ms Koningsdam

The 2016-built MS Koningsdam cruise ship is the first Holland America Pinnacle-class liner, with sisterships the fleetmates Nieuw Statendam (2018) and Rotterdam (2021), and also Cunard's Queen Anne. These are HAL fleet's newest and largest boats.

The vessel (IMO number 9692557) is currently Netherlands-flagged (MMSI 244830547) and registered in Rotterdam.

History - construction and ownership

Holland America Line (HAL) is a Seattle-based cruise company owned by Carnival Corporation (shipowner). Between 1873 and 1989, HAL was a Dutch cargo and passenger shipping company operating regular Transatlantic crossings between the Netherlands and the Americas. HAL was founded in 1873 as the “Dutch-American Steamship Company,” headquartered in Rotterdam, Netherlands. In 1989, HAL was acquired by Carnival Corporation for approximately EUR 530 million. Among the company's assets are the Westmark hotel chain (Alaska–Yukon), Worldwide Shore Services (warehouses/logistics) and Half Moon Cay (Caribbean private island).

The 2,700-passenger Koningsdam introduced a number of fleet firsts, including two swimming pools and family oceanview cabins. Her interiors reflect the work of designers Adam D. Tihany and Bjorn Storbraaten, who drew inspiration from music. A highlight is the 3-deck, skylight-capped atrium featuring a stainless-steel sculpture reminiscent of a string quartet. Koningsdam represents the new Pinnacle class for Holland America Line, debuting several innovative concepts, new public spaces and venues while retaining the popular amenities cruisers associate with the line. Guests enjoy HAL's first purpose-built single staterooms and family staterooms, as well as fine dining in several alternative restaurants. The vessel's godmother, Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, performed the traditional dedication and naming at Port Rotterdam on May 20, 2016.

Decks and Cabins

MS Koningsdam staterooms (1331 total, in 35 grades) include 164 Suites, 748 Balcony, 142 Oceanviews (including 32x Family Oceanview and 12x Studios/single cabins), 277 Inside. Most cabins are sized ~180 ft2 / 17 m2. Most cabin balconies are sized 50 ft2 / 5 m2. Nearly 70% of the ship's passenger accommodations have private step-out balconies. There are 27 wheelchair-accessible cabins. The largest accommodation is the Penthouse/Pinnacle Suite (970 ft2 / 90 m2, with terrace sized 320 ft2 / 30 m2 and fitted with an outdoor Jacuzzi).

The boat has 13 passenger decks, of which 8 are with cabins.

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/deck 2) 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". 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 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 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 into the recipes included garlic, mustard, licorice.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

The ship's 2-level main restaurant serves open-seating breakfast and lunch, as well as a blend of flexible and set-seating, restaurant-style meals at dinner. Breakfast hours in the MDR vary but start as early as 7 AM on port days and 8 AM on sea days, wrapping up by 9:30 AM. Breakfast fare includes bread, cereals, French toast, blueberry pancakes, corned beef hash, egg dishes and yogurt parfaits. Portions are on the smaller side, so consider a second pastry. Lunch in the MDR is typically limited to an hour per day (from noon to 1 PM on sea days; closed when the ship is in port for an entire day). If you see a line of guests waiting to be seated, do not be deterred, as the line moves quickly and tables are plentiful. Lunch fare includes sandwiches, soups, light salads, fish and heartier entrées.

Holland America is famous for its exceptional dining experiences on every voyage, but the fleet's newest ship, ms Koningsdam, boasts even more culinary options. The Dining Room is where passengers dine in a more formal setting. The two-story restaurant features an airy and sophisticated ambiance, with several new characteristics for a HAL ship. The bright design creates a unique venue while reflecting the overall design theme of the ship, inspired by the architecture of music.

This sunny, yellow room has expansive windows allowing for maximum daylight and sea views. In the evening, its color turns to a darker shade of amber, setting the tone for an elegant dinner atmosphere. Structural ribs inspired by a classical harp's strings connect the first floor to the second-floor ceiling, creating the sense of a more curvilinear space. A grand staircase connects the two levels.

