It’s time to head back to another “dam” ship!
After spending three weeks on Holland America Line’s Rotterdam cruising the Panama Canal, the Caribbean, and the Bahamas, I’m back onboard again, this time on Koningsdam, the lead ship in Holland America’s game-changing Pinnacle Class. Launched in 2016, Koningsdam was a pretty big move for a cruise line that, for years, built its reputation around ships that felt smaller, quieter, and a whole lot more traditional. Even the name given to this new ship meant business! “Koning” means “king” in Dutch, and the name also honors King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, while keeping the line’s long-running “dam” naming tradition intact.
Make no mistake, this ship was a major shift for Holland America. At 99,902 gross tons with a double-occupancy capacity of 2,650 guests, Koningsdam became the largest ship the line had ever built when she entered service in April 2016. That may not sound earth-shattering in a world where the mega ships keep getting more ridiculous by the year, but for Holland America, this was a major step forward.
Koningsdam kicked off what is now known as the Pinnacle Class, which today includes three ships: Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam, and Rotterdam. Built by Fincantieri in Italy, these ships brought a more contemporary design, more entertainment options, expanded dining, and a noticeably different overall feel than the older ships in the fleet. You still get the Holland America DNA, but wrapped in a much bigger, more polished, and more amenity-packed package.
That’s really what makes the Pinnacle Class interesting. Holland America did not go out and build some floating amusement park full of go-karts, roller coasters, or water slides bolted to the top deck, as that’s definitely not the base of customers they appeal to. Instead, it built ships that feel modern, stylish, and more in step with what today’s cruiser expects, while still keeping the line’s more refined personality. The overall layout on these ships just works. They feel open, easy to navigate, and far less chopped up than some of the line’s older vessels.
If you want to see just how much of a difference that really is, take a look at my Holland America Line fleet guide. When you stack the ships side by side, it becomes pretty obvious that the Pinnacle Class was not just another incremental update. These ships stand apart in both size and passenger capacity, and they represent a pretty dramatic change from the Holland America that longtime cruisers had gotten used to.
And while they’re nowhere near the largest cruise ships sailing today, the Pinnacle Class ships were absolutely a big deal for Holland America, and honestly, they still are. Even now, there are plenty of loyal HAL cruisers who won’t set foot on one because they think they’re too big, too busy, or too different from the “real” Holland America experience. I get it. But in my humble opinion, these are the most beautiful, best laid out, and most amenity-packed ships in the Holland America fleet. They managed to modernize the brand without turning it into something unrecognizable, and that’s not as easy as it sounds.
And like just about every ship class, these three are basically cut from the same template. Koningsdam came first in 2016, Nieuw Statendam followed in 2018, and Rotterdam arrived in 2021 as the newest and most polished version of the bunch.
For the most part, they’re very much the same ship. Same overall layout, same general feel, same “if you’ve been on one, you’ll know your way around the other two in about 5 minutes” kind of design. But if you sail them back to back, you’ll notice the little differences, and in some cases, not-so-little ones. That’s usually how this goes with a class of ships. The first one is the test subject, then the cruise line pays attention to what worked, what didn’t, what guests liked, what they complained about, and what probably sounded better on paper than it did in real life. By the time the second and third ships come along, some tweaks have been made, a few things get refined, and the rough edges get smoothed out. Still, these three are about as close to copy-and-paste as you’re going to get, right down to the carpet.
Now, let’s talk about this cruise for a moment. This particular sailing is significant for two reasons.
First, it’s the first cruise back after Koningsdam spent two weeks in dry dock in Freeport, Bahamas, where the ship underwent routine maintenance, technical work, inspections, and general upkeep before returning to service. I’ll be talking more about that in a bit, because anytime you step onboard right after dry dock, you start looking around to see what changed, what got freshened up, and what the cruise line quietly hoped nobody would notice.
Second, this is the final cruise of the ship’s 2025/26 Caribbean season. After this sailing wraps up in Fort Lauderdale, Koningsdam heads west, first repositioning toward Vancouver for its 2026 Alaska season. Looking ahead, Holland America’s published 2027 West Coast deployment shows Koningsdam sailing out of San Diego for Mexico and Hawaii runs, which means she is not scheduled to spend the 2026/27 winter season back in Fort Lauderdale. So yeah, it may be a while before “the king” makes it back to the East Coast, which makes being onboard for this last Fort Lauderdale run feel a little more special.
What happened in dry dock? Glad you asked.
The most obvious change is the one you can spot before you even step onboard. Koningsdam came out of her two-week dry dock in Freeport with a fresh exterior paint job and the usual round of maintenance, inspections, and technical work. But the more interesting stuff happened inside.
