Time for the day 12 report from Holland America Line’s Koningsdam, and today marks the final day of this 12-day cruise. We’re wrapping things up with a visit to Holland America’s private island in The Bahamas, Half Moon Cay, where the ship dropped anchor around 6:30 a.m. this morning.

When we arrived, the weather was anything but “beautiful beach day.” We were met with clouds and some early morning rain, but that all cleared out, for the most part, before guests got the all clear to head ashore a little after 8:00 a.m., once crew and provisions had been ferried over first.

Now, as I’ve mentioned many times before, Half Moon Cay is a tender port, which means the ship anchors offshore and guests are brought back and forth on large capacity tender boats rather than just walking off onto a pier. On Koningsdam this morning, guests booked on Holland America shore excursions were instructed to follow the meeting time and location on their tour tickets. Everyone else was told to head to B.B. King’s Blues Club to get a tender ticket then wait for their group to be called. Tenders started running from there at 8:00 a.m., with the last tender back to the ship at 2:30 p.m.

One of the tender boats at Half Moon Cay
One of the tender boats at Half Moon Cay

And this is why tender ports always require a little more patience than a regular dock-and-walk-off port day. You cannot just wander down whenever you feel like it and expect to be on the island in five minutes. You go to the waiting area, sit until your group is called, and then head down as a group to board the tender. It’s usually pretty organized, but it still takes longer than a normal port day because you are depending on a constant shuttle operation between ship and shore. And of course, before any of that starts, the crew has to get over there first and make sure everything on the island is ready to go for the day.

Once most who were going ashore we already off the ship, the tendering process with the whole ticket-and-group-number routine ended at 11:00 a.m. so from then on it switched to open boarding. That meant if you wanted to head over to Half Moon Cay after 11, you just went down to A Deck and waited for the next tender. No ticket needed.

There was, however, a brief pause in operations this morning when all tender service was stopped for about 45 minutes because of swells. And that is one of the realities of a tender port people do not always think about. The ship is sitting there nice and steady, but the tender boat is not. It is bobbing up and down with the waves, and when you are trying to move a whole herd of passengers through a small opening in the side of the ship onto a gangway that is moving while crew members are yelling “watch your head,” it can get a little tricky in a hurry. If the swells pick up too much, they stop the process, and that is exactly what happened for a bit this morning.

I headed out around noon, knowing I did not have a ton of time to spend ashore since the last tender back was at 2:30 p.m. If you’ve been following along, the last time I was here on Rotterdam back on March 21, I skipped going ashore altogether because it was a two-ship day, and that means tenders are split between both ships and the whole process takes longer, with patience being the key word. But with Holland ships pulling out of the Caribbean one by one as the season winds down, today was just a single-ship day with only Koningsdam here, so I knew things were going to move faster. And they did. I waited less than five minutes before boarding a tender.

Heading to Half Moon Cay on the tender from the Koningsdam
Heading to Half Moon Cay on the tender from the Koningsdam

Of course, the first person in line was a woman and a small child who had already become pretty well known among passengers and crew for his unruly behavior and her complete inability, or maybe unwillingness, to do anything about it. Well, that whole show continued here. He was screaming and crying that he was afraid to get on the boat, and despite her trying to pull him and the crew reassuring him that it was fine, we got the full meltdown. At one point she actually started boarding the tender without him, while the crew yelled that she could not just leave him there. Eventually she picked him up and dragged him onboard, where he continued carrying on while she entertained the rest of us by having a full conversation on speakerphone the entire ride over.

So that was fun.

Even though there were plenty of dark clouds around and it looked like showers could break out at any minute, the weather actually held up pretty well. Once ashore, it was obvious there is still a lot of construction going on at Half Moon Cay as Holland America continues making upgrades to its side of the island. New beach loungers and refreshed cabanas are already in service. A new bar is open, and what looks like another one is getting close to finished. Farther down the beach, new cabanas and an entirely new area are under construction, and that very much looks like it is going to be the teased beach club experience. There is also work happening around the island barbecue area, and one of the more recent additions is new pickleball courts.

