Karl WP Beyer MS Koningsdam was founded in April 2016 by the Holland America Line (HAL) put into service. It is the first new building in the “Pinnacle Class”. The term stands for: summit, peak or unique. These characterizations apply to the MS Koningsdam. When she started work, she was the largest, most technically sophisticated and most luxurious cruise ship that HAL had built. In 2018, the Nieuw Statendam was joined by a sister ship.
MS Koningsdam - a true premium ship
MS Koningsdam aims at guests who value the upper premium segment and who are willing to spend money on it. In return, they receive the opulent furnishings, excellent service, excellent gastronomic achievements in various restaurants as well as sophisticated and varied entertainment offers.
MS Koningsdam off Half Moon Cay / Bahamas
With its 296 meter long, navy blue hull, the white paintwork and the striking chimney, MS Koningsdam looks extremely noble. Kiss mouths, large-format lettering or imaginative hull paintings would be out of place on this cruise ship.
The public spaces appear extremely luxurious. High-quality carpets, elaborate, tasteful furniture and modern works of art underline the impression. The art objects take on music themes in a variety of variations. The focus is on musicians, musical instruments and pop stars. The three-storey atrium with stylized harps continues the musical theme in a variety of ways. The variedly designed restaurants, bars and lounges look like they are all of a piece. When it comes to dining, the Pinnacle-class ships offer significantly more dining options than any of the other 12 members of the fleet.
MS Koningsdam - The atrium with the wine warehouse of the Sel de Mer restaurant
We have never seen a cruise ship that is so extravagantly decorated with plants: opulent flower decorations in the public areas, real orchids on almost every table in the Lido Market buffet restaurant and olive trees in the pool areas.
MS Koningsdam - olive tree with Miles & More
MS Koningsdam is a family ship. However, attention was also paid to common areas intended exclusively for adults, as well as refuges for children and teenagers.
During the first season in 2016, the new building was first presented in European waters. We tested the ship in November 2016 during a ten day Caribbean cruise.
Cabins & Suites
The shipping company mentions 1.331 cabins and suites. With double occupancy this results in 2.650 beds. All cabins meet high standards. Imitation pine was chosen as the wall coverings. A light background stretches behind the beds; the carpets are in a tasteful purple color. The seating furniture takes up the light color scheme.
Cupboards and drawers offer enough space. The suitcases can be stowed well under the high, comfortable beds, and there is nothing wrong with the rest of the technical equipment in the cabins with flat-screen TVs and movies on demand. The sockets fit American and European plug systems.
MS Koningsdam - standard balcony cabin # 8027
The bathrooms in all cabins have white laminate on the walls, gray floor tiles, modern sinks, toilets, large shower trays, high-quality fittings and much more.
The cabins are divided into ...
- Inside cabins - approx. 13,30 m² area
- Two-bed cabins with sea views - approx. 16 m² area
- Veranda cabins - approx. 21,20 m² area, of which 5,20 m² balcony
- VS veranda cabins - on decks 3 and 4 (larger than standard balcony cabins)
- Vista Suites - approx. 24,15 to 33,10 m² area
- Signature Suites - approx. 36,50 to 37,20 m² area
- Neptun Suites - approx. 43,20 m² with concierge service
- Pinnacle Suite - with approx. 119,85 m² the maximum in size.
There are also special spa cabins l Family cabins with sea view for a maximum of five people with two wet cells l Outside cabins for single travelers l handicapped accessible cabins.
As befits a premium brand, cabin service takes place twice a day. The cabin stewards work in pairs. They are friendly, well trained and see themselves as service providers.
MS Koningsdam - a new towel animal every day
Eating and Drinking
Restaurants
The ten on-board restaurants are divided into included in the travel price and in restaurants subject to a surcharge.
All Inclusive restaurants count the two-story main restaurant The Dining Room l the excellently equipped buffet restaurant Lido Market l the burger station Dive-in l the pizzeria New York Deli & Pizza l the bistro Grand Dutch Café.
MS Koningsdam - Main Restaurant Dining Room
Places subject to additional payment are the Italian restaurant Canaletto l the brasserie Sel de Mer l the steak house Pinnacle Grill l the asian Tamarind l the Culinary Arts Center.
