The live event is over, I’m back in Orlando and getting back into the swing of things here.  While on board Holland America Line’s new ms Koningsdam, we covered a lot of ground and have more information on the way, describing much of what it is like to sail the new 99,836-ton ship.  Below is a full account of information and images, gathered first-hand, on our sold out summer sailing of the a ship that is the epitome of all the Holland America Line of today has to offer.  I think you will like what you see.  First, a couple interesting points that came up on our voyage.

The Children’s Program Is Actually Very Good- Odds are your first thought of Holland America Line has one of two elements in it.

1. An older than average aged passenger
2. A focus on long, diverse itineraries

#1 might be true and #2 is surely true to a point.  While mature travelers will find a lot to like, so will travelers as young as pre-teen aged.  A nice family we traveled on ms Koningsdam had two young girls who practically had to be pried away from the kids club and had a really hard time leaving their new friends behind at the end of the voyage.  A week on a ship is like 6 months in kid years you see.  Diverse itineraries?  You bet… along with a plethora of standard length week-long sailings.  Holland America Line’s sold out Grand World Voyage is a 111-day sailing few families with kids are apt to be on.  Our sold out Norse Legends itinerary is a good example of what Holland America can offer in just one week.

Documented Holland America Line Has Broad Appeal
Interestingly, we sailed with an actual count of 2,807 other passengers on a ship rated for 2,650 at double occupancy.  Sailing from Amsterdam brought a more international mix of passengers from more than 50 countries around the world.  The majority of passengers came from the United States, The Netherlands, Belgium, Israel, Germany and Spain, in that order.  That brought the few announcements made each day come first in English then in Dutch.

Some other interesting takeaways from our Koningsdam journey and the subject of upcoming posts:

• Holland America Line Pinnacle Grill 2.0
• About Terrorism And Traveling
• Holland America Koningsdam: Your Questions Answered

Posted Live as we sailed the North Sea from Amsterdam to Norway and back.

• Welcome Aboard Holland America Line Koningsdam
• Koningsdam Interactive Culinary Dinner A Hit
• Abundant Koningsdam Onboard Programming, Collectively Wonderful 
• Pausing Briefly, Koningsdam Sister Construction Begins
• Pleasant Surprises Aboard The Holland America Line Of Today
• The Relaxed Koningsdam Experience

Facebook Photo Albums

• Dinner In The Culinary Arts Center
• Edifjord, Norway With Holland America Line
• Alesund, Norway With Holland America Line
• Geiranger, Norway with Holland America Line
• Bergen, Norway with Holland America Line

Flickr Photo Collections– check back later too- more photos loading all the time

• Movenpick Amsterdam– A Holland America Line choice for pre- and post-cruise hotel stays.
• Koningsdam Casino – Interestingly, a nearly smoke free venue on this ship
• Rotterdam Sailaway– Originally scheduled to sail from Amsterdam, high winds pushed the embarkation port.
• Koningsdam Staterooms- A variety of photos showing standard stateroom amenities including USB ports, electrical plugs and more
• Dinner in the Culinary Arts Center– A potentially interactive experience where guests are invited to engage the chefs as they prepare the meal.
• Koningsdam At Sea– A variety of images collected while sailing in the North Sea
• Lido Market– One of the least talked about but giant features of Koningsdam
• Koningsdam Galley Tour– We went behind the scenes into normally restricted areas
• Pinnacle Grill- Holland America Line’s steakhouse.2 on Holland America Line
• The Eclectic Koningsdam Art Collection– Unique at sea…like you might catch yourself getting lost in these works.
• Sel de Mer Seafood Brasserie- one of several alternative dining options developed by Master Chef Rudi Sodamin and Holland America Line’s Culinary Council
• Koningsdam Interior Spaces- Random areas around the ship
• Edifjord, Norway with Holland America Line – Our first port of call in Norway
• Norway Wildlife – actually, there are more than birds in Norway but these seeme especially photogenic.
• Bergen Norway with Holland America Line– Where we turned around and headed back to Amsterdam