Koningsdam 11-nights 11/8-11/19/17 Review

[Keith1010]

Terrific review and loved the photos.

 

Keith

[kftw]

Great review & pictures. Thank you!

[English_in_Spain]

Thank you for your review and photos.

 

We will be visiting many of these places on our Veendam cruise in a couple of weeks and this really whetted my appetite.

 

Your photos were particularly good. Can I ask what camera you used.

[puppycanducruise]

Thank you so much for taking the time to post your review and great photos.

[kazu]

Great review and pics. Thanks for taking the time to share. Enjoyed reading about your different experiences although, I feel badly about yours in the casino.

[NCTribeFan]

Camera - it's just my cell phone - a Samsung Galaxy S7. I had an S5 that I loved and that took wonderful photos so I upgraded last summer to the S7. I expected photos to look good on the phone because Samsung's displays are so good, but they look great even on larger screens. I love this phone!

 

Kazu - I was having a great time in the casino (other than not winning) and it would've been lots more fun had the creepy old guy not been pestering me.

 

I need to email the Scottish couple who were spending a few extra days in FL before heading home. Need to exchange some photos. They were so much fun!

 

Hope I hear from my dance partner when the ship returns on Wednesday. We'd said our goodbyes on the last night, but he found me in my usual spot up on Deck 10 above Lido last Sunday morning, reading and waiting for my disembarkation number to be called. He was seriously going to go to the service desk and tell them he'd decided to leave rather than stay on the for the next leg. Everyone he'd been hanging out with was disembarking and he was convinced there was no way the next leg could match the experience we all just had. I told him not to be silly, that he'd meet plenty of new people (he was a pretty out-going guy), but those of us who have done B2Bs know that the legs can have very different "vibes" and you never know what sort of mix of passengers you'll get. He sent me a text before they sailed Sunday and said there were lots of kids. We'd totally forgotten that this current sailing is a holiday sailing so, yeah, there would be kids. It will be interesting to hear his thoughts on how the two legs compared.

 

He had booked last minute and didn't even seem to know what ports we were visiting. His daily activity was to get off the ship, walk until he was out of the tourist area, find a local bar, and sit and talk and drink with the locals. Told him one night at dinner how much I'd love to be able to do that. Why couldn't I? Well, because it isn't safe for a solo woman to do something like that. It's so sad to see the look of realization on a man's face when you say something like that. It just doesn't occur to them that "male privilege" allows them to do things that simply aren't feasible for females to do. Of course, I COULD do that, but it would be stupid. And that depresses me.

 

Enough about things that are depressing! It was a wonderful trip. I love making new friends when I cruise. I'm an introvert and have difficulty in most social settings but when I cruise, I just feel so much more relaxed and am able to be much more out-going and able to just get out there and have fun. That's probably why I try to cruise 2-3 times a year. It's like a release valve that lets me be the person I'd like to be all the time.

[Aquahound]

Thanks for your review NC. DW and I were in BB's quite a bit, and it seemed it was always the same people dancing. I'm sure I saw you....although DW and I didn't dance much. Glad to hear someone else had as great of a cruise as we did. :)

 

Yeah, you're right about the female thing. As much as it sucks, it's just not advisable for females to wander off the beaten path by themselves. You probably would have been fine in most of these ports, but still....

 

As for wandering off path, DW and I rented a car in St Kitts and drove out the south peninsula. It turned out to be the best day of our cruise. We found a few beachfront shacks that could easily have been postcards for paradise.

[slabeaume]

Thanks for the great review. We were signed up for that cruise, but couldn't find good airfare rates on the return due to Thanksgiving so we're going on the Nov. 29th cruise. Hope we have as much fun as you did!

[Dismomx5]

Thanks for the review. I just had a week of FB memories of our Western Caribbean on the Koningsdam from last year. :) And now we're looking forward to a similar cruise to yours in January-also on the Koningsdam. It sounds like you had a great time. DH and I aren't quite as outgoing....but we're getting better with each cruise.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Just finished reading all latest reports and pictures.

Glad you had a wonderful cruise in spite of that man in the casino.

Yes, we have also noticed a decline in HAL's food over the last few years. My DH is not a picky eater but we finally stopped eating in the dining room for dinner as he had problems finding something he would eat several times.

[Richjoxyz]

Great Review!

 

May I ask what table games they have in the casino? The pictures make it look small. Do they have Ultimate Texas Holdem? Let It Ride? Anything else? (Blackjack of course) Was the ship quiet at night in the entertainment venues, or was it somewhat lively?

 

We are both in our 50s and will be going on the K-dam next month for 17 nights with my parents. We love most all cruise ships, but are especially looking forward to the adult experience HAL provides after our last two trips on the Oasis. Oasis is a great ship, but the K-dam should be a nice change.