MS Koningsdam - The team from the Sel de Mer Restaurant
During the day, the Culinary Arts Center is used for cooking classes; in the evening meals are prepared in front of the passengers according to the “farm-to-table concept”. This includes the use of fresh ingredients and suitable herbs from the on-board greenhouse.
MS Koningsdam - Culinary Arts Center
The à la carte menus offered in these specialty restaurants charge the on-board account with 15 to 35 US dollars per person.
As is usual on cruise ships, coffee, tea, remarkably tasty water, iced tea or similar soft drinks are served free of charge. All other drinks require additional payments.
Variety and quality of the dishes
Whatever we ordered: a few appetizers in the Grand Dutch Café, breakfast in the Lido Market or dinner in the main restaurant, we were treated to a wide variety of dishes of the highest quality. We have never been disappointed. Even in the Burger Station Dive-In, the dishes, including the French fries, are prepared to order.
MS Koningsdam - Sushi Station in the Lido Market Restaurant
It is a special treat to dine in the well-tended specialty restaurants in the evening. We tested the Pinnacle Grill and the Sel de Mer. In both we enjoyed top cuisine and excellent service.
MS Koningsdam - Pinnacle Grill Restaurant
Wine cellar & wine waiter
The wine offers are geared towards the orientation of the restaurants. Generally good wines are offered. Unfortunately, the shipping company maintains the disproportionately high price level customary on US ships.
General service
Committed, friendly service that takes care of the guests is offered in all restaurants. The guest may follow the recommendations for individual dishes without looking. - The clearing service in the buffet restaurant also offers no cause for complaint. In addition to their work, the employees still find time to get their guests a drink.
Exemplary hygiene
Buffet restaurants on cruise ships are extremely practical. The quality of the food is convincing almost everywhere. However, there is a lack of hygiene every now and then: guests reach into the cheese buffet with their fingers, treat the carefully prepared dishes carelessly and sometimes show a lack of decency when grasping food. On the MS Koningsdam, passengers do not help themselves from the buffet. The selected dishes are presented to you with a friendly smile. Exemplary!
Open dining option - the weak point in the restaurant area
The Main Dining Room opens at 17:45pm and 20:00pm Fixed dining times with fixed seating arrangements apply. Regardless of this, HAL offers guests a flexible, open dining service in the main restaurant between 17:15 and 21:00pm Open dining option. While this offer works very well on ships of other shipping companies, we were initially poorly placed at tables for two on the Koningsdam, and the service did not correspond to the experiences made on other ships. After a massive complaint, we subsequently received special treatment. Other, more patient guests than we are now sat at the “cat tables”. Such weaknesses do not suit a premium ship.
Bars & Lounges
The range of bars & lounges is diverse. No two are alike in terms of their equipment. The main bars & lounges are ...
the Crow's Nest l the Exploration Café l the Panorama bar l the Tamarind bar l the Lido Bar l the Sea View Bar l the two-story Queen's Lounge l the Ocean Bar l the Piano bar l the little one Whiskey bar notes.
MS Koningsdam - Whiskey Bar Notes
It deserves a special mention Blend. The wine bar was created in collaboration with the award-winning Chateau St. Michelle winery in Washington State.
The everyday, stylish Tea hour takes place in the Queen's Lounge.
Sport & Wellness
Enthusiasm aroused by that which extends over the entire width of the ship and is equipped with the best technology Gym.
MS Koningsdam - training equipment in the gym
Sun-seekers and bathers take advantage of this Lido Deck with the Lido Pool in the middle of the ship and the Sea view pool in the stern area. The ship's five whirlpools are also popular. The six-part glass roof over the Lido Pool is opened in good weather conditions.
MS Koningsdam - The Lido Pool
The loungers in the extensive pool area are supplemented by additional spacious loungers on the higher decks. Shaded places are rare. Pool towels are not stingy, and the beverage service also works.
Further sports offers
A 560 meter long Walk leads around the entire ship on the third deck without interruption. of the Jogging track on the Sun Deck is ridiculously short at 140 meters.