And yes, one of the biggest changes is the one I spent plenty of time talking about during my Rotterdam trip reports.
For years, one of the biggest complaints about the Pinnacle Class ships has been that forward staircase on Decks 2 and 3, the one that connected the Rolling Stone Lounge and Billboard Onboard area on Deck 2 to the casino above on Deck 3. Since the casino allows smoking, that stairwell basically worked like a chimney, pulling smoke down into the live music venues below.
Guests complained about it.
The musicians noticed it.
Pretty much anybody who spent time down there noticed it.
On Koningsdam, that staircase is now gone. In its place on Deck 2 is a guitar display along with more high-top, bar-style seating around the music venues, while on Deck 3 the casino has been expanded with additional gaming space.
So in other words, Holland America fixed the problem and recognized the fact that, “Yeah, that staircase was a terrible idea.”
The dry dock also added five new larger ocean-view staterooms designed for families and groups traveling together, with each accommodating up to four guests. Four of those new rooms are connecting. The line also upgraded 22 Vista Suites with new sofa beds to create more flexible sleeping arrangements.
Elsewhere around the ship, carpets and mattresses were replaced in staterooms and most, but not all, public areas got new carpet, several dining venues including Pinnacle Grill, Sel de Mer, and Club Orange were updated with more flexible table arrangements, and the fitness center got new equipment. Effy’s retail space was also completely refreshed with new flooring, finishes, lighting, displays, signage, and a new chandelier, because apparently even your jewelry browsing now needs to feel more upscale.
As the week goes on, I’ll be pointing out more of the dry dock work and also some spots, that for some reason, should have gotten some attention, but was completely ignored. But we have embarkation day to talk about!
This cruise is a 12-day jaunt around the Caribbean, and you can check out the itinerary below.
Southern Caribbean: Koningsdam
| Date | Port | Country | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 29 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | United States | 3:30 PM | |
| Mar 30 | At Sea | – | – | – |
| Mar 31 | At Sea | – | – | – |
| Apr 1 | San Juan | Puerto Rico | 8:00 AM | 11:00 PM |
| Apr 2 | St. Thomas | USVI | 8:00 AM | 5:00 PM |
| Apr 3 | St. John's | Antigua and Barbuda | 8:00 AM | 5:00 PM |
| Apr 4 | Roseau | Dominica | 8:00 AM | 5:00 PM |
| Apr 5 | Castries | St. Lucia | 8:00 AM | 4:00 PM |
| Apr 6 | Basseterre | St. Kitts and Nevis | 8:00 AM | 5:00 PM |
| Apr 7 | At Sea | – | – | – |
| Apr 8 | At Sea | – | – | – |
| Apr 9 | Half Moon Cay | Bahamas | 8:00 AM | 3:00 PM |
| Apr 10 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | United States | 7:00 AM |
Embarkation in Fort Lauderdale
I left my house in Delray Beach around 11:30 a.m. and made it to just outside Port Everglades at noon. And as usual, getting into the port was a nightmare.
Port Everglades has this brilliant system where every vehicle entering the port has to stop so everyone can show ID, present a boarding pass, and answer the always-reassuring question, “Do you have any weapons in the vehicle?” This checkpoint setup does not exist at PortMiami or Port Canaveral, and when you’ve got six big ships in port like there were today, it turns traffic into a complete and utter disaster. Cars stack up forever, shuttle vans start trying to squeeze by on the shoulder, horns are blowing, tempers are flaring, and the whole thing becomes one giant mess before you’ve even gotten near the terminal.
I’ve complained plenty about PortMiami over the years, but honestly, I’m finding myself getting more annoyed with the entrance setup at Port Everglades every time I sail from here. It makes absolutely no sense from a traffic flow standpoint. It took about 20 minutes just to crawl through that checkpoint and finally get to the terminal to drop off my luggage.
And then came another bit of Port Everglades genius.
The parking garage is right next to the terminal. Right there. You can see it. There is even a road that takes you straight into it. So in any normal, logical operation, you’d drop off your bags, make a left, pull into the garage, and be done with it. But no. This is Port Everglades, where logic apparently goes to die. Instead, you have to drop off your bags, make a right, go all the way back out toward where you came in, loop back around, re-enter the terminal area, and then go into the garage.
Who comes up with this stuff?
Once I finally got into the garage, it was nearly full. I ended up snagging one of the few remaining spots on the top level, which should make disembarkation day just a barrel of fun.
After the Port Everglades circus was out of the way, things were pretty much smooth sailing.
Pretty much.