The centerpiece of Koningsdam's Dining Room is a sculptural, champagne-gold wine tower designed to appear fluid and folded. Flowing over the dining room are attractive chandeliers made from strings of hand-blown, tri-color glass bulbs.

On the menu are HAL's classic selections, signature dishes, regionally inspired cuisine, and Culinary Council recipes from the world-renowned chefs who compose the group, including Master Chef & Council Chairman Rudi Sodamin and international chefs David Burke, Elizabeth Falkner, Jacques Torres, Jonnie Boer and Mark Best.

In addition to The Dining Room, Koningsdam guests enjoy fine dining in alternative restaurants including the redesigned Lido Market (with themed food stations), the French seafood brasserie "Rudi's Sel de Mer," a new farm-to-table dinner experience (in the Culinary Arts Center, via partnership with Food & Wine magazine), Club Orange Restaurant (suite-exclusive dining experience), Canaletto (Italian restaurant), Tamarind (pan-Asian restaurant/seafood bar), and Pinnacle Grill (steakhouse/seafood restaurant).

BLEND is a glass-enclosed winery room (capacity 10 seats) that hosts daily wine-blending sessions. These are reservations-only events (90-minute sessions, $129 cover charge) with sommelier service. The BLEND venue is via partnership with the winemaker Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery (Woodinville, Washington). Wine-tasting events are seminar-style (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, guests can bottle and take their newly created wine to consume in the ship’s restaurants or in the stateroom. At the BLEND room, all guests are allowed to see the wines offered in the Pinnacle Grill and Sel de Mer, and also to choose their vintage from the impressive selection of premium wines.

Follows the complete list of ms Koningsdam restaurants and food bars.

• Pinnacle Grill (reservations-only seafood/steakhouse restaurant with fine wine selection; free for passengers under 12 yo). The venue transforms into "An Evening at le Cirque" once per cruise via a partnership with NYC's "Le Cirque" French restaurant.
• Rudi's Sel De Mer is a dinner-only specialty restaurant serving French seafood. During drydock 2018, the restaurant was redesigned and expanded (to 54 seats). The venue features a curving shape and walnut wood-made, accordion-like column structure. The back wall is decorated with porcelain plates, all of which are adorned with Chef Rudi's Food Faces culinary pop art (via a partnership with Bernardaud – French porcelain masters). The food plates are arranged from classic ingredients (caviar, fruits, root vegetables, peppers, etc.). In January 2018, HAL released the coffee table book "Food Faces" – available for purchase on the ship. Signature dishes in the à la carte menu include Rudi's Seafood Tower, Fruits de Mer, Broiled Lobster Tail, Whole Dover Sole Meunière, Clams au Beurre, Duck Cassoulet, Steak Tartare, Steak Frites, Soufflé au Fromage, Salt Crust Baked Branzino. Signature desserts include Rudi's Face to Face Chocolate, Rudi's Soufflé, Crêpes Suzette, Profiteroles with Hot Chocolate Sauce, Apple Tarte Tatin, Artisanal French Cheese Plate.
• The Dining Room (aft Dining Room; features open-seating Breakfast and Lunch, two Dinner options – 2 fixed seatings or Any Time Dining between 5:15–9 PM)
• Canaletto Restaurant (Lido Restaurant annex; operates as an Italian restaurant for Dinner, reservations required)
• Dive-In (complimentary fast-food bar)
• New York Deli (fast-food bar)
• Gelato (ice cream parlor)

Lido Market (capacity 386 seats) is the ship’s self-service buffet restaurant open for Breakfast (6–11 AM), Lunch (11:30–2 PM), Afternoon Tea (3–4 PM) and Dinner (5:30–8 PM). Food is complimentary and displayed at 5 themed stations. The Lido Buffet is designed as a modern marketplace, with numerous on-the-go or made-to-order choices. Differently themed food stations (walk-up service) offer fresh-made sandwiches, grilled food, international fare, salads, fruits, desserts and daily specials. The food stations are named Breadboard (fresh-baked bread, pastries, sandwiches), Wild Harvest (salads, fruits, healthy bites), Homestead (comfort food, including egg dishes and grilled meats), Distant Lands (themed cuisine specialties, including from the current itinerary’s regions), Sweet Spot (desserts).