Koningsdam and some vessels as part of the ongoing construction at Half Moon Cay
Koningsdam and some vessels as part of the ongoing construction at Half Moon Cay

Over on the side of the island that had previously been undeveloped, work is continuing on the new area that will be used primarily for Carnival Cruise Line passengers. Carnival has been calling on Half Moon Cay for years, but it has been using Holland America’s facilities. That is changing. When the new area opens, it will be for Carnival passengers and some of the other Carnival Corporation brands. It will also have a pier capable of handling Carnival’s largest ships, including the Excel class vessels like Mardi Gras, Celebration, and Jubilee, which cannot tender here now. What it will not include is a pier for the Holland America side of the island, so HAL ships will still be tendering ashore the old-fashioned way.

A look at the new pier for Carnival Cruise Line's side of Half Moon Cay as of March 21, 2026
A look at the new pier for Carnival Cruise Line’s side of Half Moon Cay as of March 21, 2026
Construction on the Carnival Cruise Line side of Half Moon Cay as of March 21, 2026
Construction on the Carnival Cruise Line side of Half Moon Cay as of March 21, 2026

As for me, I spent my time doing exactly what you are supposed to do at Half Moon Cay. I chilled on the beach, soaked up some sun, and enjoyed a really nice beach day without a whole lot of people around. At one point, one of the local residents came wandering over from the horse stables and just strolled along the beach until one of his caretakers came looking for him. Yes, both people and animals live on Half Moon Cay, and this particular visitor had come from the horse stables where the horses are kept for the horseback ride in the surf excursion, which is always fun to watch.

One of the "locals" at Half Moon Cay!
One of the “locals” at Half Moon Cay!
Horseback riding in the surf at Half Moon Cay
Horseback riding in the surf at Half Moon Cay
Horses at Half Moon Cay

When it was time to head back to the ship, I left around 1:45 p.m. thinking there would be a huge line since we were getting close to the last tender time. There wasn’t. I waited less than 15 minutes before I was on a tender and heading back to the ship. Once all the crew and supplies were back onboard, Koningsdam pulled away a little before 3:00 p.m. to begin the trip back to Fort Lauderdale.

Koningsdam at Half Moon Cay on April 9, 2026
Koningsdam at Half Moon Cay on April 9, 2026
The Michelob Ultra Beer Cart on Half Moon Cay
The Michelob Ultra Beer Cart on Half Moon Cay
Dark clouds but no rain at Half Moon Cay
Dark clouds but no rain at Half Moon Cay

Now, I talked about this a few week ago and it’s worth repeating.  A lot of people wonder why the call at Half Moon Cay is a short one when it falls on the last full day of the cruise and all aboard is as early as 2:30 p.m.

The answer is simple: distance.

Half Moon Cay is about 245 nautical miles from Port Everglades. Do the math and it starts to make sense. If the ship leaves around 3:00 p.m. and cruises at roughly 17 knots, it is pulling into Fort Lauderdale around 5:30 a.m. the next morning, just in time for the pilot to come aboard and for the ship to be docked around 6:00 a.m. for turnaround day.

Leave any later than that, and now you start messing with the next cruise.

One other thing worth keeping in mind, and it catches people every time, is that beverage packages do not work on Half Moon Cay, so if you’re planning on drinking ashore, that is coming out of your pocket. Also, some of the smaller shops on the island only take cash, so it’s a good idea to bring a little with you unless you enjoy finding that out the hard way after spotting something you suddenly decide you need.

Dinner at Tamarind on Koningsdam

Now, like I always do in my final day reviews of a cruise, I do an overall review from embarkation to debarkation, so I’ll get to that in a minute. But first, a note about dinner.

Here’s a look at what was being served tonight in the Lido Market and the main dining room.

Holland America Lido Market Dinner Menu I

Menu from Koningsdam, April 2026

Holland America Lido Market Dinner Menu I

Available on: all ships

Holland America Main Dining Room Dinner Menu I

Menu from Koningsdam, April 2026

Holland America Main Dining Room Dinner Menu I

Available on: all ships

For me, however, I went to the one specialty restaurant I had not eaten at yet on this cruise, Tamarind, Holland America’s Asian restaurant, which will run you $35 per person plus 18%. On the Pinnacle Class ships, Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam, and Rotterdam, Tamarind is located aft on Deck 10 overlooking the Sea View Pool. Attached to it is the Morimoto by Sea sushi bar, which is à la carte, along with a small bar area that serves light bites. Then there’s the restaurant itself.

Tamarind on Koningsdam
Tamarind on Koningsdam
Tamarind on Koningsdam
Tamarind on Koningsdam

Holland America Tamarind Dinner Menu

Tamarind is one of Holland America’s standout specialty restaurants, serving beautifully plated Asian-inspired dishes in a calm, upscale setting with sweeping ocean views. From sushi and satays to rich curries and seafood, it’s the kind of dinner that feels refined without being overly formal.

Holland America Tamarind Dinner Menu

Available on: Eurodam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Nieuw Statendam, Rotterdam

I didn’t have a reservation, but I headed up around 8:00 p.m. and was taken to a table right away.

Now, I’ve been eating at Tamarind for years on multiple Holland America ships, and the experience is usually very good and very consistent across the ships it’s on, so I pretty much know what to expect when I walk in there. After my server came over, introduced herself, and took my drink order, I ordered a shrimp tempura roll from the sushi bar, which took a little while to arrive even though there was nobody sitting at the sushi bar. Not exactly sure what the holdup was there, but eventually it showed up.

Shrimp tempura roll from Tamarind on Koningsdam
Shrimp tempura roll from Tamarind on Koningsdam

From the main menu, I started with the Taste of Tamarind, which is a sampler with a few different appetizers including satay, shrimp tempura, and a very tasty little beef taco. It’s a good choice if you want to try a few things at once, or if you’re dining with someone and want something easy to share.

Taste of Tamarind from Tamarind on Koningsdam
Taste of Tamarind from Tamarind on Koningsdam

When it came time for the main course, I ordered the crispy duck.

Now, as I’ve mentioned before when ordering this dish on other ships, I’m not entirely sure why they call it crispy duck because it is usually anything but. When most people hear crispy duck, they’re thinking of something more along the lines of Peking duck with that nice crisp skin that snaps when you cut into it. This is not that. Never has been. But it is usually still pretty good anyway.

And I use the word usually very intentionally here, because tonight was a major exception.

Crispy Duck from Tamarind on Koningsdam
Crispy Duck from Tamarind on Koningsdam

Normally, the duck more or less falls off the bone. Tonight, this duck was just… bad. Really bad. As I tried to cut through it, my server noticed and came over and said, “That looks really tough and dry.”

I told her, “It’s actually pretty awful.”

And it was.

The duck itself was incredibly tough and could barely be cut with the knife I had. Since it wasn’t a steak, there was no steak knife, and honestly you should not need one for duck anyway. On top of being tough, it also had a very noticeable freezer-burned taste to it, which made the whole thing even worse.

She apologized and offered to get me something else, which I declined. The restaurant manager, Elena, also came over, apologized, and offered to replace it, which I also declined. The chef, however, never came over.

In the end, they comped me for the sushi, and since dinner itself was covered by my final Have It All dining credit, there was no charge for the meal anyway. But had there been, I’m sure they would have removed it.

Unfortunately, this one went down as the worst meal of the cruise, which is not something I say lightly, especially about Tamarind. But while the food itself was a miss, the way it was handled was good, and I’ll give them credit for that.

Now… on to my full review of this cruise on Koningsdam.

But first… the disclaimer.

DisclosureThis sailing was provided at no charge through Holland America Line’s casino program. I paid applicable port fees and taxes, and all onboard expenses including upgrades, beverages, Wi-Fi, gratuities, excursions, and personal purchases were paid out of pocket. All opinions expressed are my own and reflect my actual onboard experience. Complimentary or discounted travel arrangements do not influence my reviews or editorial coverage.

Holland America Koningsdam Review

Holland America Line – 12-Day Southern Caribbean

Koningsdam

Dates: March 29 to April 10, 2026
Homeport: Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
Ship Facts: 2016 build • 99,902 GT • 2,650 passengers (double occupancy)

Date Port Country
Mar 29 Fort Lauderdale (Depart 4:00pm) USA
Mar 30 At Sea
Mar 31 At Sea
Apr 1 San Juan (Arrive 8:00am, Depart 11:00pm) Puerto Rico
Apr 2 St. Thomas (Arrive 8:00am, Depart 5:00pm) U.S. Virgin Islands
Apr 3 St. John’s (Arrive 8:00am, Depart 5:00pm) Antigua and Barbuda
Apr 4 Roseau (Arrive 8:00am, Depart 5:00pm) Dominica
Apr 5 Castries (Arrive 8:00am, Depart 4:00pm) Saint Lucia
Apr 6 Basseterre (Arrive 8:00am, Depart 5:00pm) St. Kitts and Nevis
Apr 7 At Sea
Apr 8 At Sea
Apr 9 Half Moon Cay (Arrive 8:00am, Depart 3:00pm) Bahamas
Apr 10 Fort Lauderdale (Arrive 7:00am) USA

Embarkation in Fort Lauderdale

Embarkation for this cruise was a bit of a mixed bag.

The biggest headache, once again, was getting into Port Everglades, which continues to be the second most frustrating port arrival experiences in Florida, with PortMiami claiming the number one spot. The checkpoint setup slows everything down to a crawl, with drivers having to show ID, boarding documents, and answer the usual questions before being let into the port. On a day with multiple ships in, that turns into a complete traffic mess with backed-up cars, impatient drivers, shuttle vans trying to squeeze by wherever they can, and the whole thing feeling way more chaotic than it needs to be. It took about 20 minutes just to clear that bottleneck and get to the terminal to drop off luggage.

Then came the nonsense with the parking garage. Even though the garage is right next to the terminal, the traffic flow makes absolutely no sense, so instead of just making a simple turn into it after dropping bags, you have to loop all the way back around and re-enter the area.

Once inside the terminal, things improved a little, but not by much. There were separate lines for priority and non-priority guests, but very little direction which led to people standing in the wrong lines and the usual confusion once the crowd started backing up. Security and boarding were less organized than I’ve experienced on previous Holland America sailings out of Fort Lauderdale, and there was the usual bit of bad passenger behavior mixed in too, with some deciding they were too important to wait and trying to slip through the accessibility line.

That said, once I got through security and the facial recognition check-in, the rest moved along well enough. I was onboard and walking to my stateroom by 1:00 p.m., which is not terrible at all. So while the actual time from arrival to ship was reasonable, the overall shoreside experience left a lot to be desired.

Verandah Stateroom 8048 on Koningsdam

For this cruise, I originally booked a guarantee inside stateroom, which means you let the cruise line assign your room closer to embarkation and just take what you get. Sometimes that works out in your favor and you wind up with a little upgrade surprise, but this time I did not leave it to chance. A few days before the cruise, I was offered an upgrade to a verandah stateroom for $700, and I took it.

Stateroom 8048 is located forward on Deck 8 and is pretty much your standard Holland America verandah cabin. You’ve got the two twin beds that convert into a queen, a small loveseat, desk and vanity area, flat-screen TV across from the bed, and the usual setup you’ll find in these rooms across the fleet.

Verandah Stateroom 8048 on Koningsdam
Verandah Stateroom 8048 on Koningsdam
Verandah Stateroom 8048 on Koningsdam
Verandah Stateroom 8048 on Koningsdam

The room itself was comfortable and functional, with a good amount of power outlets and USB ports, something that always matters when you’ve got a ton of devices to keep charged. There are outlets and USB-A ports by the bed as well as more U.S., European, and USB connections at the desk, so Holland America does a good job there. Storage was also solid, with two wardrobes, drawers, a safe, minibar, snack box, bathrobes, blankets, umbrella, and beach towels, so there was plenty of space to keep things organized.

Closet space in Verandah Stateroom 8048 on Koningsdam
Closet space in Verandah Stateroom 8048 on Koningsdam

That said, there were a couple little issues. The loveseat had a stain on it, which was surprising considering the ship had just come out of dry dock and had supposedly been refreshed. It was not the end of the world, but it definitely stood out as something that should have been addressed already.

Stained couch in stateroom 8048 on Koningsdam
Stained couch in stateroom 8048 on Koningsdam

The bathroom is functional, but tight, and the placement of the toilet is awkward enough that unless you are built like a gymnast, you are basically sitting on it sideways because your knees wind up jammed against the glass shower wall. If you’re tall, good luck. The walk-in shower itself was a decent size and had a glass door, which is much nicer than a clingy shower curtain, but my shower door did not stay fully shut and kept hanging open just enough for water to get out onto the bathroom floor.

Bathroom in Verandah Stateroom 8048 on Koningsdam
Bathroom in Verandah Stateroom 8048 on Koningsdam

Out on the balcony, it was the standard Holland America setup with two chairs, two footstools, and a small table. Nothing oversized, nothing too cramped either, just a nice enough private outdoor space to sit with a cocktail and watch the ocean go by.

Balcony of Verandah Stateroom 8048 on Koningsdam
Balcony of Verandah Stateroom 8048 on Koningsdam

Video Tour of Stateroom 8048 on Koningsdam

Restaurants on Koningsdam

Absolutely. Based on everything you wrote across the reports, here’s a quick review of each with a 1 to 5 star rating.

Main Dining Room – ★★☆☆☆ – The MDR was the weakest regular dinner experience of the cruise. Quality, portions, the rushed service and overall “get them in and out” feel reminded you exactly why specialty dining is worth the extra cost.

Lido Market – ★★★★☆ – The Lido Market does buffet service properly!  Most stations are not self-service, a huge plus for me, the selections for lunch and dinner change daily so there’s always a good variety, the bespoke salads and sushi are always a hit with me, and having a spot for a late-nite bite is always a good option.  My only complaint… dinner service is over at a very early 8pm.

Canaletto – ★★★★½ – Canaletto once again proved to be the best value in specialty dining on Holland America. The food was consistently very good, the fresh pasta makes a difference, and the kitchen’s willingness to customize dishes makes it an easy repeat choice, especially at that price point.

Pinnacle Grill – ★★★★½  – Pinnacle Grill delivered exactly what you expect from Holland America’s flagship steakhouse. Service was consistently excellent, the steaks were well executed, and it remained one of the most reliable meals onboard.

Rudi’s Sel de Mer – ★★★★½ – Rudi’s had the best overall service of the cruise and several standout dishes, especially the Dover sole and duck. One tough steak kept it from being five stars, but overall it still felt upscale, special, and very much worth repeat visits.

Tamarind – ★★☆☆☆ – Tamarind is usually one of the most dependable restaurants in Holland America’s fleet, which made this visit especially disappointing. The appetizers and sushi were fine, but the duck was the worst entrée of the cruise, though the staff handled the situation well.

Koningsdam’s Fellow Passengers

The passenger mix on this sailing was a little different than what you might normally expect on Holland America.

Since this cruise still fell within the spring break window, there were definitely some families onboard and more kids than you would usually see on a typical Holland sailing. That said, aside from the one little hellion I mentioned earlier in the report, the kids overall were actually very well behaved. There was none of the out-of-control, unsupervised chaos you can sometimes run into on more family-heavy cruise lines during school break periods.

There were also a lot of first-time Holland America cruisers onboard, which was pretty noticeable. A big part of that seemed to come from this being a casino cruise, with Holland clearly making a push to lure casino players away from other lines, especially Carnival. You could definitely feel some of that crossover onboard, both in the passenger mix and in the amount of activity around the casino and related events.

As for the average age, it was lower than what I’d normally expect on Holland America. This did not feel like one of those 70-plus crowd sailings where the ship is tucked in bed by 9:15 and the walkers are parked three deep outside the theater. I’d peg the average age somewhere around 62 to 65, which is still very much Holland America, just a slightly younger version of it. Overall, it made for a pretty good mix of longtime HAL loyalists, first timers, casino players, and a few families without the ship ever feeling overrun by any one group.

Entertainment and Activities on Koningsdam

When it comes to entertainment, Koningsdam does a lot right, and a couple things still need work.

Let’s start with the live music, because that is where Holland America absolutely shines. The bands in Rolling Stone Lounge and B.B. King’s Blues Club flat-out nail it every night. These are genuinely talented musicians putting on performances that draw crowds, keep people in their seats, and give the ship real energy at night. Night after night, both venues delivered, and they remain one of the strongest parts of the entertainment lineup not just on Koningsdam, but across the Holland America fleet.

I’d say the exact opposite about the piano players over at Billboard Onboard, though. Plenty of people seemed to enjoy them, and they definitely had a crowd for their sets, but for me the current duo just was not very good. Maybe the sound guy had the mics turned up way too high, maybe it was the song choices, or maybe it was just one of those acts that did not click for me, but let’s just say one comment I overheard at the bar comparing the singing to a cat pretty much summed up the situation.

Billboard Onboard on Koningsdam
Billboard Onboard on Koningsdam

During the day, there is no shortage of things to do either. The daily schedule is packed with activities that hit a lot of different age groups and interests, and one thing Holland America really leans into is trivia. There are multiple trivia sessions a day on all kinds of topics, and they are consistently well attended.

The Crow’s Nest also continues to be a popular daytime hangout. It serves as a gathering place for people playing board games, reading, watching the scenery go by, or just relaxing in a quieter space away from the busier pool decks. Up there you’ll also find the arts and crafts room, which gets a lot of use as well and is clearly popular with guests who want something a little more hands-on than sitting through another trivia event.

Board games available in the Crows Nest on Koningsdam
Board games available in the Crows Nest on Koningsdam
Crows Nest Bar on Koningsdam
Crows Nest Bar on Koningsdam

Now, when it comes to the production shows, I keep saying the same thing about Holland America and I’m going to say it again here: this remains a weak spot.

That is especially frustrating because the World Stage on the Pinnacle Class ships is one of the nicest performance venues at sea. The 270-degree video screens, circular stage, and the overall layout of the room give the cruise line an incredible platform to do something really impressive. The venue itself is fantastic. The problem is the actual shows do not always live up to the room they’re being performed in. Holland has been trying, and I will absolutely give them that. Since the post-COVID restart, the production quality has improved and new shows have been rolled out, so this is not a case of them just ignoring the issue. But there is still a lot of room for improvement. If they can get the stage shows to the same level as the venue itself, they could really have something special there.

And then there was the Orange Party, which on this cruise was a bit of a letdown.

On Rotterdam, the Orange Party is held in B.B. King’s Blues Club with the live B.B. King’s band, and that gives the event exactly the kind of energy and atmosphere it needs. On Koningsdam, at least on this cruise and the one before it from what I was told, the party had been moved to the Lido Pool and a DJ was used instead. I went into it expecting that since this was another Pinnacle Class ship, the setup, venue, and overall feel would be the same. It was not.

Orange Party on Koningsdam
Orange Party on Koningsdam

Without the band, the energy just was not there. The Lido Pool setup also did not help, with less room to move, people trying to sit, others trying to dance, and servers weaving through the crowd. It just felt more cramped and far less lively than the version on Rotterdam. Yes, I know other Holland ships do Orange Party in different venues, and I saw that myself on Zuiderdam a few months ago, but when you have ships in the same class with the same basic entertainment spaces, I really think things like this should stay consistent. The B.B. King’s version is simply better.

Ship Condition and Upkeep

This sailing on Koningsdam was the first one out of dry dock, and overall, the ship is looking great.

The most obvious improvement is the fresh coat of paint on the exterior, which gives the ship that crisp, polished look you always notice right away when a vessel has just come out of the yard. Inside, there were also some refreshes, including new carpet in certain public areas and new carpet in some, but not all, staterooms. So yes, you can definitely see where work was done.

Some carpet needed to be replaced, but wasn't during Koningsdam's dry dock
Some carpet needed to be replaced, but wasn’t during Koningsdam’s dry dock

That said, it was not a full top-to-bottom refresh in every space. There are still areas, including some stairwells, where the carpeting could absolutely have used replacement and did not get it. The same goes for some of the soft furnishings, like chairs and seating in various parts of the ship, which have clearly seen better days and could use either some real TLC or just be replaced altogether. So while the ship looks freshened up, there are still a few spots where the dry dock did not go quite far enough.

One of many chairs that could use a bit of restuffing on Koningsdam, post dry dock
One of many chairs that could use a bit of restuffing on Koningsdam, post dry dock

One of the best changes made during dry dock was the removal of the staircase that connected Deck 2 to the casino on Deck 3. That has turned out to be a very good improvement, especially when it comes to the smoke situation in the entertainment area below. It is one of those changes that not only updates the layout a bit but actually improves the onboard experience in a noticeable way.

The staircase connecting deck 2 and 3 with the Casino on Koningsdam has been removed, replaced with this piece of art on Deck 2
The staircase connecting deck 2 and 3 with the Casino on Koningsdam has been removed, replaced with this piece of art on Deck 2

Overall though, Koningsdam remains in very good condition and is being kept up very well. She still feels polished, modern, and well maintained, and while there are a few areas that could have used a little more attention during dry dock, nothing about the ship feels tired or neglected.

Disembarkation in Fort Lauderdale

Disembarkation in Fort Lauderdale was quick, easy, and thankfully a whole lot smoother than embarkation.

Like most cruises, there were two ways to get off the ship. The first is self-assist, where you carry all your own luggage off the ship and can usually get off earlier. The second is the more traditional route, where you put your checked bags out the night before, the crew collects them, and then you pick them up in the terminal after leaving the ship.

I went with the second option and put my bags out the night before.

Because I’m a 4-Star Mariner, luggage tags were delivered to the stateroom and I was assigned a pretty convenient departure window that allowed me to leave the ship anytime between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. That made the whole process very easy because there was no rushing, no standing around waiting for some painfully specific group number to be called, and no dragging luggage through the ship first thing in the morning.

I left my room right at 8:00 a.m., walked straight off the ship, through customs, and was in my car by 8:25 a.m.  It took a bit longer in the parking garage because I was on level six and had to wait in line for an elevator.

What’s Next?

Now that Holland America has wrapped up its Caribbean season, those “dam ships” will not be back down here until October. So over the next few months, I’ll be mixing it up a bit and sailing on a couple different lines.

First up is coming in just a week, when I head back onboard MSC World America out of Miami for a 7-day Eastern Caribbean cruise. This one comes exactly one year after I sailed on the ship’s inaugural voyage, so it should be interesting to see what, if anything, has been tweaked, changed, improved, or quietly fixed since that first sailing on MSC’s newest vessel.

The itinerary for that one is posted below, so be sure to follow along for that adventure as well.

MSC Cruises – 8-Day Caribbean

World America

Dates: April 18–25, 2026
Homeport: Miami, Florida, USA
Ship Facts: 2025 build • 205,700 GT • 6,774 passengers (double occupancy)

Date Port Country
Apr 18 Miami (Depart 6:00pm) USA
Apr 19 At Sea
Apr 20 Puerto Plata (Arrive 9:00am, Depart 5:00pm) Dominican Republic
Apr 21 San Juan (Arrive 9:00am, Depart 11:00pm) Puerto Rico
Apr 22 At Sea
Apr 23 At Sea
Apr 24 Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (Arrive 8:00am, Depart 8:00pm) Bahamas
Apr 25 Miami (Arrive 7:00am) USA

And as always, thanks for following along, not just on this Holland America cruise, but in general.

See you from MSC World America in just a few days.

Daily Schedule

7:00am Walk a Mile Grand Dutch Café, 3
7:00am Sunrise Stretch Fitness Center, 9
8:00am Pickleball Open Play Sport Court, 11
8:00am Tai Chi for Everyone Lido Poolside, 9
8:00am Koningsdam Arrives at Half Moon Cay
8:00am Half Moon Cay Photo Opportunity until 12:00pm (PROMOTION) Half Moon Cay Island
8:30am Ask Your Travel Guide (LOCAL) Half Moon Cay Island
9:00am Return Your Library Book by 5:00pm Library, 2
9:30am Coloring for Adults Art Studio, 12
10:00am Non-Surgical Facelift (PROMOTION) Greenhouse Spa, 9
10:00am Complimentary Massage Sampler (PROMOTION) Greenhouse Spa, 9
10:00am Yoga on the Beach $20 Half Moon Cay Island
10:00am Party Bridge Play until 4:00pm Hudson Room, 1
10:00am Mahjong Players Meet until 4:00pm Half Moon Room, 1
10:00am Basketball on the Island Half Moon Cay Island
10:30am Modern Calligraphy: Thank You Cards Art Studio, 12
10:30am Natural Relief for Arthritis, Back and Knee Pain (PROMOTION) Greenhouse Spa, 9
10:45am Solo Guitarist Plays Half Moon Cay Island
11:00am Island Pickleball Tournament Half Moon Cay Island
11:00am Island Lobster Shack Open until 1:00pm Half Moon Cay Island
11:00am Island Barbeque until 1:00pm Half Moon Cay Island
11:00am Footprint and Posture Analysis (PROMOTION) Greenhouse Spa, 9
11:30am Origami Folding: Tulip Art Studio, 12
11:45am Solo Guitarist Plays Half Moon Cay Island
12:00pm Volleyball on the Island Half Moon Cay Island
1:00pm Today’s Trivia: Food Piano Bar, 2
1:00pm Dressy Night Photos are On Display until 10:00pm (PROMOTION) Photo Gallery, 3
2:00pm Relieving Back Pain (PROMOTION) Greenhouse Spa, 9
2:00pm Movies by the Pool: The Journey Lido Poolside, 9 & 10
2:00pm Towel Folding Demonstration B.B. King’s Blues Club, 2
2:30pm Last Tender Back as Koningsdam Departs Half Moon Cay
2:30pm Origami Folding: Tulip Art Studio, 12
3:00pm Pickleball Open Play Sport Court, 11
3:00pm Ping Pong Tournament Lido Balcony, 10
3:00pm Last Chance Art Sale Art Gallery, 1
3:00pm Solo Guitarist Plays Sea View Pool, 9
3:00pm Ask Your Travel Guide (LOCAL) Travel Guide Desk, 12
3:30pm Creating Doodle Designs: Grid Art Studio, 12
3:30pm Chinese Herbal Formulas for Health (PROMOTION) Greenhouse Spa, 9
4:00pm Wrinkle Remedies Seminar (PROMOTION) Greenhouse Spa, 9
4:00pm Team Trivia Challenge Piano Bar, 2
4:00pm Around the World Basketball Sport Court, 11
4:30pm Over $617,000 Paradise Lotto Jackpot Drawing Casino, 3
4:30pm Solo Guitarist Plays Crow’s Nest, 12
4:30pm Coloring for Adults Art Studio, 12
4:30pm Introduction to Iris Photography (PROMOTION) Photo Gallery, 3
5:00pm Last Call for Savings: 30% Off Sale (PROMOTION) The Shops, 2
5:00pm ViaMar Fashion Rings: 3 for $55 (PROMOTION) The Shops, 3
5:00pm Mass is Celebrated Hudson Room, 1
5:00pm Body Sculpt Boot Camp $20 Fitness Center, 9
6:00pm Singles & Solo Travelers Meetup Piano Bar, 2
6:30pm Friends of Bill W. Meet Hudson Room, 1
6:30pm Game Night: Dance Through the Decades Rolling Stone Lounge, 2
6:30pm Ballroom Dance Hour B.B. King’s Blues Club, 2
6:30pm PRIDE Meetup Crow’s Nest, 12
6:30pm Footprint and Posture Analysis (PROMOTION) Greenhouse Spa, 9
7:15pm Billboard Onboard: All Requests Billboard Onboard
7:30pm Music Trivia: Classics of Rock B.B. King’s Blues Club, 2
7:30pm Tonight’s Show: MOVE World Stage, 2 & 3
8:00pm Rolling Stone Lounge: Classic Rock’n’Roll Rolling Stone Lounge
8:00pm Mariner Must Haves (PROMOTION) Effy Jewelry, 2
8:00pm Scratch Off Tickets on Sale (PROMOTION) Casino, 3
8:00pm Movies by the Pool: Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale Lido Poolside, 9 & 10
8:15pm B.B. King’s Blues Club: The Best of B.B. King’s All-Stars B.B. King’s Blues Club
8:45pm Billboard Onboard: All Requests Billboard Onboard
9:00pm Tonight’s Show: MOVE World Stage, 2 & 3
9:15pm B.B. King’s Blues Club: The Best of B.B. King’s All-Stars B.B. King’s Blues Club
9:30pm Rolling Stone Lounge: Summer of Love Rolling Stone Lounge
10:15pm Billboard Onboard: All Requests Billboard Onboard
10:15pm B.B. King’s Blues Club: The Best of B.B. King’s All-Stars B.B. King’s Blues Club
10:00pm Over $617,000 Paradise Lotto Jackpot Drawing Casino, 3
11:00pm Rolling Stone Lounge: On the Floor! Rolling Stone Lounge

Personal Day-By-Day Koningsdam Cruise Review:

Leave a Reply

Discover more from Scott's Cruises

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading