Koningsdam - I'm Not So Sure

[jvalentine]

Setting here sipping my morning coffee, I find some of the comments quite amusing. Reminds me of comments some people make about hotel rooms, they are not happy unless the room has a view, or is large or whatever it takes to make them happy. We have cruised with three different lines over the years. My main concerns on a cruise, comfy bed, good food, entertainment, ports, and the fact that we are on vacation. All of the nit picking that is going on about various aspects of design, pictures, so on and so on. I feel that some people have way to much time on their hands and let to many trivial things bother them. This is my opinion and others are certainly entitled to theirs.:)

 

Couldn't have said it better myself!

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

If the itinerary was one I wanted to do, I would sail on just about any ship at least once to try it out.

[dcsam]

I'm awaiting the reviews. There are a couple itineraries that look great. But, like others, I'm concerned about its size, capacity and lack of openness. My initial impression is that they took all the profitable outside areas, and built money-generating areas.

[hawkeye3d]

Setting here sipping my morning coffee, I find some of the comments quite amusing. Reminds me of comments some people make about hotel rooms, they are not happy unless the room has a view, or is large or whatever it takes to make them happy. We have cruised with three different lines over the years. My main concerns on a cruise, comfy bed, good food, entertainment, ports, and the fact that we are on vacation. All of the nit picking that is going on about various aspects of design, pictures, so on and so on. I feel that some people have way to much time on their hands and let to many trivial things bother them. This is my opinion and others are certainly entitled to theirs.:)

 

I couldn't agree more, come on folks lighten up a bit. Wait and see what she really looks like and what the reviewers say. No one is going to like everything every time. We are on her in August and I can't wait.

 

Bob

[dot73]

I'm awaiting the reviews. There are a couple itineraries that look great. But, like others, I'm concerned about its size, capacity and lack of openness. My initial impression is that they took all the profitable outside areas, and built money-generating areas.

 

Unfortunately, without the money-generating areas, the price of a cruise would double and people like me would not be able to afford to cruise on a great line like HAL. I like the idea that I can spend my money on the things that I love instead of paying for everything in the cruise price. For me, the casino, art, spa, etc. doesn't hold any interest. I spend my on-board budget on things like specialty restaurants, wine tasting, and sometimes ship's excursions. However, other people enjoy spending their money on other things, which is great. To each his own.

[RuthC]

We are going on her on 27th April and I will report back.

I'll look forward eagerly to your report. Your tastes are similar enough to mine, and I do trust your judgment on things, so I know you will give a report I can hang my hat on.

[Cruising-along]

If the itinerary was one I wanted to do, I would sail on just about any ship at least once to try it out.

 

This is exactly how I feel. Our next cruise is on the Veendam, and the one following that is the Koningsdam. I've sailed almost all of HAL's fleet, and my favorite ship is the one I'm on. :) I haven't had a bad cruise yet. (fingers crossed) ;)

[OTOW guy]

and the features look ok from what I have seen. I'll be very interested to read the reports from the first actual cruise. Too bad they are still having the art auctions as the stuff I have seen is really awful. Another bar or shop would be better use of the space. The new restaurants seem very interesting to us. I bet most of the cruisers the first year are Mariners wanting to see what the new features are. We have booked 21 days in Nov.

[Tampa Girl]

We will be on her in about four weeks and I cannot say I like what I have seen of the interiors. But that does not change my desire to do the cruise.

It seems to be very ornate by our standards; contemporary design here tends more to the minimalist and carpet (even though I prefer it) is very much out of fashion. So to me it looks like a casino or an RSL club (Aussies know what I mean) But it should look much different when everyone is aboard.

 

There are ships that do not have carpeting in the halls and public areas? I would hate to be on one, then, because the risk of falling and killing yourself is not something one looks forward to. Carpet should always be in fashion on ships in order to avoid injury and worse.

 

Everyone seems to have formed an impression of the Koningsdam from the videos. I couldn't get that good of an idea. I was really looking for a view of the cabins, but I couldn't find any. Which of the three videos showed them?

