Koningsdam ~ first sailing after first dry dock ...

[*Miss G*]

On 11/12/2018 at 2:19 PM, Crew News said:

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):

 

 

 

WHAT?!!!  No, I haven’t had that experience.  (Thank goodness.)  I was handed the tablet and, while the server walked away, she told me she’d be back to take my order.  She did that the 2nd night as well, but I wouldn’t take it that time.  I ended up ordering one of the cellar packages, instead, so I didn’t have to be subjected to that again.  It would be even more insulting to do a Cosmo quiz first.

[*Miss G*]

On 11/12/2018 at 4:38 PM, aliaschief said:

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Definitely agree with you there.  I love this ship.

[*Miss G*]

17 minutes ago, Dogstar said:

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 !!!

 

***

 

 

I will help you Dogstar!  You will find me wandering aimlessly, eating and drinking myself to excess.

[canadianbear]

Looking forward to photos and checking your “homework” when you get back!  We spent 21 days on her last December and going on her again in January & February so will be interesting to see some changes.  We quite liked the ship so didn’t hesitate to book again on her.  

[VMax1700]

Dogstar,   sorry, just thought of another item that needs confirmation.

The Lido drinks stations now have coffee machines, offering espresso, latte, cappuccino etc.  Just wondering it the usual mariner discount applies to Lido coffees?

[diamondj]

On 11/11/2018 at 12:52 AM, 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:

 

• add Rolling Stone Rock Room venue
• revise Music Walk arrangement
• implement "Social/Surf/Premium" Internet packages
• convert casino to smoke-free
• etc.

 

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.

 

[diamondj]

My greatest wish would be for a No Smoking casino - pleeeeeze.

[mytleturtle]

Any changes to the Retreat.  Specifically the Family cabanas.  On other ships the family cabanas have 4 loungers and a table for 4.  The pictures I have seen of Koningsdam family cabanas show 2 loungers and 2 chairs.

 

[flygirl2]

I had no idea it was going to dry dock as it's only 2 years old. They must have gotten a lot of feedback to make these changes. We sail on the 1/4/19 sailing so am looking forward to no smoking in the casino.

[EDLOS]

On 11/12/2018 at 4:38 PM, aliaschief said:

 

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.

 

On 11/12/2018 at 4:38 PM, aliaschief said:

I am going on the K'Dam in January due to a great price. One of the reasons I left in 2016 is that there was often only

one music/entertainment  going at any given time i.e.  Frozen Planet video....BB King, no more Piano Bar, Guitar Player as  alternatives . Is this still the basic format for activities ????

I am a 4 Star but have done 7 cruises on NCL and Celebrity since Dec. of 2016 because there are choices all the time throughout any evening.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[aliaschief]

2 hours ago, EDLOS said:

 

 

Ed I believe you will enjoy the offered entertainment on the Koningsdam. You will have the New Rolling Stone Rock and Roll Venue. Lincoln Center provides outstanding musicians, Dueling Pianos had a full capacity audience every night as well as BB King. 

 

New dining venues, evening movie by the pool, great movie selection on room tv. 

 

To us it it was like being on a new cruise line but with the crew and service we adore on Holland America.

 

Had the opportunity to see one of new solo cruiser cabins and we were impressed.

 

It doesn’t take much to entertain us but we thoroughly enjoyed our first cruise on a Pinnacle Class ship. We are booked on a future Nieuw Statendam Cruise.

 

Have a great cruise and let us know if you enjoyed it.

 

 

[rothbury]

Since Aliaschief brought up "Notes".  I wonder with the new Rolling Stones if it will still be there.  Also, "Blend" which had the custom blended wines didn't seem to be getting a lot of use on our cruise last year.  I wonder if it is either or both will survive the drydock.  There was a buffet at cocktail hour where Billboard Onboard was.  Is it still going to be there?

Also have read where Dufry (sp?) is new shop vendor.  Have seen Dufry in Grand Turk, I think, and wasn't impressed.

[aliaschief]

The appetizer Buffett was still there and according to crew we talked to Notes Bar was still going to be there. Great seats as you can enjoy both venues i.e. Dueling Pianos and soon to be Rolling Stone. Beware Tasting those Single Malt and Spirits at Notes can be expensive!😱

[stickey_mouse]

3 hours ago, aliaschief said:

Ed I believe you will enjoy the offered entertainment on the Koningsdam. You will have the New Rolling Stone Rock and Roll Venue. Lincoln Center provides outstanding musicians, Dueling Pianos had a full capacity audience every night as well as BB King. 

 

New dining venues, evening movie by the pool, great movie selection on room tv. 

