I have sailed with Holland America for more than 20 years because I love to dance (you know real dancing that has actual steps). Prior to their "change in direction" (which I wasn't aware of) every DAM ship had a nice three-piece dance combo in the Ocean Bar that played a variety of dance music and could accommodate virtually any request. They had other venues for people who preferred other types of music and dancing.

On the Koningsdam, there is only one dance floor larger than a postage stamp, and it is in the BB King Blues Club. If you don't like loud music and dancing that requires nothing more than moving your feet and shaking your butt, you are out of luck. They did throw us a few "crumbs" - four afternoon "tea dances" with music by the ship's orchestra. These lasted 45 minutes each time, so we had a grand total of three hours of decent dancing on a two-week cruise. According to the onboard staff - Cruise Director and Hotel Director - this is the model for the direction HAL is taking all of their ships, so this will be my last HAL cruise.

I don't blame HAL for pursuing a different market - younger and more upscale - but it would be a simple matter to accommodate their loyal Mariners as well. Why is there no dance floor in the Crow's Nest or in Billboard Onboard? I, and other dancers I spoke to on the ship, would have been happy with recorded dance music in the Crow's Nest. It feels that they are not just wooing a different audience, they are actively trying to shed themselves of their more traditional clientele, and I find this hurtful. Read more