Konsingdam - no deck chairs on promenade deck?

[coaster]

Only been on two HAL cruises. Loved both of them. Favorite place has been on the promenade deck in the wooden deck chairs. Not a sun worshiper on top decks. Read one older review that the newest HAL ship has no chairs on promenade deck. Is this still the case? Hard to believe as HAL seems to one of the few lines that respects tradition.

[Daisyloo]

Only been on two HAL cruises. Loved both of them. Favorite place has been the promenade deck in the wooden deck chairs. Not a sun worshiper on top decks. Read one older review that the newest HAL ship has no chairs on promenade deck. Is this still the case? Hard to believe as HAL seems to one of the few lines that respects tradition.

 

There were no chairs on the promenade deck when we were on the Koiningsdam in November. There were a few of those wooden benches with the ships name carved in the back, but no chairs/loungers. The promenade is much narrower than on previous ships. And even if they had chairs, your view would be obstructed by the lifeboats. Too bad, as sitting on the promenade and watching the waves was one of our favourite things to do.

[Vic The Parrot]

Hard to believe as HAL seems to one of the few lines that respects tradition.

 

 

Unfortunately, the new management in Seattle is sweeping tradition under the rug. :(

 

For example, the Front Office is gone. It's been replaced by the banal "Guest Services".

[Krazy Kruizers]

Sorry to report -- but with the Promenade Deck being narrower -- no lounge chairs.

[RuthC]

It's as if HAL doesn't want passengers sitting outside, enjoying the sea, when they could be inside spending money. They are discouraging anything and everything that doesn't involve squeezing every possible penny out of every passenger. :(

[freestyling]

Although this ship doesn't have the traditional promenade deck with deck chairs I still enjoyed my cruise on the Koningsdam. In fact I've booked a B2B later this year. Love the addition of the Dutch Cafe and Lincoln Center Stage chamber music. Improvements on this new class of ship are needed in my opinion but I'm sure they were as well when HAL introduced them S class ships! My favorite ship is still the Maasdam but my attitude is any dam ship is better than no ship.

[jtl513]

The so-called "promenade"

 

 

Edited March 15, 2017 by jtl513

[freestyling]

I don't disagree that it is not the traditional HAL promenade but still believe the Koningsdam is a nice addition to the HAL fleet.

[pris993]

It's as if HAL doesn't want passengers sitting outside, enjoying the sea, when they could be inside spending money. They are discouraging anything and everything that doesn't involve squeezing every possible penny out of every passenger. :(

 

Ruth you are right... all the lines are doing the same thing. I have decided I will not cruise on this new ship, no bath tubs except for suites, no main deck, just does not add up to the cruise experience I love ... will go back to the older ships, cheaper and I have the things I like.

[Boytjie]

There were loungers/deck chairs on the Panorama Deck, deck 10, which in place shave an overhang. So it is a bit higher than the Promenade Deck, so it has an even better view. :)

[KirkNC]

This is the main reason we won't sail on her. We will stick with the older fleet until they are retired. In the interim we are figuring out our next line, probably Azamara or Viking Ocean.

[Copper10-8]

Although this ship doesn't have the traditional promenade deck with deck chairs I still enjoyed my cruise on the Koningsdam. In fact I've booked a B2B later this year. Love the addition of the Dutch Cafe and Lincoln Center Stage chamber music. Improvements on this new class of ship are needed in my opinion but I'm sure they were as well when HAL introduced them S class ships! My favorite ship is still the Maasdam but my attitude is any dam ship is better than no ship.

 

That Dutch Cafe is good, eh? :D Here's hoping it's coming elsewhere

[Sundagger]

Although this ship doesn't have the traditional promenade deck with deck chairs I still enjoyed my cruise on the Koningsdam. In fact I've booked a B2B later this year. Love the addition of the Dutch Cafe and Lincoln Center Stage chamber music. Improvements on this new class of ship are needed in my opinion but I'm sure they were as well when HAL introduced them S class ships! My favorite ship is still the Maasdam but my attitude is any dam ship is better than no ship.

 

I definitely agree with some of the new features on the Koningsdam. After 10 days aboard this winter, it's now my first choice for cruising.

[ChinaShrek]

Unfortunately, the new management in Seattle is sweeping tradition under the rug. :(

 

For example, the Front Office is gone. It's been replaced by the banal "Guest Services".

 

Personally, I like 'Guest Services' much better. Front Office doesn't mean anything to me. It sounds like where I go to meet the foreman of a construction site. Guest Services implies that they are here to help and care about me.

[c-cruise]

I actually liked the lack of deck chairs on the Promenade Deck. Makes for less people loitering around and getting in our way as we are getting our laps in. ;) Seriously though, I didn't mind it as much as I thought I would. We do enjoy walking laps and although a lot of the view is blocked there are still several places that are not obstructed where we could stop and enjoy the view. It's definitely narrow, but still felt wider than the jogging track up top.

 

The design of the Promenade is not nearly as bad as the design of the Lincoln Center stage and the music walk in general. Loved the music, hated the posts obstructing the stage and all the outside noise from the casino, people walking through, etc. Have to believe they will remove that spiral staircase between the casino and music walk on the next ship that allows in all the noise from the slot machines.

[igar39]

I have read positive remarks about the Dutch Café on Koningsdam. What traditional Dutch foods are available. I am second generation Dutch in USA and ate Dutch foods in my home when growing up in a Dutch community in the states. Would love Dutch pea soup and Ollie bollen and banket.

[Boytjie]

I have read positive remarks about the Dutch Café on Koningsdam. What traditional Dutch foods are available. I am second generation Dutch in USA and ate Dutch foods in my home when growing up in a Dutch community in the states. Would love Dutch pea soup and Ollie bollen and banket.

 

I think you will like the Grand Dutch Cafe. Unfortunately I did not get to try everything I wanted too - too much to do and not enough time! (And too many other food options).

 

My favorite was the broodje kroket! I never got around to having bitterballen or the pea soup but did have the uitsmijter and friet & mayo.

 

This is where we got our daily coffee fix.

[catl331]

So it is a bit higher than the Promenade Deck, so it has an even better view. :)

You can see farther when up high, but I think down closer to water where I can see flying fish and so on is the better view.

[RuthC]

You can see farther when up high, but I think down closer to water where I can see flying fish and so on is the better view.

Not to mention watching the rhythm of the waves. It's always fun to figure out which coming wave is going to be the one higher than the others.

But, it is helpful to know that there is an outside deck that is sheltered from the sun where I can sit and watch the sea, even though it's not an ideal spot, so I appreciate Peter's information.

[Nanner]

Re: Grand Dutch Cafe. Just off the Koningsdam March 12. No herring the entire voyage, and I was SO looking forward to it! I did enjoy the pea soup, pastries and coffee, but I want my herring!

[dot73]

This is the main reason we won't sail on her. We will stick with the older fleet until they are retired. In the interim we are figuring out our next line, probably Azamara or Viking Ocean.

I thought the same thing when I read about no chairs on the promenade because I really enjoyed reading on the deck in the afternoon. My mother dragged me out on this ship in December and I fell in love with the K-Dam. There are still many spots where you can find a shaded area, including some real nice lounge chairs overlooking the Lido Pool where I went for a snooze before dinner. I also found that very few walking the Promenade Deck and there was no problem around the narrow areas. I'm going again next week on the K-Dam and will post my views on how it went the second-time around.

[albingirl]

I always liked the chairs on the Promenade since I am not a sun worshiper. Having shade by the pool is not the same since there is noise and music there. I like to read and the Promenade is my favorite place to be outside to read a book. Doubt I will ever sail on this ship. The older ships are so charming, so it's no big deal.

[Tennessee Titan]

My my: Yet ANOTHER thread about the lack of deck chairs. This is really getting old! But it does give the complainers an opening to say "Doubt I will ever sail on this ship", and the other standard complaints......

[albingirl]

My my: Yet ANOTHER thread about the lack of deck chairs. This is really getting old! But it does give the complainers an opening to say "Doubt I will ever sail on this ship", and the other standard complaints......

Really, no need to be so snarky. Just voicing my opinion like everyone else. I happen to like a Promenade deck with chairs to view the ocean. Hardly a crime in my opinion.

[RuthC]

Really, no need to be so snarky. Just voicing my opinion like everyone else. I happen to like a Promenade deck with chairs to view the ocean. Hardly a crime in my opinion.

Absolutely.

Those of us who dislike the lack of seating on a Promenade have as much right to say so as those who don't care. Taking it away is a real loss of what had been a favorite amenity.