KONINGSDAM is our new favorite ship after 100's of days of World cruising. Great staff from Stateroom to Dining to Bars. Ship is nearly new, and It showed. April Transatlantic from Florida to Italy was ideal. We went HAL instead of flying to Italy for Holidays, a real $$Bargain$$. ON/OFF was flawless as usual with HAL. Baffled why anyone would complain. I used the Pools and Hot-tubs daily and they were excellent. Dining Rm. every evening was a treat; but we took breakfast and lunch at the Lido. We don't have a Cook or Butler at home..so I can't relate to the 'Food/Service Complainers. Pinnacle Rm for dining one night didn't disappoint. Great Gelato IceCream spot if you wanted to pay a few bucks instead of free ice cream elsewhere. Expansive Upper Decks were easy to walk and lounge on with very few people; even around the Deck #9 Lido Pool it wasn't chock-ablock crowded. Fitness Centre was top notch. Rear Pool area always had empty loungers and tables.. Deck #10 settee's overlooking the inside Lido Pool are innovative and perfect for lazing away and people watch. Crow's Nest Lounge far forward was nice, but no dance floor as on past HAL vessels..We liked it's new set-up in spite of the fact the Library area has given way to Internet users kiosks. The 'Spa' for $$Pay$$ didn't trip anyone's trigger; so I passed after hearing a coupla, '..Mehh'. comments. Can't comment on the Casino as we don't Gamble. Music venues down on Deck #3 were nice despite the fact the music from one bled over to the OTHER on occasion. A few fellow cruisers came aboard with a frown on their face and left with a frown. We avoided them and met many lively, well-travelled folks for cocktails and dining. The Demographics of most cruisers aboard tended to be Canadians and USA and typically 50-ish, newly retired or older, with a small handful of children. Our Inside Cabin far forward on Deck #10 was quiet, nice, albeit a tad smaller than on previous HAL vessels, but with a fabulous Bathroom and TV placement.

If one wants a Rock-climbing wall, drunken 2/am Bar closings and Waterslide...look elsewhere, as the KONINSDAM we experienced would suit people who like to read, catch a little sun, have a few cocktails, dine in a Country-club casual manner and take in music from the 60's to the 80's. No Lawrence Welk, no Heavy Metal, no Rap and the Bars closed at Midnight or even earlier. Certain elderly cruisers may yearn for a 1940's ambiance, but that's so yesterday with this HAL ship.

The PORTS-o-CALL were Azores and Spain, where we took in Volcano and rigorous Canyon hikes and a Picasso Museum, all in nice Spring weather. If it sounds like we loved this Ship and the Cruise it's because we did. Nice, nice, nice.