LIVE Thanksgiving Review Nieuw Statendam Rome -> FLL My First Transatlantic Nov 26 - Dec 10 🦃

[Haljo1935]

7 hours ago, BetsyS. said:

Bon Voyage! 🥂😊 I'm excited for you!

Thanks @BetsyS. little preview of the Pantheon for you - it was awesomely amazing!

7 hours ago, ClippyJoe said:

Have a wonderful adventure !

 

Thank you @ClippyJoe

[FLCruiser97]

Bon Voyage and Enjoy! Looking forward to some ports of call reviews. 

[StLouisCruisers]

Bon Voyage!  Anxious to hear how you like your transatlantic!

 

[smitty34877]

Bon Voyage! I am excited to “travel” vicariously.

[POA1]

As the foremost expert on what the ship looked like before and after drydock, how much of a difference does the expanded casino make? @Haljo1935

[Chrissy6299]

I'll be sailing on the Nieuw Statendam next month. First time out NS and looking forward to your posts.

[cruisinsince75]

Will be following your review closely.  Just booked this morning the same cruise for 2025.  11/15-11/29 FCO-FLL.  We also fly out of DfW.  BON VOYAGE!!!

[Haljo1935]

Good Morning, Sea Day!! We are enroute to Alicante, Spain.

Sunrise as seen from my balcony.

2nd Cappuccino double vanilla from recently remodeled Explorations on 12.

 

Changed excursion for our first port tomorrow, Alicante - the one we wanted showed sold out for ages, then this morning 2 spots opened up, so we had them switch us from MARQ museum to Wine Tasting.

As I walked away from the Shore Exc desk, I heard the Mgr tell the guy who had just helped me switch my excursion that he could print the notice about the wine tasting change so they could distribute them. Great - just booked and it has changed 🫣

 

Off to flower arranging presentation.

Didn't win - can I throw this away now, lol.

The florist does such a great job and is super busy at the beginning of each cruise doing all the arrangements on board. He said with this being a 2 week cruise, he would try to do another presentation next week, but that it would not be published in The Daily. So, question- how do we find out when it will be?

Some of the handpainted vases you can buy to take home or request with an arrangement.

This is one of the most interesting of the large arrangements on deck 2.

Christmas decorations are going up - more and more each day. These are from deck 2 at/near BB Kings and Pinnacle. 

 

Edited November 27, 2023 by Haljo1935

[FLCruiser97]

Nice pics. 

[Haljo1935]

On 11/26/2023 at 3:51 PM, FLCruiser97 said:

Bon Voyage and Enjoy! Looking forward to some ports of call reviews. 

Thank you - our first port is tomorrow in Alicante Spain.

[BetsyS.]

Thank you for the beautiful pictures!  

[Haljo1935]

On 11/26/2023 at 4:27 PM, smitty34877 said:

Bon Voyage! I am excited to “travel” vicariously.

Hi - happy to have you here!

[aliaschief]

Looking forward to your reports. Bon Voyage!

[Haljo1935]

Village is being installed in Grand Dutch Cafe.

Some door decorations on deck 5.

 

[Haljo1935]

On 11/26/2023 at 4:21 PM, StLouisCruisers said:

Bon Voyage!  Anxious to hear how you like your transatlantic!

 

I'm really curious to see how I like it, too, lol. Bring my first one, I just don't know what I will think of so many sea days. I usually enjoy breaking a trip up w/port and sea days. We'll see...🫣

[Haljo1935]

22 hours ago, cruisinsince75 said:

Will be following your review closely.  Just booked this morning the same cruise for 2025.  11/15-11/29 FCO-FLL.  We also fly out of DfW.  BON VOYAGE!!!

We were lucky to get an affordable non stop on American. I get nervous on international layovers.

If we like this, maybe we'll do it again and see you on the ship.

Edited November 27, 2023 by Haljo1935
Additional comment

[Haljo1935]

On 11/26/2023 at 4:48 PM, POA1 said:

As the foremost expert on what the ship looked like before and after drydock, how much of a difference does the expanded casino make? @Haljo1935

Have not been able to walk the whole ship yet, but the casino is definitely larger (staircase removed, but still shown on map) with the larger consoles. Not all the consoles have been replaced with the larger ones (I think the plan was to have a mix); not all the larger ones are working yet - we'll see as we go on how many become functional. Still have table games.

They are allowing smoking on one side of the room (side with the cashier) with the other being non smoking. 

The annex is still there and seems to be the same size.

Will get pictures over the next couple days.

These are just for you, since I know how much you cherish them. Perhaps we can lobby for a CO mug in the lineup. 

[FLCruiser97]

26 minutes ago, Haljo1935 said:

I'm really curious to see how I like it, too, lol. Bring my first one, I just don't know what I will think of so many sea days. I usually enjoy breaking a trip up w/port and sea days. We'll see...🫣

OH, don't worry. There will be so many things to do on the sea days. Sea days are great. Before you know it, you'll be docking at home port.

[Chrissy6299]

5 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

 

2nd Cappuccino double vanilla from recently remodeled Explorations on 12.

 

 

Did the Explorations Cafe get updated during the dry dock?

What's new?

[Haljo1935]

So, at the M&M this morning,  we were told a large portion of the dry dock work entailed retrofits to get the ship accessible. They're required to conform by 2027 and this is the first ship HAL has brought to standards. Lowering counters and/or adding areas that can accommodate wheelchairs was a major portion of the changes. Changing door swings and how they open (push buttons, handles, etc) - things some people may not notice, but greatly impact navigation and functionality have been done throughout the ship.

The Greenhouse Spa is completely different with the entire area having been reconfigured. The doorways have been widened, the floating beds for seaweed wraps are gone, which really changes those treatments. New saunas, showers and ceramic chairs are in place. Couple pictures of areas that may not have changed, but people frequently ask about; I will get more pictures as I visit.

The thermal pool

Treadmills

Relaxtion Room

Treatment Room

While talking about the spa, here's the info disclosure form

Exorations Central also changed - the wall w/big screen TV across from the desk have been replaced with cubbies that now hold games, puzzles, etc. Last cruise review, this is where the pictures showing the ports were that I took waiting in Shore Exc line.

The bar has really changed - it's bigger, now rectangular w/more counter space and a lower portion for accessibility. 

I was told the library books will not be stocked until FLL, so it may be a wide open space when we see it - more to come on that.

Carpeting and MDR decor is the same; it appeared to be in good condition, so I'm glad to see it's intact.

[Haljo1935]

45 minutes ago, Chrissy6299 said:

 

Did the Explorations Cafe get updated during the dry dock?

What's new?

Yes it did get an update. Here's a few pictures of the general space - areas that changed are in post #70 (just did it). It feels roomier even though it wasn't enlarged. Let me know if you want more pics.

Edited November 28, 2023 by Haljo1935
Typo

[Haljo1935]

Club Orange wine is safely back in place.

Blend is now called Taste - liquor tasting was being held there during dinner this evening and the wine tasting was there this afternoon. 

Christmas decorations by Taste, across from CO dining room.

Edited November 28, 2023 by Haljo1935

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Did you dine in Club Orange the first night? Was it a crazy long wait to get in?

 

Thanks!!

[cruisinsince75]

So, at the M&M this morning,  we were told a large portion of the dry dock work entailed retrofits to get the ship accessible. They're required to conform by 2027 and this is the first ship HAL has brought to standards. Lowering counters and/or adding areas that can accommodate wheelchairs was a major portion of the changes. Changing door swings and how they open (push buttons, handles, etc) - things some people may not notice, but greatly impact navigation and functionality have been done throughout the ship.

 

Thanks for that...

 

That is good news for us.  Both my wife and I have mobility issues and use scooters to get around.  We are in Stateroom 8132 which is accessible.  I wonder is the stateroom door and bathroom door will have push buttons to open.  That would make it even easier to manage.  

 

[Haljo1935]

3 minutes ago, LAFFNVEGAS said:

Did you dine in Club Orange the first night? Was it a crazy long wait to get in?

 

Thanks!!

Did not dine there first night; we ate in MDR. Tonight we went to CO - no line, only 4 tables occupied, but it was late - we went at 8:30. Service was a tad off - Chef spoke w/one of the tables about an issue w/their order.

We were given 2 different menus.

Served incorrect dessert, but they did bring correct one when we mentioned it; then they brought double the amount. Seriously, who can eat that much dessert?

Food was very good:

Duck, tomato potato dumpling soup, salad, Lamb, cheese ravioli, flourless chocolate cake w/coffee gelato, raspberry sorbet, cheesecake (our "bonus" dessert).