Thread: ms Statendam - history

ms Statendam (1993-present) Built in 1993 as ms Statendam by Fincantieri - Cantieri Navali Italiani S.p.A., Monfalcone, Italy for Holland America Line. She is the fifth ship to bear the name in Holland America Line’s more than 130-year history. ‘Staten’ in Dutch means ‘states’ so the ship is named after the seven original “states”, now provinces, of the Netherlands. She is the lead ship of the, initially three, later four-ship “S” or “Statendam” class, Maasdam (1993), Ryndam (1994) and Veendam (1996) are her sisters and the first ship to join the line since the 1988 acquisition of the Westerdam (ex-Homeric). At 720-feet, she was designed to carry fewer passengers while providing more space for maximum comfort. Many of her staterooms feature ocean views and, for the first time of a Holland America ship, 149 of them have private verandahs.



The first Statendam operated for Holland America Line from 1889 until 1911. She was HAL’s first passenger ship to exceed 10,000 tons as a twin screw 10,491 gross registered ton steamship. Built by Harland & Wolff in Northern Ireland, Statendam I was deployed on the transatlantic service between Rotterdam and New York. The ship was sold in 1911 to Allen Line who renamed her Scotian and used her for service between Great Britain, Canada and the United States. In 1915 Allen Line was sold to Canadian Pacific Line where the former Statendam became the Marglen. In 1927 she met her end at the hands of Italian shipbreakers.

The second Statendam was launched in 1914, also from the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast. The First World War interfered and Statendam would never sail for HAL. She was completed in 1917 as the 32,234 ton British military troopship Justicia under White Star Line management. On 20 July 1918 she sank in the Irish Channel after being attacked with torpedoes by German submarines.

Statendam III was laid down at Harland & Wolff in 1921 but completed at Wilton-Feijenoord in Schiedam, The Netherlands in 1929. The 29,511 ton passenger liner was put to work on the Rotterdam to New York service, would become HAL’s flagship and was quickly known as the ‘Queen of the Spotless Fleet’. The Depression years hit the company hard so HAL began offering short cruises, mostly from American ports. She was withdrawn from service in late 1939 and laid up in Rotterdam. During the German invasion of the Netherlands in May 1940, Statendam III was repeatedly hit by bombs as well as caught in a cross fire. For three days, the ship burned out of control with the only two items salvageable being her ship’s bell and the Dutch flag that flew from her stern. She was scrapped in August of the following year.

The fourth Statendam was again built at the Wilton-Feijenoord yard in Schiedam and, upon completion, was named by her godmother, HRH Princess (now Queen) Beatrix of the Netherlands in January 1957. One year later in January 1958, she would be the ship that made HAL’s first ever world cruise lasting 110 days. After completing that cruise, Statendam IV operated on the Rotterdam to New York run and, from 1966, for cruising only. After a comprehensive refit that changed her from an ocean liner to a full-time cruise ship, Statendam IV operated Caribbean cruises from Miami in the winter and Bermuda cruises from New York in the summer season. Towards the end of her HAL career, she also operated Alaska cruises out of Vancouver, BC. In 1981 she was sold to New York-based Artus Investors and renamed Rhapsody in 1982, sailing for France-based Paquet Cruises (She was charted back to HAL for Alaska cruises in 1983 and again in 1988). 1986 found her purchased by Regency Cruises who renamed her Regent Star. In 1994, after her Greek owners went belly up, Regent Star was laid up at Eleusis Bay. She was sold for scrap in 2004 and broken up at Alang, India that same year.

After running technical trials in the Adriatic in July 1992 and again in October 1992, Statendam V was handed over to her owners on 7 January 1993. She then commenced a transatlantic crossing, with crew but without passengers, to Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. under the command of Captain Hans Eulderink, with Holland America Line since 1956. After a christening and naming ceremony there by her godmother, Marilyn “Lin” Arison, spouse of Ted Arison, founder of Carnival Cruise Line, on 23 January 1993, she commenced on her inaugural/maiden cruise, a sixteen-day cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Los Angeles, CA via the Panama Canal. On 7 May 1993, she returned to Europe from New York City on a 35-day Grand Europe Cruise. This cruise, still under the command of Captain Eulderink and with Dirk Zeller as the ship’s hotel manager, concluded on 11 June in Tilbury, England. Since then, Statendam has been found in the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, Hawaiian Islands, and Australasia. In 1994, she conducted her first World Cruise and on 10 May 1996 she switched from a Bahamian flag and registration (Nassau) to a Dutch one (Rotterdam).

