The Nieuw Statendam is Holland America Line's (HAL) most modern ship
Article from CruisesNews magazine, issue 47 – December 2018
Their project is a compromise between the tradition of a company that is approaching two hundred years of history, and the technology and design capable of attracting young passengers.
With a gross tonnage of 99,500 GT and a passenger capacity of 2,650, the Nieuw Statendam is a large ship, yet remarkably spacious and roomy, where queuing or searching for a seat is rare. This extra space allows it to offer an excellent range of entertainment options, including some of the most extraordinary venues found on a mid-sized vessel.
With this addition, Holland America Line now boasts a fleet of fifteen ships, solidifying its position as a leading brand in the premium segment and a leader in destinations such as Alaska, Atlantic Canada, the Panama Canal, and Australia. Its fleet sails from the Caribbean to Antarctica, offering everything from short cruises to multi-month round-the-world voyages.
More Curves and Colors on the Nieuw Statendam.
The interior design of the Nieuw Statendam is the work of two renowned architects: Norwegian Bjørn Storbraaten and Adam D. Tihany of New York, who previously collaborated on the Koningsdam. Storbraaten spearheaded Holland America's Signature of Excellence program, which involved the complete refurbishment of nearly all of its ships. He also designed the sister ships Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam, the previous generation of vessels in the company's fleet. Holland America aims to attract younger customers while retaining its traditional clientele. This began with modernizing the design of its ships, a process that started in 2001 with the Zuiderdam. As a result, the Holland America Line fleet has become more modern and better aligned with the land-based resorts with which it competes. This process culminates in the Pinnacle series, and more specifically in the Nieuw Statendam, a fresh, cheerful, light-filled ship with areas comparable to any modern resort or cruise ship. It's a ship where the designer's attention to detail is paramount: even the colors of the tableware coordinate with the upholstery and the model of its respective restaurant.
75% of Holland America Line passengers are American, followed by Australians and Dutch.
Tihany is the fashion designer of the cruise world. His studio designed the last two Seabourn ships, the Encore and the Ovation, and his next project will be the Costa Smeralda. For Americans, he is an icon of hotel and restaurant design. He describes the Koningsdam as a "sexy" ship, due to its many curves in the interior, and the Nieuw Statendam definitely follows in its footsteps. The funnel aft is the most austere part of its exterior design, due to its verticality, but the ship's profile is pleasing despite its scale.
The deck layout is traditional: the lower decks (2 and 3) house the interior public spaces, and deck 9 is the lido, with the two swimming pools, the buffet, and the spa. Deck 3 is the boat deck and also serves as a promenade deck, allowing passengers to walk the entire length of the ship. It is very popular with passengers.
Art on Board:
One of Holland America Line's lesser-known but perhaps most interesting partners is its art expert, ArtLink. The Nieuw Statendam is the fourth cruise ship with an art collection purchased by ArtLink, and plans for future Holland America ships are already underway. The Nieuw Statendam features an art gallery that sells works by emerging artists native to the destinations the ship visits. Because the company aims to make art accessible (and affordable), most of the artworks cost less than $500. In the future, Holland America plans to bring local artists on board to discuss their work and conduct workshops in which passengers can participate.
The
Nieuw Statendam, like its predecessor, boasts the most balcony cabins in the HAL fleet, with a total of 912 (69% of the total), including 164 suites and 748 veranda cabins. It also offers 147 outside cabins and 280 inside cabins.
The ship offers a variety of cabin categories, with unique options: active passengers can stay in the spa category, in cabins located next to the Greenhouse Spa, equipped with yoga mats and iPod docking stations. Holland America is increasingly catering to the family cruise market, to the point that the Nieuw Statendam offers 32 outside family cabins, without balconies, approximately 21 square meters in size, with two bathrooms, accommodating up to five people. HAL also offers twelve outside single cabins, ranging from 12 to 16 square meters, for another emerging market: single travelers.
