REVIEW: HAL Nieuw Statendam (11 Night Iceland, Faroe Islands and Norway / Oceanview)

I have shown you what I did and ate while on my cruise through the Nordics but let’s do a deep dive about the ship: Holland America’s Nieuw Statendam that I called home for twelve days.

Before I dive in to the specifics about the ship, here are other HAL Nieuw Statendam posts that might interest you.

• Wanna learn more about how I got this comp cruise in the first place?
  • Read about my casino status match jackpot here and here’s where you’ll find my haul.
  • And here’s how I specifically obtained this Holland America comp cruise
• Here’s what I wish I knew about HAL comp cruises before booking
• Since there’s always a debate about if this type of travel is really “free”, read what my free HAL comp cruise cost to see my true costs of this comp cruise
• HAL Nieuw Statendam trip report deep dives into the cash, miles and points spending and all of the savings (and sources): Think of this as the travel hacking and $ break down post
• HAL Nieuw Statendam trip overview is the anchor post for the trip broken down by the itinerary/day/port stops with links to applicable posts
• Here’s what sets Holland America apart from other cruise lines (review of the cruise line)
• And lastly but certainly not least, please read about the remarkable Cruise and Travel Director, Clare Adams – wanting to share her amazing story and to spread awareness about EB

CRUISE INFO/SHIP SPECS

ITINERARY 

Cruise itineraries are subject to change and often do – especially those sailing to the Nordics. I had specifically booked this cruise as a way to see Greenland but it was not meant to be – but we have seen how dangerous icebergs can be. Another way that Holland America distinguishes itself from the competitors was how this handled

HOW I BOOKED 

Direct Match to Holland America’s casino (here’s more info for how I matched)

OFFER: Match 1: Complimentary Interior Cabin (cruise for two/no single supplement if solo) + $100 FreePlay & Drinks for two (2) while playing in the casino – valid on specific sailings

WHAT I PAID AKA WHAT THE FREE CRUISE REALLY COST

• HAL does not charge a deposit to book a comped cruise and the port fees & taxes for this cruise were $208 (there is also no single supplement unless you opt to upgrade)
• Responsible for what HAL labels as Crew Appreciation AKA daily staff gratuities: $17/day $187 in total for this sailing 

CHECK IN/EMBARKMENT/WIFI

CHECK IN

• Able to do check in thru the app + didn’t find it necessary to print out any of the paperwork besides luggage tags

EMBARKMENT 

• HAL no longer assigns embarkment times. Check-in begins at 12:00 PM and you must be checked in at least 90 minutes prior to the sailing time of 5:00 PM.
• Once we got to the terminal (the bus was very late), check in was a breeze even without status

WI-FI + HAVE IT ALL PACKAGE

I chose to add the Have It All Package for a few reasons with the main one being that I would have spent $ on my original booked HAL excursion as I was unable to find excursions for the two Greenland cruises anywhere (Viator, GetYourGuide and internet searches were fruitless!). Add in that I was planning on getting Wi-Fi, that made it a no-brainer to get the package as the WiFi Surf Package was $179.99 for the entire cruise AND I was able to use an incredible American Express off that was $300 of spending $750!

CABIN CONFIGURATION

STATEROOM TYPE: Solo Oceanview (comp “upgrade” from interior)

STATEROOM # : 1001 – forward/starboard

STATEROOM SIZE/CONFIGURATION : As you can see by the fire escape plan that 1001 is the smallest cabin on the Nieuw Statendam and as it is intended for a solo travelers, there is a single bed (vs double for the standard Oceanview) and is only 127 square feet. There are 12 of these cabins on this ship and can reach up to 172 square feet vs the standard (that can fit two to four people) cabins ranging from 175 square feet to 228 square feet. While most rooms offer picture windows, some offer floor-to-ceiling windows.

There are also two drawers in a nightstand and three more by the desk. An overhead cabinet (above the sofa if you have one) contains lifejackets and extra blankets. There’s room under the bed to store suitcases. Rooms come with two twin beds that can be converted into a queen, and all come with a plush mattress topper.

Rooms come with a safe, mini-bar, a hair dryer and makeup mirror (top left drawer of the desk) and a writing desk/vanity with chair. The nightstand has its own reading light along with an impressive amount of outlets: a USB port and U.S.-style socket on either side of the bed. Additional outlets (three U.S., two European sockets and another USB) can be found on the desk.

