The Koningsdam is a big beautiful ship with a contemporary interior, but I can stay in a modern hotel anywhere. I like ships that look like ships. They have over-developed every square foot of floor and deck space in order to generate more revenue. I like ships that are open and airy. They did away with the promenade walk, but I like to sit in a deck chair on the promenade or walk it. The 10th. deck is enclosed with cabanas which I don't like. I like open space up there. Embarkation was the worst I've seen in 30 cruises on 9 lines. The Queen's Lounge is a great idea but HAL ruins it with the B.B. King Blues Band. They played little blues. Most of the music was ear splitting, hard core rock. We left several times because the music was so loud. It was just bar room junk anyway. HAL should empkasize swing and ballroom dance more. The afternoon tea was poor. The waiters did not wear traditional Indonesian garb as they did on other HAL cruises and they did not let us chose which tea we wanted. Instead, they brought pots of luke warm already brewed tea. Apparently HAL is doing away with tradition and going for a younger crowd. The dining room is over constructed so that you can't see the ocean from most tables. I like to look at the ocean while eating. The promenade deck and above is over built too. I felt like I was enclosed and not outdoors much.

Now for some good comments. The food in the dining room was outstandin. Food in the Pinnacle grill was excellent and the Tamarand restaurant was a special treat. I ate there twice. The service from staff all over the ship was outstanding - cabin steward, restaurant and lounge servers, customer service desk, everybody. I left my hearing aid in the hotel in which I stayed the night before the cruise. Staff at the customer service desk let me call the hotel for free twice to arrange to get it back. Their kindness is deeply appreciated. The theater is the best I've seen on a ship yet and so was the entertainment. My cabin was a family ocean view. It even had a separate shower room and bathroom. Very nice!

Those who like a contemporary design on a modern ship and who don't care about the traditions HAL upholds on other ship will like the Koningsdam This was my 8th. HAL cruise. If I sail with them again, I'll sail on one of the other HAL ships