luvn2cruzzz

Had the volcano cake recently and it was done to perfection. The brownie at lunch in the Pinnacle is pure decadence and with the popcorn garnish, it is heaven. So much fun!

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I read that the NA is going to dry dock in a few days. Anyone know what will change/be added?

So wonderful to read such a positive review of the Konigsdam! We share your sentiments and can't wait to go again. Definitely our favorite ship at sea of any lines. It is just the right size and compared to other lines, on the small size! And we also loved Lincoln Center Stage. What an extraordinary group of young, talented musicians. After three weeks, we felt they were our kids! I am happy on almost any HAL ship, but this is one truly special vessel.

Recently we were on the Konigsdam for three weeks and loved every minute of our time on this ship. It puzzles me to read what the naysayers have to say because we did not experience most of what we have read. Yes, the toilets are at an odd angle--not a deal breaker for me. Yes, the Promenade deck is narrow. I wonder how many are aware that was not HAL's choice to design it that way. In a Q and A with the Captain, he shared that new ships are required to be designed with the life boat configuration in a certain way thus eliminating the spacious promenade that we all loved. Unlike most ships at sea, it is still wraparound. The balcony on our VC seemed a tad bit smaller and it overlooked a large balcony on Deck 4. However, for me, having your neighbors above you looking down on you is not ideal and I have to say I felt uncomfotable at times feeling like I was a voyeur when I was just sitting on mine! Lincoln Center Stage was a very enjoable surprise for us and we heard them play at least once each evening and we are not classical music afficionados by any means. Some of their offerings were certainly classical but programs were mixed with jazz, pop, and other genres. This was probably the highlight of my cruise. And the BB King All Stars were outstanding as usual and yes, they are loud but not so loud that we did not enjoy them. The energy they emit is fantastic. And the World Stage is unlike any other and in our opinion, a real design and technological wonder at sea. We thorougjly enjoyed all of the speciality restaurants with Sel de Mer our favorite because of the small, intimate space and the superb service and personal attention. That is not to say we did receive good service at Tamarind, Pinnacle, the Culinary Arts Center, or Canaletto, because we did but Sel de Mer just felt different. And then there is the Dutch Cafe which we just loved--the design as well as the offerings. Unfortunately, we discovered the Konigsbol there, a cream puff filled with chantilly cream and covered in dark chocolate. Oh, my. We would get one and ask for two forks so we didn't feel quite as guilty! And we fell in love with the pizzas at New York Pizza and Deli. We would ask them to be cooked well done and they were perfect for us. And it was a very busy venue with what seemed like other very satisfied customers.

I too was surprised that the stairs entering the aft and middle pools landed you in the deep end--only 4 feet in the middle pool--but still... That could definitely be improved upon in my opinion. I could go on and on about what we loved. Will stop here but add that we are booked on the Konisgsdam again and can't wait. She is a beautiful, new ship and if you are HAL fans, she and her sister ship will keep this cruise line moving forward into the future. And if you don't like her, I respect your opinion even if I don't quite understand the sometime harsh assessment. But to each his/her own! Happy sailing on what ever Dam ship you sail on next!

Same here. We ate at Tamarind on NA back in 2012 and loved it. After eating there on Kdam, I doubt we'll ever eat at Tamarind again. We didn't even finish our entrees. We found the sauces way too sweet.

 

 

 

I enjoy Canaletto. The service was very disorganized on Kdam, but I thought the meals were great.

 

 

 

I also enjoyed Sel de Mar. I just hope the ala cart pricing isn't something to which HAL is slowly going to convert, like on NCL.

We ate at Tamarind twice on our recent cruise. The first night I had the lobster which was presented beautifully and the second time a shrimp dish that I have had many times before. It was like the lobster, prepared too sweet. The other courses we had those two nights were wonderful and will keep us coming back in the future. Plus I love the space.

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Details or a link to where this is discussed? I was really looking forward to trying this next year when we are on K'dam. Thanks.

We were just on the Konigsdam and were told that America's Test Kitchen was replacing Food and Wine magazine which was sponsoring that space and that the Culinary Art Center dinners would continue. I hope that is true because it was a unique and delicious dining experience.

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Before anytime dining, we were seated at a table for 8 that turned out to be our most memorable. The first formal night, security showed up at the table accompanied by a passenger who had accused one of our table mates of verbally assaulting him because he did not feel he was dressed appropriately for formal night. This was the same man who would not allow the photographer to take his picture because he said he was CIA. He later told me he was an architect and another couple he was in real estate. The last night of the 10 day cruise, he verbally attacked a woman at our table because he didn't like her hair or dress and that she had coughed. She left in tears and then he moved on to her husband saying he thought his British accent was phony. Needless to say, when anytime dining was introduced, we were among the first to sign up!

