Koningsdam's Flaws/What Can Nieuw Statendam Improve Upon?

[Hflors]

I am booked on the K-dam in January. I am really trying to get myself excited about this trip. I am just so disappointed about no promenade and no movie theatre. I am just going to be thankful that I am on a ship to begin with.

[*Miss G*]

All the negative posts on CC gave me some concern about the ship. It turns out I didn't need to worry. Hflors, I loved the movies on the lido deck. There is something magical about being outside on a deck chair curled up with a blanket. It's reminiscent of the excitement I felt as a kid when my parents would surprise us with a drive-in movie. As to someone's concern about sound near the cabins, there were no cabins in the area and the sound was contained.

 

When I reflect on some of the posts, I come to the conclusion that they have never been on the ship. And when I read that others aren't even going to give her a chance, I wonder why they are so angry and afraid. In the end it works out fine because I don't care to be around grumpy people when I am on my happy hols. :)

[catl331]

As to someone's concern about sound near the cabins, there were no cabins in the area and the sound was contained.

:confused: 10053 and 10055 are right behind the screen and speakers. Edited November 14, 2017 by catl331

[Daisyloo]

We have sailed on Koningsdam twice now, and Dec 10 we will be on her again. It amazes me the number of complaints I read about her. We loved the ship. We thought she was beautiful, loved all the options for dining, service was great and the cabins were comfortable and well thought out. Loved the roomy showers in the bathrooms. Loved the USB ports in the rooms. Liked having indoor muster. The World Stage is great. We liked the modern look of the ship, but for us it kept the feel of traditional HAL. I think she might be our favourite HAL ship.

Is she perfect? No. We did miss the full wide promenade deck with loungers. Missed the library. MDR service was a bit on the slow side.

We never felt crowded, never had any issues with getting an elevator. Thought the food, especially in the Lido was the best of any ship we have been on.

I would suggest, if you are thinking of a cruise on the Koningsdam, give it a try. Don't be scared off by all the criticism.

[Big_G_111]

(sic) Please reassure me as to whether I should go on this ship with all its "flaws"........

 

The title of the thread isn't "What's great about Koningsdam?", so you're not going to see the positives. :D

 

I've been on 4 cruises so far, with 4 different lines. The K'dam was, far and away, hands-down, by a mile, the nicest ship I've been on.

[stickey_mouse]

The title of the thread isn't "What's great about Koningsdam?", so you're not going to see the positives. :D

 

I've been on 4 cruises so far, with 4 different lines. The K'dam was, far and away, hands-down, by a mile, the nicest ship I've been on.

Just have to ask, what were the others?

[Big_G_111]

Just have to ask, what were the others?

 

Is this an Alzheimer's test? Because I'm probably going to fail! :o

 

It's likely in my post history, but as best I recall, it was:

 

2014 - RCCL - Vision of the Seas (Baltic)

2015 - NCL - Dunno (Full Med)

2016 - Princess - Diamond Princess (Japan)

2017 - HAL - Koningsdam (Norway)

 

I had fun on ALL the cruises, but it was pretty obvious that I was sailing on tired, old, "red-haired stepchildren" ships, and traveling to places that were not part of the lines' core business model.

 

K'dam was different - a flagship asset for HAL.

 

--

 

Edit: The NCL was on Norwegian Spirit. Also, the RCCL was Legend of the Seas, not Vision of the Seas. Partial credit for correct class, at least??

[Cruiser Bruiser]

The stairs between the music venues and the casino presented a significant noise issue on my cruise, since the two floors can hear each other.

 

Having the tunes from the dueling pianos rise up to the casino isn't a problem. But, imagine the sounds of degenerate gamblers (self included :evilsmile:) whooping it up at the dice table. Then think about that bleeding downstairs, particularly during the classical concerts. Now that IS an issue.

 

This was discussed on another thread, but Nieuw Statendam's Music Walk has been reconfigured per the deck plans. On Nieuw Statendam "BB King's Blues Club" is shown in Kdam's Explorer's Lounge/Lincoln Center Stage space, and it has been walled in. Lincoln Center Stage has been moved into the Queen's Lounge, which remains open to two decks. The "problem" staircase remains, but the noise bleed issue seems to have been resolved by this trade of venues and the creation of a walled blues "club."

[stickey_mouse]

This was discussed on another thread, but Nieuw Statendam's Music Walk has been reconfigured per the deck plans. On Nieuw Statendam "BB King's Blues Club" is shown in Kdam's Explorer's Lounge/Lincoln Center Stage space, and it has been walled in. Lincoln Center Stage has been moved into the Queen's Lounge, which remains open to two decks. The "problem" staircase remains, but the noise bleed issue seems to have been resolved by this trade of venues and the creation of a walled blues "club."

Correct me if I am wrong, but wouldn't the Queen's Lounge be best suited for BB King's, given its large space and dance floor? Or do just as many people attend and dance at Lincoln Center Stage?

[bobpell]

A small nuance that brought angst among the old HAL patrons on our recent calm Trans Atlantic

The crowded Happy hour we religiously attended in the Crows Nest from 4-5 pm was banished down to the bowels of deck 2 for that hour. The neophyte powers of scheduling only allowed that hallowed prime time to meet new friends into the Crows Nest after bed time at 11 pm I heard.

The curdled cries of anguish reverberated around the 70 ish style furniture kitty corner from the non library every day at 3:55 PM as old timers to this martini smorgasbord were directed to the netherworld below!!

My wife commiserated with the regulars by downing 2 bloody marys and bursting into crocodile tears at this travesty of traditions. Moi I wallowed in the 2 for 1 wines

Cheers

Bob

[*Miss G*]

:confused: 10053 and 10055 are right behind the screen and speakers.

Ahh. I see what you mean. The 2nd level of the Lido Pool. Have there been noise complaints from those rooms?

[catl331]

Ahh. I see what you mean. The 2nd level of the Lido Pool. Have there been noise complaints from those rooms?

Yes. .

[Florida_gal_50]

We have sailed on Koningsdam twice now, and Dec 10 we will be on her again. It amazes me the number of complaints I read about her. We loved the ship. We thought she was beautiful, loved all the options for dining, service was great and the cabins were comfortable and well thought out. Loved the roomy showers in the bathrooms. Loved the USB ports in the rooms. Liked having indoor muster. The World Stage is great. We liked the modern look of the ship, but for us it kept the feel of traditional HAL. I think she might be our favourite HAL ship.

Is she perfect? No. We did miss the full wide promenade deck with loungers. Missed the library. MDR service was a bit on the slow side.

We never felt crowded, never had any issues with getting an elevator. Thought the food, especially in the Lido was the best of any ship we have been on.

I would suggest, if you are thinking of a cruise on the Koningsdam, give it a try. Don't be scared off by all the criticism.

I agree. The ship is beautiful and should be seen. I still think the na is my favorite ship but the koningsdam is a decent ship. I would rather sail on the k than a few other ships in the fleet.

[slabeaume]

there are a lot of complaints about the promenade deck for walking, but they did put a walking track on the 11th or 12th deck. It is rather short, but you could go off the track and walk the length of the deck pretty easily. I believe they call it the sports deck and have exercise equipment as well as a court on it, too. It's a great place to go to catch sunset since hardly anyone uses it. For a ship with so many people on it, I found it surprisingly empty.

[stickey_mouse]

Anything new or special about the casino on Koningsdam? or is it similar to those found on the other ships?

[stickey_mouse]

Also, since it appears that the Culinary Arts dinners are going away, I wonder if that space will change?

[caribbeanboy]

A bit off topic, but is there a door on deck 5 which give you access to the front of the ship?

[Daisyloo]

Also, since it appears that the Culinary Arts dinners are going away, I wonder if that space will change?

 

 

Yeah it looks like they will get rid of it. Too bad, as we really liked it. But HAL didn't seem to do enough to advertise it, as it was never busy.

[InTheWASide]

there are a lot of complaints about the promenade deck for walking, but they did put a walking track on the 11th or 12th deck. It is rather short, but you could go off the track and walk the length of the deck pretty easily. I believe they call it the sports deck and have exercise equipment as well as a court on it, too. It's a great place to go to catch sunset since hardly anyone uses it. For a ship with so many people on it, I found it surprisingly empty.

 

It's an interesting issue that gets brought up here:

 

Concern: I want somewhere to sit and watch the ocean

Solution: There are spots throughout the deck where you can (varies by ships but there are spaces better than others on every ship)

Concern: I don't want to be specifically right there

Solution: They have chairs on the upper decks and at both pools as well as numerous inside spaces then

Concern: But I want shade and I want it outdoors

Solution: Both pools would be great for that

Concern: The lido pool has windows that block some air and they play music in there and I want it 100% SILENT, and the aft pool isn't the view I want and it can still get hot up there

Solution: You could always get a room with a verandah

Concern: I'm not paying for that!

Solution: Or one of the ships with a lanai room

Concern: No! And people can see me

Solution: Actually they couldn't. It's mirrored one way glass

Concern: Still not doing it

Solution: Some ships have the Retreat Cabanas, then you can get precisely what you want

Concern: I'm not paying for that either... and it's too high anyway. I want low and close to the water

Solution: I don't know what to tell you then since you're not working to find a space that is even a nice compromise of what you want and you just choose to be mad about it

Concern: HAL has gone down hill, this is just another sign of that

Solution: You can always go to another line or only sail on the ships that "meet your standards"

Concern: I do. I only go on the ships that I like the setup on. Never or rarely been on the ones I'm bent on complaining about in as many posts as I can find a loose connection to the topic

 

If you've been on this board for any amount of time you've no doubt seen these exact interactions occur on more than a few threads

[stickey_mouse]

Yeah it looks like they will get rid of it. Too bad, as we really liked it. But HAL didn't seem to do enough to advertise it, as it was never busy.

I was just looking at HAL's offerings spreadsheet, and the only difference between Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam is that the latter will not offer Dinner at the Culinary Arts Center. Knowing that this far in advance, I wonder if they will change the design of the space.

[InTheWASide]

Also, since it appears that the Culinary Arts dinners are going away, I wonder if that space will change?

 

Believe it will still be the same type of venue but different name now obviously... America's Test Kitchen... and I assume some aesthetic components of the room may change

[stickey_mouse]

Believe it will still be the same type of venue but different name now obviously... America's Test Kitchen... and I assume some aesthetic components of the room may change

I wonder if it will look less like a dining venue and more like a theater.

[FPJC03]

If you understand how modern companies plan out their new ventures (Ships), you will realize that they create focus groups for the demographics that they most want to pursue and follow their suggestions.

HAL, like most major cruise lines, is looking to go after a younger crowd, between 25-55. The AARP generation ( I am one of them) does spend a lot on vacations, but we are not as critical as the next generation of cruisers. To compete with RCCL, Carnival, Celebrity and Norwegian, HAL has to modernize and brighten up its decor, offer more modern entertainment and update the cuisine too.

[pv girl]

It's an interesting issue that gets brought up here:

 

Concern: I want somewhere to sit and watch the ocean

Solution: There are spots throughout the deck where you can (varies by ships but there are spaces better than others on every ship)

Concern: I don't want to be specifically right there

Solution: They have chairs on the upper decks and at both pools as well as numerous inside spaces then

Concern: But I want shade and I want it outdoors

Solution: Both pools would be great for that

Concern: The lido pool has windows that block some air and they play music in there and I want it 100% SILENT, and the aft pool isn't the view I want and it can still get hot up there

Solution: You could always get a room with a verandah

Concern: I'm not paying for that!

Solution: Or one of the ships with a lanai room

Concern: No! And people can see me

Solution: Actually they couldn't. It's mirrored one way glass

Concern: Still not doing it

Solution: Some ships have the Retreat Cabanas, then you can get precisely what you want

Concern: I'm not paying for that either... and it's too high anyway. I want low and close to the water

Solution: I don't know what to tell you then since you're not working to find a space that is even a nice compromise of what you want and you just choose to be mad about it

Concern: HAL has gone down hill, this is just another sign of that

Solution: You can always go to another line or only sail on the ships that "meet your standards"

Concern: I do. I only go on the ships that I like the setup on. Never or rarely been on the ones I'm bent on complaining about in as many posts as I can find a loose connection to the topic

 

If you've been on this board for any amount of time you've no doubt seen these exact interactions occur on more than a few threads

 

This is so true! And really funny as it applies to lots of thread topics - folks are offered reasonable solutions and workarounds to their objections and dislikes - and they reject them all.

[Sea girl 23]

If you understand how modern companies plan out their new ventures (Ships), you will realize that they create focus groups for the demographics that they most want to pursue and follow their suggestions.

HAL, like most major cruise lines, is looking to go after a younger crowd, between 25-55. The AARP generation ( I am one of them) does spend a lot on vacations, but we are not as critical as the next generation of cruisers. To compete with RCCL, Carnival, Celebrity and Norwegian, HAL has to modernize and brighten up its decor, offer more modern entertainment and update the cuisine too.

 

If HAL doesn't try something new,the word of mouth on them will be that they're stuck in the past.Thank goodness they've updated some of the ships(especially the Westerdam) accordingly.