When I got to the terminal entrance, there were two lines: one for guests with priority boarding, which included 4-Star Mariners and above like myself, and one for everyone else. The problem was that nobody was really telling people which line was which until things had already started going sideways. By the time someone finally stepped in to direct people properly, the line had backed up, stretched outside the building, and a bunch of people were already standing in the wrong place. Naturally, that created even more confusion.
From there it was off to security, where I got to witness one of cruising’s favorite pre-boarding traditions: people deciding they suddenly didn’t want to wait in line, so they opened the stanchions and took it upon themselves to enter the handicapped lane instead.
Real classy.
Once past that nonsense, the rest of the process was not terrible. Security, facial recognition, and boarding all moved along, but it was definitely less organized than on previous Holland America sailings I’ve taken out of Fort Lauderdale, and it took longer than it should have. I was onboard and walking to my stateroom right at 1:00 p.m., which is not awful by any means, but the overall experience was far from the smoothest I’ve had here.
So while getting on Koningsdam itself wasn’t bad, the shoreside operation this time around definitely left a lot to be desired.
Once onboard, staterooms were ready, so I headed up, dropped off my bag, and went to check in at my muster station.
Holland America, like nearly every cruise line except Disney Cruise line, no longer requires you to do a full muster. You simply head to your muster station, get your keycard scanned, and then watch the safety video on your TV. That’s it. No more gathering your lifejacket, congregating out on the Promenade deck in the heat watching someone demonstrate how to put that thing on.
After that, I was shocked to come back to my room and find…. my luggage! Talk about speedy service.
Verandah Stateroom 8048 on Holland America’s Koningsdam
For this trip, I was originally booked in a guarantee inside stateroom, which basically means you let the cruise line pick your room for you and you find out what you got closer to embarkation. That also means the location can be anywhere they decide to stick you, so booking a guarantee always comes with a little bit of a gamble.
Sometimes it works out in your favor. Every now and then, the cruise gods decide to throw a little pixie dust your way and you wind up with something better than what you booked. Maybe you reserve a guarantee inside and when the assignment comes through, surprise, you’ve been bumped up to an ocean view. It does happen. Not often, but it happens.
That said, I’m not in an inside stateroom on this sailing.
A few days before embarkation, I got an offer to upgrade to a verandah stateroom for $700, and I took it.
Stateroom 8048 is located forward on Deck 8 and is pretty much your typical Holland America verandah stateroom. In other words, if you’ve stayed in one before, there are not going to be a whole lot of surprises here. You’ve got the two twin beds that convert into a queen, a small loveseat, a desk and vanity area, and the usual flat-screen TV mounted across from the bed.
The loveseat in my room, however, has a stain on it, which is something you’d think would have been taken care of by now, especially considering the ship just came out of dry dock where everything was supposedly being deep cleaned and refreshed. Apparently that loveseat missed the memo. There’s also some “dry dock dust” on the table legs that wasn’t cleaned up yet.
When it comes to outlets, the room is in good shape. There are plenty of them, which is always appreciated because nobody wants to play that fun vacation game called “Which device gets charged tonight?” On each side of the bed, there are USB-A ports and U.S. power outlets, and over at the desk and vanity area you’ll find more USB-A, U.S., and European outlets. So from a charging standpoint, you should be well covered.
Storage is also decent. There are two wardrobes for hanging clothes, drawers for everything else, and enough space for two. You’ve also got the usual safe, stocked minibar for a fee, snack box for a fee, telephone, bathrobes, blankets, umbrella, and beach towels.
The bathroom is where things get a little less flattering.
It’s not huge, which is not unusual, but the placement of the toilet is just awkward. Because of how close it is to the glass shower wall, you can’t really sit on it straight on unless you enjoy having your knees jammed into glass. You kind of have to sit sideways, which is not exactly the most graceful setup. If you’re six feet tall or more, good luck. That arrangement is not doing you any favors.
The shower itself is a walk-in and a decent size, with a glass door, which is generally nicer than dealing with one of those clingy shower curtains that attacks you every time the ship moves. Unfortunately, my shower door is not plumb, so it doesn’t fully stay shut. It remains cracked open by about half an inch, and because the water from the shower head is aimed right toward that little opening, water goes straight out onto the floor. And when the ship is moving, that shower door suddenly decides it wants to participate even more. Not ideal.
The sink area does have sufficient shelf space for your toiletries and the usual assortment of bathroom clutter. So while it’s not the largest bathroom, it’s functional. Comfortable is another story.
Out on the balcony, it’s your standard verandah setup. Nothing oversized, nothing ridiculously tiny either. You’ve got two chairs, two footstools, and a small table, which is more than enough space to sit outside and watch the world go by.