Edited November 25, 2017 by Richjoxyz

[sevenseasnomad]

I celebrated my 65th on the cruise (Welcome to Medicare!) and would like to do a similar sailing next November (Welcome to Social Security!). I typically book well in advance because I need to get my schedule approved at work (I swear I was the only person on the ship who had to be at work on Monday morning), and I’m not going to fully retire at 66. I’d like to be able to wait until last minute. If prices do what they did this year, I could book last minute and pay much less. Of course, then air would probably be much higher! I’ll have to wait and see. Would dearly love to sail again with some of the people I just met but several live in other countries so I don’t know how often they’ll be sailing from the US.

 

Overall it was a great vacation. Beautiful ship, good food, good fun, great ports, wonderful new friends. Can’t ask for anything more!

 

Your mentioning not fully retiring at 66 made me smile. I'm still working at 69, teaching in a secure youth detention facility! I love what I do and plan cruises around our school schedule. My health is excellent; in fact, I was jealous that you found a dance partner, something I've lacked on a lot of cruises. I adore dancing. So, this next cruise, I'm taking my younger brother, who also dances. I don't plan on sitting much once the music starts. Your future cruises sound fabulous. Go for it!

[jennymaxgirl]

Looks like you had a fantastic cruise!! New to HAL and will be on the Koningsdam in March. Can I ask you - did you see any kids using the Seaview pool? We would like to go to the Seaview pool with the kids. I notice on a cruise critic pic that the sign posted at that pool states that kids under age 14 require adult supervision. This leads me to believe that kids can use the pool. However, I have read elsewhere and been told by HAL that it's an adult only pool. Do you have insight on what you experienced at that pool? Also - can you tell me if the pools are open for evening swims? Thanks a bunch. Jennifer:)

 

This was just my 3rd HAL cruise but 31st overall since I started sailing in 2001. I have 27 Carnival sailings and 1 RCI.

 

I didn’t write a review of my January Zuiderdam cruise. First time I didn’t write anything since I first found Cruise Critic. Not sure why. Probably because I don’t typically cruise in January and when I returned, it was straight into tax season and I just never found the energy.

 

So, I got a casino discount (think it was 30%) which made this affordable as a solo although it was at the top of my price range. I’m just tired of the same old/same old on Carnival and really liked the ports on this, so I booked.

 

Of course, thanks to the hurricanes, there were port changes. Our first POC was to be St Martin, which was changed to St Croix, and then changed to Antigua. Our last port (other than HMC) was originally St Thomas, which was changed to Cap Cana, which ended up being changed while onboard to La Romana.

 

There were sizable price drops. I received a couple of upgrade emails but didn’t want to spend another $200 x 2 to upgrade. I ended up upgrading myself from an inside to a verandah (5044) but, of course, I lost my prepaid gratuities and $50 OBC.

 

I hadn’t flown down the morning of sailing for at least a decade but in my effort to keep costs down, I booked a 7:40 nonstop on SW so figured I had plenty of time. For the first time in ages, SW did not give me TSA pre-check. Got to the airport at about 6:10 and then managed to move while in the scanner and had to get the pat-down. Whatever. Not sure why so many people find it so humiliating. Then her wand went off so they had to go through my bags and took me into a room to do a second pat-down. All I wanted was to get some caffeine and food. When they were finally finished with me it was about 6:45. Decided that after that, I needed a mimosa. Except the bar didn’t start serving alcohol until 7! Had to settle for a Starbucks.

 

Uneventful flight. Was starving so got a great bagel down in the baggage claim area at FLL. Retrieved my bottle of wine out of my checked bag and put it in my carryon. Out on the curb, I decided it was finally time to give Uber a try. While I was trying to make my selection, it told me there were no cars but I could do a shared ride. Sure, why not? Driver picked me up then on to the next terminal to pick up another couple who were in town for a conference. Driver headed to the port first and proceeded to take several wrong turns while in the port area. Finally got to Pier 21. Dropped my one big case with a porter and headed into the terminal. The line was long (I’m spoiled by being Platinum on Carnival and missed having priority check-in). Was on the ship before noon. Dropped my carryon in the cabin and took a few photos.

Cabin 5044

 

Headed up to Lido for my first beer and Dive-In Burger.

 

Toured the spa and just wandered around the ship. Checked to see if my bag had arrived but it still wasn’t there. Finally, when we were told to return to our cabins for muster drill, it was waiting. I unpacked while listening to the instructions on the TV. My muster station was in Billboard Onboard.

[BSR]

Great review and pictures. Looking forward to sailing on the Koningsdam next year

 

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Forums mobile app

[jimbri]

Great photos!

[NCTribeFan]

I've been known to get out there on the dance floor by myself. After a couple of nights, I'm sure I would've done that had I not met my dance partner. I just can't help myself. I can't comprehend how/why some people won't/don't dance. It's just this primal urge and I can't help myself!

