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Brief Update/Review Nieuw Statendam Dec. 1-15, 2019 photo links, turnaround details

loupana

By loupana,
in Holland America Line

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loupana

loupana

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Life happens and we had to cancel plans for an October  P&O Ventura Cruise. Things have stabilized and we were able to book this last minute cruise of 2 weeks on Nieuw Statendam. This is our First Holland America cruise and from what we’ve experienced in the first week it won’t be our last. We have really enjoyed the NS. Last week we visited Grand Turk, San Juan, St. Thomas and Half Moon Cay. This week it will be Half Moon Cay again, then Falmouth Jamaica, Georgetown Grand Cayman and Cozumel Mexico.

 

Boarding last week was smooth (brief hiccup I explain below) I believe we were onboard around 11:30AM. We knew when had Priority Boarding with Club Orange but had to explain to the person allowing guests in the Priority line that we were allowed to be in that line. The sign said Club Orange and our Boarding Passes said Priority, she finally allowed us to check in. Quick checkin and we were escorted to where the Club Orange guests wait for boarding, they had water/coffee and sweet treats available for us.

 

Once onboard our room was ready (loved this), we are in a Balcony Cabin 4025, this cabin has a larger balcony and we love the cabin and location. Room Steward has been excellent.

 

We have Club Orange dining and I’m so glad we made that purchase (for us it was $15 pp/pd). Our servers in Club Orange are fantastic and we love everything about it. We like a table for two and enjoy chatting with everyone around us and for us the intimacy  of club orange is perfect. I have noticed that not everything in Club Orange dining is made by the chef in CO, some food comes from the main dining room kitchen. The breakfast is made fresh at the CO kitchen and we have really enjoyed the breakfast offerings.

 

We had lunch at Pinnacle Grill once and loved it, we may go back this week. Not sure about other specialty dining for dinner we’ll see what this week brings.

 

Seating around the Lido pool is limited compared to other ships we’ve been on, and I’ve never seen the rooftop fully open yet, only half of it. It has very comfortable loungers though. We have spent some time at the seaview pool as well but again loungers on the pool level are limited and sometimes hard to come by.

 

All service has been great and our favorite area has to be the music walk, love the Rolling Stone Rock Room, Billboard onboard and BB Kings blues club, we enjoy bouncing around to each venue nighty. I do wish they had more Main Theater production shows. they have only 2 dance shows and 2 guest entertainers  (a magician and a comedian). I believe the comedian is back this week not sure about the magician, would be nice to have different options but if not we’ll enjoy some movies on the lido deck in the evening.

 

Turn around Details for Today December 8th, 2019. Yesterday we were giving a letter stating we must meet in the World Stage Theater at 10AM. Once everyone is there we would be escorted off the ship back into the Terminal and through Immigration CBP check. This process went fairly smooth as you can image there are always those people who choose to play by there own rules so we had to wait in the terminal luggage collection area until they could find and clear 6 missing guests. I’ll attached the letter for you to read the full details. We arrived in the theater 10-15 minutes early so the entire process for us was about 1 hour, we were back onboard around 10:45AM.

 

Also if you are interested here is a link to all our photos from last week.

Main photo link to all galleries

Link to just Nieuw Statendam ship Photos

Link to all our Food Photos (more photos to come this week)

Link to our Balcony cabin 4025 Photos

Behind the Scenes Culinary Tour (for CO guests)

 

If anyone is interested I will also attached the When and Where’s from last week and CO Menu’s

 

Note: I'm still on vacation so I may not be available to answer all questions, but I may check in from time to time. Will give a final update Next week after the cruise.

 

In Transit Nieuw Statendam Dec 8, 2019.pdf day 1 when and where.pdf day 2 when and where.pdf day 3 when and where.pdf day 4 when and where.pdf day 5 when and where.pdf day 6 when and where.pdf day 7 when and where.pdf day 8 when and where.pdf Day 1 Dinner Menu.pdf Day 2 Dinner Menu.pdf Day 3 Dinner Menu.pdf Day 4 Dinner Menu.pdf Day 5 Dinner Menu.pdf Day 6 Dinner Menu.pdf Day 7 Dinner Menu.pdf Club Orange Breakfast Menu.pdf

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sevenseasnomad

sevenseasnomad

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Please, no more food pics!  I am sitting here dying, wishing I could reach in and grab one of those plates, especially the chocolate desserts.  They look too heavenly.  We're due to board Dec. 22 for B2B.  We have CO the second week due to a group, Turning Point, who has booked the entire first fixed seating.  At first, I was bummed about it, but after looking at your photos, we can't wait and will consider it money well invested, although I may need to take clothes in a size larger than I am now.  Looks as though we'll be gaining some pounds.  

