ms Koningsdam deck 2 plan (Plaza-Lounge-Shops1-Dining1)

Deck layout and review

Review of ms Koningsdam deck 2 (Plaza-Lounge-Shops1-Dining1)

World Stage (lower level 1 of 2) is the ship’s 2-tiered theater and main show lounge. The theater also serves the Holland America Line’s enrichment program (via partnership with BBC Earth). The entertainment options include daily bingo games, current cruise itinerary-based expert lectures, professional media presentations. In the evenings, here are presented live band music, large-scale music and digital media show productions (a total of 5 rotating shows), concerts, performances by comedians, magicians, illusionists. The World Stage theater features a 270-degree wall of multiple LED screens for visuals.

Digital Workshop/Microsoft Studio is powered by MS Windows.

Ocean Bar (fka Explorer’s Lounge & Bar) is a classy lounge with comfortable furniture (round tables, armchairs, couches) and a dance floor. The venue is popular for pre- and after-dinner drinks, free afternoon canapes, evening dancing, live music performances (string quartet, singalongs), wine tastings.

Marabella Luxury Shop is a luxury brand jewelry boutique, with assistance provided by a dedicated Manager.

Signature Shops (Shopping Arcade/lower level 1 of 2) are duty-free boutiques and shops selling liquor, tobaccos, brand perfumes and watches, also souvenirs, clothing, Holland America Line-logoed merchandise, convenience goods and sundries.

“Music Walk” is Plaza Deck’s entertainment area (served by the Notes Bar) comprised of 3 live music-themed venues: Billboard Onboard, Lincoln Center Stage, and Rolling Stone Rock Room.

Lincoln Center Stage & B.B. King's Blues Club (fka Queen's Lounge"/lower level 1 of 2) is a 2-tiered chamber music hall/nightclub that doubles as a grand ballroom for dancing. During the day, the venue serves HAL's onboard enrichment program and is used for presentations by guest speakers, seminars, special events. In the evenings here are hosted HAL’s popular “BB King’s Blues Club” shows (3 separate programs per night- at 8:45 pm, 9:45 pm and 10:45 pm, each 45 to 60 min in length, no cover charge). The musical experience is offered 6 nights per week and features an 8-man band (2 vocalists are backed by 1 drummer, 1 organist, 1 bassist, 1 guitarist, 1 saxophonist, 1 trumpeter) and two grand pianos. During the evening performances, guests are encouraged to use the large dance floor and sing along with popular music hits from the 60s. The Lounge is club-themed/designed, with a replica of the B.B. King club’s famous neon sign, many pictures of the celebrity, and a specialty cocktails menu with signature beverages served in the land clubs (including Motown Margarita, Rock Me Baby). Additionally to the lounge’s performances, the president band also occasionally performs in other ship areas (check the daily planner for the locations and exact times).

Billboard Onboard is a signature sing-along bar with live music performances (pianists, guitarists, DJ) in a variety of genres (including pop, rock, classic, even country). There are 3 programs per night (each lasts 45 to 60 min). The music bar hosts dynamic evening shows, has a central stage (with 2 grand pianos), wood-paneled walls, 3 large-size TVs, comfortable seating (round tables with plush chairs and sofas).

Rolling Stone Rock Room is a classic rock club lounge via partnership with Rolling Stone Magazine. Here are offered live 5-piece band performances.

Pinnacle Grill is a reservations-only steakhouse and seafood restaurant (at surcharge per person) open for lunch and dinner, with fine wines menu. Dining here is free for guests under 12, and at 1/2 adult charge for teenagers. Via partnership with the “Le Cirque” (gourmet NYC French restaurant), once per cruise, the Pinnacle Grill transforms into “An Evening at le Cirque” – specialty restaurant with higher surcharge PP, wine list charge, and “Le Cirque” dinner menu. Exclusively to the ships Koningsdam and Eurodam, Holland America offers the “De Librije” dinner experience via partnership with Jonnie Boer. De Librije (located in the library building of a former Dominican abbey in Zwolle, Netherlands) is a 3-starred Michelin restaurant (since 2004).

