Day 10 on Holland America Line’s Koningsdam and today is the first of two back-to-back sea days as we make our way toward the final port of call of this cruise, Half Moon Cay in The Bahamas, where we’ll arrive on Thursday before heading back to Fort Lauderdale on Friday and wrapping up this latest adventure.
Since it’s a sea day and there’s no port stop to pick apart, let’s hit a few different topics, including one special delivery that I teased yesterday.
First up, let’s talk about value.
Holland America is not considered a budget cruise line like Carnival, MSC, or Margaritaville at Sea. It sits more in that premium tier, right alongside Celebrity, Cunard, and Disney. But here’s the thing: Holland often delivers some of the best value for the money out there. You get small to mid-size ships, generally excellent service, ships that are usually maintained beautifully, and a more classic cruise experience that you just are not getting on something like Carnival or Royal Caribbean. And yes, Holland is still one of the few lines where you’re regularly getting twice-a-day housekeeping, which in the post-COVID cruise world feels about as rare as finding a deck chair at 10 a.m. on a sea day.
What really makes Holland stand out, though, is the Have It All package. A lot of cruise lines want a small fortune just for a drink package, and once you tack on Wi-Fi and specialty dining, the total starts getting ridiculous in a hurry. Holland’s Have It All includes the Signature Beverage Package, Surf Wi-Fi, specialty dining, and shore excursion credit, with the amount of dining and shore ex credit increasing based on the length of the cruise. On Holland’s current pricing, Have It All is $60 per person, per day pre-cruise, and includes shore excursion credit, up to three nights of specialty dining depending on cruise length, the Signature Beverage Package, and Surf Wi-Fi.
The Holland America Have It All Package: Everything You Need to Know
That is where the value really starts to shows. Holland’s Signature Beverage Package by itself is currently listed at $50.95 per person, per day pre-cruise and covers drinks priced at $12 and under, with a daily limit of 15 alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks. The Elite Beverage Package is $55.95 per person, per day pre-cruise and covers drinks up to $16, also with a 15-drink daily limit for alcohol and unlimited non-alcoholic beverages. So when you look at Have It All, you’re basically paying just a little more than the Signature package alone, but getting Wi-Fi, specialty dining, and shore ex credit thrown in. That is why I keep saying Holland absolutely wins this battle when you compare it to what other lines charge for far less.
BONUS: Check out my FREE cruise line Beverage Package Calculators to see if purchasing a package makes financial sense!
Now, the Wi-Fi that comes with Have It All is the Surf package, which is exactly what it sounds like. It’s fine for the basics. Check your email, scroll Facebook, post a photo, Google your next cruise, that kind of thing. Holland specifically describes it as the package for surfing the web, using social media, checking email, and sending messages. If you want more than that, you need to upgrade like I did for just $50 for the Premium package that allows for video calls, streaming music and YouTube videos, Google Meets, etc.
And that brings me to the Wi-Fi on this ship, which, frankly, has been disappointing.
Even though the Holland America fleet has Starlink, the internet on Koningsdam this trip has been nowhere near what I’ve come to expect from HAL. Video calls have lagged and buffered, uploading photos has taken forever, and there have been stretches where it just flat-out did not want to cooperate. Usually Holland’s internet is fast enough that I barely think about it. On this sailing, I’ve thought about it plenty, mostly because it has been frustrating.
Now let’s talk about Koningsdam’s pools.
There are two of them. The main Lido Pool and the aft Sea View Pool. Both are on Deck 9, but they serve very different purposes. The Lido Pool is the all-purpose pool area and, not surprisingly, the one that gets the most use. It has the retractable roof, which means it works in all kinds of weather, and it’s really more of a two-level hub than just a pool deck.
You’ve got plenty of seating on both levels, bars on Decks 9 and 10, the gelato stand, Dive-In burgers on Deck 9, and New York Deli & Pizza on Deck 10. There are loungers, day beds, tables, hot tubs, and of course the big screen, which has been used for everything from movies to events like that Artemis II launch the other night. It’s a very all-purpose space, and because it is family friendly and protected from the weather, it naturally gets the most action.
The Sea View Pool, on the other hand, is more about sun and a quieter vibe. It’s adults-only, out at the aft, and has a much larger sun deck feel with a smaller pool and hot tubs. One side of the deck is smoking, and that is the side near the Sea View Bar. There’s also table seating out there, which makes it a nice place to grab something from the nearby Lido Market and eat outside if the weather is cooperating.
Speaking of smoking, let’s talk about the casino.
If you followed along with my Rotterdam posts a couple weeks ago, you know I complained quite a bit about how bad the smoke was in that casino. Bad enough that my eyes would burn and I really could not stay in there for very long. On this cruise, though, it has been a completely different story. Night and day different. I’m not sure whether there are simply fewer smokers onboard this sailing or if removing that staircase between the casino and Deck 2 finally allowed the air handling system to do what it was supposed to do all along, but whatever the reason, the smoke situation has been dramatically better. You can actually sit in the casino on this sailing and not feel like you’re slowly developing black lung while playing Lightning Link. Compared to Rotterdam, the difference has been huge.
And finally, let’s get to that special delivery I mentioned.
Out on deck near the Sea View Pool, sitting there in a shipping cage like some kind of mysterious artifact, is a barrel of whiskey.
And no, this is not just some random decorative prop they dragged out to make the whiskey drinkers happy.
Holland America has launched a partnership with Jefferson’s Bourbon in which barrels of Jefferson’s Ocean Aged at Sea bourbon are actually being aged onboard the ships. The program started in March 2026, with barrels loaded onto the fleet to sail real sea routes for at least six months, allowing the motion of the ship, ocean air, and changing temperatures to influence the whiskey.
Holland says the limited releases will be available to guests in 2027, and that each barrel is expected to yield roughly 150 to 300 bottles. It’s part of the line’s larger beverage program and America’s 250th tie-ins, and yes, Jefferson’s Ocean is already being served in bars onboard. So that barrel sitting out there is not just some conversation piece. It is literally part of the aging process!
Orange Party Night
Now let’s talk about the evening activities, because tonight is Orange Party night, the one big party night of the cruise. This is the night where everyone is encouraged to dress in orange, or at least throw a little orange into the wardrobe if you do not want to go full pumpkin like some of us do.
There are a few things that lead up to the big party at 9:30, including the Koningsdam Bar Hop, which is one of the beverage events offered during the cruise along with the various tastings and mixology classes you can see in the chart. There’s also officer vs. guest trivia and a special Dutch-themed dinner, so the whole evening kind of builds toward the party.
As for why this is even a thing on Holland America, it all comes back to the line’s Dutch roots. Holland America, obviously, has deep ties to the Netherlands, and orange is the national color tied to the Dutch royal family, the House of Orange-Nassau. In the Netherlands, orange is everywhere during major celebrations, especially King’s Day, when the whole country basically turns into one giant sea of orange clothing, orange drinks, orange decorations, and people celebrating in the streets. Holland America took that Dutch tradition and turned it into one of the signature themed nights across the fleet.
That’s why Orange Party is not just some random theme night they pulled out of a hat to sell orange cocktails, orange hats, orange boas, and orange t-shirts. Well, maybe. It’s one of the more unique things Holland America does, and it actually ties back to the brand’s identity. Where as most cruise lines do a White Night, which honestly, doesn’t tie into anything. Orange night here ends up being the liveliest night of the cruise with music, dancing, Dutch-inspired snacks, and a whole lot of people-watching to see who got into the whole theme and who didn’t.
But before the party, it’s time to take a look at those special Dutch dinner menus in both the Lido Market and the main dining room.
Holland America Lido Market Dutch Dinner
Menu from Rotterdam, March 2026
Available on: all ships
Holland America Main Dining Room Dutch Dinner
Menu from Rotterdam, March 2026
Available on: all ships
Having done the Dutch dinner in the MDR a few times before and never really being much of a fan of the menu itself, I decided to make one final visit this cruise to Pinnacle Grill, the ship’s $52 per person plus 18% steakhouse. I didn’t have a reservation, but I wandered over around 8:00 p.m. and was taken to a table right away.
Holland America Pinnacle Grill Dinner Menu
Pinnacle Grill Dinner is Holland America’s classic upscale steakhouse experience, with prime steaks, fresh seafood, and polished service that feels like a proper night out. If you’re looking for the ship’s most traditional specialty dinner, this is usually the reservation people book first.
Available on: all ships
To start, I went with the shrimp cocktail and the beefsteak tomato salad, both of which were very good.
But when I reached for a little salt to put on the tomatoes, I was met with a non-functioning salt grinder. So I grabbed the one from the table to my left. That one didn’t work either. Then I reached behind me to the next table and guess what? That one didn’t work either.
I really do not know why restaurants insist on putting these fancy salt and pepper grinders on tables when half the time they either break, jam, or serve no purpose other than frustrating the hell out of the person trying to use them. Restaurant owners, do your customers a favor and throw these stupid things in the trash.