The suites are spectacular: the largest is the Pinnacle Suite, at 90 m², with a 30 m² terrace; the 45 Neptune Suites offer 67 m², with a 13 m² balcony. The fourteen Signature Suites are around 29 m², with an 8 m² balcony. And finally, the 104 Vista Suites range from 20 to 28 m², with a 5 m² terrace. All suites include butler service, access to the Neptune Room, access to the Oranje Club, and other amenities. The ship has 27 cabins for guests with disabilities, featuring wider doorways, walk-in showers, turning spaces, and more. It also offers 13 cabins for guests with reduced mobility who do not use wheelchairs.
The cabins offer plenty of electrical outlets, both European and American, as well as USB ports for charging phones and tablets on the bedside tables. All the lights are controlled from the headboard, including the reading lights. The blackout curtains work perfectly, which will be very useful on fjord cruises.
The bed is very comfortable, with two different types of pillows for each passenger. The sheets and towels are very soft. There is ample storage space for luggage, with plenty of drawers in the cabin for organizing it. As thoughtful design touches, there are drawers under the bed for luggage. And the life jackets are stored on the sofa, instead of taking up space in the wardrobe.
Holland America offers educational programs offered in conjunction with O, The Oprah Magazine (which will be the ship's godmother), or computer labs managed by Microsoft.
The bathroom is spacious, with a large, perfectly functioning shower that offers just the right pressure and instant hot water. There are shower gel and shampoo dispensers mounted on the bulkhead. The toilet is tucked into a corner, maximizing available space. A few shelves in the bathroom provide storage for toiletries.
The flat-screen TV offers a wide range of channels, including MSNBC, CNBC, Fox News, and the BBC, as well as live webcam feeds from the bow and stern of the ship. It also provides a wealth of information about life on board, such as menus, and shows movies in Spanish.
Culinary Offerings:
One of Holland America's pillars is its gastronomy. This cruise line is renowned for its menus thanks to the collaboration of acclaimed chefs who make up the Culinary Council. The main dining room is decorated in yellow and located aft, occupying decks 2 and 3. The center of deck 3 is an elliptical opening, a feature also found in the atrium. Within this central space are ribs inspired by the shape of a harp, a spectacular staircase forward, and a wine cellar spanning the two aft decks. The ceiling in the center of the restaurant is adorned with large lights in the shape of musical notes. Yellow is omnipresent in upholstery, carpeting, and other details. It's a very bright space that makes a strong impression on passengers. And the service is spectacular: the waiter takes orders on a tablet, and the dishes arrive relatively quickly. The menu is diverse and varied, and the open seating concept works reasonably well. The sommelier is very attentive but not intrusive. The Nieuw Statendam's wine cellar boasts a selection of Spanish wines, particularly Riojas and Albariño, and the other international wines are excellent. There's always someone ready to refill your glass as soon as it starts to run low. Finally, coffee is available after your meal—a touch of premium service, reflected in the quality of the service.
The Lido Market buffet is spacious, and given the number of passengers on board, it's rarely crowded. It's decorated in shades of green (even the glasses and plates). HAL's buffet experience was revolutionized on its predecessor, the Koningsdam, with the Lido Market, a concept that has been replicated on the Nieuw Statendam. Instead of a linear counter or islands, it's organized around pop-up counters (or "food stations") offering various options such as salads, sandwiches, desserts, and more. The result is remarkable, with the possibility of providing customized salads, pasta (made to order), and other dishes. Coffee and tea are available 24 hours a day.
The Italian restaurant Canaletto occupies part of the buffet on the starboard bow, thus optimizing this space. It is perhaps the least recommendable option among the pay-per-view restaurants, despite the exceptional friendliness of its staff.
The Pinnacle Grill is the largest alternative restaurant with reservations on the Nieuw Statendam. It is located next to the Rudi Des Mer on deck 2, next to the atrium, from which you can see the wine cellar, which is entirely made of glass. This establishment, decorated in shades of blue (including the tableware), except for some sofas and the entrance door, which are red, offers a select menu of meat and fish dishes. In October 2002, the Pinnacle Grill alternative restaurant concept was introduced on the Statendam and the Ryndam. Sixteen years later, the Pinnacle Grill continues to offer fresh fish, exquisite meats, and an extensive wine list, which have been the foundation of its prestige over the years. Once on a cruise, the Pinnacle Grill transforms into De Librije, a three-Michelin-starred restaurant located in Zwolle, Netherlands, whose chef, Jonnie Boer, is one of the founders of Holland America's Culinary Council. Holland America's president, Orlando Ashford, is a regular at its kitchen.
