Statendam - Pacific Eden

[SeaDog-46]

Just returned from Statendam's final cruise for HAL from Seattle to Singapore.

The 30 day cruise started on a beautiful Seattle day with a fireboat send off & a final farewell from HAL office staff in a waterside park. Many long blasts on ship's foghorn & cheers from ashore before turning around & proceeding to Vancouver.

At Hilo Zaandam also sent us off with several blasts on her foghorn.

The ship is being delivered to the Singapore dockyard in excellent condition & is a credit to the previous & current staff Captains & the deck crew. Cleaning & touch up painting continued all the way - with only the anchor area & below waterline in need of dockyard attention.

During the transpacific crossing a group of workers were running cables in the crew area for the new emergency generator being installed in Singapore.

 

There was an engine problem leaving Majuro when a generator got cooling water into the cylinders - this needed a part not carried & caused us to miss Chuuk & proceed directly to Saipan.

Passengers were compensated with return of port taxes & fees plus $50 pp.

Repair effected in Guam by a Sulzer & ships engineers.

 

When Statendam leaves the Sembawang floating dock in Singapore, the HAL's engineers will confirm all systems are working before the ship is handed over to P&O Aust. - It then changes name to Pacific Eden & flag changes to UK.

Because of flag change only UK valid certificated officers can sail onboard in senior positions.

Captain Christopher Norman & Staff Capt. Ryan Whitaker are on loan to P&O Aust. for 2 years.

Capt. Norman speaks in clear slow English with only a slight accent. He is an excellent ship handler & kept the passengers well informed about the several tropical storms he was watching & avoiding during the crossing.

The Staff Chief Engineer is reported to be transferring to P&O Aust. & being promoted to Chief Engineer of Pacific Eden.

Two HAL officers - a 1st officer & a female 2nd officer from New Zealand will sail to Fremantle to familiarize P&O deck officers with the ship.

Leaving Singapore Pacific Eden will have onboard around 700 contract workers finishing the transformation.

At Fremantle the ship will be alongside for a few days before starting it's first cruise.

[cheznandy]

Hi John, thanks for the info, I think those two ships will be in great condition and they seemed loved and looked after, just like the Regal Princess was when handed over to P&O as Pacific Dawn.

Hope they don't make too many changes and cram a few more 4 berths in:(

 

Chez

[SeaDog-46]

Cheryl - lovely to hear from you.

Apart from the changes to the dining areas - an additional number of cabins are being turned into 4 berths.

The standard ocean view cabin is longer that PD with a 2 or 3 seat sofa included.

Most cabins have a real bathroom with shower over - a lot more space than Legend of the Seas.

 

My mother cashed in here chips at 98 in May last year - so don't get to Port Mac. much now.

 

Cheers

John

[cheznandy]

Cheryl - lovely to hear from you.

Apart from the changes to the dining areas - an additional number of cabins are being turned into 4 berths.

The standard ocean view cabin is longer that PD with a 2 or 3 seat sofa included.

Most cabins have a real bathroom with shower over - a lot more space than Legend of the Seas.

 

My mother cashed in here chips at 98 in May last year - so don't get to Port Mac. much now.

 

Cheers

John

 

Sorry to hear about Mum:( but 98 wow!!

 

John a few were asking about the bath/shower situation here, so there may be a few questions about them.

I would be interested in an Inside on Deck 6 with the promenade all around, what was that area like. I also notice that there are a couple of extra large Outsides on that deck aft, I have seen a you tube video of them and they look really roomy, but on the P&O plan they look like they are changing them to quads.......also couple of extra large sideways cabins look to be changing to quads.

 

Hopefully P&O might change up the itinerary's abit with the Dawn/Explorer.

 

Chez

[SeaDog-46]

Hi Cheryl

We visited friends at the aft end of deck 6 & they are a bit wider but are being converted to 4 berths. Not sure about the inside cabins as we did not see one, but they are no wider than standard. The outside ones on deck 6 were not as long as ours - having a 2 seat sofa & one less set of drawers on opposite side. The widow looks out onto the prom deck that goes right round. The widows have a reflective coating.