For the main course, I went with a filet cooked Pittsburgh rare and added on a lobster tail for $12. The steak was cooked perfectly, which is something a lot of places somehow still struggle to do when you ask for Pittsburgh rare. Why that is, I have no idea, but here they got it exactly right.
Service, once again, was fantastic, and while I was tempted to do dessert, I skipped it because the pounds are definitely starting to add up and it was time to head to the Orange Party.
So I left the steakhouse and made my way around the corner to B.B. King’s Blues Club and it was…
Empty.
Wait. What?
Where’s the Orange Party?
On Rotterdam, the party is held in B.B. King’s, and the band provides the entertainment, which gives the whole thing a ton of energy and makes it feel like an actual event. But here on Koningsdam… nope. I found out it was being held up at the Lido Pool, which from what I was told was a change made on the previous cruise. So up to Deck 9 I went.
And while there were people there, it definitely had a very different feel than when the party is held in B.B. King’s.
First off, there was no band, and honestly that is the absolute highlight of the event when it is done in the Blues Club. Instead, there was a DJ, which immediately made it feel like a downgrade. There was also not as much room to dance, and with the pool taking up the middle of the whole area, there just wasn’t enough usable space between people looking for somewhere to sit, people trying to dance, and servers trying to weave through the crowd with drinks. Plus, it was humid even though the roof was open.
Maybe I’m spoiled by the version of the party on Rotterdam, but I figured same class of ship, same general layout, same fantastic B.B. King’s band, it would be in the same venue and have the same vibe.
It did not.
And honestly, just the fact that they went with a DJ when they already have a fantastic live band onboard was a letdown all by itself. For all the buildup around the Orange Party, this one just did not have the energy I expected. I didn’t stay long and ended up heading back inside for a nightcap before calling it a night.
Another sea day tomorrow, so more then.
As always, thanks for following along.
Daily Schedule
| 7:00am | Walk a Mile | Grand Dutch Café, 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00am | Sunrise Stretch | Fitness Center, 9 |
| 8:00am | Mass is Celebrated | Hudson Room, 1 |
| 8:00am | Tai Chi for Everyone | Lido Poolside, 9 |
| 8:00am | Pickleball Open Play | Sport Court, 11 |
| 8:00am | Body Sculpt Boot Camp $20 | Fitness Center, 9 |
| 9:00am | Interdenominational Devotionals | Hudson Room, 1 |
| 9:00am | Coffee with Jayne Featuring 1st Officer Joey | B.B. King’s Blues Club, 2 |
| 9:00am | Koningsdam Marketplace - Open Today | Atrium, 2 |
| 9:00am | Pickleball Instruction: Dink & Drive | Sport Court, 11 |
| 9:30am | Origami Folding: 3D Heart | Art Studio, 12 |
| 9:30am | Cake Decorating Competition (NEW TODAY) | B.B. King’s Blues Club, 2 |
| 10:00am | Ask the Captain (NEW TODAY) | World Stage, 2 & 3 |
| 10:00am | Mahjong Players Meet until 4:00pm | Half Moon Room, 1 |
| 10:00am | Party Bridge Play until 4:00pm | Hudson Room, 1 |
| 10:00am | Pickleball Tournament | Sport Court, 11 |
| 10:00am | Birthstone Seminar | Piano Bar, 2 |
| 10:30am | Modern Calligraphy: Bookmark | Art Studio, 12 |
| 10:30am | Time to Shine Jewelry Trivia | Piano Bar, 2 |
| 11:00am | $1,400 Jackpot Bingo | Piano Bar, 2 |
| 11:00am | Caribbean UpClose: Waterworks (LOCAL) | World Stage, 2 & 3 |
| 11:00am | Footprint and Posture Analysis (PROMOTION) | Fitness Center, 9 |
| 11:30am | Creating Doodle Designs: Jar of Dreams | Art Studio, 12 |
| 12:15pm | Grand Finale Auction | Rolling Stone Lounge, 2 |
| 12:30pm | Runway-at-Sea | B.B. King’s Blues Club, 2 |
| 12:30pm | Origami Folding: 3D Heart | Art Studio, 12 |
| 1:00pm | Game Show: Deal or No Deal | World Stage, 2 & 3 |
| 1:00pm | Today’s Trivia: Ocean | B.B. King’s Blues Club, 2 |
| 1:00pm | Diamonds: Up to 50% Off (PROMOTION) | Effy Jewelry, 2 |
| 1:00pm | Healthy Hair Consultations (PROMOTION) | Greenhouse Spa, 9 |
| 1:00pm | Trending Beauty Under $50 (PROMOTION) | The Shops, 2 |
| 1:00pm | Beer Tasting $15 | Piano Bar, 2 |
| 1:15pm | Solo Guitarist Plays | Lido Poolside, 9 |
| 1:30pm | Learn to Line Dance | B.B. King’s Blues Club, 2 |
| 2:00pm | Tech for Travelers: Plan Travel with AI | Piano Bar, 2 |
| 2:00pm | Pain Management Workshop | Fitness Center, 9 |
| 2:00pm | Regional Wine Tasting $35 | Dining Room, 2 |
| 2:00pm | Let’s Play Ladder Ball | Cornhole Court, 11 |
| 2:00pm | Vivace Strings Ensemble | B.B. King’s Blues Club |
| 2:15pm | Solo Guitarist Plays | Lido Poolside, 9 |
| 2:30pm | Watercoloring: Jellyfish | Art Studio, 12 |
| 3:00pm | Relieve Back, Neck and Shoulder Pain Naturally (PROMOTION) | Greenhouse Spa, 9 |
| 3:00pm | Afternoon Tea is Served | Dining Room, 3 |
| 3:00pm | $1,500 Jackpot Bingo Tickets on Sale 2:00pm | Piano Bar, 2 |
| 3:00pm | Pickleball Open Play | Sport Court, 11 |
| 3:00pm | Ping Pong Tournament | Lido Balcony, 10 |
| 3:00pm | Vivace Strings Ensemble | B.B. King’s Blues Club |
| 3:15pm | Solo Guitarist Plays | Lido Poolside, 9 |
| 3:30pm | Watercoloring: Jellyfish | Art Studio, 12 |
| 4:00pm | Ask Your Travel Guide (LOCAL) | Travel Guide Desk, 12 |
| 4:00pm | Expert Art Advice | Art Gallery, 1 |
| 4:00pm | Matinee with Sebastian Fucci: In the Movies | B.B. King’s Blues Club, 2 |
| 4:00pm | Team Trivia Challenge | Piano Bar, 2 |
| 4:00pm | Cornhole Challenge | Cornhole Court, 11 |
| 4:15pm | Vivace Strings Ensemble | Crow’s Nest, 12 |
| 4:15pm | Non-Surgical Facelift (PROMOTION) | Greenhouse Spa, 9 |
| 4:30pm | Introduction to Iris Photography (PROMOTION) | Photo Gallery, 3 |
| 4:30pm | Watercoloring: Jellyfish | Art Studio, 12 |
| 5:00pm | Meet the Rolling Stone Lounge Band | Rolling Stone Lounge, 2 |
| 5:00pm | Pure Form Yoga $20 | Fitness Center, 9 |
| 5:15pm | Vivace Strings Ensemble | Crow’s Nest, 12 |
| 6:00pm | Singles & Solo Travelers Meetup | Piano Bar, 2 |
| 6:00pm | Designer Watch Sale: Up to 30% Off (PROMOTION) | The Shops, 2 |
| 6:30pm | Friends of Bill W. Meet | Hudson Room, 1 |
| 6:30pm | Ballroom Dance Hour | B.B. King’s Blues Club, 2 |
| 6:30pm | PRIDE Meetup | Crow’s Nest, 12 |
| 6:45pm | Billboard Onboard: Billboard Icons | Billboard Onboard |
| 7:30pm | Billboard Onboard: The Beatles | Billboard Onboard |
| 7:30pm | Tonight’s Show: Fosse & Verdon | World Stage, 2 & 3 |
| 8:00pm | Scratch Off Tickets on Sale (PROMOTION) | Casino, 3 |
| 8:15pm | Rolling Stone Lounge: Country Crossroads | Rolling Stone Lounge |
| 8:30pm | Music Trivia: Guests vs Officers (NEW TODAY) | B.B. King’s Blues Club, 2 |
| 9:00pm | Tonight’s Show: Fosse & Verdon | World Stage, 2 & 3 |
| 9:00pm | Billboard Onboard: All Requests | Billboard Onboard |
| 9:15pm | Orange Party Line Dance (NEW TODAY) | Lido Poolside, 9 |
| 9:30pm | The Orange Party (NEW TODAY) | Lido Poolside, 9 |
| 9:45pm | Rolling Stone Lounge: Rock Classics | Rolling Stone Lounge |
| 10:30pm | Billboard Onboard: All Requests | Billboard Onboard |
| 11:00pm | $617,000 Paradise Lotto Jackpot Drawing | Casino, 3 |
| 11:15pm | Rolling Stone Lounge: 70s Sounds | Rolling Stone Lounge |
| 11:45pm | Stay and Play Slots All Night | Casino, 3 |