Photo by Jason Leppert
Holland America Line's newest ship has set sail, and we have some tips and advice on how to maximize your cruise experience onboard.
Learn About the Line's Signature Culinary Council
Did you know that Holland America Line has not just one executive chef crafting menus for its fleet but an entire culinary council? Now you can learn more about the creative team behind the tasty dishes appropriately adjacent to the Culinary Arts Center and Blend. Interactive touchscreen kiosks feature everyone from Rudi Sodamin to Elizabeth Falkner in exploratory video profiles.
READ MORE: TravelPulse On Board: Koningsdam Review
Reserve a Table at the Many Specialty Restaurants
Koningsdam's complimentary dining is exceptional, but the ship also increases the number of unique specialty restaurants, adding the new Sel de Mer for seafood and dinners at the Culinary Arts Center. It's worth the extra cost to vary the dining experience and try the upscale cuisine. Favorites still include the Pinnacle Grill steakhouse, now highlighting a taste of Jonnie Boer's De Librije, as well as the Asian Tamarind and Italian Canaletto.
Try Dive-In and New York Deli & Pizza
There are also culinary alternatives to be enjoyed for free. During the day, the main Dining Room and Lido Market buffet are usually first on guests' minds to enjoy a meal, but the gourmet burgers and hot dogs at the Dive-In grill and custom pizzas and sandwiches at New York Deli & Pizza are wonderful options as well, particularly because they can often serve quicker. Just place your order, take a pager and sit back and relax as items are freshly prepared.
Don't Miss World Stage Production Shows
Koningsdam elevates the main theater onboard with an impressive 270-degree floor-to-ceiling video wall that encircles audiences, and production shows presented here use the technology to great effect as images seem to explode into the house. Live performances also captivate the imagination as everything comes together to create ethereal moods in "One World" and deliver the Billboard hits in "Off the Charts."
READ MORE: Holland America Line's New Koningsdam from a Sales Perspective
Enjoy Live Performances at Music Walk
Live music has always been a hallmark of Holland America Line, but the Koningsdam ups the ante with Music Walk, a collection of three venues. B.B. King's Blues Club continues to rock in the newly expanded Queen's Lounge, and Billboard Onboard comes to life with dueling pianos performances next door. The third highlight is Lincoln Center Stage, taking chamber music to a new level with a perfect balance of classical and pop tunes.
Check Out the Art Collection
In the past, Holland America ships have featured a collection of antiques and rather dreary art. This time around, pieces take their cues from the ship's overall musical inspiration. Works range from kinetic lenticular prints to optically wild mosaics, and the styles are decidedly more post-modern all the way around. Perusing the stairwells is time well spent on this ship.
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