Koningsdam Review
Rating by category
Additional details
We chose this cruise because we'd cruised with HAL twice previously on the Nieuw Amsterdam (2012 and 2013) and loved it. We booked this cruise on Koningsdam expecting it to be a WOW experience. We were disappointed with the experience and will not return to the Koningsdam and would carefully consider if indeed we go back to HAL at all.
We felt that the quality of food, service, friendliness and entertainment had diminished considerably. I feel from our trip on Koningsdam that HAL has slipped from being a premium cruise line and did not represent good value for money. Compared with previous cruises, there was very evident cost cutting going on.
Things we liked;
Cabin Review
Verandah Stateroom
Cabin excellent
Port Reviews
Barcelona
Tip for Barcelona: If Sagraga Familia in on your 'to-do' list- pre-book your visit. It's heavily pre-booked and the tickets are allocated in time-slots. We arrived at 8.30am thinking we'd get in because we were so early but there was no availabilty until 6.15 that evening. Luckily our sail away time was 11.30pm so we booked the 6.15 time slot and it's an amazing basilica. Well worth the visit.
For an amazing view of Barcelona - go for coffee or lunch at El Corte Engles at the top of Las Ramblas (Place de Catalunia) at the restaurant on the 8th floor. Food with a view!!
Watch out for the pickpockets!!
Valencia
The Arts & Science area is a must. Aquarium is excellent.
Get the local bus for 3.5 euro return to city centre rather than the ships transfer for 12.00 euro.
Gibraltar
Tip for Gibraltar - take a taxi to the cable car to avoid or minimise waiting in a queue! We walked to the cable car from the ship and then waited 2.5 hours in a queue. It was worth the wait though.