Statendamis a celebration of the Dutch heritage of cruise line Holland America, with valuable artworks on display including a towering 17th century bronze sculpture in the Atrium.

After a remodelling in 2010, the 1,260-passenger ship now features Mix, a brand new entertainment zone offering three themed bars that serve Martinis, Champagne, or microbrew ales and spirits, respectively. The Crow's Nest lounge has stunning sea views during the day before morphing into a chic nightclub, or you can enjoy cocktails and live music at Ocean Bar. Evening entertainment reaches its zenith at the Van Gogh Theater, decorated with a "Starry Night" theme.

Out of several restaurants, three are complimentary: the main Rotterdam Dining Room, the informal Lido Restaurant and the poolside Terrace Grill. The sophisticated Pinnacle Grill is the jewel of Statendam, with an extensive selection including premium steak and Alaskan salmon served on Bvlgari china and accompanied by a highly-rated wine list. Also available are Italian venue Canaletto, with great antipasti and home-cooked classics, and 24-hour room service.

Spacious cabins offer bathrobes, massage showerheads and Elemis amenities to all guests, as well as a nightly turndown service; some cabins with ocean views have bathtubs and suites feature fresh flowers, DVDs and a pillow menu.

Like its sisters Veendam, Maasdam and Ryndam, this ship includes the Explorations Café, a coffee shop and library with sea views, and also a teen hangout which hosts dance classes and late-night sports. And if you tire of lounging, you can keep your mind sharp with gourmet cooking lessons and digital workshops, or visit the Greenhouse Spa, which offers saunas, massages and beauty treatments.

Destinations include the South Pacific, Hawaii, the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, the Panama Canal, Mexico, South America and Antarctica; Statendam is a floating haven for epicures of every sort.