Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

Live from Nieuw Statendam Premier Voyage, December 2018

Vict0riann

By Vict0riann,
in Holland America Line

 Share

Recommended Posts

Copper10-8 "Live from...." Rare

Copper10-8

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Vict0riann said:

A few more pix from the Dutch Cafe.  The different types of Dutch licorice are very popular.  0CEF900D-817F-4B4C-AEB8-62A9EF56F883.thumb.jpeg.28259141341af8f61fbd6a4791566415.jpeg759A5FB8-22F5-49FB-86D5-F83D7618143F.thumb.jpeg.74a4d478f3e02518df6426e91f497a9c.jpeg

 

 

Awesome. thanx for those pics! Grew up on "dropjes" (Dutch name for licorice) and haven't had a "Gevulde koek" (filled cookie) since my Dad took me to watch soccer games and DWS in the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam at halftime in the "kantine" :classic_smile:

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Fouremco

Fouremco

Posted
Posted
14 hours ago, Tutpug said:

I’m a novice on cruising so this question may seem odd to the veterans here, but I’ve read on several sites about brining ones’ own favorite pillow as the ships pillows may be a bit ‘lacking’.

I take my pillow with me whenever and wherever I travel. Between the pillow and ear plugs, I almost always get a good night's sleep, no matter where I am, and it's well worth the little bit of space and weight allowance taken in my baggage.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
GeorgiaPeach51 "Live from...." Rare

GeorgiaPeach51

Posted
Posted

Hello, and thanks so much for this detailed review.  What a wonderful job you are doing, and I appreciate so much the time you are taking to give so much info to those of us who are booked on this ship!

We are booked on this ship for a TA next year but have some concerns about the smoking on the ship.  Previous comments on reviews of the Koningsdam noted smoke coming out of the casino into the adjacent areas and stairwells.  Is that the case on this new ship?  Having been on neither, it is hard for me to picture the casino and surrounding areas.  It would be really helpful if you could weigh in with firsthand observations.

i also saw in yesterday’s posting of the daily that they had a non smoking evening in the casino.  Do you have any idea how often that occurs and if it is in effect for the whole day or just the evening?

I know smoking is a hot button topic and do not want to hijack your great thread with a big discussion,  but your input will help us determine if we keep or ultimately cancel our cruise.  Any info you can provide will be much appreciated!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
scluvsrain

scluvsrain

Posted
Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, DWAliaschief said:

Did you actually eat it or just take the picture?

 

I’m very sad to say I ate it. I didn’t pay attention to the menu and when it was put in front of me I thought it was a mushroom dish. I felt horrible when I realized what it was. 

 

I sat with Hazel Arnold for the dinner and she only eats fish. Her substitute was a shrimp and scallop, I believe. Much like the one they served me when we had the Cellar Master dinner on the Koningsdam last month. 

Edited by scluvsrain
Link to comment
Share on other sites
scluvsrain

scluvsrain

Posted
Posted
5 minutes ago, GeorgiaPeach51 said:

Hello, and thanks so much for this detailed review.  What a wonderful job you are doing, and I appreciate so much the time you are taking to give so much info to those of us who are booked on this ship!

We are booked on this ship for a TA next year but have some concerns about the smoking on the ship.  Previous comments on reviews of the Koningsdam noted smoke coming out of the casino into the adjacent areas and stairwells.  Is that the case on this new ship?  Having been on neither, it is hard for me to picture the casino and surrounding areas.  It would be really helpful if you could weigh in with firsthand observations.

i also saw in yesterday’s posting of the daily that they had a non smoking evening in the casino.  Do you have any idea how often that occurs and if it is in effect for the whole day or just the evening?

I know smoking is a hot button topic and do not want to hijack your great thread with a big discussion,  but your input will help us determine if we keep or ultimately cancel our cruise.  Any info you can provide will be much appreciated!

The casino is located on deck 3, the promenade deck. It sits between the forward elevators and the walkway that is adjacent to the shops and the overlook of BBKings lounge. You cannot smell the smoke from outside of the casino. 

 

I wouldn’t worry about it. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Vict0riann "Live from...." Rare

Vict0riann

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I did smell a bit of smoke one evening in Billboard on Board -

perhaps we should call it BoB ( I am coming from the premium wine tasting, haha), but then I am an ex-smoker and seize any opportunity for an inhale.

 

thewine tasting was excellent, and I am now going to drink a glass of water and take a nap....

  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
MarkWiltonM

MarkWiltonM

Posted
Posted

On Koningsdam last year we didn't notice  smoke or the the smell coming from the casino.  The worst smoke was on the deck aft of the Lido Market.  It's nice to  sit and eat out there but the starboard side of that deck was for smokers and depending on which way the wind is blowing it can come over to the port side.  But since it's outside, and it's a lovely deck, we put up with it.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites
GeorgiaPeach51 "Live from...." Rare

GeorgiaPeach51

Posted
Posted

Thanks to scluvsrain, VictOriann and MarkWiltonM for your quick replies.  All were a big help.  We normally enjoy playing roulette,  and have been doing Celebrity, where there is no indoor smoking, so we have become spoiled being in a casino where there is never a smoking issue and no concerns about people with cigarettes wandering a casino where there is supposedly a smoking and non smoking section— an impossibility that always leaves me SMH.

 

if we keep this cruise I think we would just avoid the casino...and that one thing alone would save us money!  😘. On a TA, if HAL operates like Celebrity, the casino would be open a lot due to the increased number of sea days, so that might increase the likelihood of smoke traveling.  But after so many Celebrity cruises, where we know the ships well and there’s nothing new (until they are all Edged), we really want to have the fun of discovering all a new ship has to offer.  Thanks again for your helpful replies.  CC folks are the BEST!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Copper10-8 "Live from...." Rare

Copper10-8

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, scluvsrain said:

I’m very sad to say I ate it. I didn’t pay attention to the menu and when it was put in front of me I thought it was a mushroom dish. I felt horrible when I realized what it was. 

 

I sat with Hazel Arnold for the dinner and she only eats fish. Her substitute was a shrimp and scallop, I believe. Much like the one they served me when we had the Cellar Master dinner on the Koningsdam last month. 

 

Hazel is quite the dancer. You could find her every evening in the Amsterdam Crow's Nest dancing up a storm, both to the live band and DJ! Very nice lady! :classic_smile:

Link to comment
Share on other sites
scluvsrain

scluvsrain

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

Hazel is quite the dancer. You could find her every evening in the Amsterdam Crow's Nest dancing up a storm, both to the live band and DJ! Very nice lady! :classic_smile:

Yes she is. She dances at BB Kings on this ship. She’s very knowledgeable about all things HAL and I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation during dinner. Good fun and a delightful person. 

 

By the way, on an unrelated note - the violinist and the cello player of the Lincoln Center group Atlys are twin sisters. 

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
SailBreakaway

SailBreakaway

Posted
Posted

Hi All. Just curious if The Retreat is open and they made it available to book for your voyage? If not when do they anticipate opening it? Reservations told me they were unsure when it would be open as it’s still being worked on. Thanks! 

 

The food looks absolutely incredible. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...