We were on deck 9 port forward in 110 / 9014 on Eden. These cabins are as deep as a balcony cabin & have a 3 seat sofa plus an extra set of drawers opposite & the same width at PD. There is some noise from the show lounge in this area. The only additional cabin on Eden that I can see is the forward inside in this area that HAL used for officers. They were carrying at least 4 cadets on Statendam.

The quietest o/v cabins are on the lowest deck 4. Deck 5 has the prom. deck above & can get some noise.

The teak prom deck is 4 rounds to 1 km. the upper jogging deck is also teak but not as long due to netted ball courts at each aft side. The main pool has a moveable roof that works.

They are nice handy sized ships & are a great addition to the Au. fleet.

John

[cheznandy]

Hi Cheryl

We visited friends at the aft end of deck 6 & they are a bit wider but are being converted to 4 berths. Not sure about the inside cabins as we did not see one, but they are no wider than standard. The outside ones on deck 6 were not as long as ours - having a 2 seat sofa & one less set of drawers on opposite side. The widow looks out onto the prom deck that goes right round. The widows have a reflective coating.

We were on deck 9 port forward in 110 / 9014 on Eden. These cabins are as deep as a balcony cabin & have a 3 seat sofa plus an extra set of drawers opposite & the same width at PD. There is some noise from the show lounge in this area. The only additional cabin on Eden that I can see is the forward inside in this area that HAL used for officers. They were carrying at least 4 cadets on Statendam.

The quietest o/v cabins are on the lowest deck 4. Deck 5 has the prom. deck above & can get some noise.

The teak prom deck is 4 rounds to 1 km. the upper jogging deck is also teak but not as long due to netted ball courts at each aft side. The main pool has a moveable roof that works.

They are nice handy sized ships & are a great addition to the Au. fleet.

John

 

Great info John, thinking of booking a three nighter to get a feel, I don't mind a smaller ship as long as it has the amenities, I think the retractable pool roof is a plus and we really appreciated it on the Grand class (Princess) plus the wrap around Promenade. Kinda wish Princess had of purchased these two ships and did some really interesting itineraries to places some of the larger ones can't go.....P&O could have had all of the Sunclass:rolleyes::p

 

Chez

[Royalty X]

Once she gets to Freo, she'll be taking a ship load of travel agents out for a night. Woohoo! :)

[MicCanberra]

Thanks SeaDog-46 for all the info. getting excited for the party in Sydney harbour now.:D

[BINDY31]

what great info you have shared with us... we will be travelling on Eden in February. looking forward so much to being onboard. Statendam seems like a beautiful ship and I am sure she will be much loved by all that sail on her under her new name...

[ShipFish]

Found something by accident a couple of days ago which may be of interest to some of you. An Instagram feed from someone onboard the Statendam to Pacific Eden drydock with photos of the conversion in progress.

 

https://instagram.com/seafarerswife/

[MicCanberra]

Found something by accident a couple of days ago which may be of interest to some of you. An Instagram feed from someone onboard the Statendam to Pacific Eden drydock with photos of the conversion in progress.

 

https://instagram.com/seafarerswife/

 

Cheers for the link.:D

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Yes . Thanks for the link. Looks like a massive rebuild. I trust the Australian market will appreciate all the work they are getting. Good to see them keeping) the dark hull :)

[MicCanberra]

Yes . Thanks for the link. Looks like a massive rebuild. I trust the Australian market will appreciate all the work they are getting. Good to see them keeping) the dark hull :)

 

Yes, I like the look of the dark hull as well.:D

[SeaDog-46]

Thanks for link to Mrs. Pamela Whitakers blog.

Staff Captain Ryan Whitaker & his wife joined Statendam in Hololulu.

He is English & hails from Cumbria. Did his Merchant Navy training with Shell Tankers.

