Nieuw Statendam - I'm Booked, Are You?

Greetings,

 

My PCC called me yesterday and informed me that bookings are available for Nieuw Statendam and asked if I wanted to book a cruise. So of course I said yes! I booked a 4-night itinerary that includes Key West and HMC sailing from December 19-23, 2018.

 

The prices are high, as you might expect. I'm in for nearly $375 per night for an OO-category stateroom. [Those are the single outside cabins. I understand from my PCC that there are exactly the same number as there were on Koningsdam; so that's a disappointment.] So, on a cost-per-day basis, this will be my most expensive cruise ever. After the thrill wears off, I may decide the price is too high. But for now I'm excited about NS!

 

Did anyone else make a booking on NS yesterday? If so, where are you going and what type of stateroom did you choose?

 

Happy sailing. :)

I have e-mailed my PCC for the schedule and will be booking something for February 2019 asap.

14 Days Western / Eastern Feb 10, 2019!

Where can you see her itineraries? Currently on the HAL website, there's no itineraries.

I've read in another board, they are due to be on sale tomorrow?

Where can you see her itineraries? Currently on the HAL website, there's no itineraries.

I've read in another board, they are due to be on sale tomorrow?

 

I too have seen the May 17 date. So maybe the itineraries will populate tomorrow? If I hadn't received a call from my PCC, I wouldn't have had any idea that sales were going to open. It has been quite a while since we've heard anything about NS. But then the big push for Koningsdam came rather late. I for one would like some word about the new, distinctive features we were promised. As I complained above, there aren't any additional single cabins. :(

14 Days Western / Eastern Feb 10, 2019!

 

I'm envious! <|3

I'm looking forward to hearing about any changes made to common areas in comparison to the Koningsdam. I do hope that HAL listened and perhaps even acted on various suggestions made.

Waiting to see the schedule but due to travel to ports we try to stick to 14 days or more. At $375 a day this may not be a ship for us during the 1st year of service.

At $375 a day this may not be a ship for us during the 1st year of service.

That's because he's solo. For the K'dam initial 4-day out of FLL we paid about $200/p/d for a VE, and expect the NS to be more in that neighborhood for double-occupancy.

Wow..thanks for clarifying the price!

Have a great cruise Bruce

I just checked the HAL site and the Nieuw Statendam cruises do not show up yet. However, they do show up on the booking engine that the PCCs, and possibly other TAs, use.

 

For comparison, my fare is about $330 per day - also for one of the solo cabins, the same one I had a few months ago on the Koningsdam.

 

Rich

I just checked the HAL site and the Nieuw Statendam cruises do not show up yet. However, they do show up on the booking engine that the PCCs, and possibly other TAs, use.

 

For comparison, my fare is about $330 per day - also for one of the solo cabins, the same one I had a few months ago on the Koningsdam.

 

Rich

 

 

I take it you were happy with the solo cabin. What is the category for the cabin and where are they located?

I just checked the HAL site and the Nieuw Statendam cruises do not show up yet. However, they do show up on the booking engine that the PCCs, and possibly other TAs, use.

 

 

Rich

 

Correct. Polar (HAL staff) and Polar Online (agent portal) can see these cruises

I take it you were happy with the solo cabin. What is the category for the cabin and where are they located?

 

Solo rooms is category OO.

Deck 1 forward. Book early as size varies quite a bit due to the curve of the hull at the front of the ship.

I take it you were happy with the solo cabin. What is the category for the cabin and where are they located?

 

Solo rooms is category OO.

Deck 1 forward. Book early as size varies quite a bit due to the curve of the hull at the front of the ship.

 

You are correct, I was happy with the solo cabin. As InTheWASide mentioned, they are all the way forward on deck 1, category OO and there are 12 of them. As you move aft the cabins do get larger.

 

I have and had 1012, which was a comfortable size. Easy access to World Stage, Billboard, Lincoln Center and the Crows Nest.

I contacted my travel agent and booking is indeed possible.

 

So far out to book and I would have to purchase travel insurance soon after making the deposit. What to do?

 

This sailing is competing with a Sapphire Princess Southampton-Singapore cruise a few weeks earlier. But, its pricing! And, then there is the air to the cruise and from the cruise.

 

What to do!

 

So far out to book and I would have to purchase travel insurance soon after making the deposit. What to do?

 

 

Find insurance that allows you to just insure the deposit and still get pre-existing condition coverage.

Find insurance that allows you to just insure the deposit and still get pre-existing condition coverage.

 

 

That's a great idea, but are there companies that permit this?

Also, is there going to be a Crows Nest on the NS or is Explorations Central going to take its place?

That's a great idea, but are there companies that permit this?

Also, is there going to be a Crows Nest on the NS or is Explorations Central going to take its place?

 

Almost every major travel insurance co allow you to insure only the deposit when you first book the cruise. You need to do this to qualify for preexisting medical condition.

 

For example I booked a cruise over a year ago and only insured the $1200 deposit (cost about $100). Now I am covered for preexisting conditions. Last month I purchase airline tickets and I called my travel insurance and added the amount to my policy (another $120). Next month final payment is due and that will be the big chunk of money. As soon as I pay final payment I will call my travel insurance and ad that to my policy.

 

By the way, last April while on a cruise in the Caribbean my son-in-law had a heart attack and he and my daughter had to be evacuated in St Maarten (spent 11 days in and out of the hospital). The bill was thousands of dollars. Luckly I had travel insurance and they covered every penny.

 

Moral of the story is to be sure and get travel insurance if you have a preexisting condition.

I was interested in the initial transatlantic but am looking Prinsendam 2019 Grand South America and at December 5 that TA is too close to the other cruise.

 

Roy

That's a great idea, but are there companies that permit this?

Also, is there going to be a Crows Nest on the NS or is Explorations Central going to take its place?

 

EXC will be in place from initial build on Nieuw Statendam

EXC will be in place from initial build on Nieuw Statendam

 

So . . . no Crows Nest as we knew it. Darn! Will be most interesting to see how it is received.

Almost every major travel insurance co allow you to insure only the deposit when you first book the cruise. You need to do this to qualify for preexisting medical condition.

 

For example I booked a cruise over a year ago and only insured the $1200 deposit (cost about $100). Now I am covered for preexisting conditions. Last month I purchase airline tickets and I called my travel insurance and added the amount to my policy (another $120). Next month final payment is due and that will be the big chunk of money. As soon as I pay final payment I will call my travel insurance and ad that to my policy.

 

By the way, last April while on a cruise in the Caribbean my son-in-law had a heart attack and he and my daughter had to be evacuated in St Maarten (spent 11 days in and out of the hospital). The bill was thousands of dollars. Luckly I had travel insurance and they covered every penny.

 

Moral of the story is to be sure and get travel insurance if you have a preexisting condition.

 

Thank so much for that info. I was not aware that it was possible. May alleviate the necessity for a "cancel for any reason" policy, although that need not be taken out until final payment. I do understand, however, the necessity for an evacuation policy

EXC will be in place from initial build on Nieuw Statendam

 

You beat me to it! Sort of. The deck plans are fully available on the HAL website. I cannot detect any difference between NS and Koningsdam. Even the spiral stair between Music Walk and the casino is still there.

 

https://www.hollandamerica.com/pageByName/Resp.action?requestPage=ships_msNieuwStatendam&showHeader=true&showFooter=true

Thanks for the info, John.

 

Even tho it's 4 days, I'm tempted to try that new ship.

But what is the itinerary?

It looks like there might be a sea day if it's 4 days.

I did a dummy booking on the HAL website, and tried to put a courtesy hold on 1018 (one of the first available single cabins) and it got stolen from underneath me. LOL

 

Looks like this one is selling pretty good.:eek: