I had been here several times taking tours to the areas top attractions. This included the Golden Circle with stops at Þingvellir National Park, Geysir, Gullfoss and Kerid Crater; the Blue Lagoon, Skogafoss, Eyjafjallajokull Visitor Centre, Seljalandsfoss and Viking World. In Rekjavik we had toured the amazing Harpa Reykjavik Concert Hall and Conference Centre and visited the local market. If you only have one day here, you should take the Golden Circle tour. Pat and i decided to take the shuttle bus to the conference center and walk about the city on our own visiting the shopping streets and climb the hill to the famous Hallgrimskirkja (church). On the way to the church we passed by the Stjórnarráðið, the location of the prime minister's office and the headquarters of the Icelandic Government. It was originally built ... read more

I had the fortune to be able to attend the Edinburgh Tattoo last August when our ship, the Koningsdam was anchored in the Firth of Forth. It turned out to be a mild evening, for Scotland, with clear skies. The tattoo is performed under the majestic backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. Traditionally the tattoo was the signal given by drumbeat that warned tavern owners to shut down and British soldiers to return to their quarters for the night. The custom developed into a ceremonial performance of military music by massed bands after sunset. I was also fortunate that this performance was chosen for the making of the 2016 DVD which I was able to purchase online. The tour bus had to drop us off about 1/2 mile away for an uphill walk on cobblestone streets. We also ... read more

I visited the Heritage Coast of Northumberland when our ship, the new Koningsdam docked in Newcastle upon Tyne, England last August. I had opted to hire a private car and driver to take us to visit as much as possible in the time allotted. This strip of coast contains England’s greatest sequence of coastal castles. We had time to visit two of the best, Bamburgh Castle and Alnwick Garden and Castle. We also made photo stops at Warkworth Castle and Tynemouth. If you only have time to visit one castle, massive Bamburgh Castle is the one to see. You can wander through 14 magnificent public rooms and enjoy the breathtaking views of the Northumberland coast from atop a volcanic outcrop, 150 feet above sea level. Alnwick Castle has been home and still is to the Dukes ... read more

There is a large variety of entertainment on Koningsdam but the emphasis is on music. It is definitely a ship for music lovers. Koningsdam features a music walk with BB Kings All-Stars, Billboard Onstage and Lincoln Center. Pat and I always enjoy the BB Kings All-Stars Band. They play Blues and Jazz but also play Doo-Wop, Classic Rock and Pop tunes. It is located in the Queens room midship which has a large dance floor. Billboard Onboard showcases the talents of live musicians – including two singing pianists, a guitarist and a DJ. They take turns rocking the crowd with chart-topping hits. Lincoln Center Stage is another popular venue and features a pianist and a string quartet that plays favorite classical pieces and chamber music. Get there early for a good seat. The entrances to the ... read more

Pat and I boarded the Koningsdam at the port of Amsterdam after spending 5 nights at the Movenick Hotel, conveniently located less than 100 meters from where we dropped our bags off for the cruise. Boarding at 12:30pm we admired the decor and beauty of the new addition to Holland America's fleet of ships. After dropping off our carry-on luggage we proceeded to the main dining room for lunch. The decor and layout reminded me of the beautiful dining rooms on the Celebrity Solstice Class of ship. It even had a glass wine tower at the back! We both ordered the salmon filet, cooked to order and very tasty. After lunch we proceeded to take at our of the ship starting on deck 12 at the Explorations Cafe located next to the Crow's Nest observation lounge. ... read more