Holland America have aptly named their new ship Koningsdam which in Dutch means King. I believe they have got it right and this new “Pinnacle Class” ship is going to give the likes of Celebrity and Cunard a run for their money.
At 99500 grt she certainly is not the largest ship I have been on and with just over 2650 passengers has a good passenger:space ratio.
Over two thirds of her staterooms have a Verandah and Koningsdam also has 12 single Ocean View rooms to accommodate her single passengers.
Overview
First impressions were of a light and airy space with lots of beige and creams. The ship has a musical theme and several decks are named after composers. I loved the hallway carpets which had instruments to the side.
The atrium stretches three decks and encompasses a stainless steel structure that represents a string quartet and is capped by a a ceiling that has high definition projections that changes from stars to clouds depending on the mood.
The central pool area has a Magradome which will help in less than inclement weather making this a great ship for all destinations. There is also an accessible lift to help wheelchair passengers get in and out of the pool.
Staterooms
Holland America are renowned for their large and spacious staterooms and I love the fact that they have a USB port next to the bed as many of us use our phones as alarms and its great being able to charge them at the bedside. Another plus is the loss of the dreaded shower curtain that always tends to get up close and intimate with me whilst in the shower, and this has been replaced with a glass shower door.
Dining
There are several speciality dining restaurants on board that you can dine in for a small charge but in all honesty the food in the main dining room and the service were exceptional. The Dining Room (great name) can hold over 1000 passengers and reminded me of Celebrity Eclipse with its modern decor. The food was the best I have had for a while and I would probably eat in here every night.
Entertainment
This is where I think Holland America will win as we were offered a snapshot of what Konigsdam has to offer and I loved it all. The Music Walk area featured classical music in the Lincoln Center Stage, 50 years of hits at Billboard Onboard, Rhythm and Blues with BB Kings Blues Club and at The World Stage there was a panoramic delight of sight and sound with a 270 degree LED projection to the main showroom.
Cruise.co.uk meet BB King
If you are looking for a ship with climbing walls, dodgem cars and robots then this is not the ship for you however if you want to go back to the decadent time when cruising was all about the ship,food and people then Koningsdam is the ship for you.
If you would like to view more photos please visit my facebook page here: Koningsdam Album
Koningsdam will be spending the summer 2016 season in Europe and the Mediterranean, followed by the winter in the Caribbean.