Rocking the Nieuw Statendam!

We sailed from Venice to Rome and took the opportunity of staying overnight in Venice before boarding the ship.

What I loved about the ship was her size. While many other cruise lines think bigger is better, I prefer the classic lines and although Statendam takes 2,600 passengers, it never felt over-crowded.

Our veranda stateroom had a very comfortable bed and sitting area with good storage and nice balcony. The spacious shower room was a plus.

This fabulous new ship focuses on music, art, food and destinations. The art is fresh, varied and fun and appeals to all ages – I particularly liked the reproduction of Michelangelo’s ‘David’ statue holding a smartphone!

Another major focus is the cuisine. The Lido Market provides the freshest ingredients and endless choice – delicious and low-fat options are also available which means you can eat sensibly without feeling left out.

We were lucky to experience melt-in-your-mouth steaks in the ‘Pinnacle Grill’, beautifully prepared lobster in ‘Sel de Mer’ and the best sushi at sea in ‘Tamarind’ as well as dining in the Dining Room and having quick lunches in the New York diner and the Dive In.

For lovers of music, the Music Walk is a combination of on-board venues including BB Kings Blues Club, Lincoln Centre Stage, Billboard on-board and the Rolling Stones Rock Room. There is something for everyone and you can dance ‘til you drop!

Not to mention other fantastic experiences for those days at sea - such as live cooking shows and workshops in America’s Test Kitchen, blending your own wine, delving deeper into your destinations at Exploration Central and seeing BBC Earth on the big screen. The fabulous Greenhouse Spa is a must too, oh – and not forgetting the gym!

The highlight for me was the jaw-dropping, innovative dance performance ‘Humanity’ incorporating state-of-the-art lighting and special effects (best show at sea!).

We were only on the ship for five days and had one port day in Messina in Sicily but it was long enough to know we would definitely sail on this fabulous ship again!