In the blog -

7 rows of photos down on right in orange safety helmet - Staff Capt. Whitaker.

12 rows down - centre - Dismantling bronze atrium sculpture on deck 6.

Note protective ply sheets on teak decks - they were laying these on the prom deck before all passengers were off. While we waited for transport at Harbour Front terminal - busloads of UK & Eu contractors were boarding Statendam.

Pacific Eden's very dark blue hull looks black from a distance.

[MicCanberra]

Thanks for link to Mrs. Pamela Whitakers blog.

Staff Captain Ryan Whitaker & his wife joined Statendam in Hololulu.

He is English & hails from Cumbria. Did his Merchant Navy training with Shell Tankers.

In the blog -

7 rows of photos down on right in orange safety helmet - Staff Capt. Whitaker.

12 rows down - centre - Dismantling bronze atrium sculpture on deck 6.

Note protective ply sheets on teak decks - they were laying these on the prom deck before all passengers were off. While we waited for transport at Harbour Front terminal - busloads of UK & Eu contractors were boarding Statendam.

Pacific Eden's very dark blue hull looks black from a distance.

 

It should be awesome when completed.:D

[bcummin]

Thanks for link to Mrs. Pamela Whitakers blog.

Staff Captain Ryan Whitaker & his wife joined Statendam in Hololulu.

He is English & hails from Cumbria. Did his Merchant Navy training with Shell Tankers.

In the blog -

7 rows of photos down on right in orange safety helmet - Staff Capt. Whitaker.

12 rows down - centre - Dismantling bronze atrium sculpture on deck 6.

Note protective ply sheets on teak decks - they were laying these on the prom deck before all passengers were off. While we waited for transport at Harbour Front terminal - busloads of UK & Eu contractors were boarding Statendam.

Pacific Eden's very dark blue hull looks black from a distance.

 

Thank you, John, for sharing so much about our beloved ship.

What will be the destination of the dismantled atrium sculpture removed from ms Statendam? And of the art collection that was onboard?

 

Barbara

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Thank you, John, for sharing so much about our beloved ship.

What will be the destination of the dismantled atrium sculpture removed from ms Statendam? And of the art collection that was onboard?Barbara

 

Some of the HAL ships are indeed floating Art Galleries. When we were on Amsterdam they had as an onboard activity a tour of the the Art on board. There was so much , it was spread over 2 sea days . During that tour we were told that the Art is owned by HAL , and as such when a ship is sold or transferred the works are sent back to Head Office in Seattle to be either disposed of or "recycled" to a new build.

One such work was the 4 sculptures depicting the 4 Seasons. A HAL Executive spotted it an antique shop and recognised it as coming from an early HAL ship and was able to save it and have installed in a stairwell on Amsterdam.

Bearing that in mind I expect anything that is not built in will be returned but such things as the Dolphins around the pool will stay....hopefully.

It will be intriguing to see what replacement goes in the Atrium.

[SeaDog-46]

Hi Barbara

The atrium sculpture that Pamela calls the Sirens will most likely go for scrap.

A great pity but if it is bronze it may go back to sea as a vessels propeller.

 

This morning - 3rd Nov. - has been busy at Sembawang - Pacific Eden floated out of drydock & was replaced by Ryndam.

It will not be long before PE sails from Singapore to Fremantle.

Pamela has posted some photos of the different parts of the ex Lido - now the Pantry.

 

John

[bcummin]

Hi John,

 

You broke my heart. It would be a crime to destroy the bronze atrium sculpture. When our daughter Lisa and her husband came aboard in Seattle, the mermaids were her very favorite part of ms Statendam. Hopefully sane minds will prevail and the exquisite sculpture will have a new place of honor.

 

Thank you, Kiwi Kruzer, for the information about Holland America art collections. The Lido pool dolphins are indeed gorgeous.

 

Barbara

[MicCanberra]

If they cannot be kept somewhere, then recycling is better than scraping them.:D