One side note worth mentioning is that rooms got new mattresses installed during dry dock, and they are very firm. So if you like a mattress that feels soft and broken in, this probably is not going to be your favorite. If you like a firmer bed, you’ll probably be perfectly happy with it.
Video Tour of Verandah Stateroom 8048 on Holland America Koningsdam
Sailaway, Rain, and an Unexpected Lecture About Toilets
As I waited for sailaway, I was out on my balcony, parked between Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas and Princess Cruises’ Caribbean Princess. And while I expected to hear the usual pre-departure noise drifting across the pier, what I did not expect was to get an accidental front-row seat to what may have been the most detailed public discussion about cruise ship toilets I’ve ever heard.
From my balcony, I could clearly hear the captain of Caribbean Princess doing his safety briefing. Perfectly normal. But then things took a turn. He launched into a very lengthy explanation about the ship’s toilet system. Not just a quick “please don’t flush anything weird” reminder, but a full-on discussion about how the vacuum system works and what guests should and should not be putting down there.
At one point, he explained that the toilets should only be used for “things that come out of you,” which is honestly one of the more memorable lines I’ve heard come out of a shipwide announcement. He also reminded guests not to flush face cloths, towels, or anything else that could clog the system.
Now, maybe this was just a captain who is extremely passionate about proper toilet usage. But the way he kept going on about it definitely made me think there may have been some kind of plumbing issue over there, or at the very least, they were trying very hard to avoid one. Either way, it was an unexpectedly entertaining bit of balcony eavesdropping, and I hope the toilets on Caribbean Princess are behaving themselves.
When it came time for our own sailaway, the weather didn’t exactly cooperate. Rain moved in, so instead of the usual open-deck festivities, the sailaway party was held by the Lido pool under Koningsdam’s retractable roof, which kept out the liquid sunshine.
Mariners Society Reception
To kick off the evening, it was time for the Mariners Society reception, held for those loyal Holland America cruisers who have earned three stars or more in the line’s loyalty program.
This too was held at the Lido pool, but by the time 6:30 rolled around, the sun had come back out and the retractable roof was opened, which made for a much nicer setting than the gray and soggy start we had at sailaway.
The Mariners reception is one of those nice little loyalty perks Holland America does well. It usually runs about 30 to 45 minutes and gives repeat guests a chance to have a few complimentary drinks, mingle, and catch up with fellow HAL loyalists. For me, that meant getting to see familiar faces again, including Linda and Lowell, who I’ve sailed with on several other Holland America cruises and who had also been on the last Rotterdam sailing. One of the nice things about sailing with Holland America over and over is that it starts to feel a little like a reunion as I always see familiar faces on a “dam” ship.
During his welcome toast, the cruise director shared the breakdown of the loyalty crowd onboard for this sailing, and the numbers were pretty impressive.
There were approximately 650 three-star Mariners onboard, which covers guests with 75 to 199 cruise day credits. Another roughly 425 guests were four-star Mariners, the tier for those with 200 to 499 cruise day credits. Then there were about 150 five-star Mariners onboard, made up of guests with 500 or more cruise day credits.
And then there was the really rare group: six President’s Club members.
That is Holland America’s top-tier status level and the one that really separates the serious loyalists from everybody else. Unlike the lower tiers, where cruise day credits can be earned not only by sailing but also through onboard spending, President’s Club is based strictly on actual days sailed. To get there, guests need 1,400 cruise days, and membership is by invitation only. The cruise director didn’t say exactly how many days those six guests had under their belts, but it’s safe to say they’ve spent quite a bit of days on HAL. On my last Rotterdam cruise, we had one person with more than 2,200 days!
It’s always interesting hearing those counts because it really drives home just how loyal Holland America’s customer base is. This is not a cruise line with a fan base that casually sails once every ten years and forgets about it. These are people who come back again and again and again, and on a sailing like this, there were a whole lot of them onboard.
A Quick Note About Dinner
That’s already a lot to cover for day one, so just a quick note about dinner.
Here’s a look at what was being served in the Lido Market buffet and in the main dining room.
