Just Off Konigsdam!

[benny salami]

Initial impressions of the MS Konigsdam after our 10 day cruise. The food and service were up the the usual high HAL standards. Spectacular new dam ship with first run movies, Pinnacle Grill and the best showers on the seas. Negatives include the lack of unlimited wifi, poor tours and we missed the HAL Cats at the pool and Half Moon Cay. Don't miss the fake "excitement" by the pools on other cruise lines but please bring back a reggae band or the HAL Cats. Wonderful international passengers with plenty of Dutch and French in the air.

 

Don't miss a Reuben at the NY Deli, High Teas and popcorn at the movies. Book HAL now it beats shoveling snow and chopping ice in Spring. Loved the ABC islands especially snorkeling in Bonaire. Older, well healed passengers without the usual pool pigs and screaming brats in the pool. Excellent breakfasts and Indian fare in the Lido Restaurant. With minor improvements like an unlimited wifi package, improved tours, reggae band and return of the Yum Yum Man could be the finest on the seas.

 

 

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[luvcruisn']

Agree with most of your conclusions. For me, the made to order pizza was the best at the New York Deli on the Konigsdam this past October.

[Sundagger]

We loved the Koningsdam. We had our daily (sometimes twice daily) gelatos and stopped at the Dutch Cafe every day. The concerts in the Lincoln Center Stage were a daily must. I think that will be the only HAL ship that we cruise on in the future - although the upcoming sister ships will probably be as enjoyable.

[ithaca gal]

It's funny how different people have different opinions on the same ship.

 

We sailed on the Koningsdam earlier this month and decided within a couple of days that this will be our last cruise on it.

 

Low ceilings led to a claustrophobic feeling right away. A walk through the ship showed profit centers at every turn. The gelato bar was great -- but pay to play. Blend -- make your own bottle of wine -- just $79. Notes -- blend your own scotch -- $$.

 

No more movie theater -- A giant movie screen adjacent to the Lido Pool offers "under the stars" movies -- but only one or two showings per day (night).

 

No smoking on balconies but it is allowed in the casino for some unknown reason -- even though the Eurodam casino banned it after its renovation.

 

Give me the Vista Class ships any day -- love the Nieuw Amsterdam and the Eurodam!

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thank you for your opinions.

We haven't had the Screaming HAL Cats the last couple of years on our cruises and we don't miss them.

[wesport]

We have been on the Koningsdam twice this year. Once in February. Enjoyed it so much , booked the 3/12 10 dayer.

 

Pros

 

World Stage is fantastic. Don't miss the show one world. BBC presentation in Antarctica was also wonderful.

 

Specialty restaurants were also great. Did Tamarind twice, Sel de Mer, Pinnacle , Caneletto, and the Culinary Arts dinner . Love the variety.

 

Lido Market. Love the Salad bar. Also the healthy station where you can get good choices for breakfast. It is sometimes chaotic, but the choices offered were wide. Something for everyone.

 

There are many areas to lounge around other than poolside. Lounge area on back of ship by pool with comfy chairs was very nice. Even around the perimeter of the pool, there were always cushioned seating available.

 

Sun Deck on 14. Ship was sold out, but never any one there. Nice and private.

 

Shops have definitely been upgraded. Nice selection.

 

Love the Grand Dutch Café. Only negative is that when you wanted to sit down and have lunch, many card players took over the tables, so seating was a challenge.

 

I agree there should be a wi fi package for unlimited, but maybe they will change this.

[benny salami]

The Grand Dutch Cafe and NY Deli are both excellent and the Cafe only charges for coffee and beer. Hardly profit centers at every turn. I knew my pining for the Hal Cats would be controversial but you really think having amateurs hack at steel drums by the pool is preferable? The cuts in entertainment show but the house singers/dancers and Cruise Director were excellent.

 

The food and service is far superior to anything on Celebrity our second choice. The MDR portion sizes and food options on Celebrity have become a joke. Only saw one table of card players at the Dutch Cafe and was happy to see many Mah Jon players at the pool. Bring back the Yum Yum Man, the HAL Cats and an unlimited wifi package and HAL will crush the competition. We will be returning soon!

 

 

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[VMax1700]

Bring back the Yum Yum Man,

 

No Yum Yum Man??? Wow, I will have to rethink our K'dam cruise. Always looked forward to a nibble after dinner! ;p

[benny salami]

The nibble is there absent the Yum Yum Man. Did see him at the Mariners Lunch in full dress.

 

 

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[AV8rix]

The nibble is there absent the Yum Yum Man. Did see him at the Mariners Lunch in full dress.

 

Well, who chimes us into dinner? I enjoy sitting in the Explorers Lounge listening to Adagio until the Yum Yum Man alerts us that it's time for our seating in the MDR.

 

Oh wait, that's the new humungoudam. Perhaps there is no Explorers Lounge. Oh well.

[Cruizer Bill]

Thanks for the feedback. Sounds like you had fun. We prefer the smaller ships.

