Koningsdam 14 Days: A Family Perspective

In prepping for our cruise I read as much as I could about HAL and the Koningsdam. Through this research I learned that HAL was hoping to allure families to the line through this ship. No doubt this was a difficult undertaking, as any time a business wants to reach a new demographic it must remain mindful of the current customer base while providing a service that intrigues a different customer base.

Since our travel party included myself, my husband, 9 year old son, 7 year old daughter, as well as my mom, I suppose we meet the demo that they were trying to reach.

Context: This was our first cruise on HAL. As a family we have done 2 prior Disney cruises (Caribbean, Alaska) and prior to kids I sailed twice on Carnival. We loved Disney but were ready to try something new. I think my Carnival days will remain back in my 20s, as I have no desire to do that again. :) So, I have a few cruises under my belt to compare with this experience, but not near the number of cruises that many of you reading this board have taken.

Onboard my mom enjoys all the activities: trivia, games, evening entertainment, etc. My husband and I are more low key. In fact, he doesn't really like cruising, as he prefers quiet vacations and neither Disney nor Carnival provided that experience. But we wanted to see Norway with my mom, and all agreed this would be the best way.

Embarkation: very smooth, very fast. We arrived prior to our given time and were still funneled quickly through the queue.

Stateroom: we were an 11th floor balcony, and this more than met our needs. We had adjoining rooms with my mom, and we put one kid over in her room. We fully unpacked for 2 weeks, cold weather, hiking gear, etc and had a little room left- though not much! Next door with just two people there was ample space. The lights required a stateroom key to be inserted into a slot in order to remain on. Clearly this is an energy saving technique, but it did get cumbersome. If your card is the one in the lights, and you want to go exercise for example, then the person in the shower is left in the dark. So then you are digging around to find the other stateroom keys. Post cruise I heard that you could put any card that size in the slot, so next time I will take our library card.

I do get annoyed with hotels/cruises that don't have a bathroom night light. Who wants all that light when they have to get up in the middle of the night?

Beyond that, the design of the room was nice.

Smoking: not an issue at all. In 14 days I saw one person smoking on a balcony and it was 4 floors below. The casino wasn't ever crowded and smoke from the few smokers in there were easily managed by the exhaust system. I spent hours and hours on our balcony and enjoyed every minute of it.

Food:

Main Dining Room: well, we scored the center aft table with full floor to ceiling windows. Keep that in mind! It was an amazing view every night, and always so different (locks, sea, wild sea storm with huge crashing waves, quaint port, fjord, etc). The food in the MDR was average at best. However, because of our view, I ate there every night except for one. If we had a different table I probably would have explored more of the other dinner options. But I just couldn't give up that experience! The one time I did not eat in the MDR was Pinnacle Grill. Loved it. As for the kids: They are 9 and 7 and were given the kids menu each night. I had hoped that they would eat from the regular menu, but it just wasn't their type of food. Yet, the kids menu skewed a little young. Most nights they ate fruit for appetizer and then either pizza or pasta for main course. They were more than satisfied and the crew was VERY good with them.

Lido: As has been stated in multiple places, the Lido is a bit nutty. The food there is actually decent, and slightly above average. I do like that they had various stations with different types of fare in each one. However, it took passengers a while to get the flow of each station. Some you start on one side, some in the middle, some have 2 lines, some have 1 line. Perhaps some signage of "order here" or something would help. The tables were always full at breakfast, but we soon discovered that all the tables around the main pool were set for meals. So, we would get our breakfast and then head to the pool area. This worked wonderfully. I recommend that more people try this. It was quiet and then views were even better. (could see out both sides of ships)

New York Pizza: made to order and it can take a while. However, the pizza was really good. Kids ate here for lunch several times. They also serve bagels for breakfast (great option other than Lido).

Gelato: again, all of us enjoyed this speciality place. Not included in meal plan so be careful!

Entertainment:

My mom and her friend went to all the shows and enjoyed them all.

My husband and I enjoyed the strings and piano perform. He and I mostly utilized the Crow's Nest each night and were very satisfied with that experience.

Kids:

Both kids loved the kids area, and special shout out to Geoffrey who was over that program. The staff was fantastic and very well trained. There were days that we would be on excursion, and Geoffrey would take the excursion as part of his day off. Yet, he would still sit next to our kids, play with them, and entertain them throughout the day. This went so far above and beyond what he needed to do, especially given that he was technically "off." When in the Kids Club there were always ample other kids in there with them.