 

To us it it was like being on a new cruise line but with the crew and service we adore on Holland America.

 

Had the opportunity to see one of new solo cruiser cabins and we were impressed.

 

It doesn’t take much to entertain us but we thoroughly enjoyed our first cruise on a Pinnacle Class ship. We are booked on a future Nieuw Statendam Cruise.

 

Have a great cruise and let us know if you enjoyed it.

 

 

Any mentions of smoking in the casino? I wouldn't expect them to remove the casino staircase, as that is a major project, and they just installed it on the Nieuw Statendam. 

[EDLOS]

3 hours ago, aliaschief said:

Ed I believe you will enjoy the offered entertainment on the Koningsdam. You will have the New Rolling Stone Rock and Roll Venue. Lincoln Center provides outstanding musicians, Dueling Pianos had a full capacity audience every night as well as BB King. 

 

New dining venues, evening movie by the pool, great movie selection on room tv. 

 

To us it it was like being on a new cruise line but with the crew and service we adore on Holland America.

 

Had the opportunity to see one of new solo cruiser cabins and we were impressed.

 

It doesn’t take much to entertain us but we thoroughly enjoyed our first cruise on a Pinnacle Class ship. We are booked on a future Nieuw Statendam Cruise.

 

Have a great cruise and let us know if you enjoyed it.

 

 

I am still not clear as as too alternative entertainment venues in the same time frame, i.e. I have trouble with  the excessive noise level of BB King....Is there a quieter venue at the same time.. My last few cruises in 2016, there was only one venue at a given time and that helped me leave HAL. Another example was, there was nothing as an alternative to the "Frozen Planet Video with all musicians on board backing it in the theater. I watched it twice on two different cruises, thats enough ! The rest of the ship was a silent tomb.

[stickey_mouse]

7 minutes ago, EDLOS said:

I am still not clear as as too alternative entertainment venues in the same time frame, i.e. I have trouble with  the excessive noise level of BB King....Is there a quieter venue at the same time.. My last few cruises in 2016, there was only one venue at a given time and that helped me leave HAL. Another example was, there was nothing as an alternative to the "Frozen Planet Video with all musicians on board backing it in the theater. I watched it twice on two different cruises, thats enough ! The rest of the ship was a silent tomb.

 

I'm not sure whether they will play at the same time, but there should be steady alternation among the Rock Room, BB Kings, and Billboard Onboard. Splice in the main theater shows, casino, etc., and I don't think there will be cause for boredom in the evenings. 

[iflyrc5]

7 minutes ago, EDLOS said:

I am still not clear as as too alternative entertainment venues in the same time frame, i.e. I have trouble with  the excessive noise level of BB King....Is there a quieter venue at the same time.. My last few cruises in 2016, there was only one venue at a given time and that helped me leave HAL. Another example was, there was nothing as an alternative to the "Frozen Planet Video with all musicians on board backing it in the theater. I watched it twice on two different cruises, thats enough ! The rest of the ship was a silent tomb.

We won't know for sure until we start getting reports after the dry dock but from what Capt Albert has said in his blog and other info from HAL it appears that the Queens Lounge will be the site for the Lincoln Center group early in the evening and then convert to the BB King later in the evening.  Forward of the area and removed from the Queens Lounge noise would the the Bill Board on Board Dueling Pianos and across the ship is the new Rolling Stone venue and these would alternate time back and forth doing several sets each night.  While this is going on there would be the performance in the Show room at sea (which with the 270 degree screen is amazing).  You would also have the movie under the stars at the Lido pool and on demand movies in the cabin.  We were on board in Jan/Feb 2018 for 32 days and will be on board for 42 days in Jan/Feb 2019 and looking forward to a great trip.

[aliaschief]

The dueling pianos and Rolling Stone stagger playing times. BB King music is loud but popular with many. Frozen Planet was one night and headliners were typical Hal.

 

Ed I sense your not happy with Hal and maybe you should cruise on other preferred lines. On nights that BB King was off Queens Lounge had other CD directed game shows hosted by CD.

 

As the old Ricky Nelson song Garden Party goes...”Can’t please every one so sometimes you have to please yourself.”

 

That being said the Koningsdam is a total different cruise experience than other Hal ships.

 

Hope you find a satisfied mode of cruising.

 

 

 

 

Edited November 29, 2018 by aliaschief

[colonialinnkeeper]

It's too bad that the noise level for BB King's is so high.  Even wearing ear plugs, it is too much for me and we have given up on enjoying their music.

It also would be nice to have a venue where one could have cocktails and dance as we do in ships that still have the Ocean Bar with their trios.

