Koningsdam

Return to Holland America after 10 years

December

Pros: Friendly staff, clean ship, music venues, relaxing Crows Nest

Cons: Extra charges at unexpected places

Recommended: Yes

It's been over 10 years since I sailed on Holland America. Our category A Veranda stateroom was very comfortable, a bit larger than the standard balcony with good storage and a nice shower in the bathroom. I was surprised to see all the extra charges: "Gelato" on the pool deck; honestly, the free ice cream in the Lido Market was better. Dining Room "dinner menu" always included entree items for extra charges ($20 - $32) So surprised to see these items in the main dining room. Lemonade in the Lido Market. Bingo "markers" are $8 - sold as souvenirs!! Holland America has long been a favorite for an older passenger profile and remains true today; most guests were "retired/baby boomers". Most all transactions are done on the Navigator App which would be a challenge for some.

Beautiful and relaxing ship, food and sailing can be a little better

November

Pros: Beautiful ship, great service

Cons: Food could be better, boat felt rocky, more activities

Recommended: Yes

Overall we enjoyed our trip on the Koningsdam for a winter getaway to the Mexican Riviera. The service was top notch and beautiful vessel. The only thing we wished were a little better was the taste of the food, more activities, and the ship was quite rocky (first time on this ship vs many others we been on, may have been rocky sea weather for season)

Excellent trip. Holland America does Alaska right.

July

Pros: Everyone on the ship knows their job and does it well. What they say they will do, they do promptly and well. The food was very good and the room was excellent. Even though the ship is large, it rarely seemed crowded.

Cons: One of the entertainers was quite poor, in contrast to the two others who were outstanding.

Recommended: Yes

We have taken over 50 cruises, all on premier lines. This was our first time on Holland America and the cruise was among the very best.

Alaska land and sea

July

Pros: Smooth sailing with a fantastic crew aboard a pristine ship. I can't say enough about the crew. Everyone that I dealt with was top notch. My cabin stewards took care of our every need or want.

Cons: Sometimes it was a little difficult to decipher what exactly were our credits. But the people on the phone helped figure all that out.

Recommended: Yes

I will definitely recommend Holland America to all my family and friends. We were not feeling well during the cruise, so didn't participate in many activities or entertainment.

Koningsdam review

June

Pros: Great service awesome personnel

Cons:

Recommended: Yes

When I decided to eat, things that were listed on their menus were not available and this is the only disappointment I experienced

Alaska

May

Pros: Saw lots of wild life and information

Cons: Need heat in the busses

Recommended: Yes

Excellent trip All the excursion I was on were great Loved seeing the huskies pups Learn about Alaska and the wild life Great Trip

Great experience seeing total eclipse

April

Pros: Ship modern for HAL, staff wonderful, good size cabin, good pools

Cons: so-so entertainment and ship's musical bands, older clientele means many scooters, walkers

Recommended: Yes

Have been on Konigsdam several times and like the ship and medium size, cabins are good, staff amazing as always. Like Step One dancers but rest of ship entertainers were just ok, the guest entertainers were poor or mediocre. We only eat in Lido and there are lots of food choices, but sometimes food is cold by time you get to table. Lot of sea days, 12 out of 21 but we knew that when booking. There are quite a variety of activities and lectures for you to choose from.

Awesome Crew and ship

March

Pros: Our dinner servers were very friendly and attentive!

Cons: Loved the Dancers for entertainment, but we would have passed on Ric Steel (not our favorite)

Recommended: Yes

We were glad they had the show that told about how the ship ran. I would have loved to have a more advanced art class, or a class to learn how to crochet or knit. We loved the interfaith worship services.

