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Koningsdam

Jost Van Dyke

This review will be a comparison with a very similar ship, the Celebrity Silhouette.  I think many people might like the comparison since they are similar in size and offer a similar cruise experience.  The Koningsdam easily wins for destination since Norway Fjords are way more interesting than the caribbean beaches.  Plus the scenery while cruising the fjords is really breathtaking! In terms of food it is really tough, I would say that the people who work on Koningsdam are the friendliest I have ever seen, everyone smiles and wishes you a good day.  The Lido buffet on the Koningsdam is better than the silhouette(better breads, soups, salads), but the main dining room on the Silhouette had better service, presentation and food quality.  In terms of entertainment this one easily goes to Silhouette and an incredible cruise director named Sue Denning(you really can't find a better entertainer than Sue!).  On the Koningsdam I did like the 280 degree theatre with a fantastic presentation of BBC Blue Planet with music played by the Koningsdam musicians, really impressive, but the rest of the entertainment including the singers did not compare with the Silhouette.  Now to the ship itself, the rooms definitely look nicer on the Koningsdam since it is newer but the layout on the Silhouette is still better.  They have the best concept for adjoining rooms I have ever seen plus you can sit properly on the toilet whereas on the Koningsdam you can't if you are tall(really stupid design!). The Koningsdam is also lacking a large atrium, they have one but it is not impressive like on the Silhouette.  The interior of the Koningsdam with its music themed artwork does beat out the Silhouette so I would call it a tie up until the top deck, the designers of the Koningsdam totally forgot to do anything on the top deck of the ship, there is a basketball court and jogging track, but that is it!  What sets the Silhouette class ships apart from the competition is that they did an incredible job making the top deck an inviting place.  They have an outdoor restaurant that grills delicious steaks, comfortable hammocks, a supersized deck chair that fits four people all on a luxurious real grass lawn.  Before taking the cruise on the Silhouette I thought the "lawn" on the ship was a gimmick, but I found myself spending almost all my time up there whereas I almost never went up to the top deck on the Koningsdam.  

In the end, which was the better cruise, easliy the Koningsdam to Norway, the destination and scenery totally makes up for the small shortcomings of the ship.

In comparison of the ships it amazes me that the design and comfort on the Silhouette still beats out the brand new Koningsdam.  I would be glad to sail either ship in the future, but if the Silhouette has the better destination it is an easy choice!

Koningsdam Compared to Celebrity Silhouette

We are a young Irish couple in our 30s and this was our first cruise. We sailed from Amsterdam and our itinerary consisted of Flåm, Stavanger, Kristiansand and Oslo, with two days at sea.

The Konningsdam exceeded our expectations as a ship. It was very luxurious and had some beautiful features - like art pieces, plush carpets and fresh flowers. The service was akin to a 5 star hotel - all of the staff were polite and said hello whenever and wherever you met them. 

We had an interior stateroom and it was much more comfortable than we expected. There was lots of storage room and it didn’t feel cramped. There was a safe, a minibar, a hair dryer and plenty of towels in the room also. The room was serviced twice a day. The bathroom was small but functional - the shower was amazing! 

Entertainment was of a very high quality - we loved the dueling pianos, and B.B. Kings was also fun. Our favorite performance was the Planet Earth show in the World Stage but we attended most evening shows. However, after a few days we found there was a lack of variety, the performances became a bit repetitive and we started to spend more time reading and playing board games. The movies on the lido deck was a nice option, but there was a really strange selection of movies for the week. Also, it was hard to hear the movie at times.

The pools and hot tubs were very clean and well maintained but a little small and overtaken by children. It would have been nice to have a hot tub space just for adults. 

Food onboard was always fantastic. The selection and variety in the lido deck was exceptional and maintained a very high standard, even for a buffet. The process to get food at the lido was at times a little disorganized and chaotic but the food was good. The dining hall was beautiful and very enjoyable but it was difficult to get a reservation at a reasonable time - they usually only offered 5pm or 9pm. We didn’t feel the need to try the specialty dining options during our week as there was always a good, broad selection of offerings. However, if we stayed a second week we probably would have tried Tamarind and Pinnacle Grill. Tea, coffee, water and juice were all freely available at all times in the lido deck. We didn’t purchase any of the drinks packages and think they would have worked out a bit more expensive. 