Activities:

my 9 year old, along with quite a few other kids of the same age, were daily participants in the ping pong tournament. The activities crew member was very engaging with them and made a point to learn their names

Before boarding I wasn't sure what to expect in terms of demographics of the passengers, particularly as it related to other kids being on the ship. This was especially heightened coming from a Disney experience (x2). However, I found our fellow passengers to be a wonderful mix of all ages, and there was definitely a lot of other kids.

Design of Ship:

again, I have not sailed HAL before, and have limited experience. However, I found the design to be very intuitive, easy to navigate, and it provided every experience that we needed. I have read the frustration of some in regards to the library. There was a nook in the Crow's Nest that did have lots of travel books, with room for more books to be added. We had each brought our own books, and my husband uses a Kindle, so at least for us we did not need a physical library.

I loved the calming look of the decorations, verses some of the more loud and gaudy decor of other cruise lines.

The best? The art work. They had the best art work all over the ship. They took the music theme, and while there was some art relating to classical music, there was also very interesting art of pop stars, and other modern and intriguing pieces. Even the kids loved looking at all the art in the stair cases. I would have LOVED an audio tour of all the art to learn more about some of the pieces.

Excursions:

I felt that was a delightful balance in active excursions and those that involve riding a bus most of the day. My son needs lots of activity, while my daughter would prefer to just sing and draw all day. We often sent the daughter on a bus with my mom and she loved seeing all the sites and then my son, husband and I would chose the more strenuous outings. Everyone very happy here, too.

I also loved the variety of ports. Large cities, tiny towns, quaint, modern, etc.

Perks:

Since we did the collector cruise we had the opportunity to enjoy a few extra perks like the Indonesian lunch and captain's lunch. The kids were not interested in either, so we didn't take them. I enjoyed the Indonesian lunch (bonus: we were randomly seated with Bobalink and I loved meeting and chatting with her!). However, the Captain's lunch was overcrowded and just meh.

Crew:

I was surprised how many crew members learned our names, especially given the size of the ship. Admittedly, we do have a VERY easy last name for them to remember, but they were also good with our first names too. There were several crew members who learned my daughter's name because they missed their little girls. I expected good service, but never in a million years would I have expected the guy at the omelet station to call us by name each morning.

Crew's Response to Storm:

While in our port (turnaround) day in Amsterdam a large storm hit the North Seas and Bergen. We were delayed leaving Amsterdam by 22 hours, which meant we were going to miss Bergen the following day. HAL worked to get Bergen moved to later in the week so that passengers would have the experience of visiting that popular port, and they made the decision to cancel Alesund instead. Even with the delay our sea day up to Norway was quite the adventure. We had sea swells of 10-12 meters and winds up to 54 knots. Therefore, many things onboard were closed too: pool, ping pong, fitness center, outdoor areas, and even the computer classes (???). This was the beginning of week 2 and I truly felt bad for the passengers who were just doing this week. Then, due to the storm, we were late into Geiranger, so several excursions were cancelled. Obviously all of these measures were taken with our safety in mind, but it was certainly a 3 day bummer. I noted that the captain and crew attempted offer little nuggets the rest of the (smooth sailing) week, such as cruising into some of the arms of the fjords to see some extra waterfalls. They truly did their best and I don't fault them at all. Just a little bummed to miss hiking on the glacier.

Overall impression:

We loved this cruise! Even after 2 weeks on the boat we could have easily stayed and done a few more weeks! All 3 generations feel that the vacation was perfectly designed just for them. Our fellow passengers were a delightful mix of all ages and included plenty of other kids.

We have been home for 4 days and both kids continually ask when we can cruise again. (we travel a lot, so for them to hone in on one particular type of vacation says something). There was enough to keep a family entertained but without the high overly stimulating environment of Disney or some of the other lines. For us it was the perfect balance of things to do but also being able to relax and enjoy some quiet. We would definitely sail Koningsdam again and will be looking at itineraries for the sister ship coming in 2018.

Thanks for taking the time and effort to write a review on KODM! Geoffrey was on this year's grand world voyage; granted, not too many young kids on that one, and that included three crew kids; two Czechs and one South African, my bud :). Those kids loved Geoffrey! IMHO, one of the best YPC's around and just a very nice individual to be around

So glad you enjoyed! Thanks for the comprehensive review.

BTW, we bring tealight candles (battery powered) for use in the bathrooms. Makes just enough light to see what you're doing. We also find it very annoying they haven't done something to provide a nightlight there.

Thank you for writing such a comprehensive review! Our family will be trying out the Koningsdam later this year, so I read your review with eager eyes!