Next to Pinnacle Grill is Rudi's Sel de Mer (54-seat French cuisine/seafood brasserie) specialty restaurant – dinner-only, at surcharge PP. Reservations are required. Depending on the cruise itinerary ports, ship’s chefs go ashore to purchase from local markets fresh seafood for the daily “catch of the day” specials in the menu. Waiters are dressed traditionally, and there is a trolley that showcases the fresh fish. Rudi’s Sel De Mer features a curving shape and walnut wood-made, accordion-like column structure. The back wall is decorated with porcelain plates, all of which are decorated with Chef Rudi’s Food Faces culinary pop art (via partnership with Bernardaud - French porcelain masters). Food plates are arranged from classic ingredients (caviar, fruits, root vegetables, peppers, etc). In January 2018, Holland America Line released the coffee table book "Food Faces" - available for purchase on the ship. Signature dishes in the a la carte menu include Rudi’s Seafood Tower, Fruits de Mer, Broiled Lobster Tail, Whole Dover Sole Meuniere, Clams au Beurre, Duck Cassoulet, Steak Tartare, Steak Frites, Souffle au Fromage, Salt Crust Baked Branzino. Signature desserts include Rudi’s Face to Face Chocolate, Rudi’s Souffle, Crepes Suzette, Profiteroles with Hot Chocolate Sauce, Apple Tarte Tatin, Artisanal French Cheese Plate.

BLEND is a glass-enclosed winery room where are hosted daily wine blending sessions. These are reservations-only events (90 min sessions, $129 cover charge) with sommelier service. The BLEND winery room (capacity 10 seats) is via partnership with the winemaker Chateau Ste Michelle Winery (Woodinville Washington). Wine-tasting events are seminar-like (led by a wine expert). Each session includes a sampling of 5 red wines (single-vineyard) later combined with different vintages into a personal blend. After the event, you can bottle and take your newly created wine and consume it at the ship’s restaurants or in the stateroom. At the BLEND room all guests are allowed to see the wines offered in both restaurants (Pinnacle Grill and Sel de Mer) and also to choose their vintage from the impressive selection of premium wines.

Atrium (mid-level 2 of 3)

Club Orange is an exclusive (Suite-only) venue integrated into HAL's "Club Orange" program providing exclusive amenities to passengers booked in the Suite categories Neptune and Pinnacle. Bonus perks by the Club Orange program include:

  • priority services (check-in, disembarkation, tendering, dining reservations)
  • 24-hour concierge service (assistance, information, reservations)
  • exclusive dining venue (Club Orange Restaurant) serving complimentary Pinnacle Grill breakfast and Dining Room dinner, plus exclusive dishes
  • dedicated Concierge Desk (Guest Services and Tours)
  • room service (a la carte breakfast menu with complimentary gourmet dishes - including smoked salmon, steak and eggs)
  • sparkling wine (embarkation day), Club Orange tote bag, premium bathrobes (cabin use, available for monogramming and purchasing).

Club Orange Restaurant occupies the area of the former "Culinary Arts Center".

Note: Culinary Arts Center was a premium dinner-only restaurant (cover charge $39 pp, unlimited wine included) via partnership with the “Food & Wine Magazine”. This open-kitchen/show-kitchen venue was used daily for professional cooking shows, culinary classes and workshops (cooking and cocktail) presented in demonstration kitchens. In the evenings, the venue transformed into “Dinner at the Culinary Arts Center”. This specialty dining concept ("America's Test Kitchen") provided a top-quality gourmet experience - the ship’s chefs prepared dishes in the demonstration kitchen while the guests enjoyed each course with wine pairing. At the entry there were 9 interactive TV displays allowing guests to explore personal lives, special recipes, cooking secrets and tips from famous food and wine industry celebrities. By Holland America Line’s partnership with Koppert Cress (microgreen specialist), the Culinary Arts Center had a live garden to grow fresh ingredients. This enabled the guests to enjoy farm-to-table items from the dinner menu (veggie fare, 5 choices, dessert, cheese plate). The ingredients were displayed in a glass-enclosed garden area and harvested just before being served. Once sown, the seedlings grew for up to 2 weeks. The list of microgreens integrated in the recipes included garlic, mustard, licorice.

The Dining Room (lower level 1 of 2) is the ship’s main/largest restaurant open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. The restaurant is complimentary, on 2 levels (connected with a grand staircase), with expansive floor-ceiling windows, sophisticated design and several new for HAL features. In the evening, the room’s color turns to a darker shade of amber. Structural ribs (themed after harp strings) connect both floors and create the sense of a curvilinear space. The room’s sculptural centerpiece is a wine tower (folded in gold) from which during meal times passengers may select a bottle of fine wine or champagne. The dining room’s chandeliers are made of 3-color glass bulbs (hand-blown). The menu includes signature dishes, traditional and regional (itinerary ports-based) cuisine specialties and also Culinary Council recipes (including from the HAL’s Master Chef).

The Dining Room operates with open seating for Breakfast and Lunch, while Dinners are served, with a 5-course menu and two seating options - “Any Time” dining (Deck 3) between 5:15-9 pm, or two fixed seatings (Deck 2) – at 5:45 or 8 pm.