Great Western Med Cruise

Koningsdam Cruise Review to Europe - Mediterranean

Cruises: 7+ cruises
Reviews: 2
Helpful Votes: 89

Overall rating:

4.7 out of 5
Koningsdam

20 Night Best Of The Mediterranean (Rome Roundtrip)

Sail date: April 11, 2018

Ship: Koningsdam

Cabin type: Suite

Cabin number: 7189

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 6 years ago

Review summary

We wanted to see the coasts of Spain, France and central Italy. The ship was continuing for an eastern Med swing, but, for us, that journey is for another day. The Koningsdam was perfect and the itinerary very fulfilling. It more than met our expectations and certainly would be highly recommended. Well done Holland America.

Embarkation

5 out of 5
Extremely smooth. No long lines and we moved through with ease.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5
All food on the Koningsdam is served with great care. We enjoyed asian specialty Tamarind, steak in the Pinnacle, pasta in Canaletto, fish in Sea De Mer and great burgers in Dive-In. And the new Gelato bar? Out of this world. The Lido Buffet was excellent too. We loved having breakfast each morning in our suite while enjoying a sunny Mediterranean morning.

Onboard Activities

4 out of 5

Entertainment

My career was entertainment. We opt to use our time in the Casino or in other ways.

Children's Programs

No children with us.

Service and Staff

5 out of 5
All service staff were friendly and enjoyable. Always greeted with smiles.

Ship Quality

5 out of 5
All common areas were clean, well cared for and appreciated. A high standard indeed.

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5
We booked the same suite for two cruises and would again. It is a rear corner Neptune Suite with nearly 180 degrees of clear view, a very large deck and loads of comfort. Although it is quite a distance between our cabin and the attractions at the other end of the ship, the exercise was a positive. This large space is a welcomed luxury.

Ship tip

Plan your excursions and restaurant choices before sailing in order to guarantee your preferences.

Ports of call

Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy Did not visit port

We stayed in Rome for 3 extra days.

Gibraltar (U.K.)

4 out of 5
Loved the port activity. It's a narrow channel with many types of vessels stopping and passing through. I travel with my boat radio, so I was able to monitor the traffic and view the activity.

Cadiz (Seville), Spain Did not visit port

Seville was an option, but since I'm 6'5" tall, I cannot fit into normal bus seats. We opted to pass.

Barcelona, Spain

5 out of 5
Our adult daughter and husband also had a rear Neptune suite. Four of us hired a private van/guide and were treated to a special view of this beautiful city. We loved the people, pace and history of this great coastal city.

Marseille (Provence), France

3 out of 5
We toured in the morning along the coast and through the hilly part of the city. It is a very nice setting.

Monte Carlo, Monaco

5 out of 5
Again, our 4 family members hired a private van/guide and enjoyed Monaco like rock stars. This city is more beautiful than pictures and videos present. We absolutely fell in love with Monte Carlo. Preparations were underway for the Monte Carlo Grand Prix May 27, (an event we always watch on television, to capture the scenery). In addition they were hosting a world tennis competition and an exotic car event. We learned that a 3 night stay at the Fairmont Hotel on race weekend was $30,000 (USD). But for a city with so much wealth, the price was a drop in the bucket. This was a highlight of our cruise.

Livorno (Florence & Pisa), Italy Did not visit port

Again bus rides and long legs don't mix. We passed on the private car as well.

Disembarkation

5 out of 5
Very easy and organized.
Was this review helpful? 46

3 Comments

Gwbigdog    2 years ago

Thanks for sharing your cruise.

majmom96    6 years ago

Great review! I agree 100%. Holland America is a great luxury cruise line and the Koningsdam is one of our favorite HAL ships. And the Tamarind is a wonderful venue. 🍸

MarineVet71    6 years ago

Glad you enjoyed yourself

Other reviews of this sailing