We didn’t do any of the organized excursions as we found them very expensive. With a little research and planning, its easy to have a similar experience at a fraction of the price - and may even be a more personalized experience! 

Outside of the entertainment, the other onboard activities didn’t really interest us. It seemed to be more tailored to an older, wealthy, American audience i.e. casinos, art gallery, tech info seminars, trivia nights and diamonds/jewels. We did find the Crows Nest to be a particularly special find - it was generally quiet and had some fun board games to play. It was also a lovely, relaxing and calming place to read and catch up. 

Embarkation and disembarkation were seamless and took less than 30minutes in each case. The days at port also offered an easy and comfortable transit - we could walk into the town center and return at any time. 

Overall, the ship and itinerary were perfect for first time cruisers. But for our next cruise, we will likely look for a larger ship with more varied of entertainment and enrichment tailored towards a younger demographic.

Amazing ship, great itinerary

My wife and I (both senior citizens) were on the MS Koningsdam cruise to the Norwegian fiords starting from Amsterdam on 22 July 2018.  It was our second time cruising with Holland America. We thoroughly enjoyed the cruise.  Embarkation registration at Amsterdam was done with a minimal of delay.  Although there was a fairly long queue there were many counters open and registration was smooth.

Our balcony stateroom was excellent.  There was enough storage space and everything worked.  I especially appreciate the powerful shower.  And the bed was soft and comfortable.

The staff, especially Atjima at the Lido restaurant where we had our meals most of the time  were very cordial, friendly and helpful.  We had no complaints about the food.  We enjoyed the entertainment on board although we have read in other cruise critic posts that bigger ships offer better entertainment.

We only bought one shore excursion from the ship as that particular excursion from independent operators was fully booked.  All other excursions were bought from independent shore excursion operators.  They were good and much cheaper.  

Just as the ship docked at Amsterdam port on 29 July at the end of the cruise we went out to the balcony to take some pictures. We disembarked and took the flight to London.  While unpacking at our London accommodation I couldn’t find my still camera. We then realized I had left my camera on the balcony table.  

I went on the Holland America line website and got the email address of the guest services in the US.

I wrote to them and explained what happened giving them all the necessary details.  They wrote back after a couple of days and said they would look into my case and let me know if my camera had been found.  In London I also looked up the phone number of Holland America. I called and spoke to a Mr William Kimber and told him what had happened.  He was very helpful and told me he would call the ship to make enquiries.  The next day I called him again and he told me that they had found my camera  and would make arrangements to send it back to me.   Subsequently a Ms Christine Ferris, Special Advisor, Office of the President of Holland America also wrote to say they had found my camera and that it would be sent to my home address in Malaysia.  She said I should receive it in about 3 to 4 weeks.

My wife and I were elated and overwhelmed with the quick response from HA Line.  On 25th August I received a package from DHL which contained my camera in good working order.  My wife and I were over the moon.  We didn’t mind losing the camera but the pictures in it were priceless.  We have nothing but praise for the staff involved in finding and sending back my camera. 

I would like to make a suggestion.  Holland America should place a card in each stateroom advising clients on how to contact Lost and Found by phone and/or email in case they left something of value behind.  We were told we would be sent an evaluation form by email at the end of the cruise but unfortunately we didn’t receive any. We would have been happy to send in our comments of the enjoyable cruise. We would definitely cruise with Holland America again.

Lost and Found item

We looked at various cruise lines, but after reading hundreds of reviews we had a short list and Holland.America was the one. It was our first ever cruise, so a little apprehensive. Booked through cruise agent everything went like clock work boarding the ship in Amsterdam was so quick and straightforward. At last time to relax and find our way round.

The ship is tastefully furnished tge atrium is lovely open, pool area well looked after clean same with outdoor pool. The lido is great eat watch the big screen have a drink. Lots always going on always somewhere from digital workshops to trivia our room stewards petu and gunardi were fabulous the service was secind to none. Our room was seen to twice a day. We had fresh fruit whenever we required it. 

