10 Things Travel Advisors Should Know About Holland America’s Koningsdam

When the 2,650-passenger Koningsdam debuted for Holland America Line in 2016, it launched the cruise line’s Pinnacle Class, its largest and most amenity-laden ships. While Koningsdam has since given up its flagship status to sister-ship Rotterdam, the vessel still holds a special place in the fleet for being the first.

It’s also the first of the Pinnacle Class ships to have undergone a significant refurbishment to add more rooms and make some necessary changes that improve the guest experience.

To know whether Koningsdam is the right fit for your clients – or best prepare them for a cruise they’ve already booked on the ship – TMR has put together a list of 10 things travel advisors should know about Koningsdam.

1. It Was Refurbed in 2026

Koningsdam’s most recent refurbishment was in spring 2026 and while it was not a complete overhaul of the ship, it was pretty comprehensive. Among the most significant upgrades was the addition of five larger (175 to 282 square feet) ocean-view staterooms. Each room has two twin beds that convert to a queen, along with a two-person sofa bed. Four of these are connecting, giving families or friends groups more options.

Twenty-two Vista suites were upgraded with new two-person sofa beds, expanding the number of rooms that can hold up to four people.

All cabins received new carpeting.

Other significant upgrades were made to the stretch of live music venues previously known as Music Walk. Enhancements included the addition new lounge seating in both Billboard Onboard and Rolling Stone Lounge, along with new bar-style swivel seating located between the venues allowing guests to take in shows on both sides without moving.

Perhaps more importantly, a staircase that previously divided the two spaces was removed. This not only opened up the space to add more seating, it also eliminated the smell of smoke which drifted down the stairs from the casino one deck up.

Other upgrades included an expanded casino, refreshed Effy shop, new equipment in the fitness center, and tweaks in several of the restaurants.

2. It’s a Live Music Lover’s Dream

“We definitely tout having the best live music at sea,” Koningsdam’s cruise director Rebekah Law, a former travel advisor, told TMR.

While it sounds like a boast any proud cruise director might make, in Koningsdam’s case – as on most of the Holland America Line fleet – it holds true. There are few ships out there offering as much live music as Koningsdam does, from the rock-and-roll of Rolling Stone Lounge to the top 40 hits across the ages in Billboard Onboard, the blues and jazz of B.B. King’s Blues Club (only available on the three Pinnacle Class ships), the classical standards of Vivace String Ensemble, and a solo guitarist in either the Crow’s Nest or Ocean Bar.

A quick look at a daily schedule onboard our seven-day Alaska cruise featured no less than 16 sessions of live music, with options starting at in the afternoon and nighttime start times that begin as late as 11 p.m.

If we have one complaint about the live music scene on Koningsdam it’s that there’s not enough space in any of the individual venues to hold the number of people who turn out for each show – especially in the pre- and post-dinner hours. We found ourselves standing in the hallway between Billboard Onboard and Rolling Stone Lounge more than once – thankfully the post-refurbishment design means you can take in shows at each venue easily from the hallway.

3. Later Nights than You Might Think

Holland America has a reputation. There’s no getting around it. Older cruisers, quieter atmosphere, early closings of the public venues. 

Our experience on Koningsdam was anything but that, partly because of all the live music mentioned above, which can go as last 11:30 p.m. or later. (B.B. King’s themed nights – 70s & 80s Motown, Funky 70’s Fever – tended to go the latest.)

The casino also stays active late into the night, with events like Paradise Lotto jackpot drawings usually taking place around 10 p.m. Slots and tables, on our sailing, usually closed around 2 a.m.

4. Fosse and Verdon in the Theater

The signature show in Koningsdam’s World Stage theater is Fosse and Verdon, which only recently rolled out to Oosterdam as well (the only other ship in the fleet to have it).

The one-hour show, which combines archival footage with live song-and-dance numbers, does an amazing job of showcasing Bob Fosse’s distinctive dance style. (Dancers were all required to train with the Verdon Fosse Legacy before they could appear in the show.) It was fascinating to learn how Fosse’s own physical imperfections (turned in feet and rounded shoulders) created some of his most well-known dance moves.

For lovers of Broadway – especially those “of a certain age,” the music is also a fun timeline through Fosse’s greatest hits from “Cabaret” and “Sweet Charity” to “Chicago” and “Damn Yankees.”

The show even shows how megastars like Michael Jackson and Beyonce were influenced by him.

With all that said, the show is a perfect example of who the target audience for Koningsdam is. Unless they’re theater nerds, younger cruisers (say 40 and under) won’t know much, if anything, about Bob Fosse. And, the dancing, while iconic, felt outdated and almost cliché at times.

5. Extensive Stateroom Choices

With 13 stateroom category options, Koningsdam gives your clients plenty of choice. Setting Koningsdam apart from much of the rest of the Holland America suite are ocean view staterooms sized for solo travelers, as well as family ocean view rooms that fit up to five people.

At the upper end of the stateroom choices are the four suite categories: Pinnacle, Neptune/Neptune Spa, Signature, Vista/Aft-View Vista. Pinnacle and Neptune suites come with full Orange Club perks, access to the Neptune Lounge, the services of a private concierge, and an array of complimentary services that includes laundry, a pillow menu, fresh flowers, binoculars for use onboard, and more.

The largest of these is the Pinnacle suite (there’s only one), which comes with 1,290 square feet of space including a roomy balcony with a private whirlpool. The expansive suite has separate living and dining rooms, a pantry with microwave and refrigerator, and a separate bedroom with a king-size bed.

All of the other suite categories are significantly smaller than the Pinnacle suite. Neptune suites (43 plus two Neptune spa suites) range in size from 465 to 502 square feet, while Signature suites (14) range from 393 to 400 square feet, and Vista suites (104) range from 260 to 356 square feet. Most can accommodate up to four people through a mix of murphy beds and/or sofa beds.

None of these suites are true suites in the sense that the bedroom in each is not separate from the rest of the cabin. All have a sitting area, as well as bathrooms with dual sinks (excepting Vista suites, which have a single sink). Some have bathrooms with showers only, while others have a full-size whirlpool bath with shower, plus an additional shower stall.

(The only difference between the Neptune suite and Neptune Spa suite is the latter features spa amenities such as yoga mats, along with priority access to spa reservations.)

The largest category of stateroom onboard Koningsdam are Verandah rooms, of which there are 710 (plus 38 Verandah Spa rooms, which can be up to 420 square feet). Verandah cabins range from 228 to 405 square feet.)

TMR sailed in a verandah room on Deck 4. Ours, like most of the verandahs on Deck 4 only, had an extended balcony – great when its sunny, but not so great when its raining.

We found the cabin comfortable, with plenty of space to unpack clothes for two adults, including hanging space, shelves, and drawers. We loved the abundance of charging options, including bedside USB/outlet combos.

Word of advice: Tell your clients to look for the embarkation day form that lets them request things like extra hangars, more pillows, a bathrobe, morning and/or evening ice refills, nightly turndown service, etc. These forms make it easy to request what they need without having to wait around to catch their room steward on the busy embarkation day.

Other cabin options onboard include: Oceanview (94)/Oceanview Spa (4), ranging from 175 to 282 square feet; Interior (266)/Interior Spa (11), ranging from 143 to 225 square feet; Family Oceanview (32), ranging from 222 to 231 square feet); and Single Oceanview (12), ranging from 127 to 172 square feet.

A few notes on the latter two categories.

Family Oceanview cabins have room for up to five guests, with two beds convertible into one queen, one upper bed, and a two-person sofa bed. There are two bathrooms: one with bathtub and shower, and one with shower and sink (no toilet).

Clients should also be aware that Solo Oceanview rooms are not necessarily the same per person price as a based-on -double-occupancy fare. Prices for these rooms are market-driven. The higher the demand, the higher the price – though still less than paying a full solo supplement on a “regular” Oceanview cabin.

Word of advice: During school holidays – and particularly when sailing in Alaska – the family Oceanview rooms sell out quickly and should be booked more than a year before sail date. This is true for any cabin category that is available in connecting configurations, as well. Other high-demand staterooms that sell out quickly include the Solo Oceanview rooms, Aft-facing Vista Suites, and Verandah rooms in general.

“Verandahs are the fastest to go,” Koningsdam’s cruise director said. “That’s because they’re in that price range that is still value driven, especially for Alaska.”

Word of advice: Be careful about placing guests on decks 3 and 4, particularly toward the front of the ship where cabins are located over the ship’s main entertainment venues. On our Alaska sailing, our Deck 4 stateroom (room 4030) was immediately above the World Stage theater. Music from the nightly shows (or during daytime rehearsals) was our constant companion. If you have clients who are early to bed or light sleepers, they’ll have a hard time with these cabins.

6. The Best Dining Is in the Specialty Restaurants

As on so many large-ships, the best dining your clients will find on Koningsdam is in the ship’s specialty restaurants. That’s not to say that the food in the main dining room or buffet is bad. It’s just not a standout and got the most lukewarm responses from our dining party (which consisted of several travel writers).

With that said, the main dining room – at dinner in Alaska – does offer the line’s Taste Alaska program, which always features a selection of Alaska-inspired appetizers and entrees that range from Pork Tenderloin with a Cider Apple Puree or Gruyere-Brioche Crusted Sole to Seared Fresh Alaska Rockfish or Alaska Lingcod Fillet. (Fleetwide, Holland America promises that fish sourced through its “Global Fish Program” is served within 48 hours of being offloaded from the fishing vessel.)

Also only in Alaska is the Alaska Brunch, which takes place on select sea days, while in the Caribbean there’s a Caribbean Brunch on sea days and a Taste the Caribbean program in the dining room. 

Other than the main dining room, complimentary dining is also available in the Lido Market, New York Deli & Pizza (one deck up from Lido), and Dive-In. We never made it to the latter two, but the pizza we spotted on other people’s plates looked delicious.

There’s also the Grand Dutch Café, which doubles as the ship’s main coffee spot. Here clients can get a specialty coffee or tea, as well as complimentary snacks including pastries and savory bites like sandwiches and quiches.

Our favorite thing about the buffet are the hand-washing stations at the entrances – they’re car-wash style in that you just insert your hands and the machine does the rest!

When it comes to specialty restaurants, Koningsdam has a few options that are only available on Holland America’s Pinnacle class ships, which aside from Koningsdam also includes Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam.

The most notable of these is Rudi’s Sel De Mer, which features a Mediterranean Bistro menu with a large menu of 11 appetizers, nine entrées plus a fresh fish selection, along with a choice of six sides, and six desserts. Sel De Mer was the only specialty restaurant we didn’t try, but we talked to other cruisers who all raved about it.

Koningsdam is also one of just five Holland America ships to have a standalone Tamarind, the line’s pan-Asian dining option. The menu here is a mix of menu items from southeast Asia, as well as Japan and China. The nine appetizers feature selections like shrimp tempura, Korean beef bulgogi tacos, lumpang Shanghai, and vegan tom kha Thai coconut soup. The nine entrees include wok-seared lobster, Panang red-curry coconut chicken, wasabi and soy-crusted beef tenderloin, and vegan Singapore mei fun, among others. Desserts include a cherry blossom tart, pineapple and coconut tapioca, and more.

Diners can also choose from a small Morimoto by Sea menu when dining at Tamarind or wait for the Morimoto by Sea pop-up, which takes over Tamarind once per cruise.

The full menu features a large selection of sushi rolls, nigiri, and sashimi, as well as hot dishes, while the smaller menu includes highlights such as the much-raved-about tuna pizza (appetizer) and angry lobster pad Thai (entrée).

One thing to note about both Tamarind and Morimoto: the menus are what we call “fancy” Asian. It’s not your average Chinese takeout. For non-foodie clients, the menu (other than the sushi) might be too exotic. Foodie clients, on the other hand, will love both menus.

Other specialty restaurants onboard include the line’s steakhouse Pinnacle Grill, as well as its Italian option Canaletto.

Favorite dishes among our fellow diners were the vegetarian mafaldine and grilled lamb chops in Pinnacle Grill, the chef’s choice sushi & sashimi combination bowl at Tamarind, and the chianti-braised beef short rib at Canaletto.

7. Cake Me Away Is Worth the Calorie Splurge

Our original — health-forward plan – was to skip the once-per-cruise “Cake Me Away” event, but when we heard the pastry chefs were whipping up some 100 cakes to serve, it was hard to resist. While we’d previously found the desserts in the Lido Market to be mostly unobjectionable, the cakes at this event were among the best desserts we had all cruise – we had two of the near 15 or so varieties on offer.

Word of advice: Tell your clients to show up in the Lido Market before the Cake Me Away event opens if they want the best photos, but to wait about a half hour or more to eat as the line is out the door at the start of the event. There’s plenty of cake so there’s no worries about there not being enough of the cake they want.

8. A Word on Beer

This one’s a bit specific, but if you’ve got beer-loving clients, it worth pointing out that Koningsdam might be disappointing, especially if they prefer draught beer.

The Grand Dutch Café is the only spot onboard with draught beer and there are only three options. (There’s also not a separate line for the beer, so you have to wait with everyone waiting for their specialty coffees and pastries.)

With that said, there’s plenty of beer in cans and bottles to be had throughout the ship, including a few Alaska-specific options when the ship sails in Alaska.

Word of advice: If you know your clients are purchasing a beverage package or the Have It All package, it’s worth taking the time to explain the way the package works, as Koningsdam’s cruise director told TMR that’s one of the top complaints they get at guest services. In short, the Elite beverage package covers alcoholic drinks priced at $16 or less (up to 15 per day), plus unlimited non-alcoholic beverages, while the Signature package covers alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks priced at $12 or less (up to 15 per day). Your clients will pay the difference in price if a drink costs more than the limit and mini-bar drinks are not included in the package.

9. One of Three HAL Ship to Have the Club Orange Restaurant

Koningsdam does not have a ship-within-a-ship suite concept, but it does offer exclusive spaces, both for its top suite guests, as well as those who pay for Club Orange, its extra-fee VIP amenity program.

Specifically on Koningsdam, as on the other two Pinnacle Class ships, there is a Club Orange dining room that is open for breakfast and dinner. At dinner, the menu is the same as in the Main Dining Room, except that each day features one exclusive special entrée option. At breakfast, there is an expanded made-to-order menu.

There is no private lounge for Club Orange guests on Koningsdam. The Neptune Lounge remains open only to guests staying in Neptune and Pinnacle suites.

Other (fleetwide) Club Orange perks include complimentary stateroom upgrade, premium bathrobes for in-cabin use, priority check-in, priority line at guest services and shore excursion desks, priority access to tenders ashore, priority disembarkation, onboard concierge service, and a reusable Club Orange tote bag.

10. The Lido Fair Brings Out the Kid in Everyone

While the daily entertainment and activities schedule on Holland America features a mix of the usual cruise fare (trivia, Bingo, spa and art sales spiels), along with HAL’s signature destination presentations (among the best in the industry), one event stood out as both unexpected and more fun on a ship than we’ve had in a while.

While it is a fleetwide event, we bring it up because your clients really shouldn’t skip it.

The Lido Fair takes place one evening per cruise and sees the Lido Deck converted into an old-fashioned carnival (minus the rides, of course). Traditional carnival-style games (think ring toss, monster head knock down, golf putting, etc.) are spread around the deck and everyone competes to win raffle tickets for a series of prizes, with one or two prizes given out every 20 minutes or so.

As with most Carnival games, they’re generally harder than they look, but they bring out the inner child in every person who ever want to an amusement park, boardwalk, or street fair growing up.

Siblings (of all ages) compete against each other, as do spouses, parents and kids, and friend groups, with laughter filling the space for about 90 minutes.

It’s silly fun – but fun all the same.