In April, the most recent Holland America liner ms Koningsdam was launched in
Fincantieri, Italy. It’s a stunning new vessel with all the latest features that truly stylish cruising demands. Read on to discover ms Koningsdam’s top six latest innovations, which will make you want to jump on board.
1. New single and family staterooms
There are 32 spacious new family ocean-view staterooms, each with two bathrooms and accommodation for five people. The 12 single ocean-view cabins are also generously proportioned and available on multiple decks at a variety of forward, mid-ship and aft locations.
2. BLEND wine experience
Enjoy a glass of wine? BLEND, the only purpose-built wine-blending venue at sea, is a ‘first of its kind’ experience for Holland America Line guests. From a tasting table that accommodates 10 guests, participants can create their own blend from a selection of five barrels of single-vineyard red wine. As well as experiencing the blending process, guests also will learn about wine from the ship’s wine expert, who leads the blending session.
3. New dining experiences – Grand Dutch Cafe
Vibrant shades of Delftware’s blue and white converge with the silhouettes of charming Amsterdam buildings in the whimsical Grand Dutch Cafe. Located on Deck 3 at the top of the Atrium, the new venue is a nod to Holland America Line’s rich heritage and the ideal place to grab Dutch-themed snacks or beverages, with Heineken beer on tap.
4. Learn, cook and eat
As guests make their way along Deck 2, they’ll pass the Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine magazine. On Koningsdam, the centre becomes a dedicated shipboard setting with a dramatic show kitchen and individual cooking stations that will be used exclusively for Culinary Arts Center activities, such as cooking demonstrations and hands-on classes by visiting celebrity chefs and the ship’s own experts. Regionally inspired workshops, as well as kids’ and teens’ cooking classes, will also be featured.
But wait, there’s more. In the evening, the room transforms into a new dining concept called Dinner at the Culinary Arts Center, an immersive farm-to-table experience where the chefs prepare simple, artisanal dishes in the show kitchen and guests enjoy each course as it’s freshly prepared. Every meal will emphasise fresh, thoughtfully sourced selections while incorporating select ingredients harvested from a glass-enclosed garden, adjacent to the kitchen.
5. Fresh Seafood at Sel de Mer
Located next to the popular Pinnacle Grill, Sel de Mer, or ‘salt of the sea’, is an intimate French seafood brasserie serving a classic selection of French seafood dishes with a contemporary twist – from fresh oysters, seafood chowder and fruits de mer to salt-crusted whole fish, scallops and bouillabaisse. Sel de Mer will recreate a setting reminiscent of the finest French brasseries where waiters are traditionally dressed and guests may choose their evening meal from a selection of fresh fish and shellfish displayed on ice in the centre of the room. The Koningsdam’s chefs also will go ashore whenever possible and bring back the catch of the day as a daily special for the evening’s menu.
6. New entertainment experiences
Entertainment is taken to a new level with the energetic Music Walk area featuring all genres of music showcased in venues, including Lincoln Center Stage performing chamber music nightly; Billboard Onboard, where live musicians rock the crowd with chart-topping hits; and the popular BB King’s Blues Club in the Queen’s Lounge, bringing the best of Memphis music to sea. The Koningsdam’s World Stage brings 270-degree LED projection to the main showroom, immersing showtime audiences in a panorama of sight and sound.
Want to see how the ship was put together? Then why not watch the launch of the ms Koningsdam?
Related articles:
Top tips for cruise ships
When’s the best time to cruise the South Pacific?
Fine dining on the high seas