The BBC earth in the world stage is a must Billboard on board with Jonathan and Justin on pianos  were fabulous they were packed out everynight their chemistry with  the audience was great, fantastic entertainment dont change them. The excursions are  little expensive some are well worth the money while some arent. Torghatten is ok if yiu are fairly fit and steady in your feer i think some older people who arenr as agile would struggle  as some found due to uneven loose surfaces, but fantastic views once you are up there. Good port choice although i woukd like to have done Tromso Broonoysund is beautiful. The crew are all really friendly and helpful although some could smile  but then we cant smile all the time,.cruise directors chriztina and Koen fabulous. Food great selection of restaurants main dining room food is fantastic and a nice selection, lido market great selection most of the day. Nice shopsfor a spot of onbpard shopping.everything easily accessible easy to find  thoroughly reclmmend i dont think we would sail with anyone elae

Couldn't ask for better

Nice ,new ship.balcony stateroom pretty nice,but on the small size.cramped bathroom,not well designed,difficult to sit.shower head didnt fixed well.first and secod day,steward didnt come to clean the room untill 3p.m,we went to complain and after this no problem.Molde port,I think was choosed to give expencive trips.staff in dining room pushed to order drinks,not always in good manner.But all in all nice experience,mainly because of new ,and well organized ship and crew.good port of calls,exept Molde,I think to push you expensive excursions.Super Geiranger and Bergen.embarkation and dis..well organised. Tender in Geiranger good .In dining room crew pushed you yo order drinks ,expensive.Super restaurant Tamarind!!nice experience delicious food also in dining room.In north cruises I think not to order balcony room next time.bit cold to seat.Just ocean view enough.A lot of disabled on board,somrtimes feeled like in reabilitation hospital.but its not much to do.It was world cup and they translated it at the big screen near the pool.by the way jakuzzi near the pool always occupied by children.a problem if you want to seat there

Nice, new ship

We had a high expectations about our first cruise but unfortunatelly HAL did not meet them. At least we expected a "4*" smooth service, a great dining options and a quality entertainment already included in the price we paid. All those points were not met. Good thing: no disaster happened with us. We safely came back with a lot of photos in the camera. The rest was not so shiny as we expected. No hard feeling leaving the ship!

1. Room Service. In general it was fine. No big complaints but it was not excellent. Few strange spots on a bed linen, few spots on bathrobe. No slippers included. Dirty windows and balcony glass. We asked steward to clean a glass surfaces but he did not make it well.

2. Embarkation. The ship departed from Amsterdam Waterland Terminal with no connection of public transport. I wish HAL could offer a free or at least very cheap transportation to the terminal but the did not. It was a huge queue for check in when we arrived. No water, no snacks were provided (sorry I still expect that little things for the price I paid). Just a huge hot hangar full of waiting people. Nobody provided us a clear instructions on what to do and how long to wait. We spent around 1 hour there. Not nice start of a journey.

3. Dining Service. Bad if not terrible. Very long waits. Breakfast or dinner takes 1 hour in average. Food is served on broken/chipped plates and cups and old dirty cutlery. One time we found a hair in the bread basket. The staff on the dining room reception does not try to get a good table for you. One time we were followed to the table for 4 in the corner even two nice tables for 2 were available just few steps next to us with a nice windows. Waiters always ask for a paid drinks and forget to offer you a free tea. They do not give you a chance for a water without ice but serving you an ice cubes. The food quality was average: during all 7 days I did not find something really tasty. They even served us a lobster tail but it was prepared in a simple and not tasty way. Starter soups were definetely terrible.

4. Entertainment is limited with a concerts. The concerts were nice. I would like to mention the BB King Blues and the classical musicians. They were awesome! My wife also enjoyed Bilboard on board where the two guys played piano and sing popular songs on requiest. Those things happen in the evening. During the day activities are limited to a "seminars" where the staff tries to sell you insole for 190 bucks or expensive watches or brilliants or strange paints. Who buys all of that? We might expect some educational program like TED or knitting courses or yoga lessons included in the cruise price. But HAL wants to earn every extra penny on you. Do not go on HAL seminars - it is brainwashing and sometimes rude sales activity (nicely named).

5. Security at gates. Rude and unwelcoming.

6. At the evening of last day crew blocked two elevators out of four just because they need to carry a luggage downstairs. Obviously it was comfortable for the stewards but not the guests. That also shows staff attitude towards the guests.

6. During the cruise we received NOTHING complimentary. No free drink, no badge or magnet, no free 10 minutes massage and no PERSONAL attitute from HAL personnel. Again we paid a lot of money for the cruise and we expected something on top of the "below average".

