My wife and I, along with three other couples, took HA's STATENDAM for a January and February escape from the cold and snow of Virginia to the warmth of Carribean, Central American and Pacific skies. We booked our Panama Canal Transit three months in advance and it was like being a kid going to Disneyland for Chris, my wife, and I. Our first cruise experience, an Alaskan adventure, was also aboard the STATENDAM, exceeded anything we had imagined for activities, excursions, cabin service and dining. This ladt cruise proved conclusively to me that the lovely lady still had it in her heart.

We went through the boarding experience at Port Everglades easily, getting our ship cards and special packages all at once during check-in. When the ship was ready for boarding, we hurried onboard and quickly to cabin, which was very roomy, especially the handicapped bathroom I had requested. Yes, I'm the guy, but that big shower was great!

The embarcation party was fun as STATENDAM got underway and we moved out the channel from the port basim and met the Atlantic swells. We were hungry and moved to the Lido Deck buffet, where a virtual world tour of cuisine awaited us. I opted for the Asian bar and enjoyed sesmae prawns over noodles, chinese chicken wings and spring rolls. Delicious! My wife and I have now had eight cruise experiences and, if you have cruised before, you know the scramble that goes with finding a place to eat your lunch. As on kur first trip, we had little difficulty finding a table and, in the process, making new friends with an English couple from Cornwall. Read more