Changes on Koningsdam

[Vict0riann]

We have had a very busy 13 days on Koningsdam and are just now catching our breath!  We had interesting tours in some old and some new ports, and yesterday, in Civitavecchia started our second leg of our Collector’s Cruise, a transAtlantic to Fort Lauderdale.  Our “When and Where” yesterday looked a bit strange, but I figured it was because it was a turnaround day, but the same format appeared last night for today, and I’m wondering if it is the same fleetwide?

 

 

There is typing on the inside, needless to say, but it does look strange to see nothing on the front.  I will let you know if it stays this way!

 

One change which I do like is this:

 

 

Longer happy hours and we don’t have to drink the same drink ....

[Nanner]

Ann, glad to see you and Pat are still cruising!  I have no idea about the daily planner, but the happy hour change is most welcome. I hope we see that on the Maasdam in February. Bill and I definitely don't have the same taste in cocktails.

 

Have a great cruise!

 

 

 

 

 

[VMax1700]

Ann, how is the stateroom?

Colin

[jbecker6469]

Ann, thanks for the update.  We will be boarding on the 13th and will enjoy the new Happy Hour rules.  Appreciate any info you have time to share.  Hope you have a fun and peaceful TA.

Jim 

[Vict0riann]

The room is great, Colin!  We had 8 people on our veranda for the sail aways, and there was space for a few more!  We do hear the beat from the Rolling Stone Rock Room,  but after their last set, all is quiet, and we don’t smell any smoke from the casino.  People in the same room on the port side say they don’t hear anything - they are 2 decks over the Billboard on Board (duelling pianos), so that might have been a better choice, but we are very happy in 4045.  

 

And thank you Nanner, we know we will be sorry to disembark on the 13th!  Love those sea days.

 

Jim, if you have any specific questions, I would be happy to try to find the answers.  

 

A few odds odds and ends...

 

We have been advised that we can no longer treat other passengers in the specialty restaurants to get the 5-star discount.  However, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.  We had my cousin and her husband and Pat’s sister and her husband on the first leg, and we took them to all the venues.  We got the discount in Tamarind and the rijstaffel dinner there, also in the Pinnacle and Sel de Mer, but not Canaletto.  

 

Piano players Damian and Sam are excellent, according to my cousin’s husband.  He was there almost every evening.  

 

There  is a piano in the Ocean Bar, but no pianist..   The Rolling Stone group and the BB King’s group seem to be SRO every evening, but too loud for us.  We are enjoying the quintet (4 strings and piano) in the Lincoln Centre Stage.  

 

Jim McParland just joined the ship as a speaker yesterday.  He was on the Grand S. A on Prinsendam  in the spring, and was excellent.  Looking forward to his talks.  Captain Albert is also on board, and we are enjoying the humour of Captain Timmers as well.  

 

 

[kazu]

3 hours ago, Vict0riann said:

Longer happy hours and we don’t have to drink the same drink ....

 

Wow - that’s great 😄 

I hope that change moves to the entire fleet.

[Vict0riann]

3 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

Wow - that’s great 😄 

I hope that change moves to the entire fleet.

 

I’m not sure if it applies to the 10 p.m. happy hour, also, in the Crow’s Nest.  I’ll have to check.  

[bennybear]

The happy hour just makes so much more sense, and the timing is better.  So many times at 4 to 5 you are just getting make from Shore,   And My taste is different than my DH!  

 

Are you in a Neptune? 

[Vict0riann]

We are not in a Neptune, just the lowest priced (I think) verandah with a really long balcony - it mist be 15 feet long.  An obstructed view, but if you are standing it is fine.  I will send pictures to the website we know about.  

 

Pat and our our friend Martha tried out the new happy hour in the Ocean Bar while I napped this afternoon.  They were brought 2 drinks each!  Had to sort it all out with the supervisor.  No nuts until they asked.  The supervisor said the new pricing is just for today, so we’ll have to see what happens tomorrow.  Eek!  The right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing.

[richwmn]

A couple of quick notes. I am currently on Noordam in the South Pacific. The "new" format of where & when is the same as we have had since we left Vancouver 3 weeks ago. It may just be moving over to Koningsdam.

Happy Hour on Noordam has been the same as always, 4 - 5 in specific bars and you have to purchase the same drink. However, additionally there have been "Happy Half Hours" in the bar where trivia is being played during the game, and "Happy 15 minutes" between sets at BB King.

 

[mocruzer]

8 hours ago, Vict0riann said:

 

One change which I do like is this:

 

 

Longer happy hours and we don’t have to drink the same drink ....

That is great news 👍  When we were on the Koningsdam in June, they only had HH between 4 and 5 pm and we weren't usually back from shore excursions yet...  

[boom_boom]

On the Eurodam sailing from Vancouver on the 15th of Oct, we had the same new information format and same Happy Hour .

[bennybear]

Balcony sounds great!   What cabin?   We had a really deep one that was lovely,  happy crossing!

[sevenseasnomad]

13 minutes ago, bennybear said:

Balcony sounds great!   What cabin?   We had a really deep one that was lovely,  happy crossing!

I believe they said they were in 4045.

 

Really like the change to Happy Hour, especially the choice of 2nd drink.  As others have said, not every couple or two people traveling together prefer the same drink.  It's a welcome change, which I hope transfers to the other ships in the fleet.

[cruzn single]

I was on b2b on Zuiderdam and just got off on 10/30.  For at changed on When and Where at end of first cruise.  At HH, they were still enforcing second drink of same drink, at least last week.

[Vict0riann]

The new happy hour rule seems to have been a dud!Maybe they forgot to tell the bar stewards... anyway, we’re back to the old way.  I will check again later in the cruise.  

[kazu]

3 hours ago, Vict0riann said:

The new happy hour rule seems to have been a dud!Maybe they forgot to tell the bar stewards... anyway, we’re back to the old way.  I will check again later in the cruise.  

 

What a shame.  

 

I guess it was too good to last 😞. Do let us know if it changes back to the new one and enjoy your cruise 🙂 

[Bookited]

That is the same format for the when and where that we had on the Amsterdam last month.

[Vict0riann]

We are having Sit & Stitch in the Captain’s Corner of the Crow’s Nest on sea days, this should be the first one.  I am early.  I seem to remember that this area was set up differently in 2018.   It is quite comfortable now, and I found two of Captain Card’s paintings, one of the Koningsdam.

Edited November 4, 2019 by Vict0riann

[Cruise Suzy]

4 hours ago, Vict0riann said:

 We are having Sit & Stitch in the Captain’s Corner of the Crow’s Nest on sea days, this should be the first one.  I am early.  I seem to remember that this area was set up differently in 2018.   It is quite comfortable now, and I found two of Captain Card’s paintings, one of the Koningsdam.

 

It was that way in February 2019 when we had our Roll Call meet there. Same pictures on wall.

[LocoLoco1]

Checked my PICs of Mar2019 with gals Sit n Stitch area. Same set-up. 

[gigianne]

Anne, we are embarking on the 13th, it would have been nice to see you and Pat again!

[Judyrem]

On 11/1/2019 at 8:47 AM, Vict0riann said:

We have had a very busy 13 days on Koningsdam and are just now catching our breath!  We had interesting tours in some old and some new ports, and yesterday, in Civitavecchia started our second leg of our Collector’s Cruise, a transAtlantic to Fort Lauderdale.  Our “When and Where” yesterday looked a bit strange, but I figured it was because it was a turnaround day, but the same format appeared last night for today, and I’m wondering if it is the same fleetwide?

 

 

There is typing on the inside, needless to say, but it does look strange to see nothing on the front.  I will let you know if it stays this way!

 

One change which I do like is this:

 

 

Longer happy hours and we don’t have to drink the same drink ....

Ab Fab!😁

Do I see bouillabaisse on the menu?  I LOVE it!

 

 

I just read through the the thread and I see they have regressed to the old format, bummer.  😞

Edited November 5, 2019 by Judyrem

[Boatdrill]

Question about the Captain's Corner.......before the  "reimagining " of the Crow's Nest on most HAL ships,  the Captain's Corner was a lovely area for private gatherings, or an area to enjoy a quiet cocktail away from the CN bar.  Then shore ex moved into the Crow's Nest and the CC became a small lecture hall, with class room seating.

 

Does anyone know what the configuration of the Captain's Corner is now, on the Zuiderdam  ?  Is it still used for shore ex seminars, or has it been restored to its original purpose ?   The photo on VictOriann's post is encouraging. 

Edited November 6, 2019 by Boatdrill

[Vict0riann]

On 11/5/2019 at 2:46 AM, gigianne said:

Anne, we are embarking on the 13th, it would have been nice to see you and Pat again!

 

Perhaps we can wave at each other in passing!  Enjoy the Koningsdam.  

 

Last night we we went to De Librije in  the Pinnacle.  It was very good.  We were charged $98, then $39 was deducted for our discount.  Our friends (also 5 stars), were charged$20.  Duh?  We are waiting to see what the night auditor does.  

 

Tonight  the Lido is advertising bouillabaisse- but we are going to Sel de Mer - where there will also be bouillabaisse of course.  

 

The bar  stewards are saying that happy hour is 4 to 6:30, which is nice.  Hope that continues.  They are enforcing the “two same drink” rule, though.  We found that the least expensive bubbly is a kir royale, it’s less than Prosecco, so we will stick to that.  Yesterday in Funchal, we tasted quite a number of Madeiras, and I wanted something lighter than our usual wine, so we inquired about the kir royale - it doesn’t seem to be in the drinks menu, but still available, so I was happy.  Wang wangs are still around, too.