Rooms are energy-efficient and require keycards to turn on the overhead and bathroom lights.

The flat screen TV was well used on this trip from watching Euro24 matches to being able to stream some of the Port Overviews directly in my cabin. Note that you are required to view a safety video before you’re able to navigate to any other channels on the television.

BATHROOM SIZE/CONFIGURATION Bathrooms are glossy with tan marblesque tile, glass shelving and lit mirrors, and they are all about the same standard size until you move up to premium suites. Showers have massaging showerheads, frameless glass doors, a footrest for shaving legs and feature dispensers of Elemis-branded bath gel, shampoo and conditioner. HAL also provides lotion which makes it an outlier with the mainstream cruise lines.

SERVICE EXPERIENCE

This is a good time to remind everyone of the contracts that your cruise team signs up for…not only are they on the ship for anywhere between 4 – 8 months, they are working every single day of that contract. Which is really hard on a person – physically, emotionally, mentally so please be kind and be reasonable.

Overall, I found the service to be really good throughout the cruise – it was astounding to me how many of the crew members knew me by name (or nickname). Hilariously a number of fellow passengers also started calling me out by those nicknames.

RESTAURANTS/FOOD/DRINK

Free Dining

All dining except Specialty Dining is included with the cruise: however certain items on the menu incur an up-charge (and will be noted as such).  Drinks including alcoholic beverages, bottled water, fresh juice and soft drinks are NOT included and are available at menu pricing (unless of course, you have a beverage or the Have It All Package).

The Dining Room (Decks 2 and 3):

I didn’t eat often in the main dining room (Euro24 matches took precedent over dinner!) but I am a fan of how open and airy the restaurant was designed.

Breakfast and dinner are served here daily, while lunch and afternoon tea are included on sea days. Lunch service is noon to 1 p.m. while afternoon tea is held at 3. Breakfast opens at 7:30 a.m. on port days and 8 a.m. on sea days, spanning 90 minutes. Dinner is held from about 5 to 9 p.m. each evening.

On Holland America, you can opt for set dining times (1xearly, 1xlate) or there’s an open-seating with no set time choice (you can make a reservation for any time during your cruise up to 4 PM on the day of or come to the dining room during dinner hours. For solo diners, you can opt to sit by yourself or possibly join others (there did not seem to be as many people amenable to dining with new guests on HAL as I have encountered on other lines – others told me that they also encountered where they were the only ones at a shared table)

Grand Dutch Cafe (Deck 3)

In the top three (well maybe four) places on the ship was at the Grand Dutch Cafe. I love how it really showcases Holland America’s Dutch heritage as it is set up similar to a European cafe with Delft blue tableware and vases. With it’s location at the top deck of the atrium, it is bright and airy and a lovely place to start your day or grab a yummy treat.

These are all gratis!

My daily bossche ball because when on a Dutch ship….

Lido Market (Deck 9):

A buffet-style eatery with a wide selection of international cuisine, from made-to-order omelets to themed dinner options.

Dive In (Deck 9):

A poolside grill serving gourmet burgers, hot dogs, and fries.

New York Deli & Pizza (Deck 10): 

Offers 9” pizzas, salads, and deli items, open from breakfast until midnight. 

Explorations Cafe (Deck 12):

Located in the Crow’s Nest, offering coffee and a selection of pastries with panoramic views

Specialty Restaurants (Additional Costs)

Club Orange (Deck 2): 

The Buffet but

Rudi’s Sel de Mer (Deck 2): 

 A French seafood brasserie offering dishes like broiled lobster and duck cassoulet. 

Pinnacle Grill (Deck 2): 

 A steakhouse featuring high-grade beef and seafood options.

Canaletto (Deck 9): 

An Italian restaurant serving family-style dishes like pastas and seafood. 

Tamarind (Deck 10): 

Serves Pan-Asian cuisine in a serene setting, with dishes such as crispy duck and wok-seared lobster.

Nami Sushi (Deck 10): 

Adjacent to Tamarind, this venue offers freshly prepared sushi and sashimi.

The food was above average for cruise ships.  Remember that imho, the food on cruises is similar to mainstream, American, casual dining chain restaurants.  This isn’t meant to be an insult but simply acknowledges that the food is geared to be palatable to the greatest number of people. So typically you will find that it’s not bad but it’s also not great – it’s fine – it’s good enough. But with Holland America, I found that there are more dishes that I would enjoyed and were good rather than just okay. 

