6 Reasons To Sail Onboard Holland America Line's Koningsdam
Cruise lines,
22/Oct/2018
Launched in 2016 it's the largest, most technologically advanced and most luxurious Holland America Line ship ever built. Ms Koningsdam combines 21st century elegance, nautical tradition and signature service. Featuring sensational dining options, an abundance of world-class entertainment and stunning interior designs, this ship is a true destination itself. With so much to be explored and appreciated on board, here are just 6 spectacular reasons why Koningsdam is our Ship of the Week and should be yours too…
1. Be impressed with exceptional dining experiences
Being a five-star cruise line, it’s natural to have high expectations when it comes to experiences with food on board. However, to say the dining surpassed our expectations would be an understatement. From the very first experience with the Lido Market buffet during our first lunch on board, the bar had been set and we knew there was so much more to come. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a sophisticated and wide-ranged buffet before. Offering cuisines from all over the world with five themed stations to choose from you could easily spend hours up there. (HAL’s signature bread and butter pudding in the dessert station is a MUST try!) For something more sophisticated there are stunning premium venues such as Sel de Mer, a delectable French seafood eatery – and our personal favourite on Deck 10, the sublime Tamarind. A Pan-Asian restaurant whose all-round inspiration has been noticeably taken from the Far East. With striking Asian aromas and sensational service from start to finish, it’s a truly memorable experience. We could have eaten every item on the menu - but we highly recommend the soft-shell crab appetizer, and the lobster and king prawn sushi.
2. Immerse yourself in the spectacular World Stage
Prepare to be seriously impressed by this game-changing theatre. The World Stage is Koningsdam’s main stage venue where performances and productions take place. It’s said to be “where entertainment meets innovation”, and we certainly vouch for this. This venue features an inspiring two-story, 270-degree wraparound LED screen surrounding guests in high-definition. We were luckily enough to watch a fabulous hour and a half long musical performance – filled with classic hits, incredible dancing and fabulous costumes – but it doesn’t stop there. Holland America has in fact partnered with BBC Earth to bring unforgettable new ways to experience the world's natural wonders. Through the breath-taking programming, guests are taken closer to the ocean and the natural world through a ground-breaking concert of David Attenborough’s Planet Earth. Not limited to the viewing, the experience includes game shows and trivia where cruisers can get involved and compete with the family on their knowledge of nature.
3. Experience the legendary service of Holland America staff
You can build a stunning ship, offer exceptional food and countless entertainment options - but if the service is lacking on a cruise ship, then it really is all for nothing! The service is paramount to your cruise experience, and fortunately Holland America have an incredible reputation for ‘World Class Service and Style’ and this is seamlessly carried out on Koningsdam. We learnt during our trip that HAL staff are in fact trained in dedicated training centres in both Indonesia and the Philippines, which makes perfect sense to us as every staff member without fail is devoted to attending your every need. Something which really stood out for us was the stateroom service. We were personally introduced by a member of the housekeeping team who would be looking after us during our stay. It’s very noticeable that the staff aim to get to know the guests individually and it serves as a superb touch. Guests also have the 24-hour room service option in their cabins, which is very handy. You can eat from the comfort of your room within just 25 minutes of ordering. (At no extra cost) Unlike other cruise ships, you can also order breakfast on the day of disembarkation – get in!
4. Learn how to cook in Americas Test Kitchen
Enhance your culinary knowledge with a fun live experience of America’s Test Kitchen! Set in the Culinary Arts Center, Holland America have partnered up with one of America’s biggest cooking shows, to offer live cooking demonstrations to guests in the flesh, as well as hands-on workshops. Guests can learn some fantastic and innovative cooking techniques as well as mouth-watering recipes, all at the hands of some incredible top chefs. Our expert on the day prepared two salmon dishes for us, giving us some handy tips for when cooking the fish, as well as advice when buying it too. We felt like this was a great activity to have on board and the chefs came across both passionate and energetic, contributing to fun, engaging demonstration. The kitchen closely resembles the actual test kitchen from the TV show, and you are also shown clips from other famous chefs in the many screens around the room. The experience felt both refined and professional, but personal to. Luckily this is a daily and complimentary activity on board, but the rooms do fill it up quite quickly so try and grab a front row seat! We highly recommend this for both foodies and those who want to up their culinary knowledge.
5. Get your groove on at BB Kings Blues Club
Truly one of my personal favourite touches. As far as musical entertainment goes, you can’t really get much better than the BB Kings Blues Club. If you’re a keen fan of music you will have serious appreciation for this talented band - and even if you’re not, I guarantee you’ll be shaking a leg by the end of their set. Direct from Beale Street, B.B King's All Stars bring the best of Memphis music to sea. From funky and fast to soulful and smooth, this 8-piece charismatic band can be found performing 6 nights a week in the dazzling Queen’s Lounge. The band features two vocalists who are backed by rhythm and horn sections including a sensational saxophone and drummer. With a dancefloor in the middle of the room, the band subtly encourages viewing guests to get up on their feet and live in the moment with them. At first when I looked around people seemed reluctant - but as soon as the intro to “Play That Funky Music White Boy” came on, the dancefloor was immersed with couples and friends, and the vibe was infectious. In the Queens Lounge you can also enjoy signature cocktails like Pina Coladas and delicious Strawberry Daiquiris while you get your groove on!
6. End your evening watching a movie under the stars
After an exhilarating day at sea, an open-air cinema is the perfect way to unwind with your loved ones. Excitingly guests can enjoy complimentary films, popcorn and snacks served on the Lido Deck under the night sky. With an innovative retractable roof this allows you to lie under the stars while staying cosy and warm under your blankets. Both classic and brand-new movies are played on a giant LED screen nightly. A real treat!
