There’s something special about stepping onboard a cruise ship and knowing the next week is all about sunshine, sea views and waking up somewhere new each day. My recent sailing on the beautiful Nieuw Statendam with Holland America Line was exactly that – a relaxed Caribbean escape with a perfect mix of stunning islands, great food and effortless travel.

First time sailing from Fort Lauderdale – was wonderful seeing so many sailing the same day.  No less than 7 ships in port in varying shapes and sizes. A ship to suit all tastes!

Although we have done numerous cruises before and destinations this was a first time on Holland America and to some of the islands never visited too.

From the moment I board, the ship felt elegant and welcoming. Nieuw Statendam is stylish without feeling formal – think contemporary décor, lots of open spaces and plenty of spots to sit with a drink and watch the ocean roll by.

One thing Holland America does incredibly well is service. The crew are warm, friendly and genuinely seem to enjoy making sure you’re having a great time.  Not least our 2 cabin stewards Gede and Ade who started and ended each day with the widest smile and nothing was too much trouble.  Then of course there’s always the towel animal when we returned at night

Dining is a big part of the experience with Holland America. The main dining room offers beautifully presented dishes each evening, but there are also speciality restaurants if you fancy something different – From a touch of Pasta from Italy – to exquisite French dining to a Steak restaurant -    I’m not looking forward to facing the scales that’s for sure as the waist bands are already feeling the pinch!   Our most frequent were the Lido buffet restaurant with a vast array of choice each meal to the Dutch Café for beautiful fresh brewed coffee and a different options of breakfast or that naughty slice of cake!

Talking of Cake – one special afternoon not to be missed, which I saw on the TV program ;  Cake me away – where the restaurant is filled with Cake of all shapes / sizes and colours.

Most evenings dress code is Smart casual.  A couple of nights there’s a chance to dress up – so out came the glitz and glamour and we had a sparkling evening on board.  In a nod to their Dutch heritage one evening there is an orange party.  Where everyone is encouraged to dress up in Orange and the ship is decked out completely in Orange including the food!

This itinerary explored some of the gorgeous islands of the Caribbean and Bahamas – each with its own personality.

White sand beaches and turquoise water, beach bars serving rum punch and fresh seafood. Colourful towns perfect for wandering and shopping and we experienced them all!  

On Holland America’s private island of Half Moon Cay we had one of THE best experiences.   Swimming up close with Stingrays , and holding Starfish -Sea urchins and kissing a Sea-Cucumber for allegedly 7 years good luck.   We met up with some fellow cruisers ashore in Grand Turk and took a guided tour around the Island – including meeting some of their friendly donkeys.  Talking of animals – In Nassau we went around an animal sanctuary.   Devastated by a hurricane they are working hard to build the centre back up before enjoying a cold drink in a bar with a ceiling full of signed dollar bills!

We ended the trip with an overnight stay in Miami – enjoying the amazing Bayside with live music and lots of bars and restaurants. Rounded up with an open-top bus tour of all the sights and a boat trip around the harbour eyeing up the millionaires waterfront homes.

What makes cruising here so special is the effortless travel. You unpack once, yet wake up somewhere new almost every day.

No packing and unpacking between hotels — just step off the ship and explore.

And when you return? Your floating hotel is waiting with a cocktail, dinner and sunset views and trust me – we exampled a few . And yes… I’m already thinking about the next one.

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