Tamarind (aft on Deck 10) is a reservations-only Asian restaurant open for complimentary lunch and at-fee dinner (surcharge per person). Tamarind Bar serves the restaurant with cocktails and other beverages. Part of the Tamarind is the Japanese food bar Nami Sushi (capacity 7 seats only, also serving popular Asian spirits). Nami Sushi is open for lunch and dinner, both at surcharge per person. Tamarind's sushi menu is created by chef Andy Matsuda and additionally includes 4 of his signature rolls.

In 2025, Koningsdam received the restaurant Morimoto By Sea (sushi bar via a partnership with Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto). The 12-seat dining venue's menu includes Appetizers (Toro Tartare), Sushi & Sashimi (Chef’s Combo, Nigiri & Sashimi), Chef’s Signature Rolls (Shrimp Tempura, Lobster Tempura, Tako Yaki, Aburi Salmon, California Snow Crab, Spicy Tuna, Spicy Salmon), Signature Plates (Tuna Pizza, Sticky Ribs, Pork Gyoza Dumplings, Poke Bowl, Chicken Katsu Curry, Angry Lobster Pad Thai), and Desserts (White Chocolate Lime Ganache).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The World Stage is the ship's theater (main show lounge) featuring 270-degree LED screens for multiple stage configurations. The Lido Pool (one of the ship's 2 swimming pools) has an outdoor movie screen, 3 whirlpools and a 2-tiered sunbathing area with cushioned lounge chairs.

Onboard live musical entertainment is concentrated in the Music Walk area (forward–midship on Plaza Deck 2) housing the music-themed venues Lincoln Center Stage & B.B. King's Blues Club, Rolling Stone Rock Room and Billboard Onboard.

The 2-tiered Lincoln Center Stage & B.B. King's Blues Club (fka Queen's Lounge/decks 2–3) is a grand ballroom/concert hall/nightclub with two grand pianos (on floor 1), HAL fleet's biggest dance floor (floor 1), its own bar (floor 1), balcony seating (floor 2) and a resident 8-man band (2 vocalists, 1 drummer, 1 pianist/organist, 1 bassist, 1 guitarist, 1 saxophonist, 1 trumpeter). The lounge hosts live musical performances (concerts, classical pieces, blues, popular hits from the 60s, sing-alongs) as well as a daily enrichment program (guest speakers, seminars, special events). Lincoln Center Stage is a collaboration with "Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts" (NYC) featuring classical/chamber music with a quintet combining piano and strings.

Rolling Stone Rock Room is a classic rock club (via partnership with Rolling Stone Magazine) offering live 5-piece band performances.

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

Other amenities include: complimentary 24-hour room service, supervised Kids Program ("Club HAL"), cruise ship weddings, Internet/WiFi access, and laundry services. Ship's laundry rooms are not self-service (no passenger-use laundrettes). Laundry services are provided by hotel staff at an additional charge.

