We’re moderately experienced cruisers, with a handful of voyages under our belts. However, this my first time aboard HAL; wife’s second time. Overall, it was nice being back on the water after the long layoff.

This cruise reinforced the critical element of choosing a cruise line and ship that best aligns with your cruise priorities. For me, the ship is the destination, especially when cruising the Caribbean (all the ports blend together after a while). I love to explore ships and truly appreciate innovative design features and architecture.

HAL and the Nieuw Statendam cater to their target audience perfectly (older travelers without kids); the line is very traditional (zero party atmosphere with minimal nightlife) and the ship layout is compact-all public amenities (bars, lounges, casino, etc.) housed tightly between the forward and mid-ship elevators on deck 2 (a couple of music venues) and deck 3 (casino and a few shops). There’s no grand promenade or spacious lobby to explore. Read more