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Holland America Koningsdam Review: My Epic Voyage

Built in 2016, the Koningsdam is the first Pinnacle-class ship built by Holland America Line. With a guest capacity of around 2,650 passengers, it’s the largest ship in the Holland America fleet, along with the Nieuw Statendam and newest ship, the Rotterdam.

You can choose an Alaskan cruise in the summer months or a Hawaii, Mexico, or South Pacific from San Diego.

In this Holland America Koningsdam review, I share my experience of taking a repositioning  cruise along the Pacific Coast   after the Alaska cruise season.

On the exterior, the vessel resembles a traditional ocean liner with its sleek black and white signature colors.

My First Impressions

Inside, the interior design is traditional, which didn’t surprise me as I had previously cruised on  HAL’s Volendam  to Alaska. You’ll find an abundance of rich wood tones and timeless décor.

I was amazed at the artwork, some of the best I’ve seen. Some portraits were ingeniously created from old floppy disks. Others included keyboard keys, scrabble tiles, and other odds and ends. The sculptures are just as intriguing, too.

The Atrium spans three decks from deck one to three. Surrounding it, you’ll find guest services, Grand Dutch Café, Ocean Bar, Pinnacle Grill, and Rudi’s Sel De Mer.

I liked that this smaller vessel had fewer decks, 12 in all. I could use the stairs instead of the elevators without feeling like I was on a Stairmaster machine. 

Fresh flowers filled the public spaces, from the massive arrangements to single table displays in specialty restaurants.

The elevators featured floor mats stating the day of the week. When you’re on vacation, isn’t every day a Sunday?

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My Veranda Stateroom

I cruised solo on Holland America’s Koningsdam, and although this ship had studio ocean view cabins, I chose a veranda instead. The 12 studio cabins are on deck 1 at the bow, under the theater.

Due to their location, the single ocean-view staterooms varied in size from 127 to 172 sq. feet. Booking one of these studios allows you to forego a single supplement. I viewed one of these and other cabins during my cruise.

Not wanting to be under the theater, I priced out a balcony cabin, costing me USD 10 more after paying for two people. It was an obvious choice to have the 186 sq. foot larger room with a balcony instead of a window.

I booked a guarantee and was assigned a VH category stateroom on Beethoven deck, 4141. Considered a partially obstructed cabin because I could see the top of the lifeboat; I liked the location mid-ship.

You can read a more detailed review of my Koningsdam veranda cabin and other stateroom options.

Complimentary Dining Options

Unlike larger vessels, which have multiple main dining rooms, the Koningsdam has one. The ‘Dining Room’ on deck 2 (Plaza) and deck 3 (Promenade) serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. However, suite guests dine at Club Orange.

Alternatively, the Lido Market Buffet on deck 9 serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner for those who prefer a casual meal to the main dining room. When dinner concludes, I could get a late-night snack from 9 pm to midnight. 

The buffet was huge and had a lot of selection. I liked their make-your-own salad, fresh sushi, and gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan desserts.

The Grand Dutch Café isn’t your ordinary coffee shop with coffee, tea, and pastries. Inspired by Dutch heritage, it has draft and bottled beer (for a fee) and some Dutch favorites. Dutch Pea Soup, Proffertjes, and Apple and Bacon Pannenkoek are a few of the offerings.

I tried the hot pea soup and pickled herring, which were both tasty. While the beers cost extra, the food is complimentary. This Dutch Cafe proved to be a busy place on embarkation day.

The Dive-In offers hamburgers, hotdogs, and salads. Open between 11:30 am and 6 pm, you can get 1/3-pound beef patties, vegetarian burgers, and grilled chicken selections.

New York Deli & Pizza offers salads, pizza, sandwiches, desserts, fresh fruit, and late-night snacks. Room service is also complimentary and provides a full breakfast.

Specialty Dining

Holland America Koningsdam offers specialty dining in several venues, including the Pinnacle Grill, Tamarind, Canaletto, and Rudi’s Sel de Mer.

Pinnacle Grill, a popular choice for meat lovers, serves up juicy steaks and seafood, with its signature dish being the perfectly cooked filet mignon. 

This steakhouse offers dinner from 5 pm to 9:30 pm and lunch on sea days. During my voyage, it was the only specialty restaurant open at lunchtime. Expect to pay USD 19 for lunch and USD 46 for dinner.

Tamarind offers delectable Southeast Asian cuisine, featuring dishes like miso soup and sushi rolls. Try their satay sampler and Penang red Curry coconut chicken. At USD 35, it’s quite a bargain compared to a similar experience on land.

If you prefer Italian, Canaletto provides classics like pasta and pizza. Its lobster and shrimp ravioli tastes heavenly. Complete your meal with classic Tiramisu or a selection of Italian cheeses.

Rudi’s Sel de Mer offers delectable cuisine created by chef extraordinaire Rudi Sodamin. The intimate space provides a seafood brasserie experience with dishes loaded with lobster, prawns, crab, and fish. 

Due to its popularity, its sister line, Princess Cruises, has introduced a similar restaurant, ‘The Catch by Rudi’ on some of their ships.

For a capacity of 2650, there are many choices for specialty dining or eating outside the dining room. Their specialty restaurants are priced much lower than other lines, yet the cuisines exceeded my expectations. You can read my Koningsdam dining experience here.

Koningsdam Bars

You’ll find no shortage of places to get a drink. The ship offers many bars, from the Lido and Sea View Bars to the venues of the music walk.

Here are some of the offerings.

• Ocean Bar: A traditional nautical-themed bar serving cocktails, wines, and live music. Try the Rotterdam Martinez, a classic cocktail from the 1880s.
• Grand Dutch Café: Offers European beers, along with complimentary Dutch treats.
• Panorama Bar: Choose from beer, cider, cocktails, wine, and mocktails. You have an option to add on a souvenir glass. 

B.B. King’s Blues Club has cocktails with punchy names. Select from Good Times Roll, Top of the Charts, and Boom Boom Punch. 

During my cruise, they hosted beverage events for a chance to try something new. HAL offered a beer tasting on a sea day for USD 15, a wine tasting for USD 25 to USD 39, and a mixology class for USD 15.

Alternatively, you could try wine flights (5 wines) for just USD 9. 

Swimming Pools And Retreat

Deck 9 (Lido) features all the ship’s pools. At the aft, the Sea View Pool next to the Sea View Bar offers a peaceful setting with wake views. This outdoor pool is ideal for warm weather destinations.

The Greenhouse Spa has a circular thalassotherapy pool. Guests purchasing a thermal suite pass have exclusive access to this pool.

Mid-ship, the Lido Pool provides plenty of space for bathers, diners, and those wanting to chill on a sea day. Its retractable roof shelters guests on wet days or those sailing in the off-season.

At one end of the pool area, you’ll find three hot tubs, while the opposite end features a giant TV screen to feature movies, concerts, and sports.

The area around the Lido Pool spans two decks, with loungers and curved seating on decks 9 and 10.

The Retreat is on the top deck, adjacent to the Crow’s Nest. It has numerous private cabanas, which guests can rent for a fee.

Cabanas cost USD 85 per day or USD 399 for an entire 7-day cruise.

Greenhouse Spa And Fitness Center

The Koningsdam features an extensive spa that offers acupuncture, hair services, massages, manicures, facials, and other beauty treatments.

The star of the spa is its thermal suite, one of the best I’ve seen across different cruise lines. Enjoy heated loungers while you take in the sea view through floor-to-ceiling windows, relax in a sauna, or enjoy a therapeutic steam room.

A large thalassotherapy pool has powerful jets to ease tense muscles and relieve stress. On my sailing, the spa was open from 8 am to 10 pm.

The thermal suite pass cost USD 49 for one day and USD 139 for my 4-day cruise. For a 7-day cruise, expect to pay USD 179.

Unlike competitor lines, which sell limited passes, this vessel sold as many as guests wanted to purchase. It meant, at times, the thermal suite was busy, and guests couldn’t get a heated lounger. I bought a pass and found going early in the morning or later in the day avoided the congestion.

The jets in the thalassotherapy pool weren’t as powerful as others I’ve tried. However, they provide relaxation, and the overhead water jets felt like a deep tissue massage on my shoulders and back.

Adjacent to the spa, the fitness center offers great views at the ship’s bow. The treadmills were busy early in the morning during my cruise. The gym has a spinning class, yoga, and footprint analysis.

You’ll find the jogging track next to the sports court on deck 11. Alternatively, you can walk on the Promenade deck (deck 3), which circumnavigates the vessel.

On one sea day, the ‘On Deck for a Cause’ featured a 5K walk on the Promenade deck. I took part to raise money for the Ukrainian refugees and completed nine laps of the ship.

Located on deck 3, the casino is quite large and is an area that allows smoking along with the starboard side of the sea view bar on deck 9 (Lido).

Along with slot machines, roulette, and poker, the casino hosted a slot tournament, Paradise Lotto Jackpot Drawing, and barrel lottery.

For those who like bingo, games were held in the Billboard Onboard.

The Koningsdam has a music theme with some fantastic entertainment venues. So, whether you like blues, rock ‘n’ roll, or classical music, you’ll find something to meet your mood. Along the Music Walk, you’ll find three music venues, each offering different vibes.

Music flows everywhere, especially in the B.B. Kings Blues Club, which was rocking every night. You can dance the night away, enjoy a drink at a nearby bar, or watch the action from the deck above. Seating is limited, so you may need to stand during busy hours.