French Baguette
Cornbread, sun-dried tomato focaccia, soft rolls, spa bread
Pineapple Coconut Crisp
Pineapple coconut crisp
Shrimp Diablo (Paella Pan)
Shrimp diablo paella pan
BBQ Ribs
BBQ ribs
Salmon, Dill Teriyaki Garlic
Salmon with dill teriyaki garlic
3 Cheese Sandwich
3 cheese sandwich, challa brioche
Romesco (Roastbeef)
Romesco roastbeef
Shrimp Cocktail
Shrimp cocktail, american cocktail sauce
Apple, Pear and Pecan Salad
Apple, pear and pecan salad, heart of palm, mango and avocado salad
Chop-Chop
Chop-chop signature salad
Chicken Caesar
Chicken caesar
Cobb
Cobb salad
Asian Sesame with Seared Tuna
Asian sesame with seared tuna
Rigatoni with Italian Sausage, Tomato and Oregano
Rigatoni with italian sausage, tomato and oregano
Tortiglioni with Basil Pesto, Haricot Vert, Baby Potatoes
Tortiglioni with basil pesto, haricot vert, baby potatoes
Lasagna
Lasagna
Baked Seafood Pasta
Baked seafood pasta
Garlic Scrolls, Ciaratta Wheel
Garlic scrolls, ciaratta wheel
Pasta Marinara
Pasta marinara, bolognese, alfredo
Gado Gado Salad
Gado gado salad
Bami Goreng
Bami goreng, nasi goreng
Nasi Goreng
Nasi goreng
Green Beans with Sambal
Green beans with sambal
Udang Goreng Asam
Udang goreng asam
Babi Kecap
Babi kecap
Gulai Ayam
Gulai ayam
Green Chili and Corn Chowder
Green chili and corn chowder
Aloo Gobi
Aloo gobi
Paneer Butter Masala
Paneer butter masala
Tandoori Chicken
Tandoori chicken
Ghee Rice
Ghee rice
Prime Rib
Prime rib
Rosemary Roasted Chicken
Rosemary roasted chicken
Loaded Mashed Potatoes
Loaded mashed potatoes, mac n cheese
Yorkshire Pudding
Yorkshire pudding, creamed spinach, corn on the cob
New York Steak
New york steak
Flat Iron Steak
Flat iron steak
Fried Chicken
Fried chicken
Vegan Crusted Portabella Mushroom
Vegan crusted portabella mushroom
Grilled Chicken Breast, Lemon, Lingonberries
Grilled chicken breast, lemon, lingonberries
Loaded Mashed Potatoes
Loaded mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, corn on the cob, baked potatoes
French Fries
French fries, mac & cheese
Sides Sauces
Bearnaise sauce, green peppercorn sauce, mushroom sauce, BBQ sauce
Dulce de Leche Crème Brûlée
Dulce de leche crème brûlée
Chocolate Fudge Brownie Cheesecake
Chocolate fudge brownie cheesecake
Lemon Torte No Sugar Added
Lemon torte no sugar added
Selection of Ice Cream
Selection of ice cream
Whole Fruits Sliced
Apple, pears, banana, orange, grapes
Potato Salad
Potato salad
Tomato Mozzarella Salad
Tomato mozzarella salad
Cheese Selection
Edam, gorgonzola, brie
Chop Chop Salad
Chop chop salad, tossed to order
Selection of Artisan Breads
Selection of artisan breads
Choripán
Roasted pork, chorizo, chipotle cream, cilantro slaw, lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickled jalapeño, rustic bread
Pork Sate
Pork sate, peanuts sauce
Shrimps Ebi Fry
Shrimps ebi fry, sweet and sour
BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
BBQ chicken drumsticks
French Fries with Toppings
French fries with toppings
Duck Peking Sauce
Duck peking sauce
Fried Rice
Fried rice
Cauliflower Baked Cheese
Cauliflower baked cheese
Spaghetti Pomodoro
Spaghetti pomodoro
Coconut Cream Pie
Coconut cream pie
Marshmallow Fudge Brownie
Marshmallow fudge brownie
Cherry Cheesecake
Cherry cheesecake
Tiramisu Mousse
Tiramisu mousse no sugar added
Dutch 150
$11.00De Lijn Gin, sparkling wine, fresh lemon juice
Bahama Mama
$11.00Flor de Cana rum, Malibu rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, grenadine
Pusser's Painkiller
$13.00Pusser's rum, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, orange juice, grated nutmeg
El Presidente
$11.00Planteray 3 Star, Vermouth blanc, dashes of orange curaçao and grenadine
Trader Vic's Mai Tai
$12.00Appleton aged rum, orange curaçao, fresh lime juice, orgeat
Featured Beer
$7.75Kalik
Chili Caribbean Shrimp Cocktail
Orange habanero aioli, citrus segments
Sweet Tomato, Fresh Buffalo Mozzarella
Balsamic, olive oil, basil, focaccia
Jerked Oxtail Croquette
Pineapple jam, jerk mayo
French Onion Soup
Gruyère cheese crouton
Classic Caesar Salad
Parmesan cheese, garlic croutons, anchovies
Red Beet, Frisée, Orange Salad
Goat cheese, hazelnut
Green Chile and Corn Chowder
Roasted bell pepper, cilantro
Fresh Mahi-Mahi Diablo