[KirkNC]

I would have quoted someone who has said it in this thread. There have been, as alluded to by others here, several on other threads, who have said they would never sail on K dam. This sort of thought is part of what is causing the OP's (of this thread)thought process.

 

OK, I misunderstood, I wanted to point out that at least when you posted no one, including me had said no never. I am, as I stated in my post, reserving judgment.

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

I'm awaiting the reviews. There are a couple itineraries that look great. But, like others, I'm concerned about its size, capacity and lack of openness. My initial impression is that they took all the profitable outside areas, and built money-generating areas.

 

NCL has done the same thing.

[Projunior]

Other lines are moving away from dancing, and ballroom dancing in particular. Dancing was once an iconic feature of cruise ships. Now, the suits seem to have concluded, "Why occupy precious real estate with a dance floor when the same space can be used to generate revenue?"

 

The dance floor in the Wheelhouse Bar on the newest Princess ships has been scrapped. Dancing on the Solstice-class Celebrity ships idiotically takes place among the normal pedestrian traffic in the cramped and crowded main atrium. On the Celebrity Reflection, the Sky Lounge was halved in order to use the space for meeting rooms.

 

So props to HAL for the gorgeous looking floor in the Queen's Lounge on the Koningsdam. I fondly recall dancing in the Queen's Lounge on the SS Rotterdam in 1988, my first cruise. I eagerly await tripping the light fantastic in this latest incarnation of the QL when we take our 25th cruise in January on the Koningsdam.

[frankc98376]

Picture from Capt Albert's blog of an art piece outside the spa.

 

Lovely but to me looks more like a W Hotel. Looks very cold and sterile (maybe just me).

[Carnevale]

Other lines are moving away from dancing, and ballroom dancing in particular. Dancing was once an iconic feature of cruise ships. Now, the suits seem to have concluded, "Why occupy precious real estate with a dance floor when the same space can be used to generate revenue?"

 

The dance floor in the Wheelhouse Bar on the newest Princess ships has been scrapped. Dancing on the Solstice-class Celebrity ships idiotically takes place among the normal pedestrian traffic in the cramped and crowded main atrium. On the Celebrity Reflection, the Sky Lounge was halved in order to use the space for meeting rooms.

 

So props to HAL for the gorgeous looking floor in the Queen's Lounge on the Koningsdam. I fondly recall dancing in the Queen's Lounge on the SS Rotterdam in 1988, my first cruise. I eagerly await tripping the light fantastic in this latest incarnation of the QL when we take our 25th cruise in January on the Koningsdam.

 

My concern is that the BB Kings play in that area and on Noordam they were too loud (just couldn't stay there for long) and much of the music wasn't ballroom appropriate. We are on the Christening cruise so I will post info on the dancing opportunities. We cruise to dance so this is a key issue for us. I'm hoping someone on one of the first cruises lets us know what dancing there is.

[ski ww]

Seems to be a lot of negative views about a ship that has yet to do her first cruise. We enjoy the Sea View pool, eat breakfast & lunch in the Lido, dinner in the MDR, sit in on any interesting lectures from the guest speakers, go to the evening shows and on sea days find a chair on the promenade deck & read a book. Although from the pictures we've seem that seems to be the only problem. Waiting to hear from people posting reviews from the first cruise. Like others before me said, any cruise I'm on is a good one.

Allan

[Topsham]

We cruise to dance so this is a key issue for us. QUOTE]

 

 

I have never gone into dancing. What I do enjoy is listening cocktail music and watching the dancing and drinks before dinner. On a recent cruise in Saga Sapphire there was dancing in the Drawing Room every evening before dinner. Excellent music! After dinner there was more for the hour after dinner before the show in the main lounge. Later there was more in the Drawing Room. On formal nights is was more 'gala' and also a few balls and all of the officers and staff dancing with the passengers. Even the very junior officers, shop girls, cruise staff etc. Captain and wife makes the opening dance. All very elegant.

[KirkNC]

Seems to be a lot of negative views about a ship that has yet to do her first cruise. We enjoy the Sea View pool, eat breakfast & lunch in the Lido, dinner in the MDR, sit in on any interesting lectures from the guest speakers, go to the evening shows and on sea days find a chair on the promenade deck & read a book. Although from the pictures we've seem that seems to be the only problem. Waiting to hear from people posting reviews from the first cruise. Like others before me said, any cruise I'm on is a good one.

Allan

 

I would rephrase that to say some have concerns that the new ship might be another example of HAL leaving the very essence of what some of us view as their strength. I just hope those who are less then thrilled with what we see initially are allowed to vet those thoughts without being flamed as negative. By all admissions, this ship is a departure from "traditional " HAL ships. That is concerning for some of us.

[jtl513]

Looks very cold and sterile (maybe just me).

 

By all admissions, this ship is a departure from "traditional " HAL ships. That is concerning for some of us.

As I said on another thread, the preponderance of stainless-steel/gray/white/pale-wood is not to my tastes, but I'm really looking forward to seeing and trying the new venues and features. Edited April 8, 2016 by jtl513

[Himself]

Like many HAL devotees , I've been watching with spellbound anticipation the building and introduction of the new Koningsdam. This ship is a complete departure from anything HAL has sailed before. I understand that companies must evolve to stay current and competitive. That said..... now that I'm able to see what the mostly finished ship looks like, I'm not particularly impressed with the interiors. The newly designed pool areas look amazing and that's about all. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished Crows Nest, so maybe there's hope. The caged treatment of the atrium is ugly and the seating nearby looks uncomfortable. The overhead changing lighting is over stimulating. Stairwell art seems randomly chosen and cheap. There is a video showing a corridor with windows on one side but the view out is obstructed by ridiculous curved metal, ect, ect.

 

I'm just curious and would love to hear from other members who what they think.

 

LaffinVegas is currently on the ship for her first voyage and she is giving lots of comments and pictures. Please check out her thread. She is a good writer and writes well.

[Tampa Girl]

LaffinVegas is currently on the ship for her first voyage and she is giving lots of comments and pictures. Please check out her thread. She is a good writer and writes well.

 

Where is her thread?

[KirkNC]

Where is her thread?

 

Here you go:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2338233

 

It is on the HAL board.

[Topsham]

There is a video showing a corridor with windows on one side but the view out is obstructed by ridiculous curved metal, ect, ect.

 

I'm just curious and would love to hear from other members who what they think.

 

Well, yes I'm quite interested in the curved metal 'blinds' in the middle of the widows. Don't worry... easily removed!

[RuthC]

I would rephrase that to say some have concerns that the new ship might be another example of HAL leaving the very essence of what some of us view as their strength. I just hope those who are less then thrilled with what we see initially are allowed to vet those thoughts without being flamed as negative. By all admissions, this ship is a departure from "traditional " HAL ships. That is concerning for some of us.

Beautifully said.

[sppunk]

I would rephrase that to say some have concerns that the new ship might be another example of HAL leaving the very essence of what some of us view as their strength. I just hope those who are less then thrilled with what we see initially are allowed to vet those thoughts without being flamed as negative. By all admissions, this ship is a departure from "traditional " HAL ships. That is concerning for some of us.

I think it's more of an evolution than a departure.

 

There are many HAL ships sailing today that have CRAZY color schemes and artwork (and let's ignore some of the atrium art, shall we?). Koningsdam by comparison probably is downright boring in some spots. :)

 

Yes they've gone from brass but so has the world and modern taste. However the crew is still HAL, the service is still HAL and the ship is more Dutch than any other it seems. Win some, lose some IMO.

 

But that said some will hate her, just like some hate the Vistas or whatever.

[Tampa Girl]

Here you go:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2338233

 

It is on the HAL board.

 

Thank you!