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Koningsdam ~ first sailing after first dry dock ...


Dogstar
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Hi HAL Fans!

 

As the Koningsdam heads into her first dry dock (Dec 02-09, 2018; Freeport, Bahamas) there's been various chit-chats about the confirmed, probable, wishful, unlikely &/or unwanted changes forthcoming:

 

 

A number of us CC's will be aboard the Koningsdam's first sailing post-dry dock (11-day Southern Caribbean; Dec 10-21, 2018) with the obligatory Meet & Greet, Live From's & Trip Reports planned.  In anticipation of the ship's update what would you like to know changed &/or stayed the same?

 

Begin list now ...

 

Cheers.  Dogstar.

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Just disembarked after 24 wonderful days on the MS Koningsdam. Great ship and fantastic crew.

 

Per reliable sources here is what is planned during the upcoming dry dock.

 

Lincoln Center is being moved to Queen’s Lounge and will share venue with BB King Blues Band. Current Lincoln Center will become new Rolling Stone Rock and Roll venue.

 

Culinary Arts Center will become extended dining room “Orange” for suite guest and those willing to pay more. Same food as dining room but will have two added feature meal choices each evening. Culinary Art Cooking demos will also be moved to Queen’s Lounge and the the stoves etc. will be mobile. 

 

We enjoyed eating at the Culinary Arts small and big bites restaurant but that will be no more. We will miss not having breakfast in Pinnacle when we stay in a Neptune Suite. Will have to wait and see how “Orange” looks and works.

 

We missed our old favorite watering hole Pinnacle Bar but found the Tamarind Bar was a nice quiet substitute.

 

As first time Koningsdam Cruisers we we really enjoyed all the new venues and options. Lots of activities.

 

Awaiting flight more later.

 

 

 

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46 minutes ago, aliaschief said:

Just disembarked after 24 wonderful days on the MS Koningsdam. Great ship and fantastic crew.

 

Per reliable sources here is what is planned during the upcoming dry dock.

 

Lincoln Center is being moved to Queen’s Lounge and will share venue with BB King Blues Band. Current Lincoln Center will become new Rolling Stone Rock and Roll venue.

 

Culinary Arts Center will become extended dining room “Orange” for suite guest and those willing to pay more. Same food as dining room but will have two added feature meal choices each evening. Culinary Art Cooking demos will also be moved to Queen’s Lounge and the the stoves etc. will be mobile. 

 

We enjoyed eating at the Culinary Arts small and big bites restaurant but that will be no more. We will miss not having breakfast in Pinnacle when we stay in a Neptune Suite. Will have to wait and see how “Orange” looks and works.

 

We missed our old favorite watering hole Pinnacle Bar but found the Tamarind Bar was a nice quiet substitute.

 

As first time Koningsdam Cruisers we we really enjoyed all the new venues and options. Lots of activities.

 

Awaiting flight more later.

 

 

 

Aliaschief - as a 5 Star did you signup and take the "Cooking Class" that is offered as one of the perks for 5 Star?   Last year on the KDam it turned out to be just a demo with no lunch following in the pinnacle like in the past.  Wonder how the "Cooking Class" will work out in the Queens Lounge?   I guess we will find out in January when we are on board.

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16 hours ago, Dogstar said:

Hi HAL Fans!

 

As the Koningsdam heads into her first dry dock (Dec 02-09, 2018; Freeport, Bahamas) there's been various chit-chats about the confirmed, probable, wishful, unlikely &/or unwanted changes forthcoming:

 

 

A number of us CC's will be aboard the Koningsdam's first sailing post-dry dock (11-day Southern Caribbean; Dec 10-21, 2018) with the obligatory Meet & Greet, Live From's & Trip Reports planned.  In anticipation of the ship's update what would you like to know changed &/or stayed the same?

 

Begin list now ...

 

Cheers.  Dogstar.

We will be boarding on Jan 13 for 42 days so looking forward to what ever updates and photos you can give us on the changes.

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2 hours ago, iflyrc5 said:

Aliaschief - as a 5 Star did you signup and take the "Cooking Class" that is offered as one of the perks for 5 Star?   Last year on the KDam it turned out to be just a demo with no lunch following in the pinnacle like in the past.  Wonder how the "Cooking Class" will work out in the Queens Lounge?   I guess we will find out in January when we are on board.

 

2 hours ago, iflyrc5 said:

We will be boarding on Jan 13 for 42 days so looking forward to what ever updates and photos you can give us on the changes.

 

2 hours ago, iflyrc5 said:

Aliaschief - as a 5 Star did you signup and take the "Cooking Class" that is offered as one of the perks for 5 Star?   Last year on the KDam it turned out to be just a demo with no lunch following in the pinnacle like in the past.  Wonder how the "Cooking Class" will work out in the Queens Lounge?   I guess we will find out in January when we are on board.

We never saw or received an invitation to a Cooking Class. We did hear there is no Pinnacle lunch offered anymore with cooking classes.

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Thanks everyone for your well-wishes & list additions. Keep ‘em coming !!!

 

***

 

inquiring CC’s would like to know ...