Cilantro rice, guajillo chilies chipotle, tomato
Ginger Mango Chicken
Reggae potatoes, creamy yoghurt, lime sauce
Bucatini Caponata
Eggplant, olives, bell pepper, capers, basil, pine nuts
Spiced Pork Belly
Pineapple salsa, roasted squash, sweet potatoes
Southwestern Salmon Bowl
Black bean corn salsa, avocado brown rice
Beef Pot Roast
Roasted parsnip and root vegetables, potato smash
Rustic Home-Made Lasagna
Tomato sauce, basil
Garlic-Herb Roasted Chicken
Avocado-tomato corn salad
Vegan Crusted Portabella Mushroom
Butter bean mash
Club Orange Daily Special - Peruvian Chicken
Creamed corn, salsa verde
5 oz Filet Mignon & Lobster
$18.00Grilled asparagus, baked potato, garlic butter
12 oz Pinnacle Grill Strip Loin Steak
$20.00Baked potato, creamed spinach
Crispy Fried Market Whole Fresh Fish
$25.00Sweet tamarind chili sauce, picked vegetables
Yuzu Butter Grilled Lobster Tails
$25.00Seasonal Asian greens
Fresh Stone Crab
$49.00Mustard dipping sauce, Frisée, Lime
Chocolate Hazelnut Bread Pudding
Warm rum vanilla sauce
Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Caramel, cherry, pecans, coconut cream
Chocolate Fudge Brownie Cheesecake
Pecans, marshmallow
Lemon Torte
Lemon cream
Artisan Cheese Selection
Provolone, pepper jack, Swiss, brie
Strawberry Sundae
Vanilla ice cream, strawberry compote, crushed biscotti
Ice Cream of the Day
Vanilla ice cream
Cappuccino
$3.75Cappuccino
Espresso
$2.75Espresso
One thing worth pointing out is that on embarkation day, Holland America traditionally offers its steak and shrimp dinner in the Lido Market, and it is always popular. For a lot of people, that has become a bit of a first-night ritual. You board the ship, unpack a little, wander around pretending you’re going to remember where everything is, and then head upstairs for steak and shrimp.
And speaking of dinner, I walked by the main dining room at 4:40 p.m. and yes, there were already people lined up for the 5:00 p.m. opening.
Twenty minutes early.
For dinner.
Who eats this early, and more importantly, who lines up that far in advance to do it?
Embarkation Night Dinner at Pinnacle Grill
For me, embarkation night dinner is usually at one of the specialty restaurants, mainly because hardly anybody books them on night one. That means a quieter room, no rush, and a much better way to start the cruise than fighting the buffet or standing in line for the main dining room at 4:40 in the afternoon like it’s the last supper.
So for night one, it was off to Pinnacle Grill, the ship’s steakhouse, which is priced at $52 per person plus 18% gratuity. One of the best perks of being a 4-Star Mariner or above is that specialty dining is half off, and that is a fantastic benefit that I fully intend to keep taking advantage of. Pinnacle Grill is a spot I eat at quite a bit on Holland America ships, and this cruise will be no exception.
Table-Side Caesar Salad
heart of romaine, Parmesan, croutons, anchovies
Vine Ripened Beefsteak Tomato Salad
sliced purple onion, balsamic vinaigrette or blue cheese dressing
Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes
cucumber, sweet chili-mustard
Lobster Bisque
crème fraîche, aged cognac
Panko Fried Stuffed Mushroom Caps
Beyond Meat mince, vegan mayonnaise remoulade, parsley, quinoa salad
Mafaldine, Marinated Grilled Eggplant, Burrata & Chiles
preserved lemon, Calabrian chili, olive oil
Steakhouse Wedge Salad by David Burke
crispy bacon, blue cheese, tomato, candied walnuts, ranch dressing
Shrimp Cocktail
brandy-horseradish cocktail sauce
Clothesline Candied Bacon by David Burke
maple, black pepper, half-sour pickles
Ossetra Malossol Caviar
$50.00crème fraîche, buckwheat blinis
Jerked Chicken Bao
mint, coriander, tomato chutney
Crab & Shrimp Cakes
charred spring onion & pineapple salsa
8oz Filet Mignon
Choice of sauce: Shallot and Red Wine Bordelaise, Green Peppercorn, Béarnaise
15oz Boneless Rib Eye
Choice of sauce: Shallot and Red Wine Bordelaise, Green Peppercorn, Béarnaise
12oz New York Strip
Choice of sauce: Shallot and Red Wine Bordelaise, Green Peppercorn, Béarnaise
36oz Tomahawk Bone-In Rib Eye for Two
$49.00Choice of sauce: Shallot and Red Wine Bordelaise, Green Peppercorn, Béarnaise
10oz American Wagyu Strip Loin
