So today we drove home after a very nice 14 days on board the ms Nieuw Statendam. We would prefer a smaller HAL ship (hence we are going to try Viking next February with 900 passengers) and we hope that HAL/Carnival will build some as HAL is losing customers to Viking as they have 12 midsized cruise ships that can call at smaller ports. (That will also make it easier to find another port during inclement weather) Something I was used to when I was with the ms Veendam (now still laid up in Greece) and ms Prinsendam (now ms Amera) in Europe.
Will we be back ???. YES. My Lord and Master has already booked a 14 day cruise in 2027 in the Baltic (September 17) with the Nieuw Statendam. There are some ports there, that were not visited by HAL during my days of sailing (Klapeida, Gdansk, Riga etc.)
The only real two complaints were:
A. the noise in the dining room in the “As You Wish” part. It could be quite easily fixed by HAL (egg shell sound proofing of ceiling, something I have seen at other companies). But for ourselves it also was easily avoided. Being married to an (almost) 700 day Mariner gave an extra Specialty Restaurant visit (plus extra one that came with the “Have it All package) and made it that the dining room was easily avoided, But my greatest respect for Host Fernando and his team to make it all work during the rush hours of serving. (We went twice to New York Pizza as well when we knew it was quiet)
B. The overbooking in the Pinnacle Restaurant near the end of the cruise. There is really no excuse for that, and it is not nice to expose the staff to this, when all they want to do is deliver the service that Holland America indicates, is famous for and expect them to deliver.
What would be nice:
A part of Crows nest that could be used for cocktails in the evening (the portside and midships), with a proper ambience and with all broken equipment removed. And maybe a small stage in the corner for a guitar player??
The late show to start at 21.30. It would relieve congestion (between 19.00 and 19.30) in the dining room and just give everybody enough time to enjoy a “good dinner experience”, instead of a rushed “going to eat”.
For the rest many compliments for our cabin stewards (hardly ever to be seen as usual), the cheerful Lido staff and the very had working Bar Staff, who did earn their money with soo many cocktail loving Dutch on board. Same for the Kitchen staff who kept up the best Lido afloat and delivered in the specialty restaurants even under high pressure circumstances. We liked the shows and the Dualling Piano’s and also the classical trio but we stayed away from the Rock lounge and BB Kings as the volume is way too high for people with good ears.
A pity was the sudden ending of the Orange Party, that was just gearing up (under the infectious enthousiasm of Miss X) and then it went back to BB. King, what a bummer.
This time we had a Vista Suite but her ladyship found it too small so next time we go for Neptune Suite. As ex HAL I can get discounted fares but with the danger that it all gets cancelled at the last minute, if the ship is fully booked or they can do an up-sail. Hence we book in the normal way via a travel agent. We do not have children so there is no excuse for not spending our inheritance anyway.
ms Nieuw Statendam
ms Queen Anne
On day 3 (4 if counted from Dover) I promised a comparison between HAL and Cunard now they both operate Pinnacle class ships (Costa Cruises has some as well).
This is a personal rating and the one that wins is in bold.
HAL Cunard: ,
Capacity 2600 Capacity 2900
Deck 1 Atrium Grand Lobby
Cunard has this wonderful space with a sitting area, coffee bar, drawing room, games room and in the corner the Pursers office. HAL has changed a previously completely lost space into the Park West art gallery. The Front desk is on desk 3, which is prime space now handed over to offices. Cunard has Shops here and open walking space for the guests.
Meeting Rooms ?????
For incentive cruises, HAL has 3 nice meeting rooms here. Could not find anything on Queen Anne except two small rooms.
Note: Meeting Rooms versus Pursers Desk location is a money decision to attract more groups. But I wonder with Cunard if the extra guest space provided does not generate a lot of revenue per square foot to offset the use of the function rooms. Cunard Shops and Barista bar where was always doing a good trade, when were there. (Ad I do not know if the knitting group we had on board this cruise were drinking very much)
Dining room 4 venues
Cannot compare as with Cunard as their restaurants are connected to your cabin class and get better with the size of the cabin, But Cunard has the same problems with “As You Wish” dining as HAL in the main dining room.
World Stage Royal Court
Cunard has a conventional setup and no LED screen. It is oke, but for lectures and shows the HAL LED screens knocks spots of Cunard.