[sevenseasnomad]

Thanks for the feedback. Sounds like you had fun. We prefer the smaller ships.

 

Love the smaller ships too. Not having sailed on K'dam, I'm in no position to judge her. What's holding us back? Our favorite place to sit, the Promenade Deck, alas, has no deck chairs because it's too narrow. Also, we don't want to spend the money, only to compare her to other dam ships and maybe find her lacking. Reviews certainly appear to swing positive and negative. Eventually, we'll book, as she's one of the few dam ships we haven't sailed.

 

Glad that OP loved it and wants to rebook. Right now, HAL has enough variety that almost all of us can be satisfied. What's going to happen in the future, though, when those small ships are all sold? We don't even want to contemplate it.

[benny salami]

This is hardly Oasis of the Seas or the other Royal floating megacities. The ship never seems crowded and the wide range of dining options shortens wait times. Even after the safety drill elevators were accessible after a short wait. BB King's Blues Club and Lincoln Center provide great venues for the blues, R&B and classic music lovers.

 

 

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[Maureenxx]

Our first and last cruise on K'dam. Ship is too large for us. Loved the theater and Lincoln Center. However, LC should have a more dedicated space, not just along the passageway, poor design. Missed having a movie theater and the movies shown on deck were mostly unknown to us. Didn't like the fact that there is no room for deck chairs on the "promonnade" deck and no library to browse. Don't know what to do when the smaller ships are gone.

[kftw]

Thanks for your review & pictures.

[benny salami]

Thank you. Enjoy Konigsdam as the captain, crew and food options are all outstanding.

 

 

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[BSR]

Thanks for posting the Dutch Cafe menu. I'm looking forward to sailing on the K'dam next year.

 

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[ski ww]

As said the reviews for the K'dam seem to run from one extreme to the other. Different strokes for different folks. Enjoy your cruise which ever ship you're on.

Allan

[kftw]

Thank you for your review.

[jtl513]

It's funny how different people have different opinions on the same ship.

 

We sailed on the Koningsdam earlier this month and decided within a couple of days that this will be our last cruise on it.

Ditto. I liked the new features (Sel de Mer, Grand Dutch Cafe, World Stage, Lincoln Center, Gelato) but with no brass, no nautical paintings, no antiques, no respectable promenade or library, and too much white/gray/black/chrome it just wasn't HAL to me. My fav is still the Nieuw A. Edited August 31, 2017 by jtl513

[canadianbear]

OP-we are booked for 21 day Caribbean cruise on the "K" later this year and

appreciate your report.

 

Where did you snorkel in Bonaire? I've been to Aruba & Curaçao but not Bonaire-did you do an excursion or on your own? My hubby & I love to snorkel so hope to do lots.

 

 

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[DFWGUYZ]

We enjoyed, very much, our ten days on the Koningsdam last year. It did take a day to get used to a slightly larger ship than the vista class but would book her again if itinerary/timing were for us.

[Big_G_111]

We just spent 7 days on the Koningsdam (8/20/17 - 8/27/17), cruising to Norway RT from Amsterdam. Rather than starting a new thread, I'll just hijack this one to post my thoughts.

 

For the most part, I'm aligned with the OP. Excellent food in all the venues, great service. Absolutely agree about "the best showers on the seas". Had one of the Deck 4 mega-balconies - very nice bonus relative to other decks, IMO. Grand Dutch Cafe was great - and on my cruise, became the hangout for actual Dutch people, which speaks well for the food's authenticity.

 

As for negatives: Entertainment/activities seemed limited, compared to previous cruises on other, more mass-market lines. World Stage layout is a bit wacky - I went to a Q&A with two of the headliners, and they had little good to say about the configuration from the performers' viewpoint.

 

Most critically, HAL will need to re-jigger the Lincoln Center Stage. It just doesn't work as-is. You have a main walkway that has to be closed off with doors and "Quiet, Please" signs. You have the Billboard dueling piano lounge across the walkway, whose customers have to either shut up or clear out during a Lincoln Center performance. Finally, you have the open spiral staircase up to the casino. Heck, at one point, while shooting craps, the guy next to me got chewed out by a concert-going passenger for being "too loud". Too loud - in a casino! That was a new one for me.

 

Overall, it was a delight to take a vacation on such a nice, new, well-appointed ship.

[crewsgirl]

I am currently researching and looking at the Norway trip on the Koningsdam. I would love cabin recommendations if you wouldn't mind sharing any good tips for cabin location. I am wondering if anyone has experience in the spa level cabins with thoughts about that location on the Panorama Deck (level 10) Would that be a mistake above the Lido? Would the configuration be a pain with only the forward elevators? Love to hear your thoughts and I thank you in advance.

[Reagan0712]

Looking at the deck plans it appears the cabins on 10 aren't directly above the Lido area. It is a hike to the MDR from there. We were mid-ship in 6142. Very quick to get to most locations from there.