$28.00Choice of sauce: Shallot and Red Wine Bordelaise, Green Peppercorn, Béarnaise
Braised Beef Short Ribs with Chow Fun Noodles by David Burke
wild mushrooms, carrots, scallions
Grilled Lamb Chops
controne bean purée, garlic chips
Honey-Lemon Glazed Chilean Sea Bass
dill butter
Table-Side Dover Sole, Lemon Butter
$15.00boiled new potatoes
Lobster Agnolotti
spiced tomato cream, crab butter
Yellow Tail Snapper
golden curry, spiced orange marmalade, kumquat butter
Mojo Pork Chop
pickled fennel & mango slaw, vermouth jus
12 oz Lobster Tail
$19.00broiled, lemon-garlic butter
Creamed Spinach
Asparagus with Hollandaise
Roasted Baby Beets with Blue Cheese
Mashed Potatoes
Baked Potato
French Fries
Sautéed Mushrooms
Beecher's Lobster Mac & Cheese
$12.00
Add a 5 oz Lobster Tail
$12.00Coconut Pudding
cinnamon, coconut flakes, caramelized banana
Key Lime Pie
whipped cream
Not-So-Classic Baked Alaska
amarena cherry ice cream, bing cherries jubilee
Jacques Torres Chocolate Soufflé
vanilla Chantilly foam, crème anglaise
Warm Chocolate Daelmans Stroopwafel Cobbler
caramel-streaked coffee-laced sauce or molten chocolate sauce
Crème Brûlée
vanilla bean
Artisan Cheeses
dried fruits, apricot chutney
Ice Cream Or Sorbet
Table-Side De Lijn Gin Tonic
$14.00Double Dutch tonic, seasonal botanicals
Green Swizzle
$14.00Planteray 3 Star Rum, Velvet Falernum, lime, absinth, soda, Angustura bitters
El Presidente
$13.00Planteray 3 Star Rum, vermouth blanc, orange curaçao, grenadine
Myrtle Bank Special Punch
$13.00Planteray 3 Star and Smith & Cross pot stilled Jamaican rums, lime, demerara syrup, cherry brandy, cayanne
Big Youth
$13.00Planteray Xaymaca Rum and Smith & Cross rum, condensed milk, coconut water, bitters, nutmeg
Holland America Line Sparkling Wine
Washington
Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc
New Zealand
Rocky Pond 11 Dams Bordeaux Blend
Washington
Disaronno Amaretto
$10.50Remy Martin VSOP
$17.00Highland Park Single Malt
$13.00Espresso
$2.75Cappuccino
$3.75🖼️ Menu Images
I got there around 8:30 p.m. and was seated at a window table right away. As expected for embarkation night, the restaurant was nearly empty, with only four other tables occupied at the time.
To start, I went with the beefsteak tomato salad and the shrimp cocktail, which is always a solid way to kick things off. Alongside that, I had a tableside gin and tonic made with Holland America’s De Lijn gin and Double Dutch tonic, and it was excellent.
For the main course, I went a little lighter than I normally would and ordered the tableside Dover sole, which comes with a $15 upcharge. Light, flaky, and delicious, it was absolutely worth it. And yes, when asked if I wanted the egg roe, the answer was yes. On Dover sole, that adds a lot of flavor. It’s not something I’m looking to sit there and eat by the forkful, but a few bites of it is just right. The sole comes with a few potatoes, but I also added a side of roasted beets with blue cheese.
By the time dessert rolled around, I kept it simple and went with sorbet.
Service was fantastic, as always, and the meal was equally good. Pinnacle Grill continues to be one of the most reliable specialty restaurants in Holland America’s fleet, and this first meal onboard was a reminder of exactly why I keep coming back.
After dinner, I made my way over to B.B. King’s Blues Club, where I ran into the previously mentioned Linda and Lowell, so we had a few cocktails and settled in to listen to the band, which was fantastic.
And then I spotted another familiar face.
The sax player, known as Tiger, looked very familiar because he had just been on Rotterdam. Like, last week. He had disembarked Rotterdam before her crossing to Rotterdam, boarded Koningsdam, and joined the band here… the very same day. Not exactly easing into the new assignment. The band absolutely knocked it out of the park, and after sitting through their set, I called it a night.
We’re now heading into two sea days as we make our way to the first port of call, San Juan, Puerto Rico, where we’ll arrive on Wednesday for a long day in port with an 11:00 p.m. departure.
More tomorrow, along with photos of the ship and some of the refreshed areas.
As always, thanks for following along.