I'm glad that your first HAL experience was, for the most part, a positive one!

Good review, very informative.

Thank you for taking the time to write your review.

Glad all 3 generations enjoyed the cruise.

Oh I forgot to mention one disappointment, and I guess I can't edit the post.

We were on the ship during the first week of the Olympics, but HAL did not purchase broadcast rights to the games. Word was the NBC was charging a fortune. I get playing hardball with the networks, but this was a huge disappointment, especially with such a multinational passenger mix. The only sports stations available on board were ESPN2 and ESPNU- not even regular ESPN. So, while the rest of you were watching gymnastics and swimming we were stuck with French league soccer, the International Cross Fit Championships, and replays of last year's college football games. Very, very aggravating.

Thanks for taking the time and effort to write a review on KODM! Geoffrey was on this year's grand world voyage; granted, not too many young kids on that one, and that included three crew kids; two Czechs and one South African, my bud :). Those kids loved Geoffrey! IMHO, one of the best YPC's around and just a very nice individual to be around

Yes! Geoffrey mentioned the World Cruise and how much he enjoyed that sailing. There was a staff kid from South Africa on our cruise too. Our kids enjoyed playing with him. I bet it is the same kid.

Intrigued by your observation the ship felt "intuitive". You hit on something we long-time HAL cruisers also feel no matter which HAL ships - they all feel like we are coming home to something familiar -fleet wide. Looks like the K-dam kept that same feel.

Wonderful report - and loved hearing this was such a great family vacation choice. There is something deeply abiding and magical about HAL crews that makes up for any glitches or disappointments one can expect on any cruise and cruise ship.

I have long heard that food on Disney ships is top rank, so probably that was a hard comparison for a HAL ship where it is more at the good banquet food level. As you reported, the dining experience itself with the staff and feel of the dining room and your super location can be just good enough for an overall enjoyable time.

Thanks for the review. It was quite interesting and did make me anxious to board the K next month!

Thanks for taking the time to write your review. We will be boarding the ship on 9/4 and getting very excited at this point. Maybe we can score that great table in the MDR:)

Oh I forgot to mention one disappointment, and I guess I can't edit the post.

 

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Yes! Geoffrey mentioned the World Cruise and how much he enjoyed that sailing. There was a staff kid from South Africa on our cruise too. Our kids enjoyed playing with him. I bet it is the same kid.

Yep; son of the Shorex Manager; great kid, just like his Mum and Dad :)

What a great review, thanks for sharing and I'm glad to here your entire family had a wonderful trip!

Thank-you for the well rounded review. I look forward to sailing on her in Dec.

Thanks for the thorough review and nice to hear that all generations enjoyed the cruise.

HAL usually has an iPod audio tour of the ship's artwork available to be checked-out from the librarian, free of charge. They are usually about 45 minutes long including pause time to allow one to move to a different deck or area. Perhaps with the diminished library on Koningsdam the art tour is no longer available, which would be a loss.

m--

Thanks for the thorough review and nice to hear that all generations enjoyed the cruise.

 

HAL usually has an iPod audio tour of the ship's artwork available to be checked-out from the librarian, free of charge. They are usually about 45 minutes long including pause time to allow one to move to a different deck or area. Perhaps with the diminished library on Koningsdam the art tour is no longer available, which would be a loss.

m--

Oooh, very interesting. I did go to guest services and asked them if there was "a tour or anything." The guy said no, but offered to loan me a notebook that had all the art in it. At first I was excited but it turned out to be just a catalog of the art and where it is located. There was no additional info at all. All week I was wishing I was back at the Rijksmuseum with my audio tour.

Hopefully I just didn't ask the right way (I didn't specifically ask for an iPod) but I wonder if they did away with that feature. It should be simple to add back in, and they definitely should. I find myself still thinking about so many of the interesting pieces throughout the ship. There was such variety in styles of art as well as musical genre.

Do you remember your table number? Sounds like a fabulous location! Was it a table for six? Were you rocking and rolling on deck 11 during the storm?

Thanks for the thorough review.

I enjoyed your review. I will be on this ship in December

Thank you for taking time to write your interesting review.

Do you remember your table number? Sounds like a fabulous location! Was it a table for six? Were you rocking and rolling on deck 11 during the storm?

Thanks for the thorough review.

We were table 61, which was a table for 6. (My mom had a friend who has also on the cruise but in a different cabin. She was the 6th at our table). We were next to table 62 and together we were in a little "nook" because of some interior walls to each side. This gave us additional privacy and decreased the noise level. Obviously we had fixed dining but table 62, also a table for 6, was open dining. Therefore we had different neighbors each night. We loved seeing their reactions to the seating they had lucked into!

