Koningsdam Inside Passage review: June 24-July 1, 2023

[QuattroRomeo]

I love the little houses under glass at the bar stool tables next to the Dutch Cafe:

[sue1898]

49 minutes ago, QuattroRomeo said:

Sorry to hear that, Sue! It's always a disappointment to be ill on vacation. Glad they took care of you! I see many of your cruises are on non-Pinnacle ships. Do you enjoy them as much ? Or is it difficult to compare with the circumstances of this last one?!

I’ve enjoyed them all!

[QuattroRomeo]

There were times that the Dutch Cafe was painfully slow. I found Ewelina to be the best server there but she couldn't do everything! When the lineup went down the hall to the Photo Gallery and I needed my latte, I hoofed it up to Explorations Cafe instead! This is deck 12 forward, so you need to get to the forward elevator. This cafe has faster service but limited offerings as far as food goes, usually just a few biscotti. They do have coffees in regular and large sizes, though, whereas the Dutch only offers regular. (Can you tell I like coffee)? The showcase up there has tinned water and pop for sale, and Tazo tea. Explorations Cafe does not have the "1873 coffee" though, the signature HAL brand that the Dutch Cafe makes the excellent drip coffee from. (Also made in the Pinnacle Grill but only if you eat there).

One thing that they advertise but don't actually sell is the lb. Bag of 1873 coffee. I asked Ewelina and she said they don't have it programmed to ring in...!  ☕️

 

[QuattroRomeo]

Explorations Cafe deck 12 forward.-starboard.

Edited July 4, 2023 by QuattroRomeo
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[QuattroRomeo]

Since we are looking on deck 12 for the Explorations Cafe, opposite it now is the Shore Excursions area, It used to be a nice sitting area with chairs by the unobstructed windows- ideal for scenic viewing like that in Glacier Bay. To the right used to be the very small library. It seems like a poor place for shore excursion information and booking- not very convenient. 

 

[QuattroRomeo]

By the exit there is the door to outside where the cabanas are- The Retreat. Actually doors on both port and starboard:

 

 

[oakridger]

I agree about the Shore Excursion desk placement!  So inconvenient and the hours were too short on my last Rotterdam cruise.  I had changes on a couple of excursions and never could get in touch with them since they didn't have phone or online service.  "They" really need to move it to a space near the guest services in the center of the ship and return the Crow's Nest space to its original use!!

 

My 2 cents!

 

~Nancy

[QuattroRomeo]

The port side also used to have an extension of the Crow's Nest area into a table games sitting space. It is now set up with desks for classes like origami and colouring. 

[QuattroRomeo]

Okay, down to deck 2 between midship and aft toward the Club Orange Dining Room. Following the hallway all the way aft would lead you to the MDR. 

 

 

[QuattroRomeo]

Opposite the doors to Club Orange dining room, there is the Taste Bar, which, as the name suggests, is used for tastings! 

 

[QuattroRomeo]

Some menu photos from Club Orange. They never included what the actual special entree was- the server told you, Often they showed you a sample plate.

[QuattroRomeo]

Seafood cocktail, Peruvian Chicken (the special), and Strawberries Romanoff. The seafood cocktail was very tasty. The chicken was a bit overcooked but nice flavours; could have been a bit punchier.

[QuattroRomeo]

More Orange dining: Crab & artichoke dip (very nice); holey bread!; lamb (some pieces were tough), Shrimp Jambalaya (the special). 

 

[oakridger]

The Jambalaya looks good!  Did you like it?

 

 

~Nancy

[QuattroRomeo]

More Orange room goodies: Breakfast buttermilk pancakes; Gold Rush Soup, Seafood Devilled Eggs, Salmon with Alaskan Amber Beer Bearnaise, Cod Caponata a la Normande, Chocolate Whiskey Torte. All very nice, although the torte was a little short on whiskey..

[QuattroRomeo]

8 minutes ago, oakridger said:

The Jambalaya looks good!  Did you like it?

 

 

~Nancy

Yes it was tasty but I didn't really like the texture of the rice; too firm.

[QuattroRomeo]

Orange continued: French Onion Soup; Smoked Salmon Trio (DH loved it); Veal Cutlet  very nice); Crab Fettucine (the Special, pretty good); the world's worst plating of dessert called Mango Mousse Terrine- it was very tasty though; Baked Alaska; and a breakfast dish called Hearty Ham & Cheese Skillet- usually this is really good, but they forgot the ham!!!

[horseymike]

Great running review..... was the coffee at Explorations cafe good ?

[Florida_gal_50]

I think the picture is the veal chop not the cutlet.  While good, it’s no veal cutlet and way too much meat for me.  I thought the jambalaya didn’t look that good.  I’ve enjoyed the Peruvian chicken.  I’m enjoying all the pictures.

[0106]

7 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I think the picture is the veal chop not the cutlet.

That is the exactly what my husband’s “veal cutlet” looked like in CO on the Rotterdam. He said it was better than the steak he had in the Pinnacle.

 

@QuattroRomeo Thank you for your review and the photos.

[Florida_gal_50]

32 minutes ago, 0106 said:

That is the exactly what my husband’s “veal cutlet” looked like in CO on the Rotterdam. He said it was better than the steak he had in the Pinnacle.

 

@QuattroRomeo Thank you for your review and the photos.

Maybe that’s what they are calling a veal cutlet but I’ve yet to see a cutlet that thick with a bone 🤣.  

[*Miss G*]

I don’t know why they’re calling it a cutlet.  I almost passed it by on the Nieuw Statendam because I don’t like cutlets.  But then I recalled a post by someone… I think it was @Florida_gal_50… which said it was actually a chop.  So I asked our server and he said it was the chop so I ordered it.  It was delicious!  When your passengers recognize the difference between a cutlet and a chop, and you don’t, you have a problem in the kitchen.

 

Pretty disappointed with what they’ve done in the Crow’s Nest.  I don’t know why I keep thinking “Well… it can’t get any worse.”  😂

[QuattroRomeo]

5 hours ago, horseymike said:

Great running review..... was the coffee at Explorations cafe good ?

Yes, Mike very good coffees, lattes etc and service. One barista told me she was hoping to get the 1873 Rotterdam beans up there for the drip coffee, too, which should have been there all along in my opinion!! If you're in a forward-located cabin this is the place to routinely go.

[horseymike]

Thanks Quattro

[QuattroRomeo]

The veal was a chop, not a cutlet. Slip of my typing fingers!