Italian-built in 1992, the Statendam is Holland America Line's fifth ship to bear this venerable name. Grossing 55,451 tons and extending 720 ft with a beam of 101 ft, a draft of 25 ft, and a maximum speed of 22 knots, this Dutch-flagged cruise ship was the first of four almost identical vessels. The Statendam carries 1,266 passengers on 10 decks at double occupancy and has English and Dutch officers and an Indonesian and Filipino crew of 602.
HAL spent the bulk of its first 100 years making transatlantic crossings, bringing millions of immigrants from Europe to the U.S. and Canada. Gradually, by the late 1950s, cruise operations were becoming the new wave and in 1971, the company ended the regular Atlantic runs in favor of full-time cruising. After some difficult financial times for HAL, Carnival stepped up in 1989 and bought the company but allowed it to remain a separate brand with headquarters in Seattle. Carnival invested in new tonnage and Statendam was the first newbuild. The HAL fleet now numbers 14.
Families, honeymooners and singles have invigorated a passenger list that formerly catered primarily to older guests. Club HAL offers a copious program for children aged 5 to 17 that ranges from storytelling to dancing. Mixers are organized for mingle-minded singles (upon request, the line will also pair solo travelers with a same-sex cabin mate).
From October to April, the Statendam makes a wide variety of cruises to Mexico, through the Panama Canal and in the Caribbean—plus a longish South Pacific cruise. From May to September, she does 7-day Alaska itineraries between Vancouver and Seward, including Glacier Bay.
HAL is a traditional line with refined interiors and lots of art work. The handsome public rooms are resplendent with a $2-million collection of art and artifacts that capture the Golden Age of Dutch shipping. The forward staircase, for instance, displays original oil paintings of the five Statendams by artist Stephen Card. Spanning two decks on the Promenade and Upper Promenade in an asymmetrical pattern, the lounges and bars, through their arrangement and varying sizes, create a feeling of intimacy and flow nicely from one to the other. The three-deck off-set atrium is stunning with its fountain and huge bronze mermaids.
The deck below shelters the 24-hour purser's desk, shore-excursion office, photo gallery, informal coffee bar, conference rooms, 24-hour Explorations Cafe with Internet access, a library and coffee bar, and a 249-seat cinema that does triple duty for religious services and as a Culinary Arts Center.
The bi-level Rotterdam dining room aft is truly elegant, from the impressive carved staircase to the chamber music at dinner. Attentive service by thoughtful stewards and a streamlined kitchen operation keep the food coming and the wine flowing to about 657 diners. Tables are lush with fresh flowers and white Rosenthal china on starched tablecloths, and menu choices are extensive. A Royal Dutch High Tea takes place on one afternoon of each cruise. Passengers now have the choice of pre-set dinner table reservations or open seating. The 403-seat Lido restaurant, a casual dining option, has huge view windows and opens to a terrace and bar overlooking the pool. This is the scene of late-night buffets, including the decadent Chocolate Extravaganza. Occasional barbecues on the Lido terrace afford a friendly camaraderie. The Pinnacle Grill, just forward of the upper level dining room, serves steaks, chicken and fish for an extra charge with reservations required. Broadway- and Vegas-style shows are performed in the 600-seat Van Gogh lounge on Promenade Deck (with an upper-level balcony). The room, itself, is a showstopper, with Van Gogh-painting inspired themes, fiber optic lighting, and a pristine sound system. The Ocean Bar, Piano Bar, and portside casino lure merrymakers after dark as well.
The Crow's Nest, a forward observation lounge, with multi-directional views, doubles as a disco and karaoke bar. Amidships on the Upper Promenade Deck is the lovely, intimate Explorers Lounge, offering specialty coffees, live classical music and afternoon tea. Lido Deck has a well-equipped health spa with a gym overlooking the bow, as well as dual saunas and steam rooms, massage facilities with a wide range of treatments, a juice bar, and a barber and beauty salon. The dome over the Lido pool, wading pool and whirlpools retracts in good weather. Another pool is located at on the Navigation Deck, a short jogging track circles the funnel, and the Lower Promenade Deck offers a circular walkway and teak wood deck chairs. A 24-hour video arcade and Club HAL for children are located on the Sports Deck aft of the deck tennis and basketball courts, and the teenage Oasis with dip pool is purposely located in an isolated location one deck above. The boutiques sell everything from T-shirts to formalwear, and the gourmet shop stocks duty-free liquors, tobacco and other items.
Of her 10 passenger decks, five are dedicated to cabins, and the top two are ringed with private balconies. The cabins, with standard dimensions, have decent stowage. Outside cabins offer combination baths, while insides lack tubs. All are tastefully furnished, feature drapes that separate sitting and sleeping areas, and are equipped with TVs, phones, hair dryers and toiletries. Deluxe staterooms also have VCRs, minibars and whirlpool tubs. Passengers booking Veranda Deck rooms above the bars might be disturbed by musical racket late at night. A penthouse suite, single cabins, wheelchair-accessible cabins, and cabins with upper and lower berths round out the room roster. The Navigation Deck suites have access to the Neptune Lounge, with a concierge to make bookings for dinner and the latest newspapers and magazines to leaf through. Discreet cabin stewards yield quietly professional service, keep rooms spotless, and, on request, will replenish fruit daily. Complimentary room service operates round the clock.
As the first of the new series of ships following Carnival's takeover, the Statendam is now the second-oldest ship in the fleet and it requires increasingly attentive maintenance to keep her on par with the more recent ships. For standard Alaska and Caribbean itineraries, she is a good medium-size choice with less than half the capacity of the megaships. Holland America competes on the premium level with Celebrity and Oceania cruises.