The Nieuw Statendam offers a collection of artworks valued at more than four million dollars.
Dinners on the Nieuw Statendam are timeless. For starters, they consist of three or four courses. Furthermore, there's no pressure of set seatings, and tables, especially the larger ones, linger over their meal. There are plenty of tables for couples, although passengers tend to socialize by sharing the experience with other diners.
Holland America maintains the tradition of formal dinners, scheduling at least one each week. Passengers tend to dress in their finest attire, including evening gowns and tuxedos, but there are also those in much more casual attire, and a cocktail dress for women or a suit for men is certainly more than adequate.
Sel de Mer
, when referring to its onboard cuisine, speaks of culinary experiences. Just like on the Koningsdam, its sister ship features the Sel de Mer restaurant, an authentic French brasserie with international seafood menus. You can see the fish at the restaurant's entrance, which will later end up on your table. The restaurant operates by reservation, the menu is à la carte, and the experience is exceptional. On board the Nieuw Statendam was master chef Rudi Sodamin, leading Sel de Mer alongside its two sister ships. The restaurant is decorated like the hold of an old sailing ship, imitating frames, beams, and masts. The dominant color is red, to the point that even the glasses and plates share this hue. The food is spectacular: top-quality seafood, fresh fish of the day, dreamy wines (including the finest Albariños), and more. And the service is excellent: watching them fillet a sole is a spectacle in itself.
Rudi Sodamin is quite a character: extroverted and direct. He defines himself as a "culinary pop artist," and that's why he cooks on the music ship. He has written twelve cookbooks, and his experience on board dates back to the Vistafjord and the QE2. His fish dishes are exceptional.
Meanwhile, the Culinary Arts Center on the Koningsdam has become Club Oranje on the Nieuw Statendam. The new Club Orange program offers exclusive services for passengers in the Neptune and Pinnacle suite categories. Among its benefits are an exclusive dining restaurant, where cooking classes, tastings, and other events are offered.
The Tamarind restaurant, located on deck 10 above the aft pool, offers Asian cuisine with a decor based on violets and browns. On the Nieuw Statendam, the sushi bar is integrated into Tamarind and renamed Nami Sushi, featuring a new menu created by chef Andy Matsuda. Weather permitting, guests can dine under the stars in the two outdoor areas on either side of the ship, each presided over by a life-size terracotta warrior.
The Grand Dutch Café, designed by Tihany, is decorated in blues (like his Delft porcelain) with motifs alluding to the canals of Holland and the narrow houses of Amsterdam. Dutch orange is also present in its design, appearing in flowers and the waiters' uniforms. Introduced on its sister ship, the Koningsdam, it offers traditional Dutch sweets, coffees (served in a striking golden coffee pot), and European beers. Located on deck 3 next to the atrium, it feels like the heart of the ship. It also occupies part of the promenade deck, an extension that connects it to the sea, continuing the blue of its decor. When other restaurants are closed, the Grand Dutch Café is always open. But when a queue forms, its waiters move quickly and make it disappear in no time.
Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line: “Our four pillars are service, food, destinations, and live music. That's what sets us apart from our competitors.”.
The focal point on board is the three-deck circular atrium, though the perception of its size is somewhat diminished by an integrated stainless steel sculpture of a harp. It cost nearly a million dollars and weighs seven and a half tons. The idea is that passengers at its base are surrounded by a musical instrument.
For wine lovers, the Nieuw Statendam offers Blend, a wine bar created in partnership with the American winery Chateau Ste. Michelle, the oldest in Washington state. Guided by an expert, passengers can create their own wine blend after tasting different varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, or Merlot, all sourced from that winery.
