First time on Hal

[gizmodog]

I am an experienced cruiser and have been on celebrity and princess only. I have wanted to try HAL FOR AWHILE NOW AND I FINALLY BOOKED ON THE konsingdam I was hoping for some, any, information on this ship from those who have sailed her. We, two couples have chosen 4154 and 4156 due to what looks like large balconies on the deck plans. Anybody stay in them? I can still switch cabins if there is anyone who has any negative first hand knowledge.

Thank you all so much

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[Lady Arwen]

We spent two weeks on Koningsdam in May cruising the western Med. We were in cabin 4020 with a HUGE balcony. This is a deluxe cabin with a sofa. We loved it! Great area, no issues at all. Koningsdam has become our favourite ship of all time (38 cruises, primarily on HAL, Princess and Celebrity). It is gorgeous. Outdoor seating areas are awesome. We spent a lot of time in "our area" on Lido deck which had 2 sofas and 2 chairs and a coffee table. It was our go-to place after our excursions. The food was very good, and we enjoyed the buffet, too. The Dutch Cafe was very nice, but could have had longer open times......nothing in the evening.

Not everyone agrees with me on this ship, but for us it's a perfect fit!

[gizmodog]

Thank you so much, I love reading the info, I hope our cabin is the same category as yours so we get a sofa too. Did you find the food in the DR pretty good?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[Krazy Kruizers]

OP

Were you counting on your cabins being next to each other?

I looked at HAL's deck plans and there is a big white area between the cabins.

[Ryten]

For what it's worth- we believe that HAL's MDR is slight cut above Princess which we have traveled on for at least 6 cruises but food tastes are really subjective. If you like the food on Princess and Celebrity, I don't think you'll be disappointed. While we have not been on the Koningsdam yet, ( booked for November) we have have found the specialty restaurant Tamarind a very good choice and the review of the other pay restaurants have been very good. Have a great cruise.

[regnig]

OP

Were you counting on your cabins being next to each other?

I looked at HAL's deck plans and there is a big white area between the cabins.

 

Those staterooms are actually next to each other. The white space you see is a service area for the room stewards. It is standard, although a bit smaller, on even the Vista Class ships. The balconies are twice as long as the other Deck 4 ones and will have a door that the room steward can unlock between the two.

 

And yes gizmodog, there will be a small sofa, think love seat size, in your stateroom. ENJOY:D

[gizmodog]

Thank you all for this information, I really am excited about trying this cruise line. I do not smoke but my husband does, what is the smoking policy?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[jbecker6469]

Thank you all for this information, I really am excited about trying this cruise line. I do not smoke but my husband does, what is the smoking policy?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

 

I suggest that you spend some time on the HAL website. You can learn a lot about the K'dam as well as company wide policy on smoking. Smoking is currently, and unfortunately, allowed in the casino for ACTIVE players, as well as the port side of the seaview pool area on Lido deck. We hope they will stop the smoking in the casino if enough customers complain.

 

If you would like to try the Tamarind, which is the most popular specialty restaurant on the K'Dam, you might want to make reservations prior to sailing to be sure you get your preferred night and time.

 

Enjoy your cruise. It is a fine ship, not perfect, but pretty dam good!

[Cruising-along]

We had cabin 4154 for 2 weeks in January. The balcony is indeed twice as long as the other deck 4 balconies (but no extra deck furniture). We were very happy with the cabin after we had a few problems fixed.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[ski ww]

I suggest that you spend some time on the HAL website. You can learn a lot about the K'dam as well as company wide policy on smoking. Smoking is currently, and unfortunately, allowed in the casino for ACTIVE players, as well as the port side of the seaview pool area on Lido deck. We hope they will stop the smoking in the casino if enough customers complain.

 

If you would like to try the Tamarind, which is the most popular specialty restaurant on the K'Dam, you might want to make reservations prior to sailing to be sure you get your preferred night and time.

 

Enjoy your cruise. It is a fine ship, not perfect, but pretty dam good!

 

On our last couple of cruises the smoking area was on the starboard side of the seaview pool area on the Lido deck.

Allan

[catl331]

On our last couple of cruises the smoking area was on the starboard side of the seaview pool area on the Lido deck.

That's the case on most HAL ships, but IIRC on the K it's on the port side back by the stern railing ... that is, diagonally across the pool from the usual location. Starboard side near the door had some nice seating for reading.

[Lady Arwen]

Thank you so much, I love reading the info, I hope our cabin is the same category as yours so we get a sofa too. Did you find the food in the DR pretty good?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

We really enjoyed the food in the MDR. Certainly as good as Princess and in some cases Celebrity, too. The buffet is quite different from the usual set up. No "help yourself" anymore. Takes a bit to get used to it, but we made it work for us. We had traditional late seating (8:15 pm) so never felt rushed. The only thing we questioned was why traditional and anytime dining shared the dining rooms. Sometimes this caused service to be a bit slow, but they wait staff did their very best to take care of everyone. Enjoy your Kdam cruise...I'm sure you'll love it, too!!

[jtl513]

The only thing we questioned was why traditional and anytime dining shared the dining rooms.

It probably gives them more flexibility when there aren't exactly the right number of traditional for upstairs. If there were too many wanting Fixed they used to have to deny some, and put them in Open. Conversely if there weren't enough Fixed they sometimes put Open people upstairs. It happened to us a couple of times. Now many people make reservations in Open anyway.