As for the storm, yes we were rocking and rolling on 11. It woke all the adults up around 4am but our kids managed to sleep through the whole thing. That part of the storm the rocking was primarily front to back, so it was akin to a giant rocking chair. That was manageable, just a different feeling that we had been used to, and enough to close so many of the activities for the entire day. I remember at several points during the day I was walking *up* the stairs but the sensation that I had was that I was going *down* the stairs. That was certainly disorienting!!!

The day continued to be front to back until mid afternoon and that is when the side to side also kicked in. So our rocking chair was now a roller coaster. That was the first time that I got a little queasy. I had pre-booked a manicure and I showed up unsure if it would work and she said she could do it... but they had stopped giving haircuts!

Green apples were available all over the ship and the lines to buy meds was long.

We were early dining and our location made for a crazy ride but also some wonderful videos! During dinner was easily when we were in the highest waves and it got crazy. They didn't have to stop serving but there were lots of unsteady waiters and tons of "aaaaahhhhs" as we would hit those huge swells. With the window view you could really appreciate how high we were going and then how far we were falling. Some of the falls resulted in spectacular splashes with the sea splash rising far above our window.

We were behind the storm the entire time, and the captain even slowed us down a bit to not make it even worse. That decision is what caused us to be late into Hellestyt and Geiranger, canceling some excursions. I can't imagine if we were actually in the storm instead of just behind it.

Some of you that are much more sea experienced than I can probably interpret this next part better than I am relating it. A crew member in the early afternoon had said we were a "6" on the scale of how rough the seas were. That was when we were still mostly front to back waves and the captain announced we were in 8-10m swells. It did get worse after that, especially around dinner and I suspect that is when we were in the 10-12m swells, which the captain announced later. Anyway, the crew member had said that if we had left Amsterdam on time the day before we would have been a 9 or 10, and the scale only goes to 10. So while it was a disappointing delay for many (I met a lady who lives a mere 20 minutes from the cruise terminal) it clearly would have been a mess if we had left any earlier.

It was probably around 9-10pm that things finally settled down, and then overnight when we finally made it into the fjord. Yippee! At no time during the entire stretch did I feel unsafe, and what we experienced was a far cry from what those poor passengers last spring off the coast of North Carolina endured. I just kept telling the kids it was an adventure and something to remember the trip by!

Excellent review, thank-you.

Post cruise I heard that you could put any card that size in the slot, so next time I will take our library card.

Next time you stay in a hotel, perhaps the night before your next cruise, keep one of the "room key cards". Works just fine.

Thank you so much for taking the time to post your great review..:)

Will be sure to tell our Friends about your family cruise..Would love to take our family on a family cruise, but we have 6 Great Grandkids & know our three Granddaughters would want them to come too..

Try saving your old HAL ship cards & take them with you the next time..They may work in the lights, but you have to be sure to remove them when the cabin is empty..

Try saving your old HAL ship cards & take them with you the next time..They may work in the lights, but you have to be sure to remove them when the cabin is empty..

I've been using an old HAL card for the last few years on Celebrity. Works like a charm, and I'm sure will work equally well on the Koningsdam when we board her in November. :)

Has HAL stopped with their free small pkgs of sea calm (meclizine), headache pill and band aids? They usually are right near the door of the infirmary?

Thanks for the interesting review. You covered quite a bit. Disney offered us a good price for Pt Canaveral cruise so we tried their line. I went to the adult area for peace and quiet and somehow some exCarnival cruisers thought it was party time in the hot tub!! But the food, crew and ship decor was great.

Has HAL stopped with their free small pkgs of sea calm (meclizine), headache pill and band aids? They usually are right near the door of the infirmary?

 

Thanks for the interesting review. You covered quite a bit. Disney offered us a good price for Pt Canaveral cruise so we tried their line. I went to the adult area for peace and quiet and somehow some exCarnival cruisers thought it was party time in the hot tub!! But the food, crew and ship decor was great.

I'm not sure. I wasn't aware of this, plus I wasn't so sick that I needed meds.

Interesting that you mentioned band-aids though. I did need a band-aid one evening and went to the onboard shop. They didn't have any. I asked if there was anywhere else to get one, such as the infirmary, and she told me no. I thought that was odd, but she also said that she was new to the crew that week. Since it wasn't a significant blister I just let it pass.

But now I know!