 

I didn't spend any time at the aft pool after the first day. I found it to be a bit too "busy" for what I want. Sitting under the shade, I was surrounded by people chatting and if they weren't, the music was too loud to just sit and read. That's a complaint I have on every cruise - the fact that all businesses on the planet now seem to think they must have blaring bad pop music 24/7.

 

But there were very few kids on our sailing. There was one woman who seemed to have about 4 young boys! I only noticed them because I was waiting for my sandwich up at the NY Deli and they kept bumping into me and stepping on my toes. But I was under the impression that the aft pool was adults-only. I was never around the pool areas at night. Well, I did take a walk on the upper decks one night simply because I realized that I just never do that any more. When I started cruising, that was one of my favorite things to do - just wander around the open decks when it was quiet and enjoy that warm night air. It was probably close to midnight and I doubt the pools are open that late but I don't really know.

 

Casino games - I only play slots and Roulette. I know there was a Texas Hold Em table by the bar, so it's separate from the other tables. There's one Roulette wheel and the craps table; all the others seemed to be varieties of blackjack/poker.

 

St Kitts - I toured with Thenford Grey the first two times I was there, and did a tour he organized over to Nevis once, so I've been down to that end of the island. It's beautiful. They're right-hand drive, aren't they? I personally have no problem with that (ex is Engish so I've driven there many, many times). I'm just not sure I'd want to do that when I'm only in port for a day. I'd be too paranoid about something happening to the car and not making it back to the ship in time!

 

 

Here's a link to the full photo album in case anyone wants to see the rest of the pics.

[boards]

Thank you for great review and the pictures. We have booked the Koningsdam next Oct and an obstructed balcony. From what I determine from your pictures the cabin will certainly be great and balcony okay.

[MisterBill99]

Thank you for great review and the pictures. We have booked the Koningsdam next Oct and an obstructed balcony. From what I determine from your pictures the cabin will certainly be great and balcony okay.

I also have an obstructed balcony booked for next year but I'm not sure how you can determine that the balcony will be OK from what was posted here. Personally, I have a guarantee booked and hope to end up in a non-obstructed cabin.

[Rosethorn40]

Loved your pictures of Mt. Pele on Martinique. I wrote a paper in college (Many, many years ago) about the 1902 eruption. Hope to see it in person soon (We are scheduled to go on a cruise in March that stops at Martinique, but you know how ports can get changed)>

[sunshine100]

Great review of a great ship!! We were on this ship for the 1st transatlantic last year..and loved so many things, too. Great staff, great food, great entertainment, and wonderful passengers!! Thanks for sharing!!

[boards]

I also have an obstructed balcony booked for next year but I'm not sure how you can determine that the balcony will be OK from what was posted here. Personally, I have a guarantee booked and hope to end up in a non-obstructed cabin.

I hope so too - but I just wanted a balcony of any sort - lifeboats appear to be not blocking the whole view. Were happy. So far that is.

[aliaschief]

Thanks for a wonderful review. As a future MS Koningsdam cruiser it’s greatly appreciated.

[Bostonjetset]

Thanks for the wonderful review. I'm taking this trip in March and can't wait for the Koningsdam. It looks like such a beautiful ship and seems much brighter inside than other HAL ships, lovely as they are.

[portofrome]

Thanks for your review and amazing pics.

[NCTribeFan]

I should've taken more pics of the ship, but I know there are already plenty out there on the web (because I looked at all I could find before we sailed).

 

I know a lot of HAL loyalists think it's too big and too modern. Not me. I loved the size and layout of Zuiderdam, but K didn't feel that much larger. Thought the decor was gorgeous.

 

As for the balcony, I selected 5044 after looking at the deck plans. Note that I upgraded myself so there weren't all that many available. I didn't want to be that far forward, but I knew that any further aft would look down at the lifeboats. That's the only thing I didn't particularly like. When docking, I love to look straight down and watch them maneuver up to the pier, but because the lifeboats stick out there, I couldn't watch the last few feet of docking. No big deal, though, really. Sitting on the balcony, the lifeboats weren't visible. I was going to select an obstructed but then the price dropped and I was able to move up a couple of categories. Honestly, I just really prefer my dark inside cabins! There's plenty of "free" outdoor areas on the ship.

 

I did find that I spent quite a lot of time on Deck 10 above the Lido pool on those padded loungers. Problem was that it was SO hot and humid when they didn't have the dome open, but they at least had it opened partially most of the time.

 

I love Martinique! A, it's French and, 2, it's beautiful!

 

One note: I was disappointed to discover that although they had Gosling's Black Seal Rum on the ship, they did NOT have ginger beer, so couldn't make a proper Dark-and-Stormy! I rarely drink alcohol, but I became a big fan of those on a cruise to Bermuda! Next time, I'll carry on my own cans of ginger beer.