Music of all styles.
Musical entertainment on the Nieuw Statendam is concentrated in the corridor on Deck 2, which includes the Lincoln Center Stage for chamber music in the afternoon, thanks to an agreement with the renowned Lincoln Center in New York. And unlike the Koningsdam, this same stage doubles as BB King's Blue Club at night, offering blues and jazz. The Lincoln Center Stage is very popular, and the bands on the inaugural cruise were incredibly talented. Holland America transitioned from a traditional enclosed venue (the Queen's Room) to one open to the bow-to-stern circulation corridor, also known as Music Street. It also spans two decks, thanks to a curved opening that connects it to Deck 3. Both the chamber music quintet and the blues band were excellent, and the passengers were captivated by their talent. The additional noise from the shops and the corridor doesn't bother the musicians and adds to the atmosphere of this venue.
Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line: “We want to offer the best live music at sea. We will only have the best musicians on board, with experts in each type of music, who are not interchanged between different venues.”.
Another change from the Koningsdam is the addition of the Rolling Stone Rock Room, located at the front of Lincoln Center, where a rock band performs every night. Again, Tihany chose red, which she combined with browns and grays. It seems impossible that such a long-established passageway could be so rock-oriented, but it's worth remembering that the Rolling Stones are in their seventies and have a huge following, many of whom gathered at the Nieuw Statendam.
There's also plenty of live music opposite the Rolling Stone Rock Room, with Billboard Onboard, where a talented pair of pianists treat the passageway to music of all styles each night. Interestingly, their seats are usually the last to fill up, after enjoying the shows at Lincoln Center and the Rolling Stone, which don't overlap. The audience interacts a lot with the pianists between songs, and that's its main appeal.
Right next door is Notes. It's a whisky tasting bar where you can see the available brands on the illuminated shelf or browse on a tablet to view the varieties and prices. Then you can sample from two ounces, with or without ice, with or without water. Another nighttime learning experience with many followers.
The World Stage theater
on the Nieuw Statendam is a groundbreaking concept, breaking with traditional theater design. The audience is surrounded 270 degrees by three LED screens spanning two decks. This screen, not the stage itself, is the star of the productions, projecting all sorts of images (mountains, deserts, sky, etc.) that change as the actors perform. In other productions, the focus is on the stage and the actors, with the screens playing a secondary role. The stage is flexible, offering multiple options including rotation, orchestra pits, and the raising of sections. The World Stage also features nature documentaries, including some from the BBC's Frozen Planet series, which are spectacular in themselves, but the live music enhances the immersive experience. Entertainment on this ship is among the best afloat.
Holland America's partners help improve service quality by maximizing the availability of experts on board.
The casino is located on deck 3, decorated in shades of brown and gold. It's a necessary passage to the theater, yet it was never crowded. Perhaps because the audience was older, the tables were never occupied, but the slot machines were more popular. It's connected by a beautiful staircase to the Music Walk, which usually empties out at the first note on the lower deck.
Movement on board is simple and efficient. The corridors are very wide. The ship has three sets of stairs/elevators, which facilitate vertical movement. Disembarking and embarking are also quick, despite the wheelchairs and walkers used by older passengers.
Onboard Enrichment
Another hallmark of Holland America is the opportunity to learn or refine skills onboard. This is achieved through partnerships with companies, magazines, and other sources of knowledge. Evidence of this policy is evident onboard, from long-standing collaborations with the Culinary Council to more recent initiatives, such as their partnership with Rolling Stone magazine to incorporate rock music into the Music Walk on Deck 2. Holland America President Orlando Ashford commented, “Our partnerships allow us to quickly establish and elevate these concepts.”
All Asian crew members at Holland America go through a school for six weeks before embarking.
The Rolling Stone Rock Room is a new venue where a live rock band plays songs from the past few decades. Thanks to its partnership with Billboard, HAL offers Billboard Onboard, featuring over 50 years of musical hits that get the audience moving as two pianists play their favorite tunes. Meanwhile, trivia questions appear on screens, which the passengers compete to answer.