The Music Walk became the vessel’s hub after dinner, where Holland America guests listened and danced to the blues.

If you prefer rock ‘n’ roll, head to The Rolling Stone Rock Room to listen to live music. Across the hallway, the Billboard Onboard serves up 60s, 70s, and 80 favorites.

Crow’s Nest

As the name suggests, the Crow’s Nest is on deck 12, at the top of the vessel. With lots of windows, it’s a great place to enjoy the views of Glacier Bay National Park, if cruising to Alaska.

It held many events, including adult coloring, doodling designs, painting on canvas, and a young adult meet-up. The venue was filled with games, puzzles, and large books and was always busy with gamers.

Entertainment

On World Stage is an impressive venue with circular panels to project images. During the first evening, the show ‘Musicology’ combined animated images with a dance show. With an absence of singing, the production was visually striking and captivating.

The Step One Dance Company featured another show called ‘Humanity’ later on, which was just as magical. You can also catch a comedy act, magician, and solo singers on the World Stage.

Overall, ‘The Daily,’ Holland America’s daily programming, didn’t feature as many events as competitor cruise lines. There was a noticeable lack of game shows and family entertainment, but that could be because Holland America generally attracts an older crowd.

If you need to stay connected, you can purchase Wi-Fi for your needs. The Social plan allows you to use Messenger, Facebook, and video calls through Messenger. For my 4-day cruise, it was USD 49.

I initially purchased this plan but upgraded to the Surf plan for USD 20 more. This allowed me to email and surf the net, which I couldn’t do on the Social plan.

For an additional USD 20, you can buy the Premium plan, which allows you to watch Netflix, play video games, and stream. There are packages for one or multiple devices if you’re traveling with family.

I did a speed test on the Surf plan and got an impressive 19.53 Mbps.

Interestingly, this vessel had no internet center, so if you experienced any problems with your Wi-Fi, you’d have to visit guest services.

Kids’ Clubs

Club Hal is Holland America’s program for children. Located on deck 10, Club Hal created activities for groups aged 3 to 6, 7 to 12, and 13 and above. Children must be toilet trained to sign up.

Giant Connect 4, video games, movies, foosball, air hockey, and arts and crafts are a few of the activity’s children can enjoy.

Holland America recommends kids wear face masks while participating in HAL Club events.

Holland America Koningsdam Final Thoughts

My 4-day cruise on the Koningsdam exceeded my expectations, and I wished I had a 7-day voyage instead. There’s a lot packed into this mid-sized vessel.

In reviewing the Holland America Koningsdam, I found the food was well-presented, and there was plenty of selection in the buffet and dining room. 

While the ship only had two complimentary pools, the Lido deck pool with a retractable roof provides a lovely sanctuary during lousy weather. With lots of loungers and seating, I always found a place to sit.

I loved my balcony room. It was quiet and didn’t creak like older vessels, haha.

The service was outstanding onboard, from my room steward, who greeted me on embarkation day and always remembered my name to the restaurant waiters and staff at guest services.

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Koningsdam DETAILED Verandah Stateroom Video Tour - #5160

By The-Inside-Cabin , February 26, 2022 in Holland America Line

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The-Inside-Cabin

Here is a detailed video I put together to show the Koningsdam Verandah Stateroom 5160 from last November 2021.   This includes a TV menu walk-through, detailed view of under bed storage along with dimensions and MORE!

Timestamps included in the description to find a specific topic.

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Interesting thanks for posting.

Nice production!

Very well done.  We have a cruise coming up on the Rotterdam which I imagine is quite similar

Great video to send to my first-timer friends! Thanks so much for this detailed walk thru! Best I've ever seen. 

Wonderful video; I'm disappointed, very, at the lack of hanging closet space!  They've diminished the amount from what the older, smaller ships had, and then put they refrig in a space where hanging space used to be on other ships.  We always sailed on the smaller ships until the Nieuw Amsterdam this last fall.  That ship had somewhat less storage space overall, and now the Konigsdam, yikes, even less.  The refrig is taking up valuable space, and while we want it to store some medicine, nothing else, it's taking valuable closet space on this ship.  Where in the world do they think we're going to put our clothes?  We don't fold things, and even if we did, there's very little space to put even those items.  We usually cruise for 3 weeks or longer, so a bit more storage would be needed.  And the desk is teeny-tiny--that's the only space to put out a few necessities that don't belong in the bath or on a shelf.  And there's barely enough room to use a laptop, charge it, etc.   It's becoming imperative to bring the collapsible shoe rack with hanging hook magnets.  Very disappointing.  And we ask our cabin steward for a lot of wire hangers to use to make a lot more usable space in the hanging closets.

Thank you for making the video.

     Really nice helpful video Pete.  Do you, or anyone else, know if the balcony cabins on Niew Statendam are identical to this, and if not what might be different?  We will be on Niew Statendam in a few weeks, so that would be helpful to know.

3 hours ago, RBB said:      Really nice helpful video Pete.  Do you, or anyone else, know if the balcony cabins on Niew Statendam are identical to this, and if not what might be different?  We will be on Niew Statendam in a few weeks, so that would be helpful to know.   Rick

 This is the standard balcony for all Pinnacle class ships.  

Some of the Verandah Staterooms - face fore and aft and are different - see 4043, 4044 etc   - also some of the accessible rooms are different.   Also the connecting rooms have a door inside next to the desk.   This video shows another configuration in addition to the one I showed.

Here is a review of a balcony cabin I did back in 2019 on the Nieuw Statendam...

Nancy&Frank

Great informative video Pete, thanks much !

14 hours ago, Nancy&Frank said: Great informative video Pete, thanks much !

We leave today on the Zuiderdam - look for a room tour on stateroom 8070 - if the internet cooperates enough to upload a mega video file to YouTube.

The new Pinnacle Class ships IMO are not ones I want to take long cruises on…whenever possible we prefer the older ships for comfortable cabins. Those who’ve never sailed on them have no idea what we’re talking about. 

Re the verandah light, can you turn it off? 

13 hours ago, Iris5383 said: Re the verandah light, can you turn it off? 

Yes, you can turn the verandah light off, and please do when not outside using it.  Some folks don't realize that their light is distracting to the neighbors and leave it on all night, or else don't realize that it is possible to turn it off.

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Holland America Koningsdam Deck Plans & Reviews

Holland America Koningsdam

Activities & entertainment

• America's Test Kitchen
• Afternoon Tea
• America's Test Kitchen Cooking Classes
• Art and Craft Classes *
• Art Gallery *
• Beer Tasting *
• Cigars Under the Stars *
• Digital Workshop *
• Digital Workshop Computer Classes
• Explorations Central Port Lectures
• Fitness Center
• Fitness Classes *
• Greenhouse Spa & Salon *
• Happy Hour Drink Special *
• Hot Tubs (5)
• Hydrotherapy Pool *
• Jogging Track
• Martini Tasting *
• Onboard Lectures
• Solo Traveler Get-Togethers
• Sport Court
• Team Trivia
• Wine Tasting *
• The Retreat *
• Afternoon Musical Concerts
• BBC Earth Onboard Features
• Billboard Onboard
• Feature Movie Matinees
• Lincoln Center Stage
• Live Nightly Music
• Queen's Lounge
• World Stage
• The Dining Room - American
• Tamarind - Asian Fusion *
• Ocean Bar - Atrium Bar *
• Lido Market - Casual
• Explorer's Bar - Classic Bar *
• Explorations Café - Coffee Bar *
• Grand Dutch Café - Coffee Bar *
• Dive-In - Fast Food
• Crow's Nest - Forward Bar *
• Rudi's Sel de Mer - Gourmet *
• Canaletto - italian *
• Panorama Bar - Outdoor Bar *
• New York Pizza & Deli - Pizza
• Lido Bar - Pool Bar *
• Sea View Bar - Pool Bar *
• Pinnacle Grill - Steakhouse *
• Neptune Lounge - Suite Lounge
• Gelato - Sweets *
• Sun Bar - Top Deck Bar *
• Blend - Wine Bar *
• Excellent 71
• Very Good 33
• Terrible 24
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12 Things I Like About Holland America Koningsdam – Plus Bonus Tip!

On a recent 14-night transatlantic crossing aboard Holland America Koningsdam , I had a chance to really get to know this new vessel stem to stern, top to bottom. It’s also the first ship in the Holland America Pinnacle Class of cruise ships.

It’s always exciting to cruise aboard a new ship. Cruise ships have gotten so large that it’s tough for many passengers to totally cover every square inch of their ship in the course of a week. Maybe that’s why longer cruises are getting more and more popular, especially on these larger cruise ships.

The top 12 things I really like about Holland America Koningsdam:

• Some of the nicest crew ever – but this seems consistent fleetwide and a Holland America trademark.
• Full room service breakfast selection, including eggs, on debarkation morning.
• Nice selections in Lido buffet –lots of cooked-to-order options available at different stations, especially at dinner with Italian and Asian selections.
• Well-designed staterooms, light color décor and plenty of storage, cubbies and closet space.
• Large centrally located flat TVs
• Free 24-hour room service with option for fee-based specialty restaurant items
• BBC Earth Experiences live show  Planet Earth II  in Concert.
• Sel De Mer – Rudi Sodamin’s newest specialty restaurant featuring of course, seafood, fish
• Afternoon tea in the Queen’s Lounge. To Cunard fans, this sounds familiar.
• Spacious-size walk-in shower with glass doors
• Actual real hangers that are not affixed to the closet rod.
• Finding several USB outlets in room; at the desk and each bedside!

Bonus tip and great for non-smokers

If you’re looking for some quiet outdoor space to relax, head up to Deck 11 aft. You’ll find two bed-like loungers plus lots of available lounge chairs. And no cigarette or cigar smoke wafting over from the designated smoking area on Deck 9.

Dedicated Holland America past passengers may at first be startled by Koningsdam contemporary design and décor. Older guests who are total HAL devotees commented on the loss of Holland America’s traditional dark wood and subtle yet elegant décor. The lack of a traditional library also was troubling for many of the older guests who prefer a paper book to an e-reader. I think the lighter, brighter look is very appealing and there are still books to lend.

In my opinion, these changes are necessary to attract younger passengers. Cruises and cruise ships must evolve in both itineraries and new ship designs. HAL enthusiasts who long for a more traditional cruise ship environment and design can still find it on the older, smaller and totally elegant Holland America cruise ships.

While HAL’s older cruise ships maintain their original “old world” ambiance, many if not all of Holland America’s newest features have been or will soon be added across the fleet. The best of both worlds for Holland America lovers.

Read next:  My 14-day Holland America Koningsdam Transatlantic Crossing in photos

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Is anyone going on the Koningsdam Feb 3rd 2019

Hi Joan, Thanks for your comment. I’m convinced to arrive a day early if I have more than a 3-hour drive to a port. You just never know when an interstate is slowed or a segment shutdown. From other comments I’ve received, the HAL libraries were an important fixture. Libraries on ships are slowly becoming a thing of the past, especially with e-readers so common now. Sherry

Just off the Zuiderdam, and thinking back to the Konigsdam. No library on the z as well! What a mistake HAL. Missed the NY deli and close location of entertainment venues. Sherry, sympathize with your harrowing trip to Get to the port. We came.two days early this time and it was.lovely to be well rested. We left early the morning after Thanksgiving-that was awful but avoided a lot of post Thanksgiving struggle flying.

No library is a deal breaker. Have sailed k. Twice. One week Carib and 30 day transatlantic and med. Told both times library is coming. Now I don’t believe them. The fact that I won’t sail k again because of the lack of a library makes no difference to HAL, but it is the only thing I can do beyond the complaining, which I have done. Wake up HAL.

Hi Nancy, Good choice with Koningsdam! Be sure to go to the BBC Earth presentation in the main theatre…it’s fabulous. About the roll call on HAL FaceBook page – it seems to be working fine now. No one has started an event yet or checked in, so maybe that’s why you didn’t see any names on it? You can also try Cruise Critic’s Roll Call, too. Have a wonderful cruise! Happy Travels! Sherry

I am going on the Koningsdam November 19, 2017 out of Ft. Lauderdale. Could you tell me if there is a roll call for me to check out? I have tried to click on the roll call on the facebook page and it gives me an error, says it may be under construction at this time. I contacted Holland and they keep saying it should be fixed and I should be able to get in. I do not know what else to do. I have been on many Holland cruises and always meet many friends prior to cruising. Any information would be appreciated.

I think you’ll love Koningsdam! Unfortunately, I do not have my own photo of the accessible balcony cabin. But…as I looked up at the ship, it seemed like their accessible balcony cabins might be in the same location as it is on other ships…kind of in a “bump-out” angled corner with a somewhat larger balcony. I hope this is helpful. Enjoy your cruise!

i am taking this ship on June 25th and looking forward to my new experience on HAL. I have sailed many times on them, and was wondering if you have any photos of the accessible balcony cabin? Thank you!

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ms Koningsdam

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ms Koningsdam current position

ms Koningsdam current location is at North Pacific Ocean (coordinates 20.90690 N / -152.51591 W) cruising at speed of 16.2 kn (30 km/h | 19 mph) en route to MX MZT > US KHH. The AIS position was reported 27 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of ms Koningsdam

ms Koningsdam current cruise is 22 days, one-way from San Diego to Vancouver . The itinerary starts on 05 Apr, 2024 and ends on 27 Apr, 2024 .

Specifications of ms Koningsdam

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ms Koningsdam Itineraries

Ms koningsdam review, review of ms koningsdam.

The 2016-built MS Koningsdam cruise ship is the first Holland America Pinnacle-Class liner, with sisterships the fleetmates Nieuw Statendam (2018) and Nieuw Rotterdam (2021) and also Cunard's Queen Anne . These are HAL fleet's newest and largest boats.

The vessel (IMO number 9692557) is currently Netherlands- flagged (MMSI 244830547) and registered in Rotterdam .

History - construction and ownership

Holland America Line (HAL) is a Seattle -based cruise company owned by Carnival Corporation (shipowner). Between 1873-1989, HAL was a Dutch cargo and passenger shipping company operating regular Transatlantic crossings between Holland and the Americas. HAL was founded in 1873 as "Dutch-American Steamship Company" headquartered in Rotterdam Netherlands . In 1989, HAL was acquired by Carnival Corporation for around EUR 530 million. Among the company's assets are the Westmark hotel chain (Alaska-Yukon), Worldwide Shore Services (warehouses-logistics) and Half Moon Cay (Caribbean private island).

The 2700-passenger ship Koningsdam added a number of fleet-firsts, including two swimming pools and family oceanview cabins. Koningsdam's interiors reflect the work of designers Adam D. Tihany and Bjorn Storbraaten, who drew inspiration for the new ship from music. An example is the 3-deck, skylight-capped atrium featuring a stainless steel sculpture reminding a string quartet. Koningsdam represents the new Pinnacle Class for Holland America Line. The ship debuts several innovative concepts, new public spaces and venues while featuring popular amenities cruisers associate with the line. Guests enjoy HAL's first purpose-built single staterooms and staterooms for families, as well as fine dining in several alternative restaurants. The vessel's godmother Queen Maxima of The Netherlands performed the traditional dedication and naming at Port Rotterdam on May 20, 2016.

Decks and Cabins

MS Koningsdam staterooms (1331 total, in 35 grades) include 164 Suites, 748 Balcony, 142 Oceanviews (including 32x Family Oceanview and 12x Studios/single cabins), 277 Inside. Most cabins as sized ~180 m2 (17 m2). Most cabin balconies are sized 50 ft2 / 5 m2. Nearly 70% of the ship's passenger accommodations have private step-out balconies. Wheelchair-accessible cabins are 27. The largest accommodation is the Penthouse/Pinnacle Suite (970 ft2 / 90 m2, with terrace sized 320 ft2 / 30 m2 and fitted with an outdoor Jacuzzi).

The boat has 13 passenger decks , of which 8 are with cabins.

Club Orange is an exclusive (Suite-only) venue integrated into HAL's "Club Orange" program providing exclusive amenities to passengers booked in the Suite categories Neptune and Pinnacle. Bonus perks by the Club Orange program include:

• priority services (check-in, disembarkation, tendering, dining reservations)
• 24-hour concierge service (assistance, information, reservations)
• exclusive dining venue (Club Orange Restaurant/deck 2) serving complimentary Pinnacle Grill breakfast and Dining Room dinner, plus exclusive dishes
• dedicated Concierge Desk (Guest Services and Tours)
• room service (a la carte breakfast menu with complimentary gourmet dishes - including smoked salmon, steak and eggs)
• sparkling wine (embarkation day), Club Orange tote bag, premium bathrobes (cabin use, available for monogramming and purchasing)

Club Orange Restaurant occupies the area of the former "Culinary Arts Center". Culinary Arts Center was a premium dinner-only restaurant (cover charge $39 pp, unlimited wine included) via partnership with the “Food & Wine Magazine”. This open-kitchen/show-kitchen venue was used daily for professional cooking shows, culinary classes and workshops (cooking and cocktail) presented in demonstration kitchens. In the evenings, the venue transformed into “Dinner at the Culinary Arts Center”. This specialty dining concept ("America's Test Kitchen") provided a top-quality gourmet experience - the ship’s chefs prepared dishes in the demonstration kitchen while the guests enjoyed each course with wine pairing. At the entry, there were 9 interactive TV displays allowing guests to explore personal lives, special recipes, cooking secrets and tips from famous food and wine industry celebrities. By Holland America Line’s partnership with Koppert Cress (microgreen specialist), the Culinary Arts Center had a live garden to grow fresh ingredients. This enabled the guests to enjoy farm-to-table items from the dinner menu (veggie fare, 5 choices, dessert, cheese plate). The ingredients were displayed in a glass-enclosed garden area and harvested just before being served. Once sown, the seedlings grew for up to 2 weeks. The list of microgreens integrated in the recipes included garlic, mustard, licorice.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Ship's 2-level main restaurant venue serves open-seating breakfast and lunch, as well as a blend of flexible and set-seating restaurant-style meals at dinner. Breakfast hours in the MDR vary but start as early as 7 am on port days and 8 am on sea days, wrapping up by 9:30 am. Breakfast fare includes bread, cereals, French toast, blueberry pancakes, corned beef hash, egg dishes and yogurt parfaits. Portions are on the smaller side, so better opt for a second pastry. Lunch in the MDR is typically limited to an hour per day (from noon to 1 pm on sea days; closed when the ship is in port for an entire day). If you see a line of guests waiting to be seated, do not be deterred as the line moves fast and the tables are plenty. Lunch fare includes sandwiches, soups, light salads, fish and heartier entrees.

Holland America is famous for its exceptional dining experiences on every voyage, but the fleet's newest ship ms Koningsdam boasts even more culinary options. The Dining Room is where passengers dine in a more formal setting. The two-story restaurant features an airy and sophisticated ambiance, with several new characteristics for a HAL ship. The bright design creates a unique venue while reflecting the overall design theme of the ship, inspired by the architecture of music.

This sunny, yellow room has expansive windows allowing for maximum daylight and sea views. In the evening its color turns to a darker shade of amber, thus setting the tone for an elegant evening dining atmosphere. Structural ribs inspired by the classical harp's strings connect the first floor to the second-floor ceiling creating the sense of a more curvilinear space. A grand staircase connects the two levels.

The centerpiece of Koningsdam's Dining Room is a sculptural champagne gold wine tower planned to appear fluid and folded. Flowing over the dining room are attractive chandeliers made from strings of hand-blown, tri-color glass bulbs.

On the menu are HAL's classic selections, signature dishes, regionally inspired cuisine, Culinary Council recipes from the world-renowned chefs who compose the group, including Master Chef & Council Chairman Rudi Sodamin and international chefs David Burke, Elizabeth Falkner, Jacques Torres, Jonnie Boer and Mark Best.

In addition to The Dining Room, Koningsdam guests enjoy fine dining in alternative restaurants including redesigned Lido Market (with themed food stations), the French seafood brasserie "Rudi's Sel de Mer", new farm-to-table concept dinner experience (in Culinary Arts Center, via partnership with Food & Wine magazine), Club Orange Restaurant (suite-exclusive dining experience), Canaletto (Italian restaurant), Tamarind (pan-Asian restaurant/seafood bar), Pinnacle Grill (steakhouse/seafood restaurant).

BLEND is a glass-enclosed winery room (capacity 10 seats) where are hosted daily wine blending sessions. These are reservations-only events (90 min sessions, $129 cover charge) with sommelier service. The BLEND venue is via partnership with the winemaker Chateau Ste Michelle Winery (Woodinville Washington). Wine-tasting events are seminar-like (led by a wine expert). Each session includes a sampling of 5 red wines (single-vineyard) later combined with different vintages into a personal blend. After the event, you can bottle and take your newly created wine and consume it at the ship’s restaurants or in the stateroom. At the BLEND room all guests are allowed to see the wines offered in the Pinnacle Grill and Sel de Mer, and also to choose their vintage from the impressive selection of premium wines.

Follows the complete list of ms Koningsdam restaurants and food bars.

• Pinnacle Grill (reservations-only seafood/steakhouse restaurant with fine wines selection; free for passengers under 12 yo). The venue transforms into "An Evening at le Cirque" once per cruise via a partnership with NYC "Le Cirque" French restaurant.
• Rudi's Sel De Mer is a dinner-only specialty restaurant serving French seafood. During drydock 2018, the restaurant was redesigned and expanded (to 54 seats). The venue features a curving shape and walnut wood-made, accordion-like column structure. The back wall is decorated with porcelain plates, all of which are decorated with Chef Rudi's Food Faces culinary pop art (via a partnership with Bernardaud - French porcelain masters). The food plates are arranged from classic ingredients (caviar, fruits, root vegetables, peppers, etc). In January 2018, HAL released the coffee table book "Food Faces" - available for purchase on the ship. Signature dishes in the a la carte menu include Rudi's Seafood Tower, Fruits de Mer, Broiled Lobster Tail, Whole Dover Sole Meuniere, Clams au Beurre, Duck Cassoulet, Steak Tartare, Steak Frites, Souffle au Fromage, Salt Crust Baked Branzino. Signature desserts include Rudi's Face to Face Chocolate, Rudi's Souffle, Crepes Suzette, Profiteroles with Hot Chocolate Sauce, Apple Tarte Tatin, Artisanal French Cheese Plate.
• The Dining Room (aft Dining Room; features open seating Breakfast and Lunch, two Dinner options - 2 fixed seatings or Any Time Dining between 5:15-9 pm)
• Canaletto Restaurant (Lido Restaurant annex; operates as an Italian restaurant for Dinner, reservations required)
• Dive-In (complimentary fast-food bar)
• New York Deli (fast-food bar)
• Gelato (ice cream parlor)

Lido Market (capacity 386 seats) is the ship’s self-service buffet restaurant open for Breakfast (6-11 am), Lunch (11:30-2 pm), Afternoon Tea (3-4 pm) and Dinner (5:30-8 pm). Food is complimentary and displayed at 5 themed stations. The Lido Buffet is designed as a modern marketplace, with numerous on-the-go or made-to-order food choices. Differently themed food stations (walk-up service) offer fresh-made sandwiches, grilled food, International fare, salads, fruits, desserts, daily specials. The food stations are named Breadboard (fresh-baked bread, pastries, sandwiches), Wild Harvest (salads, fruits, healthy food bites), Homestead (comfort food, including egg dishes and grilled meats), Distant Lands (themed cuisine specialties, including from the current cruise itinerary’s regions), Sweet Spot (desserts).

Tamarind (aft on Deck 10) is a reservations-only Asian restaurant open for complimentary lunch and at-fee dinner (at surcharge per person). Tamarind Bar serves the restaurant with cocktails and other beverages. Part of the Tamarind is the Japanese food bar Nami Sushi (capacity 7 seats only, also serving popular Asian spirits). Nami Sushi is open for lunch and dinner but both are at surcharge PP. Tamarind's sushi menu is created by chef Andy Matsuda and additionally includes 4 of his signature rolls.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The World Stage is the ship's theatre (main show lounge) featuring 270-degree LED screens for multiple stage configurations. The Lido Pool (one of the ship's 2 swimming pools), has an outdoor movie screen, 3 whirlpools and a 2-tiered sunbathing area with cushioned lounge chairs.

Onboard live musical entertainment is concentrated in the Music Walk area (forward-midship on Plaza Deck 2) housing the music-themed venues Lincoln Center Stage & B.B. King's Blues Club, Rolling Stone Rock Room, and Billboard Onboard.

The 2-tiered Lincoln Center Stage & B.B. King's Blues Club (fka Queen's Lounge/decks 2-3) is a grand ballroom/concert hall/nightclub with two grand pianos (on floor 1), HAL fleet's biggest dance floor (floor 1), its own bar (floor 1), balcony seating (floor 2) and has a resident 8-man band (2 vocalists, 1 drummer, 1 pianist/organist, 1 bassist, 1 guitarist, 1 saxophonist, 1 trumpeter). The lounge hosts live musical performances (concerts, classical pieces, blues, popular hits from the 60s, sing-alongs) as well as a daily enrichment program (guest speakers, seminars, special events). Lincoln Center Stage is a collaboration with "Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts" (NYC) featuring classical/chamber music with a quintet combining piano and strings.

Rolling Stone Rock Room is a classic rock club (via partnership with Rolling Stone Magazine) where are offered live 5-piece band performances.

Billboard Onboard is a signature sing-along bar with live performances (pianists, guitarists, DJ) in a variety of genres (including pop, rock, classic, country). There are 3 programs per night (each lasts 45 to 60 min). The music bar hosts dynamic evening shows, has a central stage (with two grand pianos), wood-paneled walls, three large-size TVs, comfortable seating (plush sofas and chairs, round tables).

Other amenities include: complimentary 24-Hour Room-Service, supervised Kids Program ("Club Hal"), cruise ship weddings, Internet/WiFi access, Laundry Rooms (Laundromats). Ship's laundry rooms are not self-service (no passenger-use laundrettes). Laundry services are offered via hotel staff and at an additional charge.

Follows the complete list of ms Koningsdam lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Atrium (3-deck high midship open-floor area with live performances)
• Stuyvesant Room (multi-purpose, used for cards playing, group meetings, presentations, “Club HAL” kids program)
• World Stage (theatre/main show lounge; also serves Holland America’s enrichment program (via a partnership with BBC Earth)
• Lincoln Center Stage & B.B. King's Blues Club (fka Queen's Lounge) is a 2-deck grand ballroom/concert hall (with two grand pianos and a large dance floor) hosting live musical performances (classical/chamber music, blues).
• Digital Workshop/Microsoft Studio (powered by MS Windows)
• Photo Gallery & Shop; Art Gallery
• Shore Excursions Desk; 4 Meeting Rooms
• Signature Shops (boutiques for duty-free tobaccos and liquor, perfumes, watches, clothing, HAL logo merchandise, souvenirs); Marabella Luxury Shop; Dive-in (scuba and diving equipment)
• Club Orange (suite-only restaurant)
• Ocean Bar (fka Explorer's Lounge & Bar) is an Atrium bar lounge with dance floor, stage (for live performances), wine tastings.
• Billboard Onboard (sing-along bar with live music performances)
• BLEND (glass-enclosed winery room)
• Grand Dutch Cafe is a Holland-themed a-la-carte-priced patisserie bar for traditional Dutch snacks/sweets and beverages (including coffees and Heineken draft beer) as well as premium European beers.
• Neptune Lounge (club venue for Deluxe Suite and Pinnacle guests only)
• Sport Court (basketball, volleyball, soccer); Sun Deck; Promenade Deck, Walking/Jogging Track
• Club HAL (kids lounge, complimentary youth programming)
• The Loft (teens club lounge area, with Video Games Arcade, computers, PlayStations; teen disco)

The wellness complex (forward on decks 9-10) consists of Fitness Center (gymnasium with a separate Aerobics Room for classes) and Greenhouse Spa & Salon (Therapy Rooms, Treatment Rooms (for massages), Hydrotherapy Pool with heated seawater, Thermal Suites, Relax Lounge with heated ceramic loungers, Sauna Room, Aroma Steam Room, Relaxation Area, Beauty Salon/manicure-pedicure, barber services).

Spacious sundecks spread over 3 floors (decks 9-10 midship and aft, deck 11 aft) and are fitted with 2 swimming pools and 5 outdoor Jacuzzies (deck 9). The Lido Pool area (midship) is served by Lido Bar (beverages), Gelato (ice cream bar), Dive-In (fka Terrace Grill), New York Delly & Pizza (fast food) and Panorama Bar (beverages). The Sea View Pool area (aft) is served by Sea View Bar.

“Movies by the Pool Deck” is a 2-deck outdoor Cinema served by the New York Delly & Pizza (deck 10) with light snacks (including popcorn, sandwiches, pizza, fresh chips, nachos). During movie nights, loungers and blankets are provided, as well as chair-side waiter service from the food bars (Gelato, NY Deli & Pizza, Dive-In/Terrace Grill) and waiter service for drinks at the Lido Bar.

The Retreat (deck 12) is an adults-only sundeck/relaxation zone with private cabanas available for rent. Daily rent prices are inclusive of a massage tent, lunch, concierge service.

Explorations Central & Cafe (fka Crow’s Nest & Explorations Cafe/forward on deck 11) is an indoor observation lounge with panoramic windows (270-degree views), its own Bar (beverages), Cafe (patisserie, specialty coffees/teas), and a large dance floor. The lounge is also used for pre-scheduled events by HAL's enrichment program (daily dance classes, trivia games, card playing, karaoke, live grand piano and HAL Cats performances/8-piece party band in the afternoons and evenings). Explorations Central doubles as a disco/nightclub (with live DJ music, dancing contests) and a Library (1000+ volumes, resident librarians). Here are additionally offered multimedia series of interactive videos and guides related to the current itinerary's destinations. Explorations Central also provides digital media (videos, ebooks, maps) accessed via Wi-Fi (during the voyage) and also online (before and after the voyage). At Explorations Central, there are also paperback books and paper maps for the visited regions/destinations and ports of call.

The Casino is a large gaming lounge fitted with gambling tables, 140 slots and video poker machines, a PokerPro digital touchscreen table). It is served by Casino Bar and has a separate non-smoking area. In 2023, HAL conducted 5 wet-dock refurbishments to expand the casino space on its vessels in the Pinnacle-class (Nieuw Rotterdam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam) and Signature-class (Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam).

Since 2023, all HAL ships have pickleball courts (installed on the top deck) operated via an exclusive partnership with PPA-Professional Pickleball Association. HAL also offers complimentary beginner lessons (led by onboard instructors), sells branded pickleball starter kits (at the ship's retail shops) and Play Pickleball tutorial videos are included in the cabin TV programming.

Itineraries

MS Koningsdam itinerary program started with the inaugural season in Europe, and the Maiden Voyage (April 8, 2016) from Civitavecchia-Rome . The European deployment included itineraries in the Mediterranean and Baltic seas, British Isles and Northern Europe (out of Amsterdam ). Folloed the Transatlantic repositioning crossing to homeport Fort Lauderdale Florida USA (November 2016) for roundtrips to Caribbean and Bahamas. The itineraries (7-10-11-day) visited popular island destinations like Jamaica, Barbados, Bahamas ( Half Moon Cay ), Mexico (Cozumel), Aruba, Grand Cayman, Grand Turk, Key West FL .

Due to the Coronavirus crisis, Holland America paused Koningsdam for 19 months (March 2020 thru October 2021). The ship restarted (on Oct 10th) with California Coastal and Mexican Riviera voyages out of homeport San Diego . For summer 2022 was scheduled an Alaskan season with homeporting in Vancouver BC Canada .

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ms Koningsdam Wiki

The Koningsdam ship was named after HM Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands (Holland's current king). The ship’s name means "Koning" (king, in Dutch), and "dam" is traditional for the HAL ships suffix. The vessel (Fincantieri Marghera Yard number 6241) is powered by four MAK marine diesel engines (model 12V43C) with combined power output 50,4 MW. The propulsion system is based on two ABB Azipods (azimuth thrusters) with combined output 28 MW.

On February 26, 2015, was held the keel-laying / coin ceremony at the Fincantieri Marghera Shipyard (near Venice ). On March 31, 2016, the vessel was launched (floated out from drydock) and officially delivered to Holland America Line on April 1 (a week ahead of schedule).

On April 18 was officially announced the name of Koningsdam's Godmother - Queen Máxima of the Netherlands. Holland America has 11 of its ships christened by Dutch Royal Family members. In 2010 Máxima (then only Princess) named the Nieuw Amsterdam ship. Holland's previous Queen (Beatrix) named Eurodam in 2008.

On May 20, 2016, in Port Rotterdam (Holland) was held ship's naming ceremony. On May 23, 2016, HAL officially announced the name for its second Pinnacle-class vessel ((Koningsdam's sistership) - Nieuw Statendam  (launched in 2018).

The Koningsdam ship design is created by both "Tihany Design” (New York, USA) and "Yran & Storbraaten Architects AS” (Oslo, Norway). The vessel boasts 2-level theatre (named "World Stage"), 3-decks high Atrium, powered by Microsoft "Digital Workshop", numerous (including new for HAL) dining options, bars and lounges, expanded kids and teens clubs, the huge "Greenhouse Spa", the "Sea View" adults-only retreat.

Inaugural itineraries 2016

Following the repositioning from builder's shipyards (in Marghera/Venice to Civitavecchia-Rome) started Koningsdam's Inaugural cruise season in the Mediterranean Sea. It started with 7-day "Premiere Voyage" (roundtrip from Rome) followed by a series of 12-day "Premiere Sailing" itineraries (April-May 2016).

(Itinerary 2016 / April 8 to 15) Koningsdam's "Inaugural Cruise" was a 7-day roundtrip from Civitavecchia-Rome visiting Croatia (Dubrovnik), Greece (Corfu), Albania (Sarande), Greece (Katakolon-Olympia) and Italy (Naples).

In November 2016, Koningsdam started its Caribbean cruise itinerary program leaving from homeport Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale) Florida . Caribbean itineraries offered roundtrips from the USA to ports in the Bahamas, Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean.

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Koningsdam Activities

Entertainment & Activities

Koningsdam heralds a step change in terms of technology for Holland America, with the debut of a 270-degree wraparound screen in The World Stage, the main theater found on decks 1 and 2. The shows are a mix of music, dancing and movies, but not all utilize the technology to its fullest, especially if there are guest performers. The screen does come into its own, however, with the onboard performers, in shows such as "OneWorld," "Musicology" and the screening of the BBC's "The Frozen Planet," which is accompanied by a specially composed score. Expect magic shows, tribute bands, and music and dance revues.

During the day, the venue is used for talks on forthcoming destinations.

One of Koningsdam's exciting new venues is Blend (Deck 3), in partnership with Chateau Ste. Michelle, the oldest winery in Washington State, where Holland America is headquartered. It's situated on Deck 2, on the way to the main dining room and is completely open -- both good moves by HAL as everyone on their way to eat can take a good look at passengers pouring, sniffing, swirling and blending. The idea is to take five red wines, taste them, decide which ones you like (or don't), and mix them to make your favorite blend. You even get to make up a name and design your own label, and take the bottle to dinner afterward. It's not a bad price -- $79 per person -- considering each of the five wines retails at up to $80.

A HAL mainstay is cooking demos and cocktail classes at the Culinary Arts Center (which turns into a dinner venue at night, see Dining). You can see the ship's top chefs whip up mouthwatering dishes, and occasionally catch a visiting star chef from the line's Culinary Arts Council. Charges vary by demo; pizza-cooking classes cost $29, for example.

You'll also find beer, martini and wine tastings around the ship, with prices starting at $15.

Trivia takes place most days up in the Crow's Nest, or -- in an inspiring link-up -- in the Queen's Lounge using footage from BBC Earth to supplement the questions. This is brand new to Koningsdam, but will be rolled out to other ships.

Enrichment activities are scheduled throughout the day and might include a digital workshop and tips and tricks for using your cellphone at sea.

Bridge games are held on Deck 1 in one of the board/card rooms.

There are also scavenger hunts, Ping-Pong tournaments, soccer shootouts, basketball tournaments, dance classes, a behind the scenes galley tour and poolside "name that tune" competitions.

Almost everywhere you go at night, you'll hear music. The heart of the action is on Deck 2, along Music Walk, a cluster of three different music venues (Queen's Lounge, Billboard Onboard and Lincoln Center Stage).

The B.B. King's All Stars are the resident band at the Queen's Lounge, and they play three times a night, every night, in a show called B.B. King's Blues Club . They are an outstanding band, and play a selection of classic blues numbers, as well as more popular favorites. The only aspect of the "Club" that struck us as a missed opportunity is the fact that this is not a club -- it's an open lounge that could be on any ship. The only nods to the original club are a recreation of the famous neon sign and a selection of cocktails "inspired by the Club."

Karaoke, when it's on, takes place in the Queen's Lounge, ahead of the B.B. King Blues Club performances. Dance classes also take place in here.

Billboard Onboard is a popular venue, with two grand pianos and two fine pianists playing a selection of hits from the official Billboard charts. You might be tempted to describe the pianos as "dueling," but they're not; they play in unison, complementing each other. The resident pianists are competent, but not exceptional, and their voices struggle to reach notes. It's part audience participation, depending on the night, and requests are encouraged.

You will find exquisite recitals of classical music in Lincoln Center Stage . The stage is set up, with chairs in front, but again it is not a room, but a space. Music here competes with background noise from Explorer's Bar, the Casino Bar (and casino above), the pianos opposite in Billboard Onboard and the sounds of through-traffic. However, just like with the B.B. King's Blues Band, the quality of the musicians is world class.

Though each individual venue offers fabulous music, the much-heralded Music Walk doesn't really work as a concept. The three venues are all situated close together, but there's no obvious link made between them. While the whole ship is full of music-related decor, this area is not. The open-plan venues provide no sense of atmosphere, and the noise from one venue competes with the others, not to mention the nearby bars and casinos.

Also note, the Music Walk does get crowded in the corridors, as they lead to the World Stage, but there is plenty of seating in each venue, so you'll never have to stand to watch a performance.

If you're looking for entertainment elsewhere on the ship, a wonderful pianist plays in the Ocean Bar most nights. The Lido Deck Pool screens movies most nights.

The casino on Deck 3 is relatively small for a large ship, and includes a small bar. Smoking is permitted here, but it doesn't pervade the rest of the ship, and on some nights, smoking is not allowed at all. The casino has a selection of slot machines and gaming tables, as well as regular tournaments such as Texas Hold 'em and slots.

Koningsdam Bars and Lounges

Holland America is not necessarily known for its "party" atmosphere, but around the Deck 2 Music Walk area, you'll find plenty to watch and places to dance, drink and listen to music until the early hours.

Notes (Deck 2): This whiskey-tasting bar, marooned between the Explorer's Bar and B.B. King's Blues Club, has 129 different whiskeys on offer and a very knowledgeable whiskey "sommelier" that will suggest a blend that might suit you. There are also various herbs and spices, used to enhance your smell, as well as some rarities, including bottles for $6,000, should you feel so inclined.

Explorer's Bar (Deck 2): The bar behind the Lincoln Center Stage is a pleasant spot to watch the recitals if you can't get a seat near the stage.

Ocean Bar (Deck 2): In the atrium, on the way to the restaurants, this quiet bar hides away from all the activity on the Music Walk. It's a good spot for an after-dinner drink.

Casino Bar (Deck 3): This small bar competes with the noise of the slot machines and smoke from the casino.

Sea View Bar (Deck 9): This aft bar services the Sea View Pool. There is outside seating on this level, as well as one deck above, overlooking the pool. The designated outside smoking area is located to the right side of the bar.

Lido Bar (Deck 9): The Lido Bar services the Lido Pool area. There are plenty of chairs and tables, and efficient waiter service.

Panorama Bar (Deck 10): Probably our favorite bar for a nightcap, this bar is where the musicians and performers also come to wind down. It's open until 1 a.m. and serves a range of beers, wines and cocktails. It overlooks the Lido Deck and is a good spot to watch the outdoor film.

Sun Bar (Deck 11): This bar services the Sun Deck and has possibly the best views on the ship (with the exception of the Crow's Nest Bar), as it overlooks the wake. It's great for a sundowner at sail-away.

Crow's Nest (Deck 12): The Crow's Nest has the best views of all the onboard bars, as it's situated right at the top and the front of the ship, with windows all around.

Koningsdam Outside Recreation

There are just two pools: the main Lido Deck Pool on Deck 9 midship and the Sea View Pool on the same deck, aft. The Lido pool area sports a new design; it's a stunning double-deck space, which is flanked by bars and eateries, and has a retractable roof that can be closed during inclement weather. On the lower deck, loungers and chairs and tables flank the pool; on the upper deck are Miami-style sofas and beds, divided by white drapes. There are two hot tubs.

The open-air cinema (also new to Koningsdam) on the Lido Deck works really well. Grab some popcorn or nachos from the Deli, find a blanket, select a lounger and you're all set.

Children must be potty trained to use the pool, and there are no dedicated kids' pool or splash facilities.

The aft pool or Sea View Pool is adults-only in theory, though not in practice, and has lovely views of the back of the ship. It also has two hot tubs.

There is a large Sports Deck on Deck 11, which has basketball and soccer tournaments throughout the day. Deck quoits and shuffleboard can be found either side. Two Ping-Pong tables are on either side of the Lido Deck Pool. There's a promenade for walking on Deck 3.

You'll find acres of space on the Sun Deck on Deck 11, with plenty of loungers spaced about. There are hot tubs or splash pools up there. You won't find bar service on this deck -- except at the Sun Deck Bar, aft -- and in some areas you are competing with the funnel noise.

Koningsdam sees the debut of The Retreat (Deck 12), where for a fee you get to spend the day in a curtained-off deck area, where loungers are guaranteed and you can enjoy drinks, snacks, a glass of sparkling wine and a healthy breakfast and lunch. The Retreat can be booked on a daily basis ($45 on a port day or $75 on a sea day) or a weekly basis ($299), 10 days ($399) or 15 days ($499).

Koningsdam Services

The card rooms are all on Deck 1 and can be booked for meetings, for example, if you are traveling with a group. Bridge takes place here every day.

The shops are on decks 3 and 4 and include a number of high-end retail outlets, selling everything from watches to handbags and jewelry, as well as duty-free shops selling cigarettes, perfume and alcohol, as well as HAL-branded goods. The onboard art gallery is among the shops.

Journeys Ashore, the shore excursions desk, is on Deck 1; Guest Services is on Deck 3, next to the future cruises sales desk. The photo gallery is on Deck 3, on the way to the dining room.

Holland America regulars who love the libraries on the rest of the fleet will be a bit disappointed to find there is no library on Koningsdam. All you will find are newspapers and large reference books in Explorations Cafe on Deck 12. This is also where you'll find a few computers where you can get online.

There is WiFi throughout the ship, but HAL has not utilized the new Internet technologies available, so as well as being pricey, the connection struggles with sites that require a lot of bandwidth. (Rates are 75 cents per minute; packages start at $55 for 100 minutes and go up to $250 for 1,000 minutes.)

There is no self-service laundry. A bag of mixed garments will cost you $30 to get cleaned by ship staff.

Spa & Fitness

The Greenhouse Spa & Salon, including the fitness center, is located just off the Lido Pool Deck, and is a huge space that takes up all the front of the ship on Deck 9 and a large chunk of it on Deck 10. Its centerpiece is the thermal suite, which is arguably one of the best we've seen on a cruise ship. It costs $40 a day to get access, or you can purchase a cruise-long pass, but for that you get the following: access to the relaxation room, the ceramic lounge with heated loungers, a sauna, an infrared sauna, a steam room, an aromatherapy room, a horizontal shower (you lie on your back instead of standing up), a rain shower and a huge hydrotherapy pool, complete with jets and sprays. The steam room, sauna and lounges are all outside facing and have wonderful views.

There are 19 rooms (including two couples' rooms) offering a wide range of treatments using Elemis products. These include facials, massages and reflexology. Facials and massages start at $145 for 50 minutes. Couples massages start at $249 for 50 minutes. Medi-spa treatments include Botox, cellulite reduction programs and acupuncture treatments. The adjoining salon offers a full range of hair and beauty treatments including manis and pedis and teeth whitening, as well as men's grooming.

There are always offers on -- such as 10, 20 and 30 percent off if you book three treatments -- and various demos around the pool, as well as seminars in the meeting rooms on Deck 1.

The impressive fitness center takes up all the front of deck 9 and is accessed through the spa. The main room is huge and includes bikes, rowing machines, treadmills, ellipticals and weight machines, all with wonderful views out the front of the ship. The facility also includes a Ryde Indoor Cycling room and TRX Suspension Training room.

A variety of classes including Pilates, spinning and yoga are all offered for a fee. Yoga is $12 for 45 minutes; TRX classes are $20 per person, per hour. You can also hire a personal trainer at a cost of $85 an hour.

The fitness center also offers seminars and free sessions such as walking a mile and morning (and evening) stretch.

The jogging track is on Deck 11 as are a number of pieces of outdoor exercise equipment.

Although the kids club -- Club HAL -- midship on Deck 10 is not a huge space, compared to the more typical family-oriented lines such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, the area is well thought out and in a lovely spot at the top of the ship. There are lots of windows and natural light, as well as three separate, enclosed outdoor areas for kids to play -- an increasingly unusual feature on modern ships that gets a huge thumbs-up from us.

Club HAL provides supervised, stimulating activities for children ages 3 to 12, divided into two age groups with separate play areas: Kids (3 to 6) and Tweens (7 to 12). Children must be potty trained to use Club HAL facilities. A Teens club is also incorporated in this facility (see Teens, below).

Club HAL and teen activities start at 9 a.m. and finish at 11.30 a.m. They start again at 1 p.m. and go on till 4 p.m. with a three-hour break till 7 p.m. Programs also operate on port days for kids ages 3 to 12 who sign up the day before. You can leave your kids on the ship if you wish to go ashore. There are no shore excursions specifically for kids, but there are shore excursions labeled as "family friendly."

Daily programs highlighting the next day's events are on the TV in your cabin or on monitors at the club.

The ship also has a number of interconnecting cabins, as well as the line's first family cabins. Kids' programming and cartoons air on the in-cabin television on the entertainment channels.

Holland America offers special menus for kids in the Dining Room and the Lido Market. These menus include kid favorites such as hot dogs, sandwiches, lasagna, pizza, tacos, fish and chips, burgers, chicken tenders and spaghetti.

The minimum age to sail is six months. By advance request through the Line's Ship Services Department, passengers can order commercial baby food, diapers and refrigerators for a nominal fee. A limited number of high chairs, booster seats and cribs are available at no charge.

The Kids (ages 3 to 6) age group gets its own light-filled room designed in a fanciful way. Paintbrushes serve as pillars, enormous pencils adorn the wall, a paint bucket is a play area and a huge tape dispenser serves as a slide. The room has low desks and chairs, easels and coloring pens, age-appropriate toys and books, Lego blocks, window seats with scatter cushions and TVs.

Creative activities take place at art tables, and movies play on a big-screen television. Sample activities include kids' Olympics, candy bar bingo, arts and crafts, pajama parties and storytelling. There is also an outdoor, enclosed area, where kids can play safely or sit on brightly colored chairs.

Although the Tweens group covers a large age differential (7 to 12 years), the room accommodates this, with huge TVs for video games, Wii, Kinect for Xbox 360, giant beanbags, foosball and air hockey for the older kids and a play kitchen area for the younger ones. The play space offers lots of light, window seating and another enclosed outdoor area with chairs. Tweens can enjoy dance parties, deck sports, karaoke and Xbox tournaments.

Children through age 12 must be signed in and out of the activities by parents or guardians.

Free programing is generally available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., on both sea and port days. There is a break for dinner and family time at 4 p.m., before games and activities start again at 7 p.m. and run to 10 p.m. Lunch is served at noon, and you must pre-request it.

Babysitting services are available from 10 p.m. until midnight during Club HAL After Hours for registered children ages 3 to 12. Cost is $5 per hour, per child. At other times and for children under age 5, limited in-cabin babysitting can be arranged during sea days. The cost is $10 per hour for the first child and $7 per hour for each additional child.

Koningsdam's Culinary Arts Center offers a special activity program designed just for kids, tweens and teens. The program teaches kids to prepare various dishes and snacks in complimentary classes lasting 45 minutes each. Classes are divided by area, so, for example, the under-8s might learn to make destination-themed cookies, ice cream sandwiches and salad people art. Children and teens ages 8 and up might make soft pretzels, granola bars, pita chips, hummus and saltwater taffy.

Teens ages 13 to 17 get their own hangout space, The Loft, also adjoining the main Club HAL reception area. The area is designed to resemble a New York artist's loft, and is an adult-free zone where teens can enjoy music, games, movies and hanging out. Facilities include Just Dance (Xbox), karaoke, foosball, a big TV screen and some smaller ones for movies and gaming, window seats and an outdoor area.

Activities during the day might include a teen cooking demonstration, volleyball, a steel drum class and mocktail mixing. At night, teens can take part in sports tournaments, quizzes and late-night soccer.

Teens may come and go as they please, choosing which activities they want to attend.

.css-h7fee9{font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-size:1.125rem;margin-right:0.5rem;}.css-h7fee9::before{content:"\e063";display:inline-block;font-style:normal;line-height:1;speak:none;-ms-transform:rotate(-0.001deg);-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;-moz-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale;} Activities & Entertainment

• Afternoon Musical Concerts
• Afternoon Tea
• America's Test Kitchen
• America's Test Kitchen Cooking Classes
• Art Gallery *
• Art and Craft Classes *
• BBC Earth Onboard Features
• Beer Tasting *
• Billboard Onboard
• Cigars Under the Stars *
• Club HAL - Kids Club
• Digital Workshop *
• Digital Workshop Computer Classes
• Explorations Central Port Lectures
• Feature Movie Matinees
• Fitness Center
• Fitness Classes *
• Greenhouse Spa & Salon *
• Happy Hour Drink Special *

* May require additional fees

Find a Koningsdam Cruise from $219

© 1995— 2024 , The Independent Traveler, Inc.

A First Timers Guide to Cruising with Kids from Vancouver: Holland America’s Koningsdam Review

Posted on Published: 2023-01-03  - Last updated: 2023-04-16

Imagine my surprise when I found out that there were 125 kids on board our summer voyage with Holland America. You see, families are increasingly attracted by the level of service and amenities offered on Holland America’s mid-size luxury liner. 

Holland America was our first cruise, something we had always wanted to do. It is the perfect way to experience the west coast, see the beauty of our province, visit Alaska, and enjoy the wildlife that call it home. I will tell you we did make a few mistakes along the way but got the hang of things a couple of days in. By the time you get to the end of this post, I hope you have a great overview of what it is like cruising with kids from Vancouver and what to expect on the Holland America Koningsdam vessel.

 Cruising with Kids from Vancouver on Holland America

At 975 long and with a capacity of 2650 the Konigsdam is an ideal size ship for families to enjoy. 

Our 7-day voyage with Holland America began from Canada Place (which is a great place to take in Fly Over Canada before you board the vessel!) Since we live close by, we chose to drive and park at the cruise ship terminal in Vancouver . It was an easy process, but you should consider booking your parking in advance so they have a spot reserved for you. They were able to accommodate us in the day lot but gave us the weekly rate (since we did not reserve in advance.)

We boarded the ship, I met up with my friend Kim from Stuffed Suitcase , and we watched the ship pull away from Vancouver, our voyage to Alaska had begun! 

Boarding Process at Canada Place

I should back up a bit and tell you about the boarding process. Checking in online on the mobile app was very cumbersome and difficult to get all of the information complete. For our specific sailing, there were lots of documents needed (health and covid docs as well as negative covid tests). I think typically the only thing needed would be a copy of your passport and a headshot.

When you arrive at Canada Place (it is a timed check-in so everyone does not arrive at once) there are mobile kiosks that take your photo again, check your ID, and print you a receipt. This gets you to Customs, (you pre-clear customs into the USA before you get on the ship. This means you really do not need to carry your passport at all during the trip. I kept mine in the room since it is not a requirement to carry it on you in the USA). 

The customs line was long but moved quickly through kiosks. When we boarded it was quite confusing, we just walked on the ship. No directions or anything. We quickly found out that our room keys were actually waiting AT our room! Very strange for a first-time cruiser! But it totally made sense since anyone on the ship would have a room, why would they want yours? 

We knew our stateroom number and found our room, our keys were waiting for us. Having a key on you at all times is the most important thing about cruising. Pro cruisers have lanyards around their necks. We will bring them next time. Your room key is needed for ordering drinks (even with the drink package) as well as getting on and off the ship. 

The kid’s room keys identify them as minors and an alarm goes off at the gangway to ensure the crew has them leaving with their parents. The security that way was nice. I knew they would not be going anywhere off the ship without me. (Not that they would, but I can see how kids running around on the ship, or even teens, may want to explore without their parents).

Triple Room on Koningsdam to Alaska

We were booked in a Veranda triple room, it had two single beds (pushed together – you can request them separate or together and they will accommodate) and a single pull-out couch. I had never seen a single pullout before. It fit our family just fine for sleeping, but it was awkward to have my coffee on the deck with the bed pulled out. I had to climb over the bed to get out the door. If you have the budget, get yourself a suite with more room! Makes moving around much easier! There are over 700 veranda rooms on the Koningsdam. Definitely avoid interior staterooms, you want the views as you cruise along the coast.

Swimming Pools for Kids on Koningsdam to Alaska

Markus did not take long to try out the swimming pools and hot tubs aboard the ship. There was one with a retractable roof that could be used in inclement weather, and one that was outdoors at the back of the ship. The indoor pool was great for the kids, I thought it would be small and crowded, but it was fine. There was room for all of the kids to play. 

Quick meals with kids on our Vancouver to Alaska Voyage

One of our favorites was a pizza place located right by the pool. (In the photo of the mid-ship pool above, the pizza place is just a few steps from the stairs) You could order pizza on the Holland America navigator app (a must-have when on board) and then go pick it up just a few minutes later! It meant no queuing to order (or waiting if you ordered before you got there!) There was also a burger and fries place that operated the same way (and was also midship right by the pool), but they did not have late hours like the pizza place! 

24/7 Room Service on Koningsdam with Kids

One of Markus’s favorite things to do was order caesar salad for room service at almost any time of day! They had a small menu that you could order anytime, as well as larger options during meal times. When I had dinner reservations, the kids liked that they could stay in the room, order room service, and watch a movie!

Breakfast in Bed on Koningsdam with Kids

Every morning, we ordered breakfast in bed, to the delight of the boys! I would have my coffee on the deck, and they would enjoy their hot chocolate and then we would have a leisurely breakfast before having to get dressed for our excursions! It was so convenient to not have to go up to the restaurant to have breakfast when we had to be off the ship early! Definitely a mom-approved perk (because you could not take any food OFF the ship, I needed to make sure I got good food into the kids before our excursion days)

Upgraded Meal Options

The Koningsdam offers plenty of reservable fine dining, at a reasonable charge. There is always the sit-down restaurant, as well as the Lido buffet, but for those looking for something more upscale, there are 5 places to choose from! We ate at most of them and they offered excellent service and very tasty meals! This part is completely optional, but a nice upgrade if you want something special! It offers a perfect nice date-night option for parents as you can put your kids into the kids club and then have a nice meal without them.