7. That's is funny but with that kind of service HAL automatically includes 15% service surcharge on all onboard purchased. And 13.5 dollars per person per day as a "Hotel service charge". Crazy guys! Fortunately you still can adjust the last point at the end of cruise. So we did.

8. HAL shore excursions were 5 (!!!) times expensive that you could book ashore or just travelling the same route using a local public transport! 

9. Port times were inconvenient. Ship arrived early morning at 7 am in average. People wake up slamming the cabing doors with no chance for a good sleep. Ship departed at 5 pm so you basically have a very short time to explore the port.

To summarize: that was our first cruise. Norway is beautiful. Cruising is fantastic thing to do on vacation but never again with a greedy HAL.

Far below our expectations

We chose the Viking Sagas 7-night itinerary (from Amsterdam to Oslo, Kristiansand, Stavanger and Flam, then back to Amsterdam) on Koningsdam to celebrate my father’s 80th birthday.  Our group of 10 included my active 80-year-old father, my family of five including 3 children ages 9 months, 5 and 9 years old and my sister’s family of four which included children ages 11 and 14. This was everyone’s first HAL cruise (various amongst our group have been on RCCL, NCL, Cunard and Celebrity).

Between the 10 of us, we had two adjoining verandah cabins and an interior cabin across the hall. The cabins were a bit small for the quad rooms but offered a ton of storage. The bathrooms were decent size and the shower was fabulous compared to other cruises we’ve been on.  The décor was very nice.

The Konignsdam is beautiful and well-designed. The décor had a music theme and was a bit eclectic, but not gaudy. The common spaces were quite nice and open.  The children loved both pool areas and we all enjoyed watching the World Cup soccer matches on the big screen by the pool.  

Food:  The Lido Market food was very good and offered a wide variety to choose from. We ended up eating 4 of our main meals at the Lido Market due to convenience with the children and found it was nice to unwind and talk about our day in a more casual and relaxed atmosphere.  We also order pizza a few times from the New York Deli and Pizza and burgers, hot dogs and fries from “Dive-In” which were both a big hit with the kids.  We had open seating in the Main Dining room and only ended up eating 2 meals there since everyone enjoyed the Lido so much.  The Main Dining room food was good, but service was a little slow.  Being a group of 10, they were able to accommodate us quite easily both times if we dined around 5:30.  The adults in our group ate one dinner in the Culinary Arts Center which also had very good food.  Two of our cabins purchased a 6-bottle wine package which seemed to be of good value (25% less expensive than buying nightly). Some in our group ordered beer, mixed drinks and soda which seemed to be decent pricing ($2.50 for a soda).

Entertainment: We did not partake in much of the nightly entertainment since we were with younger children.  However, we did see 2 performances on the World Stage… Musicology and the Magician. We all enjoyed Musicology and the Magician was a little hokey, but good for the kids.  My father spent every evening watching the dueling pianos and enjoyed the BB King’s Blues Club. 

The overall demographic of the ship was definitely "an older crowd", 60+.  However, we knew that before going on the ship.  Knowing this, we were a little hestitant bringing 5 children 13 and under, but they all had a blast! Granted, none of them have ever been on a cruise before, so they were so excited just to be on a ship in the middle of the ocean together

Fantastic itinerary, beautiful ship, great service, terrible disembarkation!

Just back from fantastic seven day Norwegian Fjords cruise aboard the lovely and lively Koningsdam.

Traveled with a group of extended family members ranging in age from 86 years old to 20 months old toddler. We were celebrating my parents Golden Anniversary (50th).

Pre-Cruise Stay in Amsterdam

We stayed for two nights at the DoubleTree Hilton Centraal Station in executive suites. The suites were spacious and had fabulous views overlooking the city and canals. The hotel's buffet breakfast (included in the rate) was outstanding, so many choices, traditional American and English breakfasts, plus Asian selections and a ton of delicious breads, pastries, cold cuts and fabulous Danish cheeses. Tea, coffee and free mimosas too!

The hotel was adjacent to the Centraal Station and an easy walk to many of the city highlights, plus the canal cruise pick up point. Being such a large group, we took two Uber Vans from Schipol to the hotel. One of the drivers was very helpful and offered to give us a three hour tour the next day for a flat rate of 320 euros for all of us. Turned out to be a great deal. He took us to see the Zandam windmills, a charming fishing village, stopped at a cheese factory for samples and purchases and ended with a drive through the city center to see the key highlights. 

Hotel included drinks and canapes each evening. Overall, very pleased with our choice and felt we got to see quite a bit in a short time and taking into consideration some of the limitations of the elderly and the kiddo in our group. 

Embarkation

The port is only a short distance from the DoubleTree, but given all our luggage etc. we opted to take a quick Uber ride over. We arrived at our appointed check in time of 2pm and sailed through the embarkation process. Plenty of porters on hand to assist with luggage. Had requested wheelchairs for some members of the group and that process went very smoothly. Thirty minutes from arrival to entering our cabins. In general, I think HAL handles everything in a very discreet and low key manner. More about that later.

Sailway

We headed up to the seaview pool to view the sailaway from Amsterdam. Lovely views and a very festive atmosphere. Aside from the drink specials, the bar staff were circulating with some delicious appetizers and canapes, shrimp, Swedish meatballs, some nice cheeses. 

Cabins

We booked a row of standard balcony cabins on the Gershwin deck aft (Deck 5). The cabins were close to elevators that took us to the main dining room, lido deck buffet, Tamarind restaurant and sea view pool deck. I usually prefer a mid-ship location, but since we booked late, this was not too bad location wise. The cabins are beautiful with a light wood minimalist decor. The storage space is amazing - tons of drawers, generous closet, you will have plenty of space for all your stuff. Like the little corner bar with a glass cabinet. Good size minifridge with plenty of space to put your own items in addition to what is already stocked. The bed was very comfortable and king-sized! The room is compact but very well laid out and comfortable. Lots of movie choices on the large flat screen TV. The bathroom was well appointed and the shower is amazing! Glass enclosed and rectangle shaped so you are not dealing with a tiny corner and wet curtain like I have experienced on other ships.

Dining

The food in the main dining room was very good but the food in the Lido Buffet was simply excellent! I actually preferred the buffet as there as such a great selection, meat roasts, pasta station, Asian stir-fry, soups, fabulous salads (think seared ahi and ginger dressing), the list goes on and on. We had fantastic Indian food the last night of the cruise. Only quible is that they really should provide trays. The lido seating is comfortable and the decor very modern and light. Between the MDR lobster and other special items and the Lido's fantastic selection, we did not feel the need to try too many of the surcharge restaurants. We did eat at Tamarind one night and it was simply phenomenal. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area with access to incredible Asian food and Tamarind did not disappoint. The sushi, Thai selections and soups were fabulous. Tamarind is positioned aft, just above the SeaView pool and makes for a wonderful dinner spot during sailway. Loved the understated and elegant decor and the service was top notch. My young toddler had been quite well behaved at the MDR and lido, so we decided to take her to Tamarind and of course she was a bit fussy. I was going to leave to let everyone else enjoy the dinner but the host/manager actually took my child and strolled with her so I could finish my dinner. Can't say enough about the excellent service on HAL. In terms of other dining venues, the Dutch Cafe is a little gem. We loved trying the Dutch specialties they have available all day, delicious toasted sandwiches, Herring plate, cheese plate, bitter-ballen and the profiterroles (little pancake-like desserts that taste like beignets). The New York Pizza and Deli is OK - fresh hot pizza but no chili flakes (surprising). I had a pastrami sandwich and was underwhelmed. The afternoon tea was always delicious, tea sandwiches, savories, desserts and scones with clotted cream and jam. They varied the menu and served different items each day. I remember the afternoon tea being almost a cattle call on Princess with tons of people pushing to get in. Here it was low key and with no wait. In-Room dining is good and you can actually order the full menu on offer from the MDR - just have to call during the first thirty minutes of dinner and specify what time you want deliver. I did this one night when my daughter was napping and enjoyed lobster in my cabin. We also ordered tea/coffee toast and jam to the room early every morning. Only issue with the room service menu is that the children's items are only available from 5:30 to 9:30 pm. They should have all day option for children. 

Crew 

This is where I feel HAL really shines. The service was impeccable. The crew, mostly from Indonesia and the Philipines, were so kind and friendly. Walking around the ship, crew members always stopped to interact with my young daughter and they would address her by name. I am aware that HAL generally caters to an older crowd, but I felt everyone was also so warm and accommodating to my child, it really impressed me. Our cabin steward Armin was excellent and a magical genius as we hardly saw him but our room was always spotless upon return to the cabin. He also happily connected the balconies so we had one long balcony.

Lounges/Entertainment

Not sure I am a huge fan of the music walk concept. The piano players were good but did not always engage with the audience. I was not impressed by the B.B. King Blues. The male singers and musicians were ok but the lead female vocalist screamed more than she sang. Lincoln center musicians were very good. The timing of the various performances was not terribly well coordinated so it was hard to catch them all. I think I prefer one main stage show. Did not bother with the comedian or the magician but my fellow travelers said both were amateurish. I did catch the Billboard show/revue of musical hits on the world stage and that was very good. Also enjoyed the BBC Earth production set to live orchestra music. 

Ship Decor/Cleanliness

Koningsdam simply gleamed. I never saw as much as a smudge. The decor is --umm interesting and electic. The music theme is nice but some of the art work is a bit garish. The lounges were comfortable and had plenty of seating. Loved the observer's lounge and there is a great spot just behind the entrance with blue leather sofas. Very quiet and comfortable place to watch the world go by. 

Enrichment

I was disappointed that there were not more cooking classes/demos at the America Test Kitchen. I had really been looking forward to that. I feel this is an underutilized resource. The other talks were OK. More substance would be good.

Pools/Spa

The pools and hot tubs are spacious, clean and were never crowded. I bought the 7 day thermal suite pass at the Spa. The hydrotherapy pool was huge and very effective at relieving aching legs and neck. The layout of the spa is a bit wonky as the changing area is on one side, check in on another and you have to walk across the elevator lobby to access the thermal suite. Also the hydrotherapy pool shuts down early on the last day for cleaning so be aware of that. There were some lovely dry saunas with big windows overlooking the ocean. The ceramic loungers were delightful. 

Ports

Oslo - Beautiful Scandinavian town. We did the hop on hop off bus which picks passengers up right from the pier. Nice way to get a good overview of the city.

Kristiansand - cute little town with an interesting fish market near the pier. We took the trolley for 15 euros round trip into town. Stopped in at the old church, walked the city streets and had some pricey drinks in the Victorian pub ($16 USD for a coke and a cider). 

Stavanger - there are ferries available just off the pier where we docked. We took a two hour cruise out to Nyerfjord. This was delightful and only the smaller ships can take you right up to the Fjords, into the narrow passages and right under waterfalls. This was stunning and very worthwhile. 

Flam - we  did not buy the train tickets in advance and missed out on the train ride. However there was a lovely ferry ride through the Fjords which was just as enjoyable and much less crowded. 

General Comment on the Ports - it is VERY easy to make your own arrangements and the HAL excursions are very overpriced. For example, the ferry we took in Stavanger was also offered by the ship at three times the price we paid making our own arrangement. I feel that HAL does a very poor job of providing basic port information for those choosing not to take the ship excursions. Princess provided much better port talks, maps etc. For example, at Kristiansand I inquired about how far the walk is into town and was only told very far. No one on the ship said one word that there is a train trolley available just at the end of the pier. As a result, my mom who walks with a cane did not disembark. Luckily I was able to contact her on her cell and tell her about the trolley. At a minimum HAL should explain that to passengers, particularly disabled passengers. 

Disembarkation - super organized and easy. We took the airport transfers and had no issues getting off the ship, getting our luggage and getting on the bus for the short ride to Schipol. Also, HAL allows passengers to wait in the cabin until your color is called. Very nice touch and much better disembarkation then I have experienced on other lines.

Overall - We had a great time on a new and very clean ship, enjoyed lovely ports and experienced great food and service. I have cruised on Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Princess and this is my second HAL cruise. HAL definitely feels more refined and elegant. No constant selling/peddling and no rowdy passengers. Despite the ships' larger size as compared to Eurodam and other HAL ships, it never felt crowded and there were rarely queues for anything. One afternoon I had the pool entirely to myself. The service is what really sets HAL apart and I will definitely cruise with HAL again and hopefully on the Koningsdam again.

Fabulous Fjords aboard Kingly Koningsdam

Just returned from the Norgewian Fjords, beautiful scenery, pictures or film cannot describe the waterfalls, picture perfect villages, or the serenity one feels.  However the Kroningdam was not what I have previously experienced on a Holland American Ship.  The ship was boring, no lectures, not much to do when on board.  It seemed that they were always trying to sell you something.  I'm not a fan of Opra Winfrey so don't like her merchandise being pushed for sale, neither do I want book recommendations.  The food was excellent in the main dining room but we had a very rude waiter who kept given us menus in Dutch even though we told him we spoke English.  On the 4th night when I received a Dutch Menu again I told him that I do not speak or read Dutch.  His reply was "neither do I" then he rudely walked away and practically threw a English Menu at me.  He never smiled until 3 days before the cruise ended.  Pretty late I would say.  We had a Veranda cabin on deck 6 and it was very cramped.  When the sofa bed was open you could not walk out to the balcony or use the desk at all.  The cabins are much smaller than on the older Holland Ships.  The shower was the best part of the cabin.  Very nice and roomy.  We did enjoy the entertainment and especially Lincoln Stage.  We did not take any shore excursions, too expensive, but booked the same trips at the visitor centers in ports for half the price. Especially liked the railway in Flam.  You can buy a ticket at the station.

I'm glad I saw Norway and its beauty, but probably won't take Holland America Line again as felt it has gone down hill a lot, even though I am a 3 star mariner.

Voyage of the Midnight Sun

This is only  our second big ship cruise, so take my opinions with a grain of salt.   We took the cruise from Amsterdam to Norway and return in order to see the Fjords.  We did not do the Baltic part of the itinerary.  Booked trip through Expedia cruise service;  some extra help, but no big bargains.  This is apparently a popular trip, so do not hang out for bargains.  Luckily we had wonderful weather in early June.

Embarkation was slow, but smooth.  Lots of folks.

Disembarkation to airport shuttle bus was quick and efficient.

Cabin – We were in 7166, and it exceeded our expectations completely.  Adequate space, storage, comfortable beds, excellent service, good location.  Mid ships might have seemed closer to whatever, but I think that is really all in your head – on such a large ship it is often a long walk.  Room did seem dark  with the veranda curtain closed. Room could use more general lighting.

Meals – As described, the buffet is very crowded at breakfast, and sometimes lunch, but you can pick something up and take it to a nearby deck area without much trouble.  The food in the buffet is really excellent for such large undertaking.  Huge variety, and many items are delicious.  Some, of course, not.

Food in the dining room is a notch more reliable than the buffet – again, pretty good – comparable to decent mid to fine dining experience in USA.  Desserts not very good. You can get much better desserts in a lounge called the Dutch Coffee shop, but they charge for the coffee.  One night we ate in the upgrade seafood restaurant – the food and service there was truly excellent.  We were surprised to find that the food venues described by other passengers, here, had changed – expect some changes.

Entertainment –  Since we live in the NYC metro area, we have pretty high standards, but I would say the entertainment is OK to good, at least for a week.  The big song and dance shows were very good.  The blues band good for a night or two, as were the duo pianists and the classical quintet.  Lectures not so good, except the lady from the excursions department who did a good job of describing the destinations.   A famous wildlife photographer talked about that – rehash of BBC TV documentary, and the Microsoft presentations were rudimentary.  Altogether, just enough to prevent boring evenings for a week.

Excursions – We took  HA excursions from both fjords.  At Eidfjord, we took one that went to Voringfossen waterfall, a large dam nearby and an inn for a waffle (not so great).  The waterfall is spectacular, and the excursion bus we were on did a good job of getting us there early enough avoid gathering crowds.   Another couple we met had figured out how to book a non-HA excursion to the falls ahead of time, and, of course there are excursion operators who meet the boat.  I cannot compare, but will say that our trip was great.  At Gerainger, we took a bus trip that first goes up the “Eagle Road” to a viewpoint over the fjord, then comes back down and goes up the other side of the fjord to Mt. Dalsnibba.  All of it is breathtaking.  I noticed that some pick up excursions did not do both directions.  These excursions from the ship were well organized and smoothly run.  In Alesund, we simple strolled around town, and walked up to the top of Mt Aksla (really a hill).  Not too bad, even for us seniors, and a great view.  Alesund is more charming than you might expect.  You do not need an excursion to see Bergen either – we used the Rick Steves walking tour.

Excellent way to see the fjords

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