Onboard Review: Holland America’s Nieuw Statendam—Sailing in Scandinavia

SHIPHolland America’s Nieuw Statendam—Sailing in Scandinavia By Laurel HermanOur 11-day Legends of the Fjords sailing on board Holland America Line’s Pinnacle-class Nieuw Statendam, departing from Amsterdam with stops in Norway and Denmark, was an unforgettable experience infused with the beauty and charm of Scandinavia and topped off with the ship’s home-away-from-home comfort and top-notch service. Add in the wide variety of culinary, entertainment and wellness experiences offered on the easy-to-get-around mid-sized ship, and you have a great brand to offer your clients in the premium category. Says Rob Coleman, v.p., North America sales for Holland America Line, “Nieuw Statendam is a perfectly mid-sized ship that offers the finest dining, live music and service at sea and is able to explore the lesser-visited ports in the region as well as the larger cities due to its size. Additionally, your clients who explore Northern Europe and Scandinavia on Nieuw Statendam and sister-ship Rotterdam, will experience ships that offer an abundance of amenities, ample deck space for scenic viewing and 21st-century elegance.” The ScenerySailing along this unique Scandinavian coastline took us to innumerable show-stopping landscapes. Your clients will have the opportunity to visit the charming village of Eidfjord, an arm of the majestic Hardanger Fjord, which we sailed along. There are also stops in the small towns of Molde, Alesund, Flam and Stavanger, where we opted for hiking excursions and had the opportunity to check out one-of-a-kind sights such as Pulpit Rock and ride the scenic Flam Railway. We also took in the beauty of the Sognefjord, and midway through this itinerary there’s a stop in bustling Bergen, the second largest city in Norway. Here, recommend clients take the Floibanen funicular to the top of Mount Floyen, where they’ll find walking trails and scenic views and have the opportunity to spend time with the native goats. The sailing continues southbound with stops along the Norwegian coast as well as Arhus in Denmark, with the final port of call in Copenhagen, buzzing with culture. DANCERSThat’s EntertainmentIn addition to accessing less-visited ports with stunning scenery, the ship offers a wide range of onboard activities. Take its entertainment offerings, which, for music lovers, is a dream. We spent many evenings at the multi-venue Music Walk on the Promenade deck, home to B.B. King’s Blues Club, the Rolling Stone Rock Room and Billboard Onboard. Here, passengers can listen and dance to everything from pop to R&B as they sip on their choice of an array of cocktails, beer or wine pre and post dinner. Over at the 2-level (decks two and three) World Stage is where we sat in on lectures, watched films and just about every night enjoyed quality entertainment. Two favorites are the mesmerizing harmony of Cantare, a 4-man singing group performing iconic hits from various decades, and the 6-dancer Step One Dance Company, presenting contemporary performances such as “Humanity,” which combines dance and state-of-the-art projection. When wandering the ship we found ample activities to keep us busy, including pickleball tournaments, team trivia challenges, introduction to whisky tastings, and wine making and dance classes as well as shopping and gaming. Of special note, and one of my favorite aspects of the ship, is the art collection with 2,620 pieces including paintings, sculptures and fine art photography created by artists from 26 countries. LOBSTER FOODCulinary Diversity AboundsNieuw Statendam offers six specialty restaurants (for a per person up-charge) as well as the elegant The Dining Room and casual choices such as the Lido Market, Dive-In, with Nathan’s Famous hot dogs on the menu, and the New York Pizza eatery. There’s also the Club Orange private dining venue for members or guests of Neptune and Pinnacle suites, not to mention the Grand Dutch Cafe and Explorations Cafe, where passengers can pick up their custom coffee and a sweet treat (24-hour room service is also available). Of note is that Holland America Line’s dining experiences are guided by its Culinary Council. Made up of renowned chefs such as David Burke, Andy Matsuda, Ethan Stowell and Rudi Sodamin, the council provides its expertise on menu creation, including signature dishes.DRINKS Tops for me is The Dining Room, where I recommend your clients take advantage of the daily “Port to Table” recommendations boxed out on the menu. While sailing in the North Sea, passengers can enjoy a delicate and exquisite haddock risotto dish prepared with mussels, clams and shrimp. Another favorite is the Pan-Asian restaurant Tamarind, where we were delighted by the lobster & shrimp pot stickers, the crispy duck with ginger-chili glaze and mango posset dish, and a dessert of coconut macaroon, passion fruit jelly and mango sorbet (yes, worth the calories). Another recommended culinary experience is Nami Sushi. Located within Tamarind, this Japanese specialty eatery offers an array of delicacies such as spicy edamame & tuna poke as a starter and Andy Matsuda’s signature sushi rolls including a crispy lobster