FITNESS/SPA/POOLS

Fitness Center (Deck 9):

Equipped with modern machines, free weights, and offers ocean views from the treadmills. 

Lido Pool (Deck 9):

Located midship with a retractable roof, surrounded by loungers and hot tubs, and featuring a large screen for movies under the stars.

Greenhouse Spa & Salon (Deck 9):

Provides a range of treatments, including massages and facials, as well as a hydrotherapy pool and thermal suite.

BARS/CLUBS/LOUNGES/CASINOS

Music Walk (Deck 2)

The heart of Nieuw Statendam’s nightlife is on Deck 2 at the Music Walk featuring a variety of live music venues:

• B.B. King’s Blues Club: An eight-piece band delivers soulful blues and R&B performances, encouraging guests to dance the night away.
  
• Rolling Stone Rock Room: A five-piece band plays classic rock hits, creating a lively atmosphere reminiscent of a live concert.
  
• Billboard Onboard: Features dueling pianists performing chart-topping songs from the last 50 years, with themed shows like “Icons” and “The Hot 100.”
  
• Lincoln Center Stage: Offers classical music performances by a talented ensemble, including chamber music and themed recitals.
  
• World Stage: A state-of-the-art theater with a two-story, 270-degree wraparound LED screen, hosting dance performances by Step One Dance Company and guest entertainers.

Casino Royal (Deck 3)

Offers blackjack, craps, slots, roulette (with a separate room for Poker).

Nieuw Statendam features several bars and lounges for relaxation and socializing:

• Tamarind Bar: An intimate venue offering exclusive Asian-inspired cocktails like the Agave Sunrise and Wasabi Cocktail.
  
• Notes: A whiskey bar with over 100 varieties, offering guided tastings and rare selections.
  
• Ocean Bar: Located near the atrium, ideal for people-watching and pre-dinner drinks.
  
• Crow’s Nest: An observation lounge on Deck 12, serving as a café by day and a bar by night, with panoramic views.
  
• Casino Bar: A spot to enjoy drinks while engaging in gaming activities.

ACTIVITIES/ENTERTAINMENT/EXCURSIONS

We had one sea day in the itinerary and as I went to explore the ship, there were a lot of people participating in the free activities that were offered onboard ranging from arts + crafts projects to dance lessons to games. 

Some of the Sea day activities I participated in: art of flower arranging and morning tai chi class that I was roped into shortly after taking this photo

My favorite thing was being able to watch the Euro24 matches whilst eating dinner.

HELPFUL HINTS/HIDDEN GEMS

The best place to find up to date information on cruises/ships still continues to be the Facebook groups for the cruise lines, with those focused on your specific ships in particular (note that these are the “fans” not the official company groups). I am more ambivalent about the specific sailing groups since they aren’t always helpful especially in relation to giving up a lot of information/security by essentially announcing when you will be traveling and to where.

I have found loads of info about the ports, excursions, tricks, hidden gems, etc in these groups that I wouldn’t have located otherwise (or it would have taken so much longer to track down or need to get through a lot of much – yup I am talking about Reddit pages) and learned to take complaints and issues with a grain of salt….unless there were a lot of people in agreement, then that tidbit was something to keep in the back of my mind.

Only through a Facebook page did I find out out that the Nieuw Statendam had free saunas (there are separate ones for men and women) from the specific sailing group so worth it to join for that reason alone!

This is separate from the thermal spa – located on the Lido Deck (9) – port side as you are heading to the fitness center. Note that there are hooks for belongs, towels and showers before you enter the sauna but I forgot to take photos.

OVERALL IMPRESSION

There are two reasons why my review should have an asterisk next to this one. From the beginning, I was already a bit apprehensive about the cruise due to a personal situation but then I was also subjected to a man trying to proposition me – as in the “offered me $ kind”. Things like this make one weary especially in the evenings when people are likelier to be drinking so I stopped going to evening things around the ship soooo I wasn’t able to see and do as much as I normally would.

But this is was my second comped cruise (and third ever) and combined with my extensive travels and previous work in hospitality, I think I can still give a fair assessment. 

I was really impressed by how Holland America handled the itinerary change and that set the tone for the rest of the cruise. Sure it was very disappointing that we did not get to Greenland but things just turned out to be a different type of amazing than I had wanted or even hoped for…