 

  • Music Walk ~ re-arrangement
  • Rolling Stone Rock Room ~ new venue, replace Lincoln Center Stage location [ @aliaschief ]
  • Lincoln Center Stage ~ share with BB King’s Blues Club in Queen’s Lounge [ @aliaschief ]
  • Culinary Arts ~ cooking demos in Queen’s Lounge, with mobile stoves [ @aliaschief, @iflyrc5 ]
  • Club Orange ~ new program, dining venue replace Culinary Arts Center location [ @aliaschief ]
  • Queen’s Lounge ~ noise isolation windows [ @twodjs ]
  • Internet 3-tier packages ~ implementation
  • Casino ~ smoke-free [ @VMax1700 ]
  • Aft stairs between Decks 2 & 3 ~ remove [ @VMax1700 ]
  • Tamarind Bar (Silk Bar) ~ separate from Tamarind Restaurant [ @Krazy Kruizers ]
  • Pinnacle Grill ~ lunch with cooking classes [ @aliaschief ]
  • 5* Mariner benefit ~ cooking class invitation [ @aliaschief ]

 

Plus ...

 

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13 minutes ago, *Miss G* said:

I would like to know if my room # changes or stays the same!

I would think that since HAL is not adding cabins during the dry dock that numbers will not change.  If they were HAL would post a pre and post dry dock deck plan on the website 

 

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26 minutes ago, iflyrc5 said:

I would think that since HAL is not adding cabins during the dry dock that numbers will not change.  If they were HAL would post a pre and post dry dock deck plan on the website 

 

 

Sorry ifly. Was a joke. I guess a poor one. I am on that sailing and was wondering if my room will change between now and then.

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I can't believe I missed the most important bit of intel!

🍷 The Wine Lists!!!   🍷

 

Dogstar, this may be your most importatnt mission yet.  To go boldly etc etc.

Actually, an update on the new wine lists and discount would be greatly appreciated!

Ta!

 

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2 hours ago, VMax1700 said:

 

I can't believe I missed the most important bit of intel!

🍷 The Wine Lists!!!   🍷

 

Dogstar, this may be your most importatnt mission yet.  To go boldly etc etc.

Actually, an update on the new wine lists and discount would be greatly appreciated!

Ta!

 

 

Yes!  I also want to know if they’re just going to hand me a tablet to figure out my own wine, again, or if they’ll actually talk to me.

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I encountered the wine tablets in the PG on the Zaandam but they were not allowed in the hands of the customers.   The Wine Steward used them to help the customers make selections.  There are tablet wine choice features, "Stars Selection" and one that matches your personality based on four questions (ugh):

 

image.png.b04451dacaf8d853563216bd67ef9d75.png

 

image.png.03eddaf6b74cb7402e96bef88961e2e8.png

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On 11/11/2018 at 3:28 AM, VMax1700 said:

For us the most important change would be the casino smoke free OR removing the aft stairs between deck 2 and deck 3 so that smoke does not drift down from the casino to Music Walk area.

 

I have a feeling that is not going to happen - as Captain Albert's blog is showing that the same stairway is being installed on Nieuw Statendam.  I think it is a gorgeous starcase.  I don't gamble or smoke, and I had to make a special trip there just to walk down it!:classic_smile:

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8 hours ago, *Miss G* said:

 

Yes!  I also want to know if they’re just going to hand me a tablet to figure out my own wine, again, or if they’ll actually talk to me.

 

All the wine stewards we had were very knowledgeable and we trusted and enjoyed their recommendations.

 

Ira the bartender at the Scotch, Bourbon Spirits Tasting Bar “Notes” was encyclopedic in his knowledge. We spent a lot of money at Notes!🥃

 

In our 24 days on her from October 18 til yesterday we would be hard pressed to find anything to complain about. Just a great ship, crew and cruise.

 

With over 300 sailing days on Holland America we feel they’re headed in the right direction on these Pinnacle Class ships even though we also enjoy the other classes of ships in the Fleet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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42 minutes ago, Vict0riann said:

 

I have a feeling that is not going to happen - as Captain Albert's blog is showing that the same stairway is being installed on Nieuw Statendam.  I think it is a gorgeous starcase.  I don't gamble or smoke, and I had to make a special trip there just to walk down it!:classic_smile:

 

It was really a tongue in cheek comment as a (over the top) way to stop the smoke infiltrating down to the music walk area.

It is a magnificent staircase - right out of 'Gone with the Wind', which is where I wish the smoke went! 

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The list is steadily going.  Definitely need fellow CC’s assistance with the reasearch, otherwise I may be too busy wandering aimlessly lost between rearranged venues eating & drinking myself to excess !!!

 

***

 

inquiring CC’s would like to know ...

 

  • Music Walk ~ re-arrangement
  • Rolling Stone Rock Room ~ new venue, replace Lincoln Center Stage location [ @aliaschief ]
  • Lincoln Center Stage ~ share with BB King’s Blues Club in Queen’s Lounge [ @aliaschief ]
  • Culinary Arts ~ cooking demos in Queen’s Lounge, with mobile stoves [ @aliaschief@iflyrc5 ]
  • Club Orange ~ new program, dining venue replace Culinary Arts Center location [ @aliaschief ]
  • Queen’s Lounge ~ noise isolation windows [ @twodjs ]
  • Internet 3-tier packages ~ implementation
  • Casino ~ smoke-free [ @VMax1700 ]
  • Aft stairs between Decks 2 & 3 ~ remove [ @VMax1700 ]
  • Tamarind Bar (Silk Bar) ~ separate from Tamarind Restaurant [ @Krazy
  • Nami Sushi ~ separate from Tamarind, a la carte sushi ordering [ @flyrobinfly ]
  • Pinnacle Grill ~ lunch with cooking classes [ @
  • Cooking Class ~ 5* Mariner benefit invitation [ @aliaschief ]
  • Wine ~ lists, discounts [ @VMax1700 ]
  • Wine Steward ~ interactive human, self-serve tablet  [ @*Miss G* ]

 

Plus ...

 

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