tempura. For Italian cuisine, have your clients book Canaletto, where a must-try is the rustic lasagna. We also got to try the sophisticated Club Orange dining room, with dishes from the various specialty restaurants such as a jumbo shrimp cocktail starter, a crab and artichoke dip, the rack of lamb and a Dutch apple pie a la mode dessert. The Lido Market, open to all passengers for breakfast, lunch and dinner, might be casual dining, but the food is fantastic and varied with a dinner menu that changes nightly. Here, passengers can choose from a host of global cuisines ranging from Indonesian to Italian. We sampled everything from pork chops and a goat cheese tart to a New York strip steak, a teriyaki salmon dish, fried chicken and rosemary roasted chicken. Let passengers with dietary restrictions know that both The Dining Room and Lido Market offer vegetarian options as well as sugar- and gluten-free desserts. BARTENDERSHome Away from HomeThe ship’s largest stateroom category is the outside Verandah, which we were booked into during our sailing. With plenty of room for two persons, staterooms in this category—there are 748 in all ranging from 228 to 405 sq. ft.—feature a minibar, safe, desk/dressing table with lit mirror, outlets and lighting throughout, a seating area, a very comfortable bed and a flat-screen TV with a hefty film and music menu. Bathroom amenities are spot-on with Elemis products, and the verandah, which comes complete with two chairs/footstools, is the perfect spot to view the natural beauty of the fjords and the scenic landscapes in the ports-of-call. When not enjoying my stateroom, one of my favorite spots was the multipurpose Explorations Central observation lounge in the Crow’s Nest. Located on deck 12 forward, here clients will find large picture windows, games and a bar that serves both cocktails and coffee. This is also the venue where passengers can hear about the passing scenery, including those impressive fjords, and where they can ask questions about the wide array of shore excursions offered at each port. Another must-do is experiencing the Greenhouse Spa. Service choices are extensive and having at least one treatment is highly recommendable. There is also a medi-spa with counseling for weight loss, diabetes, swollen ankles/water retention and more wellness advice. Additionally, there’s a full gym with state-of-the-art equipment and fitness classes, from organized walks to stretching, which are offered at no extra charge. ARTWORKTips for SellingColeman advises travel advisors to book clients who are active as this region has lots of shore excursions that feature long walks and hikes. He also recommends adding on the commissionable Have It All premium package at time of booking. It’s a great way to add value for your client as it includes, on 6- to 9-day sailings, a shore excursion credit, a specialty dining restaurant credit, a WiFi package and the Signature Beverage Package. Longer sailings include an extra shore excursion and more specialty dining credits. He encourages travel advisors wanting assistance with the Have It All package to reach out. When it comes to this particular sailing, Coleman notes, “Scandinavia is a unique destination as it appeals to those who want to explore spaces with exceptional beauty such as the fjords of Norway. People think of the Mediterranean first when considering Europe, but for travelers who want to discover the incredible history of the Vikings, take in stunning architecture, indulge in fantastic culinary traditions and experience some of the most beautiful locations on earth, Northern Europe is it.AT SEA AT NIGHT “It’s a hidden secret that more travelers are discovering thanks to our collection of diverse cruises that span the region,” he adds. He also points out that there are convenient departures from major cities like Rotterdam and Amsterdam. Coleman also advises booking clients who are internationally minded. “There is a strong international presence on these sailings and guests really have an opportunity to meet and share with people from diverse cultures,” he says. From April 2024 to September 2024, Nieuw Statendam will offer 11 departures (mostly seven to 14 days) to Northern Europe. From May to October 2024, sister ship Rotterdam will be sailing 7- to 14-day itineraries on 17 departures. Contact Information Holland America Line: hollandamerica.com or onesourcecruises.com/onesource/loginPALLADIUM COVERPALLADIUM IFCCOVERTABLE OF CONTENTSPALLADIUMPALLADIUM SPREADEditor's NotesTURKISH AIRLINESIndustry Insights: Families Are First on Royal Caribbean InternationalROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONALIndustry Insights: Experience a Destination Through Its MusicDELTA VACATIONSNorth America: Hopping Around Florida to Check Out What’s NewBRIGHTLINE SPREADBrightline — Rail Travel for the 21st CenturyDISCOVER THE PALM BEACHES SCDISCOVER THE PALM BEACHESFORT MYERS BEACHES, ISLANDS & NEIGHBORHOODSSAINT AUGUSTINE SCSAINT AUGUSTINE - PONTE VEDRAMGM RESORTS SCMGM RESORTSMexico/Caribbean: Beach Blanket Bingo—Family Fun in the SunSANDALS SPREADSANDALS SCSAINT LUCIA SCSAINT LUCIADid You Know? 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