The four ships of the 'S' class are just about identical, having only small changes in their internal layout. However, each one has a different decorative theme. Statendam's theme is built around historical Dutch life and exploration, with more than $2 million worth of art and artifacts displayed throughout the ship. In the center of the ship, a three-story atrium showcases an elaborate 26-foot-high “Fountain of the Sirens” sculpture.

Statendam has one penthouse, 28 suites, 120 deluxe staterooms, 352 outside staterooms and 132 inside staterooms for a total of 633. She, along with her three sisters, were the first new HAL cruise ships to have features like an atrium, a multi (two)-story main dining room and main show lounge, and an indoor/outdoor Lido pool with retractable roof. When launched, Statendam came out with a Java Café coffee bar, Explorers Lounge, Piano Bar, Ocean Bar (a HAL trademark), Crow’s Nest (observation lounge by day/nightclub by night), Erasmus Library, Puzzle Corner, Card room, Hudson room, Half Moon room (the latter two can be combined into one room for meetings and private parties), a 249-seat Wajang (movie) theater (also used for lectures, meetings and religious services), Photo Gallery, Shopping Arcade (plus Kiosk and Boutique), Casino (offering blackjack, Caribbean poker, roulette, craps and 97 slot machines), Beauty Salon, Ocean Spa and Gymnasium (with juice bar, massage area, two sauna and two steam rooms), 403-seat Lido (buffet) Restaurant, the 745-seat two-level Rotterdam dining room connected by a pair of sweeping, curved staircases with shiny brass railings and a ceiling canopy made from hand-blown Venetian glass, two small and private dining rooms initially known as the Noordam and Westerdam rooms and two outdoor swimming pools (one of which, the Lido pool, that can be closed off with a hydraulic sliding roof called a magrodome), two Jacuzzis plus a small children’s wading pool (since covered up) and, on Sports Deck, a jogging track around the base of the funnel (since changed to one practice tennis court on port, and one basketball court on starboard side).



The four “S” class ships were all designed with somewhat of a novelty at sea, a public escalator that could be used by embarking passengers on Main deck to reach their cabins on Lower Promenade deck while getting a glimpse of the ship’s atrium (Statendam lost her escalator while in dry-dock in Freeport, the Bahamas in April 2010 and gained two interior staterooms in its place). That atrium, three-stories high, showcases the magnificent “Fountain of the Sirens,” designed by Dutch architect Fennis de Vlaming, and executed by sculptor Gilbert Le Bigre. The fountain is decorated with sirens and symbols in the form of sculptured statues, including dolphins and rams’ heads, that suggest mythical gods and heroes. The sculpture measures 14 ½ feet at its base which consists of three basins in the shape of twisted shells. At the forward end of Statendam’s Lido Pool there is a 12-foot high cast bronze sculpture of five leaping bottlenose dolphins created by the British artist Susanna Holt. The 600-seat Van Gogh Theater/show lounge forward on both Promenade and Upper Promenade Decks commemorates Dutch 20th century post-Impressionist painterVincent van Gogh through his “Starry Night” and “Irises” paintings, and has a late 19th century French Art Noveau theme and a dance floor in front of the stage.



During a regularly scheduled dry-dock in Seattle, WA from 23 September through 2 October 2002, Statendam was one of two HAL ships (Ryndam was the other) to gain a second alternative restaurant, the 66-seat Pinnacle Grill featuring Pacific Northwest fare and fine wines (none of the four “S” class ships were built with one). In order to install the restaurant with ‘ocean views’ on Statendam, Ryndam and later, on their two “S” class sisters, the private dining room, known as the Kings room, a portion of the Explorers Lounge, the maitre d’s office as well as the small 'Video Arcade' were gutted and converted. On the “S” class ships, the PG is located on Upper Promenade Deck starboard side in between the main dining room and the Explorers Lounge. In addition, a new and private concierge lounge, called the Neptune Lounge, was constructed on Navigation Deck for the exclusive use by Deluxe Verandah and Penthouse suite occupants (Statendam lost eight inside staterooms in order to build the lounge). The new lounge gives those guests a peaceful, private retreat where they can relax and get whatever assistance they need such as fresh towels, shore excursion reservations, etc, from their personal concierge. Lastly, some of her SOE soft goods were installed.

In November 2003, Holland America Cruise Line announced a U.S. $225 million program of up-scaling their cruise ships, cruise line image and passenger cruise experience called the 'Signature of Excellence program'. This enhancement program included stateroom amenities: Sealy Posturepedic Premium Plush Euro-Top mattresses, 100% white cotton woven bed linens, waffle-weave and terry cloth bathrobes and extra-fluffy Egyptian cotton towels to all cabin categories; new massage-type showerheads and professional-grade quiet hair dryers in all bathrooms; new flat-screen LCD televisions, 5x magnifying make-up mirrors with halo lightning, fresh flowers, complimentary fruit baskets and stainless-steel ice buckets with serving trays in all cabins; plus comfortable bed duvets, fully-stocked mini-bars, personalized stationary, DVD players and access to a well-stocked DVD library in all suite-category staterooms.

Also new would be a Culinary Arts Center (inside the Wajang Theater) presented by Food & Wine magazine with a state-of-the-art show kitchen equipped with plasma video screens and on-stage counters for gourmet cooking demonstrations, tasting events and interactive classes; a Wine Tasting Bar and Gourmet Shop where guests can purchase culinary items including china and silverware from the Pinnacle Grill as well as HAL Master Chef’s Rudi Sodamin’s cook books, (in place of her Java Café); the introduction of the Pinnacle Grill alternative restaurant and private Neptune concierge lounge on all ships, two additional dining times in the main dining room, a casual dinner option with table-side waiter service inside the Lido Restaurant; an Explorations Café “powered by the New York Times”, which offers guests an opportunity to sip coffee, browse through one of the most extensive libraries at sea, enjoy a wide selection of music at one of several listening stations or surf the Internet; a refurbished Crow’s Nest; an expanded Greenhouse Spa and Salon with new treatment rooms offering a thermal suite with hydrotherapy and thalassotherapy hot tub/Jacuzzi as well as heated ceramic lounges plus the extension and expansion of the fitness facility/gymnasium, out and above the ship’s bridge.



In addition, changes were made for non-adults, including newly expanded youth facilities within the "Club HAL" program and the creation of the interior “Loft” and exterior “Oasis” for teens. The younger cruisers (ages 3-7) can enjoy supervised, age-specific activities in a more comprehensive Youth Program (arts and crafts, face painting, candy bar bingo, a pajama party, story-telling, board games, drawing contests, ice-cream sundae parties, etc.) in Club HAL. Their room has art theme with paint can stools, palette tables, and vibrant colors. Tweens (ages 8-12) have their own arcade area with their own stage, a jukebox, air hockey, foosball, Karaoke, Sony Playstations, a Digital Dance Revolution machine (DDR), vending machines, miniature golf, ping pong, dance parties, sports events, scavenger hunts, etc. The Loft is a teens-only (ages 13-18) lounge designed to resemble a New York artist's loft and comes complete with dance floor, state-of-the-art sound and laser light system, big screen TV, music videos, DVDs, Sony Playstations, a DDR, comfortable couches, and Internet access. A spiral staircase leads up to the Oasis, a secluded, teens-only sun deck with covered snack areas where teens can soak up rays in hammocks and then cool off in a one-of-a-kind cave and wade pool complete with nine-foot high tropical waterfall.

Shipboard program changes under SOE #1 included an expanded Exploration Speaker series, unique Medallion and Collection shore excursions, i-Pod art tours of all ships, new wine packages, an early embarkation program (as early as 11:30 am) for guests, flexible As You Wish dining, an expanded Pinnacle Grill menu, exclusive flatware, china and stemware in all restaurants, and a broad expansion of the Greenhouse Spa and Salon facilities and treatments.

For Statendam, the SOE part 1 refit meant the disappearance of her Java Café, Erasmus Library, Puzzle Corner, Card Room and Fountain Terrace. Statendam completed her SOE part 1 upgrades to cabins and public spaces after a dry dock period at Victoria Shipyards in Esquimalt, BC, from 24 April through 12 May 2005. From 4 through 18 December 2007, Statendam spent two weeks in the Cairncross Dry Dock in Brisbane, Australia for standard maintenance and upkeep, including a new coat of paint for her hull and new carpeting in public spaces.

In August 2008, HAL announced further enhancements to, as well as new features on, five of the line's most popular ships as part of its ongoing Signature of Excellence program. Over the next two years the four 'S' sisters as well as the lead ship of the 'R' class, ms Rotterdam, underwent and/or will undergo extensive dry docks to create new venues, new staterooms and new decor.

On 10 May 2009 while in Alaska, Statendam gained a Digital Workshop program by Microsoft which is comprised of complimentary classes led by a Microsoft-trained “techspert”. As part of the program, located in the Queen’s Room, her passengers can learn to use computers to enhance photos, produce and publish videos onto a DVD and create personal web pages or blogs. In addition, one-on-one coaching, called “Techspert Time” is available for more than 20 hours each week.



On 1 June 2009, HAL announced that, except for Veendam, completed at end of April 2009, and Rotterdam, completed in December 2009, the SOE part 2 enhancements will be accomplished in two phases. First, in a series of dry-docks in 2010 and 2011, Statendam, Maasdam and Ryndam will receive their stateroom upgrades, 16 Spa staterooms, the addition of Mix, Showroom at Sea, Canaletto, Merabella and other public area enhancements. The second series of dry-docks in 2012 and 2013 will add the Lanai cabins. After experiences leakage problem with the Retreat pool concept on both Veendam and Rotterdam, it is unclear if The Retreat pool as well as the new pre-fabricated block of twenty six new verandah and five inside staterooms on the stern will be added on Statendam, Maasdam and Ryndam during their next scheduled dry-dock period (for Statendam scheduled in December 2012).

For Statendam, the $200 million program began when she entered Dry Dock #3 on 26 March 2010 at the Grand Bahama Shipyard. While there, all of the ship’s existing staterooms were upgraded with new decor, modern wall sconces, carpeting, drapes, pillows and bed runners, resurfaced desks and vanities, and new vanities and cabinetry in the bathrooms. Sixteen staterooms (fourteen outside and two inside) on Verandah Deck, two decks below the nearby Greenhouse Spa, became “Spa staterooms” with a variety of enhanced amenities. Each offers exclusive items such as organic cotton bathrobes and slippers, a yoga mat, an iPod docking station, a countertop water feature, special room service menus and exclusive spa treatments.

The ship’s original Piano and Casino Bars were gutted and reconfigured into a multi-themed new bar concept called "Mix". It features three separate areas where either Champagne, for mid-day mimosas or anytime celebrations, Martinis, for Grey Goose cocktails and martini flights and/or Spirits & Ales for microbrews, single malts and sports updates are served. A number of Microsoft Surface tables can be found inside Mix on which electronic games can be played. In addition, her casino was redesigned and the entertainment area on Upper Promenade deck was opened up (walls were literally be knocked down) to create a better flow between shops, bars and the casino.

Inside a section of Statendam’s Lido restaurant (port side forward), Canaletto a complimentary casual-style Italian restaurant for dinner was created. Canaletto, named for the famous 18th century Venetian artist, which debuted on the ms Eurodam in 2008, will come to life for dinner nightly between 5:30 and 9:30 pm when a section of the ships' Lido restaurant is transformed into the Italian restaurant. Canaletto's menu begins with an antipasti plate that changes nightly, followed by soup choices, salad, four pasta dishes and entrees like Putanesca, Penne alla Vodka, Veal Milanese and Chicken Marsala

Statendam's main show lounge was transformed into the Showroom at Sea with the ambiance of a nightclub and a new slate of shows, her Ocean Bar was upgraded and lastly, a Merabella luxury jewelry shop was added mid-ships adjacent the Explorers Lounge on Upper Promenade deck. Statendam emerged from the Freeport yard on 11 April 2010 and, after sailing the short distance to her winter home port of Ft. Lauderdale, Fl, departed that same afternoon on a 14-day Southern Caribbean cruise.

Statendam is scheduled for the second phase of SOE Part 2 in yet another visit to the Freeport dry-dock in December 2012. During that refit she is scheduled to receive:

- The addition/creation of thirty-eight new Lanai staterooms on Deck 6/Lower Promenade whose large sliding glass doors (with one-way-mirror coating to ensure privacy) will provide direct access to the walk-around teak promenade. Each Lanai room will offer its passengers two reserved teak lounge chairs just outside the cabin.

- “Slice”, an upscale pizzeria, serving signature pizzas, whole pies and slices to order. Tables and padded chairs under a sunscreen will provide a place to dine al fresco. In order to provide live music, a stage will be added near the pool, while for additional entertainment, a large LED screen and sound system will be integrated into the ship's superstructure, providing both movies and video.