Daily Schedule
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 11:00 AM | Crossword & Number Puzzles Available | Crow’s Nest 12 & Library 2 |
| 11:00 AM | Make Your Dining Reservations | Atrium 2 |
| 11:00 AM | The Library is Open | Library 2 |
| 11:00 AM | Guess the Weight of the Sculpture | Atrium 2 |
| 11:00 AM | Greenhouse Spa: Look & Book Tours | Greenhouse Spa 9 |
| 12:00 PM | Navigator Assistance is Available | B.B. King’s Blues Club 2 |
| 12:00 PM | Visit the Thermal Suite & Hydropool | Greenhouse Spa 9 |
| 1:00 PM | Footprint and Posture Analysis | Fitness Center 9 |
| 1:00 PM | Guess the Carat Weight of the Gem | Effy Jewelry 2 |
| 2:00 PM | Kids Club Open House & Registration | Club HAL Midship |
| 2:00 PM | Meet Your Cruise Staff | Various Locations |
| 2:00 PM | Koningsdam Tour | Crow’s Nest 12 |
| 3:00 PM | Koningsdam Departs Half Moon Cay | Outer Decks |
| 3:00 PM | Sail Away Celebration | Sea View Pool 9 |
| 4:00 PM | Join us for Sail Away Music & Dancing from the Lido Stage | Sea View Pool 9 |
| 4:30 PM | Introduction to iPhone Photography | Photo Gallery 3 |
| 4:30 PM | Cruise Memories | Photo Gallery 3 |
| 4:30 PM | The Greenhouse Spa & Salon Raffle | Greenhouse Spa 9 |
| 5:00 PM | Tighten Your Skin with Thermage | Greenhouse Spa 9 |
| 5:00 PM | Solo Guitarist Plays | Sea View Pool 9 |
| 5:00 PM | Effy Jewelry Welcome Aboard Reception | Effy Jewelry 2 |
| 5:00 PM | Collect Your Free Bingo Ticket | Piano Bar 2 |
| 5:00 PM | The Shops Grand Opening Event | The Shops 2 |
| 5:00 PM | Koningsdam Ship Tour (NEW TODAY) | Crow’s Nest 12 |
| 5:00 PM | Footprint and Posture Analysis | Fitness Center 9 |
| 5:00 PM | Personalized Lipstick Blending | The Shops 2 |
| 5:00 PM | Have Your Casual Portrait Taken | Photo Gallery 3 |
| 5:30 PM | Welcome Aboard Steak Dinner | Lido Market 9 |
| 5:30 PM | Guess the Weight of the Sculpture | Atrium 2 |
| 5:30 PM | Origami Folding: Butterfly | Art Studio 12 |
| 5:30 PM | Ask Your Travel Guide | Travel Guide Desk 12 |
| 5:30 PM | Pickleball Meet & Greet | Sport Court 11 |
| 6:00 PM | Art Scavenger Hunt | Art Gallery 1 |
| 6:00 PM | Singles & Solo Travelers Meetup | Piano Bar 2 |
| 6:00 PM | Shopping Q&A with Henrico | Port Shopping 3 |
| 6:15 PM | Solo Guitarist Plays | Lido Poolside 9 |
| 6:30 PM | Game Night: Don’t Look Now | Rolling Stone Lounge 2 |
| 6:30 PM | Friends of Bill W. Meet | Hudson Room 1 |
| 6:30 PM | PRIDE Meetup for LGBTQ+ and Friends | Crow’s Nest 12 |
| 7:00 PM | Free Liquor Tasting: Small Batch Exclusives | The Shops 2 |
| 7:30 PM | An Intimate Neil Diamond Experience | World Stage 2 & 3 |
| 7:30 PM | Music Trivia: The 1970s | B.B. King’s Blues Club 2 |
| 8:00 PM | Scratch-Off Tickets on Sale | Casino 3 |
| 8:00 PM | Beat the Clock: It’s Time to Shop | Effy Jewelry 2 |
| 8:00 PM | Teens Meet & Greet (13–17) | Club HAL Midship |
| 8:30 PM | Movies by the Pool: Wicked | Lido Poolside 9 |
| 9:00 PM | An Intimate Neil Diamond Experience | World Stage 2 & 3 |
| 9:00 PM | Young Adult Meetup (18–25) | Crow’s Nest 12 |
| 9:30 PM | Dance to the Hits | B.B. King’s Blues Club 2 |
| 10:45 PM | Your Onboard Activities Crew Plays the Hits | B.B. King’s Blues Club 2 |
| 11:00 PM | Over $61,000 Paradise Lotto Jackpot Drawing | Casino 3 |
| 12:00 AM | Stay & Play Slots All Night | Casino 3 |