Which Excursions to Pick in Alaska when Sailing to Alaska with Kids

Holland America offers plenty of excursions that you can book as soon as you reserve your stateroom. I highly recommend that you book these in advance, especially the expenseve ones involving helicopters. Most were sold out by the time we boarded and we were not able to book any of them at the excursions desk.

Another thing to note about excursions. Their level of difficulty caters to an older, inactive crowd. We did one excursion that was rated as difficult, and our canoe actually had a motor so we didn’t even really paddle at all. It was also an uneven walk along a riverbed, but there was nothing difficult about it for the average active person. However, I will say that there were people on our excursions who had difficulty with the 1/2 mile walk down to the boats, as well as getting in and out of the canoes. My point here is to manage your expectations, what one person may consider difficult, someone like me (mid-30s and active with active kids) will consider easy. 

Our favorite excursion was getting out on the zodiac boat. However, it is priced per person, and since the kids cannot legally drive, they are just happy passengers. I wish it wa priced by vehicle, like the jeep rentals that are offered in other ports. 

The dog sledding is a hit for any animal lover. It was nice to talk to the mushers and learn about their lives. These mushers are not just there for the tourists. They are real Alaskan locals who race competivitley in the winter. In the summer months, the cruise lines pay them to bring their dogs to the ports. The mushers are then able to keep their dogs fit by running 10 miles a day, and visitors like us get to learn a little bit about sled dog teams. 

We were unable to take a tour on the glacier, but that would have been on my bucket list. Instead, we did a local tour where you ride a wheeled cart. Often there are also puppies that you can play with as well! 

If you are looking for a bit of adventure, the canoeing to the glacier is a great option. We took a boat ride out to the location and then paddled (I mean motored) over to the glacier as far upstream as we could go. We then got our and walked up to the glacier for a closer look! It was a cool experience and one I would do again. Lunch was a bit bare bones, picnic style without much choices, so pack something to eat if you have picky eaters!

We also visited a mine, another kid-friendly tour. We learned about gold and how the mines were used during an underground tour. After that we had a few minutes to pan for gold. Overall the tour seemed rushed as there was a timeline to get us back to the ship. With all of the transport to and from the vessel to the excursions, there is not a lot of free time while ON the excursions. With that being said, I am sure a lot goes into the logistics of moving thousands of people to and from these excursions everyday! (If I had the choice to do this one again, I would probably pass on it and do the Britannia mine tour in Vancouver instead.)

Rooftop Sport Court was a hit!

The boys loved the rooftop sports court, where we could play basketball and pickleball, as well as shuffleboard and a few other games. The weather during our voyage was dry (except for one day) so they were up there often. If you are taking a spring cruise, I doubt it would be used much as it would be quite wet and cold.

The Drinks Package and Kids on Board

The drinks package was the biggest complication for us. You do get water, iced tea, and lemonade for free on the ship. 

The first drink package for your ROOM, note that everyone in the room has to have the same package. The lowest level package is a pop-only package where you get unlimited pop from a pop machine (which is not super plentiful but you can also get pop from the bar if they have them on tap).

The drink package that we went for was mocktails and lattes. In other words lots of luxurious non-alcoholic beverages. I do not drink pop so I enjoyed lattes from the coffee bar, It was a nice quiet spot to grab a drink and enjoy the view or some quiet time. (The coffee shop was a favorite spot for me. They also had delicious crepes you could order!)

The kids loved the mocktails, they ordered non-alcoholic margaritas, Shirley Temple’s and plenty of other fancy beverages. 

The drink package worked out to a little under $20 per person per day. That was about 4 lattes or 3 mocktails. The boys definitely got their money’s worth, but I am not sure I really did, as I did not always order more than 1-2 coffees. There is an option to order and pay for drinks as you drink them, I would love to try that next time and see if the drink package was worth it. 

The thing with these packages is EVERYONE in your room has to have one, you cannot just get the package for one or two people. 

There is also an upgraded package for alcoholic beverages, two packages actually. You can also order drinks one at a time (that is what I did) and they are billed to your ship account and charged to your credit card at the end of the trip. 

The crows nest is a perfect place to go to enjoy a drink before dinner. The boys loved the games the the view was incredible. Note the footwear. We bring our waterproof shoes everywhere! Even as formal wear!

With all of that being said, I hope you have a better understanding of what to expect on your first cruise.

Featured Photo Courtesy of: Holland America Line 

Lindsay Nieminen hails from Vancouver, Canada and shares her love of travel on this website. She is passionate about showing others that they should not put off traveling the world just because they have young children or are single parents. She aims to encourage them to seek out adventure, whether it is at home or abroad by providing information on how just about everywhere can be a destination to explore as a family.

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'The ship can move': Why you should watch next solar eclipses from a cruise ship

Cheers broke out on Holland America Line’s Koningsdam ship when the total solar eclipse began on Monday.

Off the coast of Mazatlan, Mexico, passengers were perched on loungers, reclining on beach towels and lining the railings of Deck 14 with cameras on tripods at the ready. When the sliver of fiery orange that remained of the sun disappeared, a black circle ringed by white light took its place. Passengers applauded the moment they'd been awaiting since the ship departed from San Diego on Friday.

The sunny, 72-degree weather – quintessential cruise weather – gave way to chilly wind and late morning’s best impression of sunset. The horizon line glowed orange in the dusky sky.

Cruise ships can help take guests to the path of totality for eclipses, allowing passengers to get a prime viewing spot and make a vacation of it.

What is a total solar eclipse?

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon completely blocks the face of the sun as it moves between the sun and Earth.

While the sun is about 400 times bigger than the moon, the moon is roughly 400 times closer to Earth. “In the past, the moon was much closer, and in the future, the moon will be much further away,” said Adam Burgasser, a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the University of California, San Diego, and director of the Cool Star Lab, who served as an onboard expert during the cruise. “And so we're in a special time, which, of course, lasts for billions of years, where it's set up just right to block out the sun.”

Total solar eclipses take place about every 18 months on average, but the last one visible from the U.S. was in 2017 .

The phenomenon creates a multi-sensory experience, with a cold front moving in ahead of the eclipse. “You block the sun, and it gets cold,” said Burgasser. “It’s actually just that simple. And it's slow enough that the atmosphere can react.”

Plants and animals respond, too: Birds often begin to chirp, plants may close up, and nocturnal will come out. “It’s kind of an all-around-you experience where it's not just the fact that the sun has been blocked that’s so fascinating, but just the effect it has on the entire environment.” Those effects weren’t easily discernible on Koningsdam, though, which was about 150 miles from shore.

Nicole Chaput, a 57-year-old passenger from Calgary in Canada, said partial and total eclipses are “totally different.”

“I heard someone describe it as being partly pregnant,” she said. “You can’t do it. There’s no comparison.”

What makes a cruise a good place to see an eclipse?

Bad weather can wreck even the best-laid viewing plans. If a city in the path of totality has overcast skies, it can be tough to quickly move to an alternate site.

“If you're on a cruise ship and a little bit farther to the east or a little bit farther to the west along the path, there's clear sky, the ship can move,” said Dan Jarrell, who was on the cruise with his wife, Kay, and friends. The Washington, D.C.-area resident has seen solar eclipses with friends during two other sailings, including on Holland America’s Veendam in 1998.

“If you're on land and there's not a road there, you’d better have a tank,” Jarrell said.

That’s where a cruise ship comes in handy. “Having the ability to map out based on what the current weather is where you can catch the eclipse, and having a range over the course of the ocean where you could chase that a little bit is certainly helpful,” Burgasser added.

Capt. Ane Smit, Master aboard Holland America’s Zaandam for the viewing, said the ship can move at a maximum of 20 knots, so the crew needs to scout out the conditions with enough time to move as needed.

“If it's not good enough, we really need to start finding another spot because we are not the quickest vehicle, of course, to be driving around, but we have the luxury of being able to go in any direction without any restriction,” he said. “It’s a pretty wide highway that we have.”

The view of the horizon also allows passengers to “see that shadow coming in and leaving more so than you can in a topographical area,” said Burgasser. Being in the ocean away from city lights is also helpful for seeing stars and other parts of the sky usually only visible at night.

The cruise line also made the practicalities of watching an eclipse easier: eclipse glasses were distributed to guests’ staterooms and Burgasser guided guests through the event via the ship’s speaker system, before and after totality.

More eclipse cruises on the horizon

If you missed your chance to see it this time or want another go, Holland America has more eclipse-viewing opportunities on the books.

“Guests have reacted positively to our 2024 eclipse cruises and with the next full eclipse in 2026 we plan to have three sailings in Europe that will align with the path of the eclipse,” Paul Grigsby, the line's Vice President of Deployment & Itinerary Planning, said in an email. Details have not yet been released.

Other cruise lines offer similar opportunities as well. Princess Cruises' Emerald Princess was near Koningsdam on Monday.

Chaput, the Canadian passenger, said she’s been “chasing” total solar eclipses since seeing her first one in 1991. Monday’s eclipse marked her seventh viewing and second on a cruise ship.

“I think it’s just such an amazing natural phenomenon,” she said. “It’s seeing science in action.”

Contributing: Josh Rivera, USA TODAY

The reporter on this story received access to this sailing from Holland America Line. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content.  

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected]