The Retreat on Koningsdam

[ScottC4746]

Has anyone every gotten The Retreat on this ship?  We have a 17 night cruise with two sets of 5 straight days at sea and thought it would be nice since we don't have a veranda.

I tried to look on the website and couldn't find anything.  Can someone help me find a link to it? 

[CruiserBruce]

The Retreat Cabanas? Yes, we did. A search would find several threads on the topic. The area is nice, probably a bit more private than the Retreat areas on other HAL ships. Bigger area, more cabanas than on other ships.

 

The major issue? The cabanas, both standard and family, are smaller, and have less furnishings in them. They make up with more tables and chairs in the common area, but the smaller "private" areas and less furnishings are an issue.

[dfish]

If you contact Ship Services, 1-800-541-1576, they can give you up to date prices and information.  The flyer I have is from 2015 and I doubt the prices are accurate at this time.   It doesn't include the Koningsdam on it, but the amenities would be the same.   

2015-Cabanas.pdf

[catl331]

Here are 2017/2018 prices including K'dam:

 http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/here/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/HAL-Cabanas.pdf

[cruisen cracker]

On our recent 22 day cruise on the Koningsdam I took a look at the Retreat each time I visited the Crow's Nest.  Only saw two of the cabanas in use the whole time.   $85 a day for the privilege of sitting in a private wind storm was a little too much it seems.  Except for warm weather cruising or one-upmanship, I would say they are a waste.  HAL could put the space too much better use for the passengers.  I doubt if they made the cost of service back during the 22 days.

[Ryten]

We have rented a cabana on the Konigsdam and can confirm that like the other ship's it is a great  treat, particularly if you have have an inside cabin. The regular cabana does not have a full table like the Vista class ships but does have a small "box" , for lack of a better term with two chairs and two padded loungers. I believe the price was $499 for a 7 day cruise and $799 for up to a 12 day cruise. You can reserve them as a prior post has indicated by calling ship services. Our usual preference is having an aft facing cabana for ventilation purposes but the side cabanas on the Koningsdam did have additional air slots in the sides that made a much better air flow.

[CruiserBruce]

1 hour ago, cruisen cracker said:

On our recent 22 day cruise on the Koningsdam I took a look at the Retreat each time I visited the Crow's Nest.  Only saw two of the cabanas in use the whole time.   $85 a day for the privilege of sitting in a private wind storm was a little too much it seems.  Except for warm weather cruising or one-upmanship, I would say they are a waste.  HAL could put the space too much better use for the passengers.  I doubt if they made the cost of service back during the 22 days.

Its only $85/day if you buy one day at a time. Buying for the entire cruise is much less...the rate varying by the length of the cruise. The price can be as low as about $37/day. 

 

As someone who as actually occupied cabanas on 5 different HAL ships over 7 cruises, it is our opinion they are definitely worth it. Our dermatologist agrees. 

[catl331]

3 hours ago, cruisen cracker said:

I would say they are a waste.

They would be a waste of money for us because we are rarely in one place on the ship for much more than hour, except at a show or dinner that lasts longer.

Edited May 1, 2019 by catl331

[Copper10-8]

Snapped these of K-dam's Retreat - Did not want to step past the sign in feat of being keel-hauled 🤓

 

 

 

[RMLincoln]

Good you were cautious John, we know how hard-nosed those security guys can be!!

m--  😉

[Ryten]

Probably should check his passport and appropriate visa. As to the keel-hauling, I hear there are no more barnacles that would make it particularly unpleasant, but the azipods may be a problem.

[ithaca gal]

On 5/1/2019 at 12:35 PM, cruisen cracker said:

On our recent 22 day cruise on the Koningsdam I took a look at the Retreat each time I visited the Crow's Nest.  Only saw two of the cabanas in use the whole time.   $85 a day for the privilege of sitting in a private wind storm was a little too much it seems.  Except for warm weather cruising or one-upmanship, I would say they are a waste.  HAL could put the space too much better use for the passengers.  I doubt if they made the cost of service back during the 22 days.

I always get a kick out of these negative comments regarding cabanas made by people who have never experienced a cruise while using them!  

 

We love the cabanas and really don't care to sail on a ship without them, now that we have been spoiled.  One-upmanship?  HAHAHAHAHA  No one on the ship knows that we have a cabana, so I don't know where the one-upmanship comes in!  My husband loves to relax and read while cruising, but the balcony is so isolating.  This way we have "neighbors" if we choose to chat with them (have made some wonderful friendships this way) and we have wonderful stewards who will bring us a burger from the Dive In, drinks or anything we would like for lunch from the Lido.  Sparkling wine and strawberries are served every afternoon, along with ice cold bottled water.  For us it is well worth the money.  

 

I enjoy going to trivia or hitting the casino on sea days.  I always know where to go to re-connect with my husband.  Same for him …. if he wants to go down to the Lido pool area and enjoy the hot tub, he knows he can catch up with me in the cabana.

 

But please continue to disparage the cabanas …… we want to make sure they are available when we want to cruise!  (By the way, "taking a look" at the Cabana area does not let you know if a certain number of cabanas are in use at any given time.  People often wander in and out during the day and, unless you walked through the entire area -- which, of course, you shouldn't -- you can't see all of the cabanas in the Retreat.  Just sayin'.)

Edited May 3, 2019 by ithaca gal
Added information

[TrolleyGirl]

2 hours ago, ithaca gal said:

We love the cabanas and really don't care to sail on a ship without them, now that we have been spoiled

 

Shhhhh, we don't want everyone knowing how fabulous the retreats really are!  I prefer it when the area is referred to as tent city.  It sounds so unappealing, that way when I want to rent a cabana for a week they are not all booked.

 

On ‎5‎/‎1‎/‎2019 at 12:35 PM, cruisen cracker said:

$85 a day for the privilege of sitting in a private wind storm was a little too much it seems.  Except for warm weather cruising or one-upmanship, I would say they are a waste.  HAL could put the space too much better use for the passengers.  I doubt if they made the cost of service back during the 22 days.

 

I have been on the Vista ships before the Retreat area was put into place.  That area was always a dead zone and not generating any income.  Now it generates money on a regular basis.  The only expense is the original build, maintenance, and the staffing of 2 cabana stewards.  I'm confident the rental fees of the cabanas more than cover the expense.  Otherwise, HAL wouldn't keep adding them to the new ships and retrofitting the old ships. 

[ithaca gal]

5 hours ago, TrolleyGirl said:

 

Shhhhh, we don't want everyone knowing how fabulous the retreats really are!  I prefer it when the area is referred to as tent city.  It sounds so unappealing, that way when I want to rent a cabana for a week they are not all booked.

 

 

I'm sorry!!!!!  You are right!  The Retreat Cabanas are a waste of space and a waste of time.  I cannot recommend them to anyone!  LOL

[ScottC4746]

I have heard that when a ship has Retreat Cabanas and Lido Cabanas to opt for the Retreat Cabanas as they get more of a breeze than the Lido.

[dickalp]

Can anyone speak a little more about the size difference and if the family cabanas can still fit 4 loungers??

[*Miss G*]

24 minutes ago, dickalp said:

Can anyone speak a little more about the size difference and if the family cabanas can still fit 4 loungers??

 

It’s two loungers with a side table and two chairs with a side table.  Comfortable but cozy.  We were in and out to get the sunshine, anyway, so the size didn’t really affect us.

[CruisingCanucksTwo]

The NS and Rotterdam have a hot tub in the Retreat Cabana area - that appears to not be the case on the Koningsdam - can anyone confirm that?

[Florida_gal_50]

1 hour ago, CruisingCanucksTwo said:

The NS and Rotterdam have a hot tub in the Retreat Cabana area - that appears to not be the case on the Koningsdam - can anyone confirm that?

Yes, no hot tub on the k.

[BigMattT]

On 7/19/2022 at 10:18 AM, CruisingCanucksTwo said:

The NS and Rotterdam have a hot tub in the Retreat Cabana area - that appears to not be the case on the Koningsdam - can anyone confirm that?

 

There is no hot tub in the Koningsdam retreat. I used the (awesome) retreat a couple months ago.