History in the making…

Yesterday, I was blessed to spend the day aboard the Nieuw Statendam on her inaugural visit to the United Kingdom.

The Nieuw Statendam is the second of Holland America’s Pinnacle-class ships and this week history was made, as she completed her first call to the UK, docking at the Port of Tyne.

With Holland America Line famed for transporting passengers from Europe across to America for some 145 years, it was quite fitting that the maiden voyage of the Nieuw Statendam, which took place in late 2018, was a transatlantic crossing from Europe across to Fort Lauderdale; her home-port for the Winter 2018/2019 season.

Fast forward to August 2019 and I was able to board the Nieuw Statendam part-way through her 21 day ‘Viking Sagas and Northern Isles’ voyage, where I was thoroughly impressed with the vessel as a whole, as well as some innovative features and remarkable experiences available on board.

The first thing that struck me was the way in which the ship resembles a floating gallery for art and sculpture…

The spacious corridors throughout the ship are adorned with wide ranging styles in the various different areas of the ship, floral displays and sculptures are dotted throughout your journey of the the public areas, and the stairways & elevator lobby areas feature some truly interesting pieces; which invite you to stop for a moment to experience the art, invoking thoughtful, interactive experiences.

In his previous working-life, my hubby was an Art Auctioneer aboard Holland America’s Maasdam, thus I particularly enjoyed sharing with him the way in which Holland America have beautifully extended the Art Gallery experience throughout the public areas of this vessel, showcasing new artists and innovative forms of artistic expression in a way that reaches out to you as you journey around the Nieuw Statendam.

As a music lover with rather eclectic taste, I was thoroughly enthused by the design of the Music Walk, where clever timetabling gently ushers guests from one musical experience to the next, throughout the evening and into the night. Early music sessions tend to begin at the Lincoln Center Stage, which has a backdrop reminiscent of a classical music hall and offers a wonderful prelude to the array of music & dance featured at the World Stage Theatre.

Later in the evening, a stroll toward the Billboard Onboard bar will delight your senses, with two pianists playing duelling grand pianos whilst singing hits from across the decades; whether they be favourite one-hit wonders or iconic anthems, as well as playing your special requests. As the pianists then take their well-earned break, the next venue will begin their live offerings, whether it be the Rock Room sponsored by Rollingstone Magazine or BB King’s for some late night blues…

The Music Walk is a wonderfully delightful experience which takes guests on a musical journey each evening as they enjoy the various bars and lounges onboard the ship.

As you would expect, the Nieuw Statendam has a fabulous selection of bars, lounges and dining experiences, and we enjoyed a delicious 3-course lunch in the main dining room…

… however, in an extension of dining and gastronomic experiences, Holland America pride themselves on their wonderful range of specially designed enrichment experiences. I was particularly taken with the opportunity to join an interactive class with a trained Sommelier, where you are invited to sample a range of wines in a tasting session, learning to recognise the structure and qualities of the varieties, before blending your own personal wine. A wonderful unique experience and the wine can be enjoyed onboard in celebration of your new found talents.

I was also enthralled Explorations Central, an area dedicated to ‘destination immersion experiences’…

Laid out in the form of a lounge at the front of the ship on the observation deck, this area features charts, maps and guidebooks, as well as giant touchscreen tables and even multimedia destination presentations scheduled throughout the voyage. EXC is where you are able to research destinations in a variety of ways and benefit from expert knowledge on the ports of call; there is even a screen featuring the charts and information being viewed by the Captain at any given moment. EXC aims to provide interactive ways for guests to plan & enjoy their journey aboard Holland America, and to immerse travelers in the culture of a destination before they even step ashore.

Another key feature which impressed me on the Nieuw Statendam, is the retractable roof atop the Lido pool area, which means that even on voyages to cooler climes, the pool and jacuzzis can still be thoroughly enjoyed… something worth noting for those who enjoy swimming and poolside relaxation, yet are perhaps also excited by less temperate destinations or the allure of reduced pricing for more out-of-season cruising.

For Summer 2019, the Nieuw Statendam is cruising northern Europe, Iceland and the Baltic from Amsterdam, and from September she will be sailing her Mediterranean itinerary from Civitavecchia, the port for Rome.

I would like to thank Holland America for their wonderful hospitality and for the opportunity to explore the Nieuw Statendam during her first call to the UK.

For more information on upcoming sailings for Nieuw Statendam, Holland America Line, and for a wide range of ocean and river cruise options from all our cruising partners; as always, make me your first port of call 🙂

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