Written by Chillie Falls, December 10, 2022
I have just disembarked from a wonderful seven day cruise on Holland America’s Nieuw Statendam. While I successfully navigated the ship, and left with very positive feelings toward both HAL and the ship, there were some deficiencies that must be discussed. NOTE: Nieuw Statendam is scheduled for a drydock in 2023 and I have been assured that most of my issues will be addressed and fixed. Accessibility is at the top of the drydock list.
Embarkation/Disembarkation
I am a mobility challenged traveler and use a scooter on all of my cruises, plus some hotels as well. Scootaround has always been right on the spot with me. The equipment is always well maintained, clean and never a problem. Most of you know that I prefer delivery of the scooter at the terminal, rather than in my stateroom. Carnival, Norwegian and now some Royal Caribbean cruises have adopted this strategy. It is so much easier on the disabled guest, and used much less labor on the port and cruise side. They do not have to provide people to push the wheelchairs, which are almost always in ill repair, way too small for a PLUS-sized man like me, and very uncomfortable.
This is one area where HAL has not come into this century and they still do the old fashioned way. That said, both embarkation and disembarkation went very smoothly. The process of security and check in took no time at all, and the port wheelchair attendant got me to the switch off point where I was handed over to ship personnel.
I had to wait for a chair, and by then a long line of guests to get on the ship. I was taken directly to my stateroom to pick up my scooter, even though the rooms were not quite ready for guests.
This morning, I went to the wheelchair meeting area, in Ocean Bar, waited maybe 10 minutes for a chair and pusher, left my Scootaround scooter, and was off the ship and waiting for my Uber by 8:15 AM. Disembarkation was well organized and well done.
Accessible Cabin 7099
My stateroom was an accessible inside room and I would be hard pressed to find anything wrong with it. A well equipped roll-in shower with all the usual accessible features, a huge bed with plenty of storage and closet space, a great work space for me, AND enough electrical plugs for my scooter, oxygen, computer and phone to all be plugged in at once. On top of that, I had two room attendants, Arye and Octo who were outstanding. Even though the door was not automatic, it was plenty wide for the scooter, and light weight enough I could easily enter or leave.
Also roomy enough to easily turn the scooter around when leaving. It was a great room. And I know many of you would never use an inside room, I am fine with insides and feel for the amount of money I save, I can do an extra couple of cruises for the year.
Pools and Recreational Areas
There are two swimming pools on Nieuw Statendam, the main pool midship on Deck 9, and the Seaview Pool aft Deck 9. Both have multiple hot tubs. The main pool stays the busiest, and is inaccessible unless you can walk a little. All hot tubs are up several steps with plenty of railings, but still several steps. There does not seem to be a lift chair at this pool.
The Seaview Pool is a little better and has a lift chair. Hot tubs are the same with numerous steps.
The other recreational areas like the Fitness Center on Deck 9, the jogging track and sports court on Deck 11 and the Promenade on Deck 3 are accessible and mostly have automatic doors.
There are a couple doors that have lips that stop my scooter but one can navigate around them by using a different elevator bank.
And one very small section of Deck 14 that has steps without a ramp
These very few roadblocks to the disabled community, are very minor and in no way lessens the enjoyment of the ship. Also, they can be fixed easily as has been demonstrated on the majority of similar situations throughout the ship.
Restaurants and Bars
I was assigned a table in the main dining room that was close to the entrance, so I did not have to navigate around lots of tables and diners, and there was no problem with removing one chair so I could drive my scooter up to the table, rotate the seat so my legs were under the table, and sit like a “normal” person. Most nights, my waiter had already removed the chair before I got there. I was also able to take up as little space as possible and not negatively effect other nearby tables. I am very sensitive to how my situation effects those around me, and while sometime there are no choices, it is nice when I can feel comfortable without deterring from others enjoyment of the cruise.
There was a very similar situation in the Lido Market, the ship’s buffet. I sat every morning at an accessible table. Staff would see me coming and remove a chair so I could pull up to the table. Also, let me give a shout out to the buffet area crew and servers. They went out of their way to assist me, carrying my plate, getting me orange juice, water or coffee, even asking if they could get me another serving. Very well done, Lido Market Crew.
I can’t speak to the accessibility of the specialty restaurants because on this cruise, I never used any. But I am certain the same helpful attitudes toward the special needs community would be the same.
I am pretty sure I visited all of the bars for either an adult beverage or my diet cokes. All were very attuned to the mobility challenged needs. I never felt ignored, was always served quickly and efficiently.
Public Restrooms
This was by far the most troubling area of this entire ship. So much so that I even posted a report just on the public restrooms. See: https://www.accessadventure.net/wheelchair-accessible-restrooms-on-nieuw-statendam.
After finding two mens rooms that I struggled to get past the “accessible” doors, I surveyed every public restroom and found 24, 12 mens and 12 ladies, that must have push button doors installed. There are many on Nieuw Statendam, usually with automatic doors, but not on these public restrooms. Please not on the above video, I referenced the need of automatic doors, that technically was incorrect. They need push button door openers.
I have been assured by Jason, the Guest Services Manager, and other officials from Holland America, that this matter, as well as several other accessibility issues, would be addressed and fixed during a drydock in 2023
Tender Operations
For the first time in my cruising career, I have been able to access two tenders and two ports on the same cruise. Often, tender operations are not available to scooter or wheelchair guests for a variety of legitimate reasons. On this cruise, two ports were accessible, but not without challenges.
First was Half Moon Cay. See https://www.accessadventure.net/accessible-half-moon-cay/ for details. Getting on the tender was a bit nerve racking as you are riding onto a swaying, moving ramp from one ship to the other. Then, because the deck to get on the tender is not the same deck to get off the tender, I had to traverse a very steep ramp, with 3 turns and remember the swaying and undulations of the tender, left me almost panicked. Admittedly, there was a very large man assisting me, so I made it to the lower level and allowed my heartbeat to return to normal. most tenders do not have such a ramp so if the ship access and dock access are different heights, scooter or wheelchair guest are eliminated if they were unable to walk a flight of stairs.
Grand Cayman was totally different because the ship and dock matched. So, I just had to get on and get off from the same tender deck.
I just want all to be aware that this can be done. I did it, even though very uncomfortable in Half Moon Cay. Would I do it again to enjoy the island? Absolutely.
Shows, Entertainment and Casino
I went to several shows and most early evening entertainment. (I am an early to bed person because I am up very early to research what has happened around the world for my daily Travel and Cruise Industry News show). While these events are usually very crowded, I was able to find wheelchair seating , or in my case, parking. For the dance show on the World Stage, I was sitting so close to the stage, I thought a dancer might end up in my lap. It was Great!.
The casino had as much space between rows or sections of games and slot machines, that I could easily navigate at the most busy times. Most casinos try to use up every inch of space and make it impossible or very difficult for the mobility challenged community to enjoy. Not so on Nieuw Statendam.
Conclusion
I do not do these accessibility guide to make any ship or cruise line to look bad or to complain. I hope some from my community will be aware of the short comings on any ship. And, if I can not recommend a ship to the mobility challenged community, I will tell you.
That is not the case with the Nieuw Statendam. Holland America, and Nieuw Statendam, seem to be very willing and are planning to correct some of these shortcomings.
I loved the Nieuw Statendam, plan on sailing on her again, and would recommend this ship to anyone in my community no matter what level of disability you are in.