What’s in a Name?

“Dam” means the same thing in Dutch as it does in English—it’s a barricade across a river or a dyke that keeps water from overflowing onto the land.  Without dams and dykes, the low-lying Netherlands would be flooded.  About two-thirds of its area is vulnerable to flooding, while the country is among the most densely populated on Earth.

I was privileged enough to be invited by Holland America to visit their newest ship in the fleet last week.

The Holland America Line of cruise ships has been serving passengers for more than 130 years.  It has a rich history with many traditions and practices including its naming conventions, the cruise line remains consistent with the naming of its passenger ships in Dutch with the “dam” suffix and coupling it with a famous body of water, mountain, location, or directional bearing.

The new 2,666-guest ship has an interior that balances a fresh, contemporary styling that I would only describe as classic elegance.  Nieuw Statendam is all about fine details and thoughtful touches throughout the ship that create an ambience of both elegance and style.  It showcases a dramatic three-deck-high central atrium that is graced by an airy stainless-steel sculpture that is meant to emulate the feeling of being inside and surrounded by a musical instrument.

The music theme is carried throughout the ship.  It features the largest dance floor on a ship and a home to Memphis BB Kings Blues Club.  Other bars onboard include Music Walk which features 50 years of chart hits, a Rock Room in partnership with Rolling Stones and then the World Stage, on Decks 2 and 3 forward. This is the main performance space on board or theatre as we know it. The venue accommodates 650 passengers at one time with unobstructed views and standout 270-degree LED screens that are used during performances. A highlight of any sailing is a specially produced short film from BBC’s Planet Earth series, accompanied by a live orchestra.

The Dining Room aboard Nieuw Statendam spans two floors and is framed by views of the sea. it has a bright interior inspired by a modern, global design and sets the stage for the exceptional culinary experience that Holland America is renowned for.

Like all cruise lines, you will find speciality restaurants onboard. Rudi’s Sel De Mer, Holland America Line’s intimate French brasserie, is reimagined on Nieuw Statendam with expanded seating for 54 guests. Another touch which has been introduced is Club Orange for suite guests. Very similar to Blu which is found onboard Celebrity.

The central pool area has two levels to create a vast glass-enclosed space. The lower level features traditional poolside elements, while the mezzanine level showcases more seating, a giant screen for poolside movies and New York Deli and Pizza.

Walk along the sun deck through volleyball and basketball courts to the observation deck and here you will find interactive screens which allow you to explore the different destinations of your cruise, or even see real-time data from the bridge.

I left Amsterdam rather reluctantly wishing I could have stayed on board for the 7-night cruise to the Fjords. In my next blog, I will take you on a tour of the cabins.