Table tennis, shuffleboard, a large field for ball sports and sports equipment on the Sun Deck complete the sporting offer.
MS Koningsdam - Sport Court
The one run by the renowned SPA operator Steiner Greenhouse SPA & Salon connects to the gym on deck 9. A branch of the SPA is located above on deck 10. The wellness area offers various treatment rooms for a variety of SPA applications for good money. Saunas and an indoor pool complete the wellness offer.
MS Koningsdam - Greenhouse Spa & Salon
For a fee, the ship's guests are provided with the Retreat cabanas A private retreat is offered on the observation deck (deck 12).
MS Koningsdam - The Retreat
Entertainment
When the ship is at full capacity, more than 2.500 guests are entertained in a sophisticated way every day. An ambitious program on board the MS Koningsdam ensures qualified entertainment throughout the day.
The best technical prerequisites are available for this. A key venue for on-board entertainment is the two-storey one World Stage. The special feature of this main stage is the 76-meter-long, 270 ° arched HD LED screen that extends over two decks. It enables spectacular projections. At certain events, seats are offered in the round behind the stage. It is on these occasions that singers and dancers interact with the audience around them.
MS Koningsdam - excursion presentation in the World Stage Theater
Speaking of dancers: In the course of our trip we saw several stage shows by the 10-person dance troupe. The dancers act perfectly, sometimes go at a hell of a pace and, moreover, seem to be doing it with a lot of joy.
The Cinema LED screen under the retractable glass roof on the Lido Deck is also impressive. Current feature films or documentaries are regularly shown there. The sun loungers serve as cinema loungers in the evenings. Guests are offered free popcorn with the films.
For versatile, musical entertainment, the Music Walk set up. Everything revolves around music on three stages. A wide variety of musical offers are made to the guests in the evenings. Is entertained ...
… in the Lincoln Center Stage - there perform daily performers with varied chamber music performances;
… in the Billboard onboard - two pianists and singers sitting opposite each other and interacting brilliantly present the guests with chart breakers and hit songs of the last 50 years;
... in the two-story BB King's Blues Club - The musicians of the BB King's All-Stars Band heat up their guests in the evenings with blues, jazz, rock and lively music from Memphis / Tennessee. Matching cocktails with names such as "Lucille" or "Rock me Baby" are served.
MS Koningsdam - Music Walk - Singer at BB King's Blues Club
An American cruise ship is without Casinoo inconceivable. Casino games at tables and machines are played on deck 3. Seldom have we seen such a busy casino as on our trip.
MS Koningsdam - Casino
Among the audience favorites Bingo events with attractive dividends.
Art galleries, Art auctions and shops In our opinion, cruise ships are also places of entertainment. These areas are mainly on the 3rd deck of the MS Koningsdam.
They seem top-class to us Edutainment offers.
General information about MS Koningsdam
| Commissioning | April 2016 |
| Godmother | Queen Máxima of the Netherlands |
| Dimensions | Length 296 meters, width 35 meters |
| measurement | 99.500 GT |
| Passenger decks | 12 decks |
| Motorcycles | 4 diesel engines of 17.000 hp each |
| 2 azipods | Drive power 28.000 kW |
| building-costs | Estimated: $ 520 million |
| passengers | 2.650 with double occupancy |
| Staterooms | 1.331 |
| Crew | Approx. 1.000 |
| Flagge | Netherlands |
| Werft | Fincantieri, Marghera / Venice |
| Board language | English |
| Currency on board | U.S. dollar |
Conclusion MS Koningsdam
MS Koningsdam is a perfect cruise ship. We are delighted to have chosen the ship for our first trip with Holland America Line. The MS Koningsdam, which went into service in April 2016, was designed and built according to the most modern aspects. Premium quality is offered in all areas of the ship: equipment, food, service and entertainment meet the highest standards.
MS Koningsdam - Ocean Bar
German cruise guests who want to get to know high-quality cruise offers instead of their cult brands AIDA and TUI Cruises are recommended to use the MS Koningsdam as a cruise ship. The mentioned weaknesses of the open dining in the main restaurant do not diminish our generally positive assessment.
Update - November 2019
