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Live from Nieuw Statendam Premier Voyage, December 2018

Vict0riann

By Vict0riann,
in Holland America Line

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scluvsrain

scluvsrain

Posted
Posted

I think the Retreat is open. I’ve been up there twice and have seen people

im their relaxing in their cabanas as well as sitting in the jacuzzi there. And when I inquired as to the cost I was given a price of $55 a day on port days and $80 on sea days. 

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philbob84

philbob84

Posted
Posted
On 12/6/2018 at 1:43 PM, scluvsrain said:

All of the photos I’m taking are with my iPhone 8+. 

 

Orlando Ashford held a town hall this afternoon and we learned a bit more about the direction HAL is going - new ideas and how they’ve been implemented both on the Nieuw Statendam as well as

fleet-wide. 

 

 

 

 

1

What are some of the ideas?

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NCnurse

NCnurse

Posted
Posted
20 hours ago, Tutpug said:

I am truly enjoying all the work folks are doing on this thread keeping us up to date on the lovely aspects of this new ship. 

 

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’. Can anyone attest to the need to do so on NS? I’m booked in a Spay Veranda room and assume the bedding and pillows will be adequate but can anyone speak to that?

 

Many Thanks

 

Peter

We are in a verandah, but only difference between a regular verandah and spa is that the spa comes with two yoga mats and a Bose speaker system.  Pillows are not thick enough to my liking.  Then again, I usually use a special one made to maintain the curve in your neck.  If you have strong preferences (and room to pack one), I’d bring one.

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scluvsrain

scluvsrain

Posted
Posted (edited)

Re new ideas:  

 

I believe I posted them - new art gallery concept, photo shop interactive and expanded offerings using your own photos, Rolling Stone Rock Legends addition to the music walk, creating more interactive itineraries with the launch of the Maasdam’s journeys. 

Edited by scluvsrain
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NCnurse

NCnurse

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, GeorgiaPeach51 said:

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!

We have ventured into the casino a couple of times, but I admit the smoke bothered me.  In fact, the area the have designated “smoking” has some of my favorite slots.

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Fighterone

Fighterone

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Posted
14 hours ago, Vict0riann said:

Last night at dinner, we were informed that they have run out of the wine we had picked - the wine steward brought a different Italian Pinot Grigio.  I imagine they will be restocking in Fort Lauderdale.  We must be drinking a lot!  

 

Czaba said that that at the Cellar Master dinner he had brought in some of the “new” wines.  There will be changes to the packages, I guess.

 

We’re rocking and rolling this morning.  I wonder how many will be at breakfast!

What brand of Pinot Grigio did they run out of? 

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NCnurse

NCnurse

Posted
Posted
5 hours 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!

They have had two non-smoking evenings so far on the cruise.  This is Saturday and we disembark on Wed. morning.

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beachbunny6

beachbunny6

Posted
Posted (edited)
4 minutes ago, NCnurse said:

We have ventured into the casino a couple of times, but I admit the smoke bothered me.  In fact, the area the have designated “smoking” has some of my favorite slots.

 

I have found that to be true every time I was on a HAL ship with smoking allowed in the casino.  As far as I am concerned, if they are going to allow smoking, I will just have to stay out of there.  Why can't they have a completely separate casino room with a better air filtration system for the smokers?  That would solve everyone's problem with it, and no one would have to "do without."

 

Having non-smoking evenings is useless, because in an area with carpeting, draperies and upholstered chairs, the smoke smell has gotten into the fabrics and just because no one is actively smoking in there, it will still smell of smoke.  I agree with GeorgiaPeach51... I will just stay out of the casino and save a LOT of money!   But also miss a lot of fun.  :classic_sad:

Edited by beachbunny6
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NCnurse

NCnurse

Posted
Posted
Just now, beachbunny6 said:

 

I have found that to be true every time I was on a HAL ship with smoking allowed in the casino.  As far as I am concerned, if they are going to allow smoking, I will just have to stay out of there.  Why can't they have a completely separate casino room with a better air filtration system for the smokers?  That would solve everyone's problem with it, and no one would have to "do without."

 

Having non-smoking evenings is useless, because in an area with carpeting, draperies and upholstered chairs, the smoke smell has gotten into the fabrics and just because no one is actively smoking in there, it will still smell of smoke.  I agree with GeorgiaPeach51... I will just stay out of the casino and save a LOT of money!   But also miss a lot of fun.  :classic_sad:

And Holland America will miss a lot of our money!  Norwegian’s new Bliss has a totally enclosed smoking room.  Much better.

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NCnurse

NCnurse

Posted
Posted
15 hours ago, scluvsrain said:

My stateroom door is metal and will hold magnets. Both front and back. I just tested it. 

 

The stateroom beds come with 2 or 3

pillows for each person. I like soft pillows and one of mine is soft yet supportive; the other is long (king size) and more firm. But a pillow is a very personal thing - what one person likes, another doesn’t. 

 

I havent seen or heard heard of any karaoke. 

They must vary, since my magnet would not stick to my door (Deck 7-Schubert-verandah cabin on the starboard side.)

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Fighterone

Fighterone

Posted
Posted (edited)
20 minutes ago, NCnurse said:

Not sure, but they also ran out of Pellegrino and people who don’t want still water are peeved!

Thank you for posting this. I will pack small cans of Perrier. Cannot be without my sparkling water. First world problem easily corrected, LOL.

 

 

 

Edited by Fighterone
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NCnurse

NCnurse

Posted
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13 hours ago, Vict0riann said:

Last night at dinner, we were informed that they have run out of the wine we had picked - the wine steward brought a different Italian Pinot Grigio.  I imagine they will be restocking in Fort Lauderdale.  We must be drinking a lot!  

 

Czaba said that that at the Cellar Master dinner he had brought in some of the “new” wines.  There will be changes to the packages, I guess.

 

We’re rocking and rolling this morning.  I wonder how many will be at breakfast!

Last night, for the first time, we noticed a dispenser of “sea sick” bags next to the elevator bank.  Tonight we have found much smoother water!  Thank you, Captain.

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NCnurse

NCnurse

Posted
Posted
Just now, Fighterone said:

Thank you for posting this. I will pack small cans of Perrier. Cannot be without my sparkling water. First world problem easily corrected, LOL.

 

I think they’ll be restocking in Ft. Lauderdale.  Not sure you can bring on any drinks besides one bottle of wine per person to be consumed in your cabin.

 

 

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Vict0riann "Live from...." Rare

Vict0riann

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Posted (edited)
10 minutes ago, NCnurse said:

They must vary, since my magnet would not stick to my door (Deck 7-Schubert-verandah cabin on the starboard side.)

I think so too, our magnet sticks on some of the walls, but not the doors.  We are forward on deck 11, port side.

Edited by Vict0riann
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