Last week the www.CRUISE.co.uk team were lucky enough to sail on the brand new MS Koningsdam – Holland America’s newest vessel. We loved every minute of our sailing around the Med and we couldn’t resist giving you an inside glimpse of the newest 5 star cruise ship.
Was she everything we hoped she would be? Did she remind us of any other ships we’d visited previously?
Take a look around the ship and see what you make of her…
Fancy a dip?
There is a choice of three pools on-board: one at the back of the ship, one in the middle and one in the Greenhouse Spa and Salon.
We’d particularly recommend a dip in the hot tubs at the back of the ship, they were often the quietest!
Have a pamper
…at one of the best spas we’ve ever seen! Can you imagine yourself relaxing with this view? We certainly enjoyed ourselves when we did…
Top tip: Try out the horizontal shower! Lay down and enjoy head to toe jets – just remember to keep your mouth shut!
Feeling peckish?
Enjoy a tasty treat in the main dining room set extravagantly over two floors.
Alternatively, enjoy Asian fusion in Tamarind or a slap up steak in the Pinnacle Grill.
Canaletto’s (which serves up some hearty Italian dishes) also has a great sea view!
For the more casual diners amongst you, the buffet is a great alternative…
Take a look at the art
We noticed that the Koningsdam was much lighter and brighter than Holland America’s other ships with less dark woods used and many more airy, open spaces. One thing that hadn’t changed however was the abundance of art on-board!
Catch a glimpse of cabins
We stayed in an obstructed balcony cabin on deck four which was surprisingly roomy.
We also had a peak at some other cabins and were impressed by the amount of space available in the singles cabin!
This cabin was designed for a family of 5 with a double bed, double sofa bed and a pull down bed from the ceiling. These cabins also came with two bathrooms, one with a bath and the other with a shower so that families had enough space to get ready and avoid a bathroom rush!
Get ready to be entertained
We particularly liked the music on-board as the Koningsdam had a whole floor dedicated to the “Music Walk” which consists of a variety of lounges to sit, listen or dance to music.
There was also a large gym that overlooked the sea…
Table tennis to entertain the younger ones (and big kids at heart!)
And you could also take a Digital Workshop class with Windows to improve your tech skills!
Travel to beautiful destinations
One of the main reasons cruisers should choose to travel with Holland America is the wide range of destinations they travel to and the sheer variety of itineraries.
Our itinerary took us around Italy and the Med but our favourite spot was the beautiful Palermo!
Fancy a gamble?
We were surprised by how many passengers were taking a chance at the casino! Place your bets now folks…
Did you know? It’s not just designer shops on-board the Koningsdam (although there are several!) as there is a $10 shop for all your low budget needs!
Something for the kids to enjoy
We were impressed with the kids club which had lots of bright rooms for children to play in with a team of helpful youth staff.
After being on-board we thought that it would be great for guests who are familiar with Princess and Celebrity as it has a similarly relaxed atmosphere and very similar décor in parts. Those who like the flexibility of anytime dining will enjoy the lack of formal sittings in restaurants and those who are fond of their fine wines can’t go wrong with a trip to the winery “Blends”!
In all, our favourite parts of the ship were the Queen’s Lounge and the World Stage as these were the venues that we spent plenty of time being entertained in. The only thing we think could be improved was the design of some of the lower decks which weren’t as light and bright as those higher up – but we did like the carpet design in corridors which reflected the name of the floor you were on!
You can look at deals for Holland America cruises here!
You can also read the blogs of our roving www.CRUISE.co.uk reporter here!
So there you have it! Would you like to sail on the Koningsdam? Have you ever sailed with Holland America before? Let us know in the comments below.