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We were all 4* on the NA and definitely didn't think it a bargain and didn't try it again when it was offered

 

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Just curious--what was it that you ordered that you didn't like so I will be sure not to try it?

Yes, there is a clothesline in the shower. You have to be tall to reach it though or is it that I am short!

Yes, food preferences vary. I heard that just a sampling from the Sel de Mer is offered on the other ships. Our experience observing those who ordered lobster--the tail was huge and nothing at all like that which is served in the MDR. My husband had the lobster thermidor twice and loved it--obviously! My dover sole was the best I have ever had on or off a ship. The Pinnacle, while a nice space, does not have the ambience as the dedicated space on the Konigsdam. One thing that we heard a lot of was that passengers were afraid to try an ala carte restaurant due to the price structure yet they dine out on land in that manner all the time. For those of us who are 4*, it was definitely a bargain.

I was just on the Konigsdam and every time I exited an elevator outside of the Lido, a staff member was standing by the stairs with a bottle of hand sanitizer. I prefer the handwashing machines which are more fun!

We recently sailed on the Konigsdam and fell in love with Sel de Mer--dined there three times and loved the intimate, warm atmosphere and the lovely and delicious food. We may be sailing on the Nieuw Amsterdam next year and heard that in place of Le Cirque in the Pinnacle, it is now Sel de Mer one night per cruise. Has anyone dined in the Pinnacle when that was offered?

To add one thing, you do not have to pay for the ship's internet to use it. It is free to all passengers and it is wonderful not to carry your printed program around all day. You can also make dinner reservations at each of the reservations. Now if they would just give you the ability to text between passengers it would be perfect.

We enjoyed it on the Konigsdam. They did march through quickly but then lined up outside several venues so you could choose your goodies. Only sampled one little delight and it was the chocolate 'lollipop' Yummy!

Was on the Konigsdam this month and they offered a tea dance. Tea was held in the Queen's Lounge. I didn't attend but it looked quite nice.

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I was there recently and had the same experience with wifi that didn't work. Some said they could send one email. I never got connected. Great day though.

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On a Collectors cruise right now on the Konigsdam and there were many of us on the second leg. We all had to go through customs in the terminal and were escorted as a group. We are also invited to an Indonesian luncheon tomorrow. Don't know about chocolates yet!

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We just completed 11 days and now on the b2b for 10 more. Gorgeous ship. Never have felt it is too big and the additional dining venues are superb as is Lincoln Center Stage. What fabulously talented musicians. We are so fortunate to have that caliber of talent on this ship. We are not among the Konigsdam naysayers, we embrace change and ultimately it is still HAL with enhanced features. Try it-- you will like it!

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Thank you for your replies and picture. It looks wonderful very unlike the other pictures I saw. Ready to said and relax!

My favorite area of any HAL ship-except the Prinsendam-is the aft pool. We are sailing on the Konigsdam soon and from what I can tell, the aft pool is reconfigured differently with few lounge chairs. Can someone please tell me if that is accurate or are the photos I have seen just not telling the full story?

Thanks!

We are on an earlier cruise and we got an email about Cap Cana. Has anyone been there?

Thanks for your replies. Hoping someone has actually rented one who can share.

Wondering if someone can give me some clarity on the difference between a clamshell and a sun shelter rental on Half Moon Cay. I am not familiar with the sun shelter having only ever rented a clamshell in the past--the last time being about five years ago. The clamshell back then was very inexpensive and it is now $39.95 with the sun shelter much, much less. Can anyone help, please?! I want to be sure we get what we are wanting. Thanks!

Last December on the Koningsdam we tried their Luggage direct service. HAL checked us in and printed out our boarding passes. Then the luggage we placed outside our door the last night was taken off the ship and checked at the airport. We didn't see our luggage again until we landed at our home airport. So no more tracking down your luggage at the terminal, no more waiting in line with your luggage for customs, no more dragging your luggage to the airport or waiting in line to check you bags. It was awesome! We'll use that service again this December.

I have used that on Disney. The only caveat was that you had to use their transportation to MCO. What does HAL charge for this service?

Canadian Captain Darin Bowland is scheduled to take her from Europe to FLL and then into the Carib

Thank you. He is new to me. Any information on other staff?