CrowsNest Commodore Club
Cunard has a setup that HAL used to have back in 1992 with the arrival of the S-class, with comfy chairs and tables, an extensive bar and cocktail music.
Tamarind Sir Samuels Cunard’s expensive steakhouse looks like a cafetaria.
Library Library Cunard has many more books and a librarian.
Club HAL xxxxxx Cunard has a space but it is not as elaborate as HAL.
Grand Dutch Cafe Carinthia
The menu options and service are much better with Hal. Cunard took away the mid partition and thus created more tables. The GDC is too small between 1000 and 1400 hrs.
Ocean Bar Chart House Bar
Cunard has this beautiful round bar instead of a row of chairs backing into the Musicn Walk – walkway and half of the sitting area used by guests waiting for the Sel de Mer or Pinnacle.
Queens Lounge Queens Lounge.
For HAL, the most beautiful lounge on the high seas. For Cunard, they have a nice orchestra and dance floor in there, with good secondary shows, but only one (small) pathway on the starboard side, causing congestion and people standing in the way, while watching what goes on when going from one lounge to the other. The “Music Walk” flow works much better.
Pinnacle Space taken up by the Cunard Club Class Restaurant.
Rudy’s Sel de Mer Space taken up by the Cunard Club Class Restaurant.
Canaletto Lido Tramonto / Lido
At Cunard the space looks like a road restaurant with pretensions.
Regular Lido space Indian / Lido
At Cunard, the space looks like an road restaurant with pretensions.
Lido Restaurant Lido Restaurant. (Lido Market versus Artisans Food Hall)
HAL has much more variation and longer opening times.
Dressy nights Formal nights Cunard has formal and enforces it. And we love dressing up.
HAL service Cunard Service
Although the service at Cunard is very good, we always get the feeling that the Cunard crew serve us to do us a favor, instead of HAL “being happy to serve”.
HAL bar Prices Cunard Bar prices Cunard is very expensive.
HAL Drinks Package Cunard Drinks Package. This is a bit more complicated but:
Hal top package = $ 65.95 a day (with drinks to a maximum of 15 at $ 15,– each)
Cunard top package = $ 72,– a day (with drinks to a maximum of 15 at $ 13.50 each)
But if you book “Have it all ” (which Cunard does not have) then you get included WIFI, Drinks, Tips. $ 200 shore excursions and 2 x Specialty Restaurants . AND THAT MAKES THE HAL DRINKS A VERY GOOD DEAL.
So in general AND THIS IS US PERSONALLY, we like Holland America better as a whole. Regardless of having worked for HAL a very long time. But we are going on the ms Queen Victoria for the Christmas Cruise as it has more style and everybody dresses up. We are not going back to Queen Anne.
Looking a the number of hits, in the last 14 days, and the numbers of comments (thank you very much, much appreciated) I will do another blog for our next cruise in July. ms Amera (ex Prinsendam) of Phoenix Reisen in Germany. It will be a seven day cruise to Norway. I was 3 years Captain on the ship so we want to see what the Germans have done with it.
In the mean time, I will continue to add information to the Captain’s bio’s.
Thank you for your continued interest.
June 16, 2025 at 11:23 pm
When I started sailing with Holland America back in 2010 on the Eurodam that was one of the things I enjoyed was the solo guitarist up in the Crow’s nest.
It was a place to enjoy after dinner cocktail or maybe playing cards or just quietly socializing with friends.
One thing I did wish Holland America would do is more live music out on the pool midday.
Their shows are a bit cheesy. Sometimes the singers and dancers look so tense and automated it’s just not enjoyable to watch them. Pay for what you value and I don’t think Holland America really values a stage performance with high energy.
They can always do improvements but at what cost and how much will always be passed on to the consumer to pay for it.
Thank you for your review it was enjoyable seen it from your eyes.
June 16, 2025 at 11:28 pm
For many years my wife and I would look for the Prinsendam and we’d book a cruise on her, not really caring where she took us. I imagine there are thousands of HAL cruisers like me, it wasn’t the cruise, it was the Prinsendam that called us. Perhaps someday a farsighted HAL manager will return the small-ship class to HAL. I’ll be waiting to be the first to book their initial cruise.