[EDLOS]

11 hours ago, aliaschief said:

The dueling pianos and Rolling Stone stagger playing times. BB King music is loud but popular with many. Frozen Planet was one night and headliners were typical Hal.

 

Ed I sense your not happy with Hal and maybe you should cruise on other preferred lines. On nights that BB King was off Queens Lounge had other CD directed game shows hosted by CD.

 

As the old Ricky Nelson song Garden Party goes...”Can’t please every one so sometimes you have to please yourself.”

 

That being said the Koningsdam is a total different cruise experience than other Hal ships.

 

Hope you find a satisfied mode of cruising.

 

 

 

 

The only thing that lured me back was a very low price getting me out of New England in January. Since November of 2016 I have been on 7 different non HAL cruises totaling 79 days and have another non HAL Canary Island cruise booked on Jan 24th.  You do have to admit that  I am not alone as  the only critic of the  "new" HAL. I am just curious as to what I might expect coming back ?   Oh yes ! I am in the group that misses the quiet ambiance of lounging on the Promenade Deck and the Library too.

[aliaschief]

We were sharing a table having a cocktail with a ship’s officer and I brought up how much folks miss the library on the new ships.

 

The officer mentioned that fifty per cent of the new travel destination books in the Crows Nest are missing! It appears guest think they are free for the taking. 

 

Sad news!

[Dogstar]

Happy Monday !!! 🎉

 

We're now in the Port Everglades Pier 26 Holding Pen awaiting our turn (aka Group 9) to board the Koningsdam, her inaugural post-first drydock shakedown cruise. The Mission put before us by you kind folks for the better good (aka HAL CC Community) is to seek & report back, with the help of fellow cruisers (aka Addicts), is the following:

 

***

 

• 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, @diamondj, @flygirl2 ]
• 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* ]
• Lido drink stations ~ espresso, cappuccino, etc. Mariner discounts [ @VMax1700 ]
• Retreat ~ Family Cabana loungers/chairs quantity [ @mytleturtle ]
• Notes, Blend ~ survived makeover [ @rothbury ]
• Billboard Onboard ~ buffet during cocktail hour [ @rothbury ]

 

Plus ...

 

• Reports [ @Krazy Kruizers ]
• Photographs ~ just because, major changes [ @canadianbear, @ski ww ]
• Construction ~ completion status [ @0bnxshs ]

***

 

I will confess now that my responses may be sporadic over the next few days since I  didnt purchase an Internet plan nor do I really want to be "connected" too much when on holiday. Plus Mrs. Dogstar will kick my a** if I don't pay reasonable attention to her. We are on vacation after all. 💁🏼‍♂️

 

So sit back, relax & enjoy the various Live From's, Almost Live's, blogs etc. being shared by others. In the meantime I'll start the aforementioned research ASAP ... as soon as we get aboard, fetch some beverages, prepare for the obligatory Mustard Drill ( 🤪 ) & celebrate vacay-time at Sail-Away with a Bon Voyage wave back to y'all. 🤟🏻

 

☀️🛳🏝

[canadianbear]

@dogstar -have a great time-like you said before you’re leaving just as we returned from our Mexico cruise.  Will chat when you’re back.

 

We also don’t buy internet and happy wife is happy life!  Just take notes when she’s not looking and report when back!  Enjoy your trip and hope you like the Koningsdam.

[*Miss G*]

Okay, here’s the scoop on the Neptune Suites and Club Orange.

 

1.  There are no more Pinnacle Grill breakfasts!!!!  😭 We must join the unwashed masses in the new Club Orange “dining room” venue on Deck 2 aft.  (The old Culinary Arts Centre.)  For both breakfast and dinner.  Dining room hours apply.

2.  The Neptune Lounge has had a makeover.  It is fully enclosed (no windows) and all food items are crammed at the front with a big old shelving unit between the food and the concierge people.  Very claustrophobic and unwelcoming and very tiny compared to other Neptune Lounges.

 

More to come.

Edited December 10, 2018 by *Miss G*

[kazu]

33 minutes ago, *Miss G* said:

Okay, here’s the scoop on the Neptune Suites and Club Orange.

 

1.  There are no more Pinnacle Grill breakfasts!!!!  😭 We must join the unwashed masses in the new Club Orange “dining room” venue on Deck 2 aft.  (The old Culinary Arts Centre.)  For both breakfast and dinner.  Dining room hours apply.

2.  The Neptune Lounge has had a makeover.  It is fully enclosed (no windows) and all food items are crammed at the front with a big old shelving unit between the food and the concierge people.  Very claustrophobic and unwelcoming and very tiny compared to other Neptune Lounges.

 

More to come.

 

this doesn't sound promising at all, MissG. 😞