2025 - Caribbean Cruise on Holland America's Nieuw Statendam скачать в хорошем качестве

2025 - Caribbean Cruise on Holland America's Nieuw Statendam

We took a fun week-long cruise to the Caribbean on Holland America’s Nieuw Statendam in January 2025. We picked this cruise because it took us to new places, the price was good, and we heard great things about the vibe on this ship. Our experience matched all our expectations. The ship has a traditional feel and focuses on service, good food, and smaller entertainment venues. There are no water slides, and the nightly shows aren't as fancy as those on other cruise lines. Most passengers seemed retired or close to retirement. We met many people who do longer or back-to-back cruises, showing that Holland America has many loyal customers. We often had lunch at the Lido Buffet and thought the food selection and quality were good. We also tried the pizza and deli sandwiches a couple of times, which were tasty. Most evenings, we ate in the main dining room, and we enjoyed our meals there too. The desserts were always interesting and delicious, both in the main dining room and the buffet. On the last day, there was an amazing "cake away" event with many types of cakes. Overall, we'd give the food an A! The "Music Walk" on Deck 2 was fun. There are three music venues with different styles of music happening every evening. We liked the BB King Jazz set and the piano duo at Billboard Onboard. There were also evening shows on the World Stage. While not as big as shows we've seen elsewhere, they were popular and well-attended. Day 1: Fort Lauderdale Embarkation It isn’t far from the airport to the cruise terminal. January is an expensive time to visit south Florida. We spent double what we expected to pay. Once on board, we didn’t have cabin access for another hour or so. The Buffet was crowded, so we got a hamburger and fries. Our ocean view room was ready soon, and we settled in comfortably. Day 2: Half Moon Cay This is a private Bahamian island. The water was cooler than expected, but wading was good enough for us. We didn’t stay long because we didn't want too much sun. Day 3: Sea Day Sea Days are perfect for exploring the ship. We had brunch in the main dining room and enjoyed tea and pastries in the afternoon. We relaxed in the Crows Nest, our favorite spot on the ship. Day 4: Falmouth, Jamaica We wandered around the vendor shops near the pier. The locals weren't aggressive. We bought a wooden bowl with "Jamaica 2025" carved on it. Day 5: Georgetown, Grand Cayman The Turtle Centre was nice but rushed. We also saw "Hell," a tourist spot that wasn’t very impressive. The oceanfront drive had nice views of hotels and homes. Day 6: Cozumel, Mexico We stayed on the ship for a relaxing "port sea day." The ship was quiet, and we had a great day exploring and napping. Day 7: Sea Day The ship had special food, including "cake day" at the buffet with many cakes. We enjoyed music and started packing for our departure. Day 8: Disembarkation in Fort Lauderdale The only noticeable rocking of the ship was overnight. Disembarkation was smooth, marking the end of a great cruise. Wrap-Up We enjoyed Holland America and would choose it again if it sailed out of Galveston. The food was excellent, and we had a lot of good meals. Our "port sea day" was a favorite, and the staff was always friendly and helpful. We did have some minor cabin issues. Cruising with our friends, Jim and Phyllis, made the trip more fun, especially during meals. We have another cruise planned for later this year. Stay tuned!