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Login If complete bliss is the destination, Koningsdam cruise ship is the journey. Fluid lines, light-filled spaces, and a blend of 21st century elegance and nautical tradition dazzles at every turn. The ship abounds with innovative dining and entertainment options. Head to B.B. King’s Blues Club for Memphis R&B, take in visually stunning entertainment at World Stage, or revisit classic hits at Billboard Onboard. There’s much to see and do on Koningsdam, the first of the cruise ships in Holland America Line’s Pinnacle class.
Winner Best Mid-Sized Ship
Hooray for Koningsdam. A sublime balance of big and small, this mid-size features larger-than-life music venues and activities galore, coupled with small ship service and elbow room.
This was our first time on Holland America. We are experienced cruisers with Princess and Celebrity. We chose the Koningsdam this time for something different, as we have cruised the Inside Passage with Coral Princess before back when it first debuted (and loved it). We were in a group of 14. Overall, I liked the HAL experience quite a bit. The ship layout is to my liking. Lots of individual spaces that do not run together, which seems to be a trend among newer ships on Celebrity and Princess. Lots of quiet spaces. My favorites were the seating areas next to Club Orange and the Dutch Cafe, because there were lots of windows. The Crow's Nest is great too, but depending on the cruise it can get crowded and busy. Cabin: We had a simple verandah cabin and I absolutely loved it. The shower in the bathroom was wonderful and much more space than any standard verandah that I have ever used. It did cut into counter space, which was small, and might be an issue for some people. For me and my husband? It was enough space. Lighting seemed a little dim. That would be my only con and it's minor. I love the way the bed, sofa and desk were arranged. As for closet space? MORE than enough for my husband and I. I actually overlooked a closet with hanging space initially. When I discovered it, that was a bonus! I don't know how I missed it. Bed was totally comfortable and I slept well. Balcony? A REAL balcony and none of that "infinite verandah" garbage you will find on newer Celebrity ships (which are really just a big window that you can open). So yes....A PLUS for the cabin. Dining: The buffet is laid out well. I did not feel congestion in choosing anything. As for seating, like most cruise ships, depending on the time you choose, it can be slightly problematic at times. But honestly, we usually found a table for four rather quickly. Lots of international choices except for Mexican. Everything I had was stellar except for desserts (more on that later). MDR: We truly had no long wait times for anytime dining. We never reserved anything except for one night when we scheduled a table for all 14 of us. It was never an issue. They do a great job with this. As for the MDR food, I was never disappointed. Some of my travel mates found some issues with things, but I never did. Except for the desserts (and yes, I will fill you in on that still later). Service was quick and friendly but not quite as polished as Princess or Celebrity. It is not a complaint; just an observation. If that matters to you I am just telling it like it is so you can prepare yourself. Other dining venues: We only tried one pay specialty restaurant, which was Tamarind. I cannot praise it enough! It was an absolute triumph, all the way to the dessert! This was an exception to the desserts elsewhere, and yes, I will fill you in on that further on. Pizza: If you special order one, it is very good. If you choose it by the slice, it can be dicey. My husband tried a slice that was already prepared and it was a very thick doughy crust with scant toppings. Basically it was puffy bread with some bits of sausage on it. However, a friend ordered a full pepperoni pizza and it was very good. Burgers: FANTASTIC. The best I have have had on any cruise line, and the fries were outstanding. You can't go wrong here. They also have a vegan burger and a chicken sandwich which I did not try, but looked great. DESSERTS: This was quite honestly surprising to me because everything else was so good. But in a poll of our 14 travelers, absolutely no one liked the desserts served in the MDR. Two people liked desserts served in the buffet. And when I say dessert, I mean things like cupcakes, cheesecake, pies and cobblers. They were very bland. Every cheesecake I tried had a mushy crust, and the cheesecake texture was all wrong. It seemed like it was made with a lot of gelatin and very little sugar. Where Holland America DID excel was with pastries, like cinnamon rolls, danish, and that type of thing. Cookies were also good. Those were perfect. Ice cream is always available and they do have dairy free and gluten free versions. At the end of the cruise they had a special event for "130 flavors of cake." I did not try any of them because I had been repeatedly disappointed with all the other offerings up to that point. HOWEVER, a few of my travel mates did try the cake on this special day, and they all agreed it was excellent. So I missed out! But it did make me wonder: Do they just have less than average desserts in the first part of the week so they can save up all the good ingredients for the 130 Cake Flavors Day? Entertainment: I was so surprised because I had been warned not to expect much. I have a degree in music, in vocal performance and I must say that EVERY entertainer I heard was excellent. The classical trio was great. As for the productions shows, these really shocked me. Every vocalist was strong; not a weak one in the bunch. Every dancer was spectacular. One in particular did stand out (Lukas) but that doesn't take away from the technical excellence of the others. We saw three production shows. My favorite was "Musicology" which featured only dance, but I really did enjoy them all. We only took one excursion as we have toured Alaska before. We chose Mendenhall Glacier and Garden tour in Juneau. The Glacier was gorgeous and the water fall was powerful. We saw a porcupine up close. He was a highlight. As for Glacier Gardens, that could be named something differently. It was bizarre and interesting, but there were not "gardens" to speak of; just a bunch of hanging plants you could get at Home Depot in a greenhouse at the end of the tour. BUT...the interesting part of it is that this tour features open air motorized vehicles that take you to an overlook where you can take photos. It was beautiful, but the ride up was just as stunning. I would have loved to have taken photos on the ride up, but it was practically vertical and I was holding on for dear life, and so was the woman seated behind me. At one point she grabbed my shoulders! Ha ha. I did smell burning oil which kind of concerned me. On the way down, there was a lot of brake screeching. If I had known it would be like this, I would not have booked it. BUT. I have to say it was an unforgettable experience and in the end I was happy about it. Drinks: We are not big drinkers but we had the ultimate drink package. We used it for coffee and soda during the day, then a drink for dinner and one at a bar. I was happy with it except for the inconsistent presentation of a piece of paper to sign. Sometimes they wouldn't make you sign anything; other times they did. The signing of papers just slows everything down and seems pointless. As for the drinks themselves I was quite happy with everything. The overall service on this ship was extremely friendly. The staff seemed to be enjoying themselves. That means so much. Would I sail Holland America again? For me, a definitive YES. We had a spectacular vacation in Alaska, even though the weather was not ideal for Glacier Bay. Thank you, Holland America and Koningsdam!
I always enjoy my Holland America cruises and this trip on the fresh-out-of refurbishment Koningsdam is no different. Mine was a short 5 night trip so I packed in a lot of dining and an unexpected nap in the serene library. I was very happy with: Grilled cheese and ham sandwich and pea soup at Dutch cafe; the sole at Canaletto; beef tenderloin at Tamarind (my fav restaurant onboard); burger at Dive In (best fries at sea); Indian food in Lido Buffet (very well prepared) and the insane assortment of desserts from the giant Bossche Bol to the pastry creations across all restaurants. Count yourself lucky if you ever come across Holland America’s sublime cassata Siciliana; eat 2 pieces. My Inside cabin is very comfy-the bed is great-and perfectly fine for a shorter duration trip. If my trip were longer I’d go for an Outside cabin. Honestly, all the cabins are very nice and scrupulously clean. I’ve had a lovely signature suite with HAL, a veranda cabin and an Inside cabin and they are very nice. I travel solo and have more than enough room. The shops have nice things and I usually pick up a HAL branded tshirt and this time some liqueur, costume jewelry and lipstick, all the girly stuff. I would just live on HAL ships if I could. Never once have I felt crowded or jostled on a full ship and there are plenty of chill places to hang out OR to rock out if that’s your thing. The shows are good, the poolside movies are fun, the Lido family fair (like a school carnival) is very fun with a lot of adults laughing like silly kids. This is VERY much the cruise line for me. Oh, and staff are perfection.
With refined amenities and Holland America Line signature Mariner’s Dream bed gracing each elegant stateroom, the ship offers six grades of staterooms. Most are ocean-facing, many featuring teak-lined verandas for dining alfresco or private sunbathing.
Whet your appetite for delicious new tastes and engaging interactive culinary experiences on board.
Every day aboard a Holland America cruise ship brings a wealth of cruise activities and indulgences, along with the freedom to partake in as many- or as few- as you please. It's an opportunity to try something new that surprises you, every day. Dabble, discover, daydream- do everything, or do nothing at all.
Whether you want to workout in the Fitness Centre, learn yoga, pamper yourself with a massage and spa treatment, or enjoy a game of basketball, there's a perfect onboard activity for everyone.
Holland America Line's youth activities program, Kids Club, offers an array of entertaining events for kids and teens ages 3-17, supervised by a full-time, professionally trained staff. They'll have an opportunity to join other kids their age for arts and crafts, sports, video game competitions, scavenger hunts, challenging team games and themed parties.
Note: Kids Club is not offered on cruises of 25-days or longer, including all Legendary and Grand Voyages. We will offer a selection of children’s activities throughout these longer voyages for any children who may be onboard.
Safety Comes First
Safety is our primary concern and strict policies are in place for effective supervision. Adult guests are not permitted to remain in Kids Club unless attending to a special-needs child.
Please note: During voyages with a high number of families onboard, we will make all efforts to accommodate interested parties. However, participation in our program cannot be guaranteed. Hours of operation may change to better serve our guests.
