Koningsdam Review
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I had been warned that I would be travelling with my 84 year old mother on the "old people's boat", but I had also heard that Holland America was known for its enrichment activities, particularly its lectures while at sea. Well, enrichment of passengers has vanished from the activity sheet, while enrichment of HAL seems to be the company's new guiding principle.
The ship itself is a lot less glitzy than its NCL and Celebrity counterparts, which I appreciated. Thankfully, it does not have a multi-story atrium which usually only serves to amplify sound. I still have nightmares about the dance lessons offered by Celebrity at the bottom of the atrium, where you became the unwitting entertainment for 8 floors of passengers peering downwards. Also, although there is hawking of merchandise, it is a lot less in your face than on other lines.
The major problem with our 7-day cruise from Amsterdam up to Norway was the utter lack of anything to do. My mother, a veteran of many cruise lines, but a first time HAL cruiser, was floored to see that there was very little to do on at sea days, and even fewer activities (if that's possible) when in port. During the week, there were exactly two arts and crafts sessions, one scheduled when we were on the brink of being cleared to go ashore at Oslo. Free fitness activities consisted of an occasional morning stretch, and an organized walk around the ship. Two dance classes, one scheduled during a port talk. No zumba. Yoga was for a fee.
Cabin Review
Port Reviews
Amsterdam
Spend a day before and a day after the cruise in Amsterdam. Highly recommend the Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House. Avoid the lines for both of these by getting a timed entry ticket online before you arrive in Amsterdam. We also went to Zaanse Schans, the recreated windmill village, which was touristy but charming. Definitely worth it to climb up inside a windmill, and to see wooden shoes being made. The Zaanse Museum is also extremely well put together.
Flam
Breathtakingly beautiful. We took the bus to the Stegastein viewpoint, then Fjord Safari (really fantastic, best thing we did the entire cruise), and then the Flamsbana train. The train is really only for train buffs. It's also a stampede to board and the the cars are hot and uncomfortable.
Stavanger
Took a boat up the Lysefjord, which had much different scenery than Flam's Naeroyfjord. The city was pleasant enough. Unfortunately, the botanical garden was closed that day, or else we would have gone there.
Kristiansand
Should be skipped entirely. We took the suggested walk on the town map. A waste of time.
Oslo
We bought Oslo cards (an amazing value) and hopped the ferry to Bygdoy to visit the Fram, Kon Tiki, and Viking Ship museums. Each was fascinating in its own way, but perhaps the Fram was the best (although where else can you see real Viking ships)? Then a bus back into downtown and a pilgrimage to the National Gallery to see The Scream. There was still plenty to see and do. Kristiansand should be skipped and the ship should overnight in Oslo.