Another Holland America partner is Fuji. Orlando Ashford explicitly mentioned them, stating that they are an example of "turning enrichment into results." He indicated that they "introduce technology onboard to be more efficient" and "for example, reduce the environmental impact of printed photos." HAL's partnership with Fujifilm allows passengers to create tangible souvenirs from their own photos. Fuji's touchscreens can create anything from mugs to bottles using images from a mobile phone or memory card. This concept creates a unique shopping opportunity and also eliminates the chemical waste from printing photos onboard. They also offer photography classes.
The Nieuw Statendam offers a digital workshop sponsored by Windows, where you can learn new technological skills from expert Microsoft technicians. These free sessions for small groups are designed for all levels and cover topics ranging from photo and video editing to PowerPoint presentations, PC organization, cloud computing, and more. Each session is offered several times during the cruise.
The Exploration Café, located forward on deck 12, is the place to be for learning on board: it serves as an observation lounge, classroom, library, café, games room, and even has a desk for booking excursions. Above all, it offers tranquility, silence, and peace. Decorated in browns and beiges, its sun loungers with a forward view are highly sought after by passengers.
Outdoor Spaces:
The Nieuw Statendam houses both swimming pools and the buffet on a single deck (Deck 9). Another innovation of the Pinnacle ships is that the lido area surrounding the pool spans two decks, allowing for a much wider selection of cabanas, sun loungers, wicker-style chairs, and more than the rest of the fleet, perfect for sunbathing, taking a nap, or watching movies on the giant screen. The Dive-In Burgers is located by the main pool, next to the buffet, and serves burgers and hot dogs to order. The thermal pool is situated forward of the main pool, with direct access between the two without having to go through the Spa.
The Nieuw Statendam is the second ship in the Holland America fleet with a giant screen by the pool. On the inaugural cruise, it wasn't very popular in the evenings, even though the sliding glass roof provided a very pleasant temperature. It's difficult to compete with the World Stage and the Lincoln Center Stage. The screen image is very clear (even during the day), and they offer popcorn and blankets.
Aft of Deck 12 is The Retreat, a paid outdoor area near the Greenhouse Spa & Salon, offering a multitude of private cabanas and a large central jacuzzi.
program
from Amsterdam that its sister ship, the Koningsdam, has provided so successfully this year, with cruises to the Baltic and the Norwegian fjords. According to Orlando Ashford, his company is working on “personalizing destination experiences,” incorporating new, more active experiences, such as the Maasdam's “EXC In-Depth Voyages.”
Holland America President Orlando Ashford stated, “We have a lot of confidence in our crew members. We invest in a happy crew to provide good service.”.
Regarding the impact of cruises on destinations, Orlando Ashford clarified that Holland America does not operate megaships, and that they also distribute passengers among many different attractions thanks to their excursion offerings. He concluded that the solution may lie in planning port calls and designing the cruise from the passenger's perspective, who simply wants to enjoy the stops.
The Nieuw Statendam has diesel/electric propulsion, with four MAK 12 VM43C generator sets, each producing 12,800 kW (51,200 kW at 514 rpm total). It is powered by two ABB Azipods, each generating 14,000 kW at 136 rpm. It has a service speed of 18 knots and a maximum speed of 22 knots.
CruisesNews' opinion:
Holland America Line has always been a conservative cruise line in terms of its product. While many cruise lines focused on neon, glamour, and technology, Holland America has remained true to its traditional Dutch roots. However, it has evolved with ships like the Nieuw Statendam, where the genius of Adam D. Tihany is palpable. He used musical inspiration as a theme for the ship's design and decor, telling a story as passengers move throughout the vessel. The music, the elegant design, and the attention to detail brilliantly highlight the new innovations. Another asset of this cruise line is its crew: they are exceptionally attentive and do so with complete naturalness. It is a comfortable ship, free of noise and vibrations despite cruising at 19 knots.
Orlando Ashford: “Passenger feedback is of paramount importance in ship design, sometimes even more so than our own opinions.”.
