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All text and photographs (unless stated otherwise) © Paul Timmerman Public rooms Classical symmetry in interior lay out has been abandoned aboard Statendam. This makes it easier for passengers to find their way around the vessel, and it is possible for interior designers to create public spaces of different dimensions and in other forms than squares. Furthermore it was decided to use subdued colours and make restricted use of neon lighting. HAL is famous for its art collections onboard its ships, comprising themes from the 17th century Dutch West and East Indies. Dutch art was exactly what inspired Joe Farcus when he designed the interiors of both the van Gogh show lounge and the Corws´Nest, a discotheque/ observation lounge. Paintings of van Gogh and Mondriaan were his inspiration. In the van Gogh show lounge, large murals were designed using the motif from "The starry Night" , one of van Gogh´s best known paintings. A motif from another one of his paintings called "Irises" has been used in a variety of ways: in the columns capitals, in the stained glass lamp stands, the etchings in/ on the main glass entry doors, the bronze door handles and in the floor carpets. The Crows' Nest Lounge has been decorated in the abstract style of Mondriaan. It is located on the top deck of Statendam, Sports Deck, and offers magnificent views and is the place to be when she enters or leaves port.
Erasmus Library, Upper Promenade deck Starting on the Promenade Deck. Forward is the upper level of the earlier mentioned van Gogh Lounge, and when we proceed aft, we first enter the middle level of the Atrium. In this three level atrium we encounter a very impressive fountain, rising through all three decks of the atrium lobby. This fountain is called `Fountain of the Sirens` and was designed by Dutch architect Dennis de Vlaming. On the upper and middle level of the atrium the hotel manager, cruise director´s offices, photo gallery, the excursion and front desk are found. Further aft of the atrium, the Wajang Theatre , a full size theatre and the Half Moon Room and Hudson Room are located. These latter rooms can be combined to one room. They are so called double function rooms, and can be used for private parties or meetings. Wrapped around the atrium on the lower level down one deck on Lower Promenade Deck, are the intimate Ocean Bar (starboard side) which offers great seaviews and the Fountain Terrace (port side). Going further aft, on this same deck, first we pass the Shopping Arcade, next the tucked away cosy Piano Bar and the Casino before we finally reach a quiet lounge for coffee and coctails, the Explorers Lounge, where it seems that several totally different styles of furniture have been mixed. Nevertheless this lounge unmistakenly has style, HAL's classic style. On the opposite side (port side) the card room and library give passengers the opportunity to retreat for some quiet reading or for a card game........
Van Gogh show lounge, Promenade deck A showpiece on this deck (far aft) is the two-deck Rotterdam dining room. Glass walls on three sides, an elegant stairway linking both levels on either side of the dining room, a "hidden" orchestra pit between the stairs connecting both levels of this room, and hundreds of glass fixtures twinkling on the ceiling, make this dining room a real beauty. Certainly one of the finest afloat (my favourite being the dining room on the Rotterdam V). Outside, on deck 11, the Lido Deck starting aft, we enter the Lido Restaurant, used for buffet style breakfast and lunch. The Dolphin bar, an outside bar next to the pool and two jacuzzi´s, has been given it´s name because of a bronze sculpture of five leaping dolphins created by British artist Susanna Holt at the forward end of the pool. At the forward end of Lido Deck, the Ocean Spa gives you an excellent view over the ship´s bows, rarely the case for a gymnasium on other vessels! Statendams staterooms are worth mentioning: in total there are 633 staterooms aboard, a pullman suite, 28 suites, 120 de luxe staterooms, 346 standard outside cabins, 132 inside, and 6 outside accessible for wheelchairs. When she entered service, Statendams cabins were claimed to be ca. 30% larger than on other comparable ships in the industry. It took over a year to finalize the design of these staterooms! Fincantieri constructed several mock-up cabins, which were approved of by Ted Arison, the ships owner, Kirk Lanterman, HAL´s President and the designer of the cabins Kym Anton to name but a few. Statendam was the first ship of a series that now comprises four sister ships, Statendam (1993), Maasdam (1993), Ryndam (1994) and finally Veendam (1996). These ships have the same basic hull design as Costa Crocieres Costa Classica and Costa Romantica. However, these ships have their life boats placed the classic way on the top deck, while HAL's quintet have them placed in a recess on top of the hull/ in the lower part of the superstructure.
Ocean Spa gym, Lido deck Shopping arcade, Upper Promenade deck Sun deck aft End
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