Follows the complete list of ms Koningsdam lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Atrium (3-deck high midship open-floor area with live performances)
• Stuyvesant Room (multi-purpose; used for card playing, group meetings, presentations, “Club HAL” kids program)
• World Stage (theater/main show lounge; also serves Holland America’s enrichment program via a partnership with BBC Earth)
• Lincoln Center Stage & B.B. King's Blues Club (fka Queen's Lounge) is a 2-deck grand ballroom/concert hall (with two grand pianos and a large dance floor) hosting live musical performances (classical/chamber music, blues).
• Digital Workshop/Microsoft Studio (powered by Microsoft Windows)
• Photo Gallery & Shop; Art Gallery
• Shore Excursions Desk; 4 Meeting Rooms
• Signature Shops (boutiques for duty-free tobacco and liquor, perfumes, watches, clothing, HAL logo merchandise, souvenirs); Marabella Luxury Shop; Dive-in (scuba and diving equipment)
• Club Orange (suite-only restaurant)
• Ocean Bar (fka Explorer's Lounge & Bar) is an Atrium bar lounge with dance floor, stage (for live performances), wine tastings
• Billboard Onboard (sing-along bar with live music performances)
• BLEND (glass-enclosed winery room)
• Grand Dutch Cafe is a Holland-themed à-la-carte-priced patisserie bar for traditional Dutch snacks/sweets and beverages (including coffees and Heineken draft beer) as well as premium European beers
• Neptune Lounge (club venue for Deluxe Suite and Pinnacle guests only)
• Sport Court (basketball, volleyball, soccer); Sun Deck; Promenade Deck; Walking/Jogging Track
• Club HAL (kids lounge, complimentary youth programming)
• The Loft (teens club lounge area, with Video Games Arcade, computers, PlayStations; teen disco)

The wellness complex (forward on decks 9–10) consists of a Fitness Center (gymnasium with a separate Aerobics Room for classes) and Greenhouse Spa & Salon (Therapy Rooms, Treatment Rooms for massages, Hydrotherapy Pool with heated seawater, Thermal Suites, Relax Lounge with heated ceramic loungers, Sauna Room, Aroma Steam Room, Relaxation Area, Beauty Salon/manicure–pedicure, barber services).

Spacious sundecks spread over 3 floors (decks 9–10 midship and aft, deck 11 aft) and are fitted with 2 swimming pools and 5 outdoor Jacuzzies (deck 9). The Lido Pool area (midship) is served by Lido Bar (beverages), Gelato (ice cream bar), Dive-In (fka Terrace Grill), New York Deli & Pizza (fast food) and Panorama Bar (beverages). The Sea View Pool area (aft) is served by Sea View Bar.

“Movies by the Pool Deck” is a 2-deck outdoor cinema served by the New York Deli & Pizza (deck 10) with light snacks (including popcorn, sandwiches, pizza, fresh chips, nachos). During movie nights, loungers and blankets are provided, as well as chair-side waiter service from the food bars (Gelato, NY Deli & Pizza, Dive-In/Terrace Grill) and waiter service for drinks at the Lido Bar.

The Retreat (deck 12) is an adults-only sundeck/relaxation zone with private cabanas available for rent. Daily rental prices are inclusive of a massage tent, lunch and concierge service.

Explorations Central & Cafe (fka Crow’s Nest & Explorations Cafe/forward on deck 11) is an indoor observation lounge with panoramic windows (270-degree views), its own Bar (beverages), Cafe (patisserie, specialty coffees/teas) and a large dance floor. The lounge is also used for pre-scheduled events by HAL's enrichment program (daily dance classes, trivia games, card playing, karaoke, live grand piano and HAL Cats performances/8-piece party band in the afternoons and evenings). Explorations Central doubles as a disco/nightclub (with live DJ music, dancing contests) and a Library (1000+ volumes, resident librarians). Here are additionally offered multimedia series of interactive videos and guides related to the current itinerary's destinations. Explorations Central also provides digital media (videos, ebooks, maps) accessed via Wi-Fi (during the voyage) and also online (before and after the voyage). At Explorations Central, there are also paperback books and paper maps for the visited regions/destinations and ports of call.

The Casino is a large gaming lounge fitted with gambling tables, 140 slots and video poker machines, and a PokerPro digital touchscreen table. It is served by Casino Bar and has a separate non-smoking area. In 2023, HAL conducted five wet-dock refurbishments to expand the casino space on its vessels in the Pinnacle class (Rotterdam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam) and Signature class (Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam).

