Statendam Review
Statendam Panama Cruise January 15-30, 2014
Rating by category
Additional details
This was a great cruise! It had been 3 years since our last HAL cruise. It was our first trip through the Panama Canal and we were quite happy with the itinerary---San Diego to Fort Lauderdale. It was a "just right" length of cruise for us (although trading 82 degree weather for 28 degree weather at home was almost enough for us to head back!
STATENDAM--the SHIP
The Statendam is a beautiful old ship. Love the teak walking decks but there are many areas where the ship is looking very tired. Carpets are worn and stained, especially the "day" carpets in the elevators are quite dingy and do not give a welcoming look. There are lots of areas where the wood molding is dented and banged up. But everywhere workers are painting and cleaning and touching up daily--there is always someone making the ship shine and sparkle!
Cabin Review
We had a Large Outside StateRoom. The room was more than adequate in size. Always amazes me how the can utilize every bit of space. Plenty of room for all our "stuff". I would have preferred a balcony or Lanai (not available on the Statendam) but on the smaller ships there are fewer available and the balcony suites were pretty pricey. We had a Large Outside StateRoom. The room was more than adequate in size. Always amazes me how the can utilize every bit of space. Plenty of room for all our "stuff". I would have preferred a balcony or Lanai (not available on the Statendam) but on the smaller ships there are fewer available and the balcony suites were pretty pricey. Due to seasickness my TA advised "low and mid-ship" so she suggested Deck A. Never again. I really hated Deck A. Oftentimes you could hear noises below and there were odors in the hallway on this deck. It felt like "steerage" on the Titanic!! The towels and linens were sub-standard--Sheets and pillowcases were dingy not white, towels-old and discolored and scratchy and several washcloths had small holes! I really should have taken the "holey" one to the main desk. The A/C in our room was okay. We were on the starboard side and needed to pull the curtains most afternoons so the room wouldn't heat up. Would have liked it cooler but glad it worked. Didn't hear anyone complain of NO A/C but the ship never seemed overly cool except the first 2 days when leaving San Diego. No problems with our toilets---others were not so lucky. 4 rooms on our deck were closed and people were moved from their rooms due to flooded toilets. Large fans were placed in the hallways to dry the areas. The water in our sink and shower was always adequately HOT but you could never get cold or cool water at the sink. Brushing teeth in warm to hot water was not good! And don't even think about drinking the sink water---ugh! We brought glasses of water with ice down from the Lido after breakfast and lunch to fill our travel mugs.I do have a complaint for whomever designed the drawer "handles"---WHY would you put the grooves on the bottom?? In order to open the lower drawers you have to reach all the way down to floor level under the drawer to open it---would make much more sense to put the groove on top!!