June 16, 2025 at 11:39 pm
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. I’d like to try Cunard some day, but I think HAL will remain my favorite.
June 16, 2025 at 11:54 pm
Captain Albert,
I enjoyed reading all your posts from this past cruise. I have seen some of these ports with ms Prinsendam. I miss that ship so much.
I will look forward to hearing about your cruise next year with the former ms Prinsendam. I continue to cruise with Holland America, but I wish they would have smaller ships. Thank you again for all your blogs. I loved seeing a picture of your wife and of course you too. I loved your orange blazer!
June 17, 2025 at 12:19 am
I agree. The large ship are not as accommodating as the smaller ships. We sailed three times with you on the Prinsendam. Nothing like a cruise on a small ship. Thus we no longer sail HAL.
Thanks for let me cruise along with you
June 17, 2025 at 5:36 am
Try the Zaandam or the Volendam . A bit bigger than the Prinsendam ( I cruised on all three ) but still a whole lot smaller than the other ships in the HAL fleet.
June 17, 2025 at 12:27 am
I am anxious for the day HAL recognizes that the mega ship experience isn’t for everyone. Much prefered the Prinsendam experience on Grand and regular voyages. Bring back the smaller ships.
June 17, 2025 at 12:53 am
Wonderful summary, Captain! We split our cruising between HAL and Viking for the exact reasons you mention. We really miss the R and S class ships, and our all-time favorite, Prinsendam. The Vista and Pinnacle ships still provide a quality experience, but we go with Club Orange and book a Signature suite, staying away from Deck 8 because of trolley noise from Lido Market. The future cruise consultant on our recent Oosterdam cruise told us he believed that HAL’s next ship would be more on the scale of Prinsendam. Fingers crossed he was correct! Stay well and thanks for all you do and have done for HAL!
June 17, 2025 at 1:42 am
Thank you, as always great reporting
June 17, 2025 at 1:49 am
Have enjoyed your writing for many years and I am happy you have continued it in retirement. Enjoy your Viking cruise, we find them excellent. But we did two 30+ day cruises on HAL over the past two years in Neptune Suites and found the solution to the restaurant is to reset your clock. Cocktails at 7:30 and dinner at 8:30-8:45. Since my hearing is nowhere as good as yours, this later seating allows me a conversation with my bride of 54 years.
June 17, 2025 at 1:57 am
It was a real pleasure to read your blog for the last couple of weeks Captain Albert and I look forward to read many more of your blogs specially when you cruise on the old Prinsendam again . I still remember reading your stories of the last three Pinnacle Class ships during construction in Italy .
We have been for some 900 days on HAL , our only cruise company , what else do you expect from an original Dutchie and we have met you a few times and thoroughly enjoyed your talks about all the rich history of the company when you were on board ship pre-Covid and also the dinners with you .
I agree a lot with your observations , we have been many times on the three Pinnacle ships but after our first couple of dinners in the dining room , we will absolutely not go back there . You can’t even have nice discussions with your table mates and I have very good ears !
Like you mentioned the crows nest is severely underutilized in the evenings , I agree with your solutions . A nicer bar , some easy music and comfortable chairs . I also agree fully as far as the sound levels of BB King goes . With very good hearing , I am afraid to damage that by listening too long .
Greetings from Canada , Sailing Dutchie
June 17, 2025 at 2:11 am
Thank you so much for your valued observations and entertaining stories. As a HAL mariner I appreciate your comparison with Cunard as we had considered Cunard at one time. The class divisions was the turn off for Cunard. We would be riff raff there. No thank you. I do enjoy the Pinnacle class ships and I do really like BB Kings Blues Club. (Sorry). Konigsdam is my favorite but I have been on one of the smaller ships into Cuba. It was a very good trip, as one would expect.
June 17, 2025 at 2:20 am
Thank you for your blogs. They are enjoyable and informative.
I am a HAL mariner and Pre COVID cruised at least once a year for many years.
I have only just returned to cruising, and have switched to Oceania.
There are many reasons for the change: smaller ships, elegant surroundings, excellent service, fabulous food to name but a few. The Specialty Restaurants are superb and were included in our package.
I thought you might be interested in this information as you are looking for smaller ships and good value for money. Oceania is more expensive than Viking but the value is incredible.
I am eagerly looking forward to reading your next blog.
Thank you.
June 17, 2025 at 6:34 am
Dankuwel. Ik kijk uit naar Uw volgende bijdrage
June 17, 2025 at 7:39 am
Thank you very much for your daily posts and comparisons between HAL & Cunard, they have been most interesting and appreciated.
I agree with your comparisons and much prefer HAL to Cunard though I do like watching the ballroom dancing and the formal nights aboard Cunard.
I have only enjoyed short cruises aboard the Cunard ships departing Sydney, except Queen Anne which I am still to experience. One thing we found surprising was the difference between HAL’s Neptune Lounge and the Queens Grill Lounge. The Neptune Lounge was by far superior, the staff couldn’t be more helpful, and the food service offered is outstanding. We found the opposite aboard Queen Elizabeth, the staff did not want to assist you, and the food service was extremely poor or nonexistent.
Just my views, however we enjoy every HAL cruise we have taken and will continue to sail the ‘dam’ ships.
Thank you again, look forward to your posts aboard ms Amera , Prinsendam was a favorite!
June 17, 2025 at 12:19 pm
As usual, I enjoy your observations, opinions and comments. Most of your comments about possible HAL changes I agree with.
So thank you and please keep them coming.
I look forward to the next series of blogs when you are on your ms Amera (Prinsendam) cruise. I too became a fan of the smaller size Prinsendam.
In the meantime, enjoy being home and stay well.
June 17, 2025 at 2:09 pm
We are Diamond level Carnival cruisers and have not cruised with HAL but we have followed you for years and love your insights both as an active Captain and now in retirement.
June 17, 2025 at 8:56 pm
I really enjoy reading about your travels. Please keep it up!
We met you on one of our HAL cruises. I am pretty sure it was the maiden transatlantic on the Nieuw Statendam. You gave a few talks that were so interesting. Those talks were standing room only in the World Stage. You have so much knowledge to share, and we appreciate you sharing it.
June 17, 2025 at 9:17 pm
Het wordt zeker een mooie cruise met de Amera. Zeker als je de nieuwe inrichting bekijkt en de prijzen. De drankjes kosten de helft van die van de HAL en de Pinnacle grill is gratis. Ik heb ook vertrouwen in de Duitse service en vriendelijkheid. Natuurlijk ook een ouderwetse formal night met smoking, wat willen we nog meer. Nog 5 weken!
June 17, 2025 at 9:27 pm
I so enjoyed this. Looking forward to following you in July.
June 17, 2025 at 9:40 pm
Captain Albert, as a loyal follower of yours, and also previously of Captain Jonathan Mercer, a Prinsendam fan, etc. etc. I think that those of us of a certain age should acknowledge that the world has changed, particularly post-pandemic. The demographic market of the cruise lines has changed, and at the same time the smaller ship market has moved to Viking, and the six star ultra luxury “yacht” experience. Having said all of that, I continue to be a HAL fan and will be joining Volendam in August for our first cruise in a while. We look forward to the experience, regardless of how much it may have evolved, and much appreciate the fact that we can, when there are so many who cannot! Looking forward to hearing about Amera, and all of your future cruises. I remain, a fan.
LL
June 18, 2025 at 1:17 pm
Captain,
We’ve been on the Statendam 4 times now and I completely agree with your review. I’ve been on the QM2 as well and the first I said when I got home, Cunard is very nice but the service is not what we are used to on the HAL ships. In your comparison with the Queen Anne you came to same conclusion.
Off topic , but I don’t know another way to reach you : In the latest edition of Vereniging De Lijn ’s magazine “Hallo” , you mention in your column that the MS Rotterdam was the last HAL ship to come to Southampton on january 9, 2014. I’m afraid you are mistaken .We were on the Rotterdam on december 19 , 2015 and stopped in Southampton on our way back to Rotterdam on the 17 night Canary Island Adventure.
June 19, 2025 at 3:20 pm
At the risk of showing my age I was a Radio Officer on the Moore McCormick line. I really enjoy your frank observations regarding your trips. I will not sail on the liners that are theme parks, so I agree with everyone, bring back the small liners. Enjoy your retirement.