Disappointing
Koningsdam Cruise Review to Hawaii
18 Night Circle Hawaii (Vancouver Roundtrip)
Sail date: April 13, 2023
Ship: Koningsdam
Cabin type: Oceanview
Cabin number: 7003
Traveled as: Couple
Reviewed: 1 year ago
Review summary
The Koningsdam is boring and overcrowded and is only suitable for elderly or physically challenged passengers. For them it seemed to be fine. The staff were amazing and the ship was clean. Masks were recommended once COVID broke out but were not enforced except for staff. 119 cases of COVID on board. Poorly provisioned - always running out of things. Communication is very bad. Cruised many, many tines but first and last on Holland America. Such a shame.Embarkation
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
Canaletto
Food was tasty and plentiful- odd location at the end of the Lido buffet so really noisy.
Lido Market
Really busy after the first few days because the dining room was so bad. Servers were a mix of surly and nice. Waiters tried hard. Carpet was always disgusting.
The Dining Room
Very disappointing. Lunch and breakfast were always the same menu, waiters were uncaring and food was lukewarm and poorly presented.
Tamarind Restaurant
Superb food and service. Absolute highlight of the trip. Everyone should try it.
Pinnacle Grill
We went twice and were disappointed. New York steak was full of gristle and tough, the shrimp had not been deveined (poop track still in place) and the lobster was so tough I couldn’t cut it.
Piano Bar
Large lounge with good seating. Pianists in Boardwalk were very entertaining.
Grand Dutch Café
Very nice. Comfortable seating, excellent coffee.
Explorations Café
Long lineups
Dive-In
Easy, efficient, messy
Culinary Arts Center
Non-existent on this cruise with no explanation
Club Orange
Missing benefits, lukewarm food that was basically the same as the dining room, no priority boarding or disembarking. Basically a $300 tote bag.
Onboard Activities
Rolling Stone Rock Room
Very dark lounge. The band was horrible - the music was good and they played well but their singing was cringe worthy. Really bad!
Sea View Pool
Would have given this a higher score if it wasn’t for the smokers who have a large portion of it and the smoke pervades the whole area. Putting the bar in the smoking area is gross.
Sliding Dome Cover
Opened and closed often as warranted. Much better than other cruise ships who often just leave it closed.
Lido Pool
Small but nice.
Jogging Track
Really good. Could do with some direction signs so everyone goes the same way
Entertainment
Billboard Onboard
Dual pianists were entertaining but the bar service was really, really slow.
World Stage
Seats were comfortable and views were unimpeded but it was too small. Lots of people sat there all evening as there was nothing else to do. Many people could not get in.
Music Walk
3lounges - very, very loud. No where else to go.
Lincoln Center Stage
Non/existent in this cruise with no explanation. Very disappointed.
B.B. King's Blues Club
Very popular but also very small so the noise was deafening.
BBC Earth In Concert
Non-existent on this voyage with no explanation
Art Gallery
Non-existent for the first half of the cruise.
Children's Programs
Service and Staff
Ship Quality
Cabin / Stateroom
Ship tip
Don’t do it unless you’re physically challenged and over 80.
Ports of call
Vancouver (Canada Place), British Columbia