Enjoyed our trip

December

Pros: Great service in all areas

Cons: None

Recommended: Yes

Everything was fine

Not What It Used To Be

December

Pros: Great staff, great excusions

Cons: Odd cabin layout, below par tech

Recommended: Yes

Have done four cruises but this the first on the newer and larger Holland America cruise ships. But newer and larger does not mean necessarily mean better. The staff were excellent as were the excursions and tour operators. The excursions in La Paz, Loreto, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta were worth it. A very odd feature of the cabin was the bathroom. The toilet was the kind used on jet planes and loud when flushing. The water pressure was much lower in both the sink and shower. Last, the bathroom wasn't at the same elevation as the rest of the cabin. The tech used on the cruise ship was mediocre or worse. Channel selection on the television was as prior ships so expectations were low but accessing other features was annoying given the remote control's poor design.The Navigator app was something everyone had to use but the interface was on par with smart phone apps a decade ago and difficult to read on smaller screens. A basic feature such as ship location on a map was only available on the television but not the Navigator app itself. For reasons unknown, communication with other passengers via the Navigator app between android OS users and iOS users was not possible. It became unpleasantly apparent WiFi was only for one devise and had to purchase the delux WiFi package to be able to have access on phone and laptop too. Given passengers need to purchase a WiFi package on a luxury cruise ship is on par with what luxury hotels do but something can live with. Providing passengers with a much needed updated Navigator app should be first priority for Holland America given we used the app so much more on this cruise. It should also be noted not all senior passengers are tech savvy but my son came along and helped me with tech issues.

11 day Mexican cruise

December

Pros: Staff was very accommodating.

Cons: Food was not as good as last year. The $50 charge for Internet was a waste of money. The 5 hours at Cabo is not enough time to enjoy that port. The TV rarely worked consistantly.

Recommended: Yes

Food was not as good as last year. The $50 charge for Internet was a waste of money. The 5 hours at Cabo is not enough time to enjoy that port. The TV rarely worked consistently. However, our waiter in the dining room, Alexis was phenomenal!! Eula, in the Canaletto was so accommodating whenever we ate there.

Very friendly and social cruise

December

Pros: Social interaction with other cruisers was amazing. Crew was very attentive. Entertainment was exceptional from Humanity to the Exc Talks

Cons: Out of San Diego port-unacceptable 3.5 hour wait in-line to board. Holland did not seem to care that this wait was repeated twice in one month

Recommended: Yes

Very relaxing and friendly cruise

Mexico Cruise

November

Pros: Wonderful ship and staff

Cons: Unacceptable port of call in La Paz

Recommended: No

2 hours ship to La Paz. 1 1/2 hour wait for bus and 25 minute bus ride from ship to La Paz. Unacceptable port of call. Should return to Puerto Vallarta

Exceeded All Expectations

August

Pros: Everything

Cons: Weather could have been better but can’t hold Holland America responsible.

Recommended: Yes

This was a celebration with a family of 12 -3 generations of adults. Perfect venue-time for togetherness and time for independence. Konigssdam offered the best of everything- rooms, food, service. The presentations and entertainment had something for everyone but the older generation found the “music” much too loud. All twelve felt that the trip exceeded our expectations. Great work.

Alaska cruise

July

Pros: The ship was beautiful and in tip-top condition! All staff were outstanding (except see comment below). The dining room food was fabulous as was the service.

Cons: The main stage shows were so-so. The 3 music stages were excellent but the sets were very short. Little to do after 11 pm. I was disappointed that there were no whale-watching excursions available. They were offered in Juneau but we joined the trip after they had already been to Juneau.

Recommended: Yes

There were problems with inconsistencies and customer service. Some people in our group received additional cruise credits for excursions and were able to use them. For me and my husband, the extra cruise credits were visible on our account but the service desk was unable to apply them. They insisted that the excursion desk could fix the problem. I got up early and went to the excursion desk the next day. They insisted that they couldn't fix it and that the service desk should have taken care of it. Neither the service desk or the excursion desk resolved the problem, and were a little curt about it with me.

Best cruise food EVER !!!!

July

Pros: Every single thing I ate was amazing !

Cons: The crows nest is too small.

Recommended: Yes

We had the best trip to Alaska. Every meal we ate was delicious and beautifully prepared. We are so happy that we got a balcony room - it was my favorite place to hang out. We will most definitely sail on Holland American again.

Alaska trip

June

Pros: A lot of things to do

Cons:

Recommended: Yes

Absolutely loved this ship especially the two that took care of my cabin. One name Rio and I can’t remember the other ones name. Sorry they did an awesome job friendly personable just amazing.

First Cruise

June

Pros: Condition of ship, incredible stewards and wait staff, variety of entertainment, guest services, incredible food

Cons: Weak drinks, in-room toilet orientation,

Recommended: Yes

Would highly recommend our friends to look at the Koningsdsm in their future cruise planning. The only disappointment I had was that when I had in-ship credit it should have been entirely refundable to me instead of having to use it on the ship. When I received credit for services not provided by the tour or changed within the tour that money belonged to me and should have been refunded to me.

One of my favorite ships

April

Pros: The Food and drinks are top notch on this ship! This Cruise is more for adults.

Cons: Activites close down to early every night. Also need two moive nights for both dinner times.

Recommended: Yes

Probably my favorite ship from Holland America The Food and drinks are top notch on this ship! This Cruise is more for adults. All the specialty restaurants are wonderful. My favorite is the Tamarind and the Canaletto! Oh the Sushi is wonderful!! But the regular dining room is also wonderful. I think this is the only ship that you will also be totally happy just eating Dinner or lunch in the Buffet. The food is top notch and just as good at the sit down dining room. Can’t say that about other ships buffets. Not as many younger kids running around the ship and in the pools and hot tubs, like on let’s say Royal Caribbean ships. Cons: Well I think the ship closes down a little early at night. I understand as this ship seems to cater to let’s say 65 and over. Still like them to stay open a bit latter at night. Also they have only one Movie showing per night at 8pm so if you have the late dinner you can’t watch it. Maybe another late night movie starting at 10pm to midnight, for those that have the late dinner. Also the sound system for the movie night for the pool is really bad, and you can’t hear the dialogue. This needs to be corrected. Or come up with a way to hand out headsets to everyone as an option. But other than that it is a great cruise, I recommend this ship to everyone!!

Koningsdam

December

Pros: Service and food terrific.

Cons: Cost cutting measures were obvious

Recommended: Yes

Lots of up-charges in all restaurants. Butter was rationed (1/2 pat per person)but of course waiter happily brought us more as requested. Stateroom ((Neptune Suite) lovely and spacious. Cabin amenities minimal. Bathroom grout needed a good scrubbing…lots of mold. Stateroom attendant was great. Appreciated the cozy throws and robes. The service was excellent everywhere on the ship.

Fun time on the Koningsdam

December

Pros: Specialty dining, cabanas, ship size, staff (friendly), music walk

Cons: Under-staffed (especially dining room and lido), main dining room food,

Recommended: Yes

This was a really fun cruise, but it is evident that the Koningsdam is not fully staffed but is sailing full. This really showed up in the main dining room and lido areas, with excessive waits. The food and service was definitely much better in the specialty dining. The crew is amazing and friendly, just not enough of them. The ship is beautiful and relatively new.

Gracious travel partner

August

Pros: The entire staff focuses on making you feel welcome and are accommodating. The ship meets the standards of a fine hotel.

Cons: Recorded music for the main evening shows is good but not a replacement for live music.

Recommended: Yes

We took advantage of the Alaska and Yukon land adventure before joining the ship in Skagway. Holland America was wonderful in making the complex land arrangements and keeping us informed. We recommend this itinerary for the exposure to Alaska and Yukon as well as the pleasure of a relaxing and memorable cruse to Vancouver.

Fantastic Cruise!

September

Pros: Everything

Cons: None

Recommended: Yes

We had a spectacular time on this cruise. The staff on ship were fantastic. The food was spectacular. We had a great weather which was a bonus, as it had been raining for a few weeks prior to the beginning of our Cruise. The Glacier National Park was simply amazing.

Cruise

July

Pros: Great trip

Cons: internet

Recommended: Yes

Everything was great except internet service!

Alaskan Trip 2022

August

Pros: Everything was perfect!

Cons:

Recommended: Yes

Wonderful trip! Beautiful cruise ship…food and entertainment was outstanding. The staff went above and beyond to make everything perfect. Our trip was amazing from start to finish.

18-night Hawaii Cruise

January

Pros: Excellent staff, crew, food and ship

Cons: Veranda cabin smaller than on previous HAL ships

Recommended: Yes

Stateroom service by Indri & Tri was excellent. Food beverage service at table 80 [second deck] was also excellent. Jamie was the best cruise director we have ever had. We thoroughly enjoyed the cruise, and we are looking forward to our next HAL cruise.

Great Cruise!!!!

February

Pros: Food, service, entertainment, ship decor, sanitation

Cons:

Recommended: Yes

This cruise was almost perfect. I love that the ship was half full too. Everyone wore masks. Dining room was sanitized after every seating. Just a great cruise from beginning to end! Specialty restaurants were wonderful. Loved Rudi's bistro & seafood. Main dining was very good. Loved Billboard Onboard with dueling pianos, Rolling Stones rock venue had great music, B.B. Kings had good blues. Lincoln Center Classic music was also good. Service was excellent in all areas. My bedroom carpet was either worn or a little dirty.

Class with charm

February

Pros: Staff, cleanliness, food, ports of call.

Cons: Some music was very loud, and too close to other music venues.

Recommended: Yes

Wonderful staff. Orange Club dinning etc. is fabulous and well worth the price. Ship is well maintained and extremely clean. They are very concerned about controlling the spread of germs.

65 cruises and counting

December

Pros: Great staff-Club Orange for dining for suite guests-food.

Cons: No steel drums-no free wi fi-no daily newspaper-no on deck buffets

Recommended: No

The ship was clean and the staff was excellent. The service was good and the food was fine. Different people look for different things. We had fun, but would more likely book a different cruise line if doing the same islands.

lots to offer

December

Pros: no matter how many are booked on board, there never seems to be a crowd. The passageways, common areas and deck chair spaces all are roomy. The decor is stunning and the food second to none whether in the Dining Room, the Lido or any of the truly great specialized restaurants. The music venues are diverse and fun. The Teaming with BBC Earth is marvelous for their shows

Cons: The entertainment is terrible except for a couple of pianists, vocalists and the BBC Production with the strings and band from the ship. They are also nickel and diming us and doing away with some of the things that set HAL apart from the rest of the ship lines.

Recommended: Yes

I always sail HAL and I have sailed the Konigsdam including the inaugural cruise about 4 or 5 times. I am a veteran cruiser and some of the changes overall have been good but some not so good so the lines begin to blur between HAL and others. But I will continue to sail HAL because the crew and staff are so people/service oriented and HAL is extremely good to its crew. They openly mention the ability to rise in the hierarchy of the company and the benefits are good. Happy Crew, Happy Passengers. The officers are extremely competent and can be seen around the ship. You can usually catch the Captain out and about, even eating in the various locales. A great company.

Adriatic cruise on Koningsdam

August

Pros: Great itinerary, and great shore excursions. Cabin accomodations (mini suite) were comfortable and very functional. Pool deck area and associated food and beverage services was one of nicest have seen on any cruise ship.

Cons: MUSIC WAS MUCH TOO LOUD !!! Could have been greatly improved by giving volume control knob good turn counterclockwise. Ship decor was less dramatic than onther cruise line have been on (Princess), and entertainment was not as good.

Recommended: Yes

Service by crew in dining room and else was very good. Shore excursion staff was especially helpful, specifically on advising us on excursions appropriate for wife with limited mobility.

things about the Koningsdam

August

Pros: The overall experience.

Cons: None

Recommended: Yes

Staff was excellent. The dining room was nice but did get backed up on several occasions. Stayed in an inside room and it was very comfortable and met our needs. Our room was the only inside room on the floor in our section. Was perfect. The Caption was very enjoyable and his announcements were nice to listen to. Did not attend any entertainment events in the main stage. The B/B King lounge was to loud and the couple playing the pianos were not very good singers. The trivia sessions were lots of fun and a good way to meet people.

Mediterrean cruise

June

Pros:

Cons:

Recommended: Yes

none

Caribbean getaway

March

Pros: Great staff & food, very smooth trip.

Cons: Pools were too small, entertainment was sub par, photos too expensive.

Recommended: No

Great ship

January

Pros: Thoroughly enjoyed this cruise. The ship is very nice. The buffet is not self serv...surprising at first. The lines move very quickly though. The asian station is very good and I visited that several times!! Food was very good. Staff all very friendly. The music walk was awesome. Best music on board than any cruise I have been on. Rolling stone rock room was packed every night with everyone enjoying the music. The 5 musicians were awesome.

Cons:

Recommended: Yes

Great cruise. Had never been on Holland America before. Have taken many cruises on several other lines. This was great and may move it up on the list of favorite lines!!

January Getaway to Warm Weather

January

Pros: Ship easy to get around and beautifully decorated. Stern balcony cabin was very nice. Could enjoy the balcony when the ship was moving as felt little wind at the stern.

Cons: Entertainment was lacking and theater a bit small. Felt you had to get to the theater way too early to get a seat.

Recommended: Yes

Our first visit to the islands on the itinerary except Half Moon Cay. The beach there is amazing and the water beautiful. Saw a good bit of the other islands on excursions thru ShoreTrips and had very informative and enjoyable introductions to those stops. Weather was gorgeous. Our stop at Aruba was on Sunday so most everything was closed.

First Transatlantic Crossing

November

Pros: Relatively small - 2000 passengers, excellent service, excellent entertaining cruise director, excellent engaging captain

Cons: no library, no self service on the lido deck which resulted in standing in line for food.

Recommended: Yes

Italy - Greece

October

Pros: Ship quality, cleanliness, food quality, decor, entertainment

Cons: The cruise was very port-intensive thus the on-board activities were a little lacking

Recommended: Yes

Overall excellent experience that exceeded my expectations

An Iberian Adventure on the Koningsdam

September

Pros: Ship,staff,service, food, entertainment choices were all excellent.

Cons: None

Recommended: No

Edith Tomes

July

Pros: The staff was very nice

Cons: Nothing to see at the ports

Recommended: Yes

When you got to the ports there was nothing to do and the excursions were too expensive.

Konigsdam review

September

Pros: New ship, nice amenities, great food, great staff

Cons: None

Recommended: Yes

None

Recent 14-day Voyage of Midnight Sun

June

Pros: Well Planned and executed

Cons: Couldn't find fault with anything

Recommended: No

Great Expectations

March

Pros: Embarkation, entire crew, food, bars, debarkation

Cons: Lido deck

Recommended: Yes

Koningsdam met all of our expectations. She is a beautiful ship...only thing we were not crazy about was the design of the Lido. Not "user" friendly to us.One can not walk through from one side to the other except for one crossover. After a few days we did get a better handle on it! All in all, we had a wonderful time and highly recommend HAL Koningsdam!

Koningsdam

February

Pros:

Cons:

Recommended: Yes

Beautiful new Holland America ship with lots of new amenities.

Babyboomer

February

Pros: Lots of 60,'s and 70's entertainment , healthy foods available

Cons: Not for families

Recommended: Yes

Lido foods are served behind counters so less touching of foods by customers. Specialty restaurants are outstanding.

Great Time

February

Pros: Excellent food, outstanding shows, beautiful ship, great music in the lounges, comfortable cabin

Cons: No organized bridge, small pool area and light waiter/waitress service

Recommended: Yes

Nice Ship

loved this ship and the signature suite!'

January

Pros: 1. most beautiful ship we have been on 2 beds and foam pillows excellent 3 evening meal excellent 4 entertainment

Cons: 1. ports not very exciting 2 lunches and breakfast ok but salads at lunch excellent

Recommended: Yes

Will definitely chose this ship again, but hope they have a more exciting Carribean itinerary next time.

Eastern Carribbean

January

Pros: Ship, decor, staff, entertainment, ports

Cons: Food in dining room

Recommended: Yes

Beautiful new ship, inside and out. Usual good service. All forms of entertainment were excellent. Lido was excellent. Also enjoyed Pinnacle Grill and Cannelletto. However, did not care for dinning room food-too "gourmet", too many weird combinations. Things were somewhat disorganized at times. Communications were also poor.

Dec. 2016 Koningsdam Cruise

December

Pros: Food was excellent, room was fabulous, stops were very good as well. Even though the ship is fairly large, you never felt crowded. The room attendant was very very good and they were always pleasant. Above average on board shopping as well, if you are into that. Getting on the ship was a breeze; getting off the ship was even easier. I was shocked to say the least.

Cons: Some of the entertainment (dueling pianos) was not my cup of tea, but I did enjoy listening to the string quartet. I have never seen a string quartet on a ship. Very high class and they were very good as well.

Recommended: Yes

We honestly enjoyed the cruise. The boat was brand new and everything was well cared for. The stops were enjoyable and nobody bothered you like they do in Jamaica. I have never been at a beach like the one at Half Moon Cay. I have never seen sand like that, either, and I am from Florida! The crew from top to bottom was excellent in my humble opinion. Do not be afraid to get on this boat; you will be glad you did!!

Classy new ship!

December

Pros: Beautiful ship

Cons: Would like more time in Half Moon Cay.

Recommended: Yes

Ship was very new and clean.It was a quiet, mature crowd but that is what we were looking for... no belly flop contests or hairy back contests like you find on Carnival.. Had a great Blues Band that played all nights but one. The main stage had a great show every night. Overall, was a great experience and never felt rush to do activities. The food was great and the Lido market food was just as good as food in the main dining room. Also served lobster and filet mignon in the Lido Market one night. Overall, the experience was great and this ship is definitely for people who want a quieter more relaxed sailing experience.

All the same and more but completely new and different

December

Pros: same excellent service but all new lights and feelings

Cons: haven't found one up to now (maybe the big screen some more diversity but really not so important)

Recommended: Yes

We enjoyed a great cruise on the MS Koningsdam. 19 days with nice ports (Gran Turk, Amber Cove, Half Moon Key,...) Great and good food, nice restaurants (Sal du Mer as restaurant and Pizza Deli as snack). We booked again already for next year!!

HAL Past vs Present

December

Pros: Good food and service mid size ships

Cons: Many amenities of past cruises no longer offered

Recommended: Yes

HAL has significantly reduced many "perks" offered in the past but still a good value due to good service, good food and sensibly sized ships. Koningsdan demonstrated that HAL FINALLY has is embarkation and disembarkation procedure act together

Enjoyed the Koningsdam

September

Pros: Beautiful, new ship. Larger than prior Holland ships we have been on but boarding and deboarding were smooth. Wonder crew. Execptional service from friendly crew who seemed happy.

Cons: Have downsized library and almost eliminated books to check out and read. Noisy dinning room.

Recommended: Yes

Overall wonderful cruise.

Iberian Cruise - Koningsdam, Sept18-30, 2016

September

Pros: Beautiful ship, Lots of good food

Cons: Charging for water, Dining schedule & service - average, land tours- average

Recommended: Yes

Had a very good time with family & friends on this cruise. Stateroom was very comfortable and room stewards (for 7143) were excellent. Charging for water in the stateroom and bar charges were very inconsistent. Arnold Palmer drinks (lemonade & ice tea) were either no charge by certain waiters in the main dining room, but was charged if the request was made to a sommelier. Charged for milk if requested after breakfast. :-( World Stage entertainment was okay... seen better more professional acts on other Holland American ships. Land tours - ran behind schedules, no notice about having proper change for use of toilets. Guides were hard to understand for our English speaking group.

Baltic Tour on Great ship

September

Pros: Great new ship, outstanding entertainment, super food and crew

Cons: None

Recommended: Yes

Brand new ship with great facilities, outstanding entertainment in main stage with 270 degree view and lunges - food outstanding in main dining and speciality restaurants

Great Experience

August

Pros: Wonderful food, accomodations, activities and service

Cons: Had a little bad weather which no one could control and luggage got delayed on homeward bound flight.

Recommended: Yes

The organization of moving so many people aboard and into and off ship was handled well. Our luggage was waiting for us at cabin and also the tender into Gieranger went smoothly. The weather conditions required decisions to be made causing changes in the itinerary. Actually it was beneficial to us as we were able to spend some time in Amsterdam. Other changes were not a problem. Our cabins were so lovely and the beds were comfortable. Food was wonderful and offered endless variety. How nice to pick up breakfast at Lido Deck and sit by a window with view of ocean. Entertainment and activities offered lots of diversion and the ship itself was elegant and beautiful. Great commentaries on the sights as we sailed past scenic and noteworthy locations.

Christening Cruise

May

Pros: New ship--bright and shiny, friendly staff, lovely ports

Cons: Entertainment overall was not as outstanding as we have experienced before.

Recommended: Yes

We thoroughly enjoyed being on the Christening voyage of this new ship. A highlight was sailing down the Maas River to waving and cheering crowds. Sadly, because of our flight time out of Amsterdam, we were unable to see the queen and could not attend the reception.

The Ship

April

Pros: Brand new, clean, crisp, and inviting.

Cons: Food is not a positive.

Recommended: Yes

As a single, I ate at the Lido buffet. I found that the main entrees were limited. Pork loin to the max!! The sweets were the size for a canary to eat. I also had a problem with ship employees clogging the food lines at the Lido. Maybe they could eat before paying guests showed up.