Since 2023, all HAL ships have pickleball courts (installed on the top deck) operated via an exclusive partnership with PPA–Professional Pickleball Association. HAL also offers complimentary beginner lessons (led by onboard instructors), sells branded pickleball starter kits (at the ship's retail shops) and “Play Pickleball” tutorial videos are included in the cabin TV programming.

Itineraries

MS Koningsdam's itinerary program started with the inaugural season in Europe, and the Maiden Voyage (April 8, 2016) from Civitavecchia-Rome. The European deployment included itineraries in the Mediterranean and Baltic seas, the British Isles and Northern Europe (out of Amsterdam). Followed the Transatlantic repositioning crossing to homeport Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA (November 2016) for roundtrips to the Caribbean and Bahamas. The itineraries (7–10–11-day) visited popular island destinations like Jamaica, Barbados, Bahamas (Half Moon Cay), Mexico (Cozumel), Aruba, Grand Cayman, Grand Turk, Key West, FL.

Due to the Coronavirus crisis, Holland America paused Koningsdam for 19 months (March 2020 thru October 2021). The ship restarted (on Oct 10th) with California Coastal and Mexican Riviera voyages out of homeport San Diego. For summer 2022, an Alaskan season was scheduled with homeporting in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

The Koningsdam was named in honor of HM King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. The name combines “Koning” (meaning “king” in Dutch) with “dam,” a traditional suffix for Holland America Line ships. The vessel (Fincantieri Marghera Yard number 6241) is powered by four MAK marine diesel engines (model 12V43C) with a combined output of 50.4 MW. Her propulsion system consists of two ABB Azipods (azimuth thrusters) providing a total output of 28 MW.

The keel-laying and coin ceremony took place on February 26, 2015, at the Fincantieri Marghera Shipyard near Venice. The vessel was launched (floated out from drydock) on March 31, 2016, and officially delivered to Holland America Line on April 1, a week ahead of schedule.

On April 18, it was officially announced that Queen Máxima of the Netherlands would serve as the Godmother of Koningsdam. Holland America Line has a long tradition of christenings by members of the Dutch Royal Family — eleven ships in total. In 2010, Princess Máxima (before becoming Queen) christened the Nieuw Amsterdam, while Queen Beatrix named the Eurodam in 2008.

The naming ceremony for Koningsdam took place on May 20, 2016, at Port Rotterdam in the Netherlands. On May 23, 2016, HAL officially revealed the name of the second Pinnacle-class vessel (Koningsdam’s sister ship), the Nieuw Statendam, which debuted in 2018.

The ship’s design was created by “Tihany Design” (New York, USA) and “Yran & Storbraaten Architects AS” (Oslo, Norway). Koningsdam features a two-level theater (“World Stage”), a three-deck-high atrium powered by Microsoft’s “Digital Workshop,” numerous dining venues (including several new concepts for HAL), bars and lounges, expanded kids’ and teens’ clubs, the large “Greenhouse Spa,” and the “Sea View” adults-only retreat.

Inaugural Itineraries 2016

Following her repositioning voyage from the builder’s shipyard (Marghera/Venice) to Civitavecchia-Rome, Koningsdam began her inaugural cruise season in the Mediterranean. It started with a 7-day “Premiere Voyage” (roundtrip from Rome) followed by a series of 12-day “Premiere Sailing” itineraries (April–May 2016).

(Itinerary 2016 / April 8–15) Koningsdam’s “Inaugural Cruise” was a 7-day roundtrip from Civitavecchia-Rome visiting Croatia (Dubrovnik), Greece (Corfu), Albania (Sarandë), Greece (Katakolon–Olympia), and Italy (Naples).

In November 2016, Koningsdam repositioned to the Caribbean, homeporting at Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale, Florida). Her Caribbean program featured roundtrip itineraries from the USA to destinations in the Bahamas and the Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean.