Boarding the Konigsdam was just the average chaos. A few signs would be helpful, for sure. One delightful but mystifying surprise was the new muster drill. You watch a movie in your stateroom then go to a bar or theatre to hear about one minute worth of advice from the captain while watching a staffer put on a life jacket and that is IT! Not sure how this makes anyone any safer, but it sure is easy and convenient.

The ship is lovely and in excellent condition with fast and efficient elevators. None of the art or carpets is hideous, which is truly impressive for any cruise ship, you must admit. The music theme is odd but innocuous. The elevator floor announcements of Muzza for Mozart and Panama for Panorama were a bit annoying. At times the ship seemed a bit more crowded than most ships, especially on the very narrow walking deck. Sometimes it was only wide enough for one person and traffic would become a problem. The lifeboats were beside the deck instead of above it. This may make emergency evacuation better but destroys the view of the ocean. Deck chairs did not exist on the entire promenade deck. If you love walking and sitting 9n the boat deck as much as I do, this ship is NOT for you, especially if you don’t have a balcony for quiet sea watching. (Assuming your neighbours can fight the urge to smoke and yell.).

Another thing that didn’t exist was any meaningful library. There were a few books donated by passengers, but none provided by the ship, a pathetic little economy. Yes, we all have kindles, iPads, etc etc but part of the pleasure of a cruise is having time to read and it is fun to find something quite new to read at the same time. Read more