On Koningsdam now

[Niagarawine]

On board and finding long lines for everything. Embarkation took two hours and was a mess. Finding some cuts in food and quality. We ordered room service twice and both times not good. So we went to the Alaska brunch this morning. After finally getting in to the dining room we waited with a nice couple we met on board. We waited for an hour for orders to be taken although bloody Mary’s were right away. Then we sited another hour and really got to know our table mates. We ordered the chowder in the bowl, crab cakes and berry crisp. I found the chowder very good, also had the smoothies also good. When the solitary minuscule crab cake arrived  topped with an egg. Our partners had the steak and egg combo and could not cut the steak. The crisps were outstanding topped with ice cream. Very good.  Am finding this ship very crowded everywhere. The spa was very nice but the floors were soaking wet so do be careful.its foggy here now.

[ski ww]

Enjoy your cruise.

[Crew News]

How are the chocolate chip cookies in the Lido Market and Grand Dutch Cafe?

[HappyInVan]

18 hours ago, Niagarawine said:

On board and finding long lines for everything. Embarkation took two hours and was a mess. Finding some cuts in food and quality. We ordered room service twice and both times not good. So we went to the Alaska brunch this morning. After finally getting in to the dining room we waited with a nice couple we met on board. We waited for an hour for orders to be taken although bloody Mary’s were right away. Then we sited another hour and really got to know our table mates. We ordered the chowder in the bowl, crab cakes and berry crisp. I found the chowder very good, also had the smoothies also good. When the solitary minuscule crab cake arrived  topped with an egg. Our partners had the steak and egg combo and could not cut the steak. The crisps were outstanding topped with ice cream. Very good.  Am finding this ship very crowded everywhere. The spa was very nice but the floors were soaking wet so do be careful.its foggy here now.

 

Very sad. 😬

 

Perhaps its the low fares and free 3rd and 4th pax?

Edited May 13 by HappyInVan

[Sir PMP]

I was on her a few weeks back, the Koningsdam is completely unmanageable, especially with breakfast and lunch.

[ricka47]

We've never been on anything bigger than the Signature class but are booked on the Koningsdam this coming January. But reports like this and others reporting poor service and long lines are not encouraging. Are the problems due to the design of this class itself or something else?

Edited May 13 by ricka47

[BermudaBound2014]

I spent 35 nights on Koningsdam in Feb/March. Agree that the physical layout of the ship is lacking. She just doesn't move people well. Too many dead ends and poor design features for crowds. Took me a few days to figure out how to zig when everyone else was zagging. 

 

With that, I found the service exceptional (although I steered clear from the main dining room where most of the service issues appear to be). 

 

Edited May 13 by BermudaBound2014

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Have a great cruise.

[Niagarawine]

11 minutes ago, Sir PMP said:

I was on her a few weeks back, the Koningsdam is completely unmanageable, especially with breakfast and lunch.

Yes I tried the Lido last evening and for the first time ever on a cruise  I walked out leaving my meal uneaten. The server ordered me to get in the right line which I did with my cane and some beautiful gentleman gave me his place. I tried the roast lamb from the carvery with Yorkshire pudding and gravy. It as so rare blood ran out of it , cold as was the gravy. The pudding was stale and cold. To avoid food poisoning I took one bite and pushed it away. We went to the Dive in for burgers and they were good. I left a comment on the Navigator and they called and apologized. They sent me a cupcake.room service tasted better this morning. 

[Niagarawine]

9 minutes ago, Gail & Marty sailing away said:

Have a great cruise.

 

16 minutes ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

I spent 35 nights on Koningsdam in Feb/March. Agree that the physical layout of the ship is lacking. She just doesn't move people well. Too many dead ends and poor design features for crowds. Took me a few days to figure out how to zig when everyone else was zagging. 

 

With that, I found the service exceptional (although I steered clear from the main dining room where most of the service issues appear to be). 

 

I agree

[Niagarawine]

20 minutes ago, ricka47 said:

We've never been on anything bigger than the Signature class but are booked on the Koningsdam this coming January. But reports like this and others reporting poor service and long lines are not encouraging. Are the problems due to the design of this class itself or something else

9 hours ago, ski ww said:

Enjoy your cruise.

Nope

[Niagarawine]

23 minutes ago, ricka47 said:

We've never been on anything bigger than the Signature class but are booked on the Koningsdam this coming January. But reports like this and others reporting poor service and long lines are not encouraging. Are the problems due to the design of this class itself or something else?

13 minutes ago, Gail & Marty sailing away said:

Have a great cruise.

Wish I could

[Niagarawine]

I do feel the layout is problematic  and I have sailed on the other Pinnacle ships with no issues . The wait times are not my main concern but the quality of food is. It is chaotic and loud for Holland. These are my observations.

[ski ww]

Don't all Pinnacle ships have the same basic lay out?? No excuse for poor quality of food, we did notice last year on the Nieuw Statendam the MDR was loud.

[AV8rix]

Sorry you are finding Kdam this way, @Niagarawine.  I'm finished with the Pinnacle-class ships (expand my signature).  I've posted this before and I'll repeat here.  If I were asked to characterize the Pinnacle-class ships using only one word, I'd reply:

 

***LOUD***

 

Don't know what the problem is with the MDR acoustics on those ships but I have found it impossible to converse with tablemates in that venue. 

 

I try to play blackjack in the afternoons only on sea days.  If I MUST be in the casino in the evening hours I obtain ear plugs from Guest Services, as the noise from the Music Walk one deck below makes it impossible to chat with the dealers/hosts in the casino.  Apparently Guest Services are used to being asked for ear plugs because, as soon as you ask, they pour a bunch of ear plugs into an envelope and hand it to you.  They NEVER look surprised at the request.

 

Food quality has definitely deteriorated.  But I don't know if this is due to staffing problems post pandemic. Just seems worse on the Pinnacle-class ships.  JMO.

[Mary229]

The Koningsdam MDR manager needs to move on.  I don’t know if it is the kitchen to MDR layout or just poor training but both times I sailed on the K I had bad MDR experiences. The last cruise we left our table after an hour of no service.  I was followed by the manager to the lido and we had a nice long talk while I ate at the lido.  The next night I had a superior table and wait staff for the remainder of the cruise.  A customer shouldn’t have to put up with this. 
 

that said the manager of the Pinnacle is excellent and runs a well trained team   Others have said the lido is very good, just not my cup of tea. 
 

every other aspect of my cruise was great 

Edited May 13 by Mary229

[Loreto]

17 minutes ago, AV8rix said:

Sorry you are finding Kdam this way, @Niagarawine.  I'm finished with the Pinnacle-class ships (expand my signature).  I've posted this before and I'll repeat here.  If I were asked to characterize the Pinnacle-class ships using only one word, I'd reply:

 

***LOUD***

 

Don't know what the problem is with the MDR acoustics on those ships but I have found it impossible to converse with tablemates in that venue. 

 

I try to play blackjack in the afternoons only on sea days.  If I MUST be in the casino in the evening hours I obtain ear plugs from Guest Services, as the noise from the Music Walk one deck below makes it impossible to chat with the dealers/hosts in the casino.  Apparently Guest Services are used to being asked for ear plugs because, as soon as you ask, they pour a bunch of ear plugs into an envelope and hand it to you.  They NEVER look surprised at the request.

 

Food quality has definitely deteriorated.  But I don't know if this is due to staffing problems post pandemic. Just seems worse on the Pinnacle-class ships.  JMO.

I agree completely!  We were on a Hawaii/Mexico cruise...Hawaii part was upstairs, which was fine,  then for the 7day Mexico itinerary we were moved downstairs and the acoustics indeed were terrible!  also ate there for lunch once where we were seated behind a pillar and ignored.  I had to find a manager. We were on the Koningsdam again last December for 11 days and never went to the MDR.  We ate in the Grand Dutch Cafe, specialty dining or the Lido ( which was actually enjoyable!)  DH said he is done with Pinnacle Class ships🙁. 

[Mary229]

24 minutes ago, Loreto said:

I agree completely!  We were on a Hawaii/Mexico cruise...Hawaii part was upstairs, which was fine,  then for the 7day Mexico itinerary we were moved downstairs and the acoustics indeed were terrible!  also ate there for lunch once where we were seated behind a pillar and ignored.  I had to find a manager. We were on the Koningsdam again last December for 11 days and never went to the MDR.  We ate in the Grand Dutch Cafe, specialty dining or the Lido ( which was actually enjoyable!)  DH said he is done with Pinnacle Class ships🙁. 

I have sailed the NS and never had a single problem, this isn’t a Pinnacle issue, it is a Koningsdam issue. I hope you get him to try another pinnacle class ship.  I was hesitant after my first Koningsdam experience and was pleasantly surprised with the NStatendam.  I then went back on the K thinking maybe it was better now- Not.  

[Niagarawine]

2 hours ago, AV8rix said:

Sorry you are finding Kdam this way, @Niagarawine.  I'm finished with the Pinnacle-class ships (expand my signature).  I've posted this before and I'll repeat here.  If I were asked to characterize the Pinnacle-class ships using only one word, I'd reply:

 

***LOUD***

 

Don't know what the problem is with the MDR acoustics on those ships but I have found it impossible to converse with tablemates in that venue. 

 

I try to play blackjack in the afternoons only on sea days.  If I MUST be in the casino in the evening hours I obtain ear plugs from Guest Services, as the noise from the Music Walk one deck below makes it impossible to chat with the dealers/hosts in the casino.  Apparently Guest Services are used to being asked for ear plugs because, as soon as you ask, they pour a bunch of ear plugs into an envelope and hand it to you.  They NEVER look surprised at the request.

 

Food quality has definitely deteriorated.  But I don't know if this is due to staffing problems post pandemic. Just seems worse on the Pinnacle-class ships.  JMO.

Today I went to the spa so I thought a respite from the drama. We had a nice lunch in the mdr ,met nice people from Australia.we went into the hydro pool and there were pools of water everywhere. Yesterday was the same but today was more. We were in the pool when an assistant walked in and I mentioned that it need mopping as per health hazard. Could she send someone in the mop. She left. No one came. I had hubb lay towels across the soaking wet floor so I could leave. We went into the next room with the heated beds. Someone was folding towels. I again mentioned that the hydro pool area needed to be mopped as someone could fall in there as a health and safety issue and that I would be at guest services later . Some employees came in and went into the hydro pool area. This day three.

[badtwin]

We were on Koningsdam for its first Alaska sailing of season. It was our second time in Koningsdam and fourth on a pinnacle class, having tried them all but no other HAL ships so far.  We had a better experience than OP but understand it can get busy. Embarkation was a zoo but that was mostly the fault of US customs.  We had great service and food in the MDR but we pick late fixed dining which may have less demand.  We asked for a larger table which was far stern so not too noisey. Our sailing was at capacity so we factored that in to our dining selection - early breakfast works for us. Early or late lunch.  In other words, try to work around peak demand. Our food was usually quite good in lido as well as mdr.  Main exception we have found in all pinnacle class is cold breakfast. If you want hot food you need to deal with lido which is disappointing if you enjoy breakfast in mdr.  After 4 sailings we have learned logistics on board which helps.

[Haljo1935]

10 hours ago, Mary229 said:

I have sailed the NS and never had a single problem, this isn’t a Pinnacle issue, it is a Koningsdam issue. I hope you get him to try another pinnacle class ship.  I was hesitant after my first Koningsdam experience and was pleasantly surprised with the NStatendam.  I then went back on the K thinking maybe it was better now- Not.  

This almost exactly mirrors my experience. I've not been on the R'dam, but 3 cruises last year year on NS (before and after drydock) were fine, 2 cruises last year on K'dam I had similar poor MDR issues as @Mary229 mentioned. 

I believe the issues are specific to the K'dam, not Pinnacle ships.

[Sir PMP]

2 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

This almost exactly mirrors my experience. I've not been on the R'dam, but 3 cruises last year year on NS (before and after drydock) were fine, 2 cruises last year on K'dam I had similar poor MDR issues as @Mary229 mentioned. 

I believe the issues are specific to the K'dam, not Pinnacle ships.

I agree.

[wetterthanwater]

Maybe I'm being unduly critical but I thought the seminars in the World Stage on Koningsdam were a bit weird. They were given by the cruise director who wad reading off an autocue. Kinda wondered what the point was..

[jeh10641]

On 5/13/2024 at 8:28 AM, ricka47 said:

We've never been on anything bigger than the Signature class but are booked on the Koningsdam this coming January. But reports like this and others reporting poor service and long lines are not encouraging. Are the problems due to the design of this class itself or something else?

We are Koningsdam January 28, 2025 to Hawaii. Most reports that I saw this winter from cruisers was mostly positive.

Jim 

[Mary229]

On 5/13/2024 at 10:28 AM, ricka47 said:

We've never been on anything bigger than the Signature class but are booked on the Koningsdam this coming January. But reports like this and others reporting poor service and long lines are not encouraging. Are the problems due to the design of this class itself or something else?

There are some design flaws on the K which were corrected on the other two ships. My theory is the dining room issues are related to a flow problem.  My least favorite ship in the fleet is the K but one of my very favorites is the NStatendam