 

Your posts have only heightened our anticipation, if that was possible because right now we're almost bouncing off the walls.  Have a fabulous time this week.  We'll be avidly following your thread.  Thanks for taking time to post and answer questions.

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sevenseasnomad

sevenseasnomad

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Quick question, Lou.  The in-transit instructions explain that the accounting office will carry over onboard accounts.  We have HAL non-refundable credit for each segment, $300 each for the first week and $250 each for the second week.  If we do not spend all of it the $300 from the first week, does it carry over to the second week, or will we lose any portion from the first week that we do not spend?  Of course, I can find out once we board if you don't want to take the time to ask at the Front Desk, which I totally understand. 

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loupana

loupana

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1 hour ago, sevenseasnomad said:

Quick question, Lou.  The in-transit instructions explain that the accounting office will carry over onboard accounts.  We have HAL non-refundable credit for each segment, $300 each for the first week and $250 each for the second week.  If we do not spend all of it the $300 from the first week, does it carry over to the second week, or will we lose any portion from the first week that we do not spend?  Of course, I can find out once we board if you don't want to take the time to ask at the Front Desk, which I totally understand. 

 

Sorry I'm not sure how the refundable credit works, we didn't have any.

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loupana

loupana

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6 minutes ago, Happy2cruise said:

How was the muster drill done?  Did you have to wait in your room and then go to the muster station when called or just go directly to station. 

 

Yes just as you explained, must go to room first, watch safety video the proceed to muster station when told. It was one of the best muster drills we've taken part of.

 

And, we don't have to do muster this week. We are sitting at the lido pool now while everyone is going to there staterooms.

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loupana

loupana

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7 minutes ago, sevenseasnomad said:

Just watched NS sail out to sea.  A gorgeous sight with a beautiful sunset in the background as she proceeded to the channel.  Bon voyage and safe cruise to all onboard.

 

Thank you, just came in from the top decks. I'll see if I can replay the sailaway from PTZ later.

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sevenseasnomad

sevenseasnomad

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1 minute ago, LouTheGlue said:

 

Thank you, just came in from the top decks. I'll see if I can replay the sailaway from PTZ later.

Some question about the flag at the front of the ship.  You'll see what I mean when you watch.  Some CCers said it was French; others claimed it was Belgium.  Who knows?

 

Lou, would be interested in hearing about the Orange Party, since my son and I have purchased special orange shirts to participate fully.

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loupana

loupana

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1 minute ago, sevenseasnomad said:

Lou, would be interested in hearing about the Orange Party, since my son and I have purchased special orange shirts to participate fully.

 

Lots attended the Orange Party last week, there was a bit of a mixup the BB King's band was new last week and only played a couple of songs then left the stage only to be told to get back out and keep playing. A bit of a communication issue. But they were fun, lots of people, dance floor full, standing room only. I would say half dressed with Orange. We plan on attending the next one, will report back if anything stands out...

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sevenseasnomad

sevenseasnomad

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Just now, LouTheGlue said:

 

Lots attended the Orange Party last week, there was a bit of a mixup the BB King's band was new last week and only played a couple of songs then left the stage only to be told to get back out and keep playing. A bit of a communication issue. But they were fun, lots of people, dance floor full, standing room only. I would say half dressed with Orange. We plan on attending the next one, will report back if anything stands out...

What night did they do Orange Party?

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cruzn single

cruzn single

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Thank you for your excellent review, pictures, and copies of CO menu.  Since I will be on NS  in April, was interested in everything you posted.  Glad I could get a glimpse of the CO menus.  28.7% of nights were a shellfish CO option.  Since I have a shellfish allergy, the special menu for CO won’t be of interest to me.  I had CO offered to me on my 2 cruises in October.
 

For anyone questioning watching the safety video before the muster drill, I just turned it on, listened, and continued with unpacking.  Lucky you, I had to attend both muster drills on my b2b,

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