MS Koningsdam

MS Koningsdam is a Pinnacle-class cruise ship currently operated by Holland America Line (HAL), a division of Carnival Corporation & plc. Koningsdam is the lead vessel of HAL's Pinnacle class, which includes MS Nieuw Statendam and the forthcoming MS Rotterdam. At 99,863 GT, she became the largest ship commissioned and to ever operate for HAL upon her delivery in 2016.

Koningsdam
MS Koningsdam in Rotterdam, 2016
History
Netherlands
Name: Koningsdam
Namesake: Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands
Owner: Carnival Corporation & plc
Operator: Holland America Line
Port of registry: Rotterdam,  Netherlands
Ordered: 26 October 2012[1]
Builder: Fincantieri (Marghera, Italy)
Yard number: 6241[2]
Laid down: 22 August 2014[3]
Launched: March 2015[4]
Sponsored by: Queen Máxima of the Netherlands
Christened: 20 May 2016[5]
Completed: March 2016
Acquired: 31 March 2016[6]
In service: 8 April 2016—present
Identification:
Status: In service
General characteristics
Class and type: Pinnacle-class cruise ship
Tonnage: 99,863 GT[2]
Length: 299.65 m (983.1 ft)[2]
Beam: 35 m (115 ft)[2]
Draught: 7.95 m (26.1 ft)[2]
Decks: 12
Installed power: 4 × MaK 12V43C Diesel generators producing 12,600 kW (16,900 hp) each[2]
Propulsion: 2 × 14,000 kW (19,000 hp)[2] ABB Azipod units
Speed:
  • Service speed: 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)[2]
  • Maximum: 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph)[2]
Capacity:
  • 2,650 passengers (double occupancy)
  • 4,173 maximum passengers and crew
Crew: 1,036

History

Planning and construction

In the early planning stages, HAL had initially slotted a new ship to become a sister ship to Signature-class fleet-mate, MS Nieuw Amsterdam.[7] However, with the adoption of the Safe Return to Port requirements and the aging concept of the Signature-class design, HAL decided to develop a new prototype.[7]

On 26 October 2012, Carnival Corporation announced that it had ordered two cruise ships from the Italian shipbuilder, Fincantieri, with one of them being a new 2,660-passenger vessel for HAL, initially scheduled for a fall 2015 delivery.[1] At a planned gross tonnage of approximately 99,000 GT, the ship would lead a new class of ships for HAL, dubbed Pinnacle class.[8]

On 4 February 2014, the first steel was cut for the ship at Fincantieri's shipyard in Marghera.[9] On 22 August 2014, the keel-laying ceremony was performed, in which a 680-ton block was lowered into the building dock, marking the beginning of hull assembly.[3]

On 15 September 2014, HAL announced the name of the ship would be Koningsdam, in honor of Willem-Alexander, the first King of the Netherlands in over a century.[10] Koningsdam is the first ship in HAL's history to bear the name.[10]

On 26 February 2015, the coin ceremony was performed. Tineke Schroder served as the madrina for the event and helped to weld two gold coins bearing the image of Willem-Alexander.[4] Shortly after, in early-March 2015, Koningsdam was floated out from the dry dock and transferred into the outfitting dock for final construction and interior furnishing.[4]

In January 2016, Koningsdam performed two sets of sea trials.[11] She first left Marghera on 2 January for three days before arriving at Fincantieri's shipyard in Trieste for standard hull maintenance and evaluation.[11] She then left on 10 January for her second trial and returned to Marghera on 16 January for her finishing touches.[11]

Debut

In March 2015, HAL announced the delivery date of Koningsdam would be postponed by approximately one month, from 16 February 2016 to 31 March 2016, after a joint decision made with Fincantieri.[12] Koningsdam was successfully presented and delivered to HAL in Marghera on 31 March 2016.[6] HAL revealed the godmother of Koningsdam would be Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands on 18 April 2016, following a long line of HAL tradition of inviting members of the Dutch Royal Family to christen HAL ships.[13] She christened the vessel on 20 May 2016 in Rotterdam.[5]

On 19 November 2014, HAL announced that Koningsdam would sail her maiden voyage from Rome, following her re-positioning from the shipyard, on 20 February 2016, calling in Dubrovnik, Corfu, Olympia, and Naples.[14] From then, Koningsdam would continue to sail in the Mediterranean and also cruise from Amsterdam to Northern Europe.[14][15] In March 2015, with the postponement of the ship's delivery, HAL announced that the maiden voyage would be delayed until 8 April 2016.[12] The remainder of her inaugural season was unchanged and she continued sailing European voyages before she made her North American debut in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in the fall of 2016, sailing round-trip Caribbean itineraries.[14][15]

Operational career

Through early-2020, Koningsdam sailed round-trip Caribbean itineraries from Fort Lauderdale.[16] In March 2020, she was scheduled to circumnavigate South America from Fort Lauderdale to Vancouver,[17] before beginning her maiden Alaska season with weekly round-trip itineraries from Vancouver.[18] However, all cruises through fall 2020 had been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[19]

Design and specifications

Much of Koningsdam, including the passenger decks, stairwells, and passageways, is influenced by music in naming, decor, and entertainment.[20] Centered on the lower decks are the ship's main entertainment venues, including the main theater and three stages and lounges designed to offer different genres of live music.[20] Dining establishments are also located nearby and cater to different tastes and purposes, including a French bistro, an Italian restaurant, a cooking demonstration venue, a winemaking venue, a dining room, and a café.[20] Atop the ship, features include a spa, pools housed under a magrodome, and a cruise ship poolside theater, as well as additional dining venues, including a buffet and a pan-Asian restaurant.[20]

Koningsdam features a total of 1,331 passenger cabins across 12 decks and 588 crew cabins for a maximum capacity of 4,173 passengers and crew.[2] Of the total amount of cabins, 78.4% have an outside view, and 68.5% have a balcony.[2] She has a length of 299.65 metres (983.1 ft), a draft of 7.95 metres (26.1 ft), and a beam of 35 metres (115 ft).[2] She is powered by a diesel-electric genset system, with four MaK engines, each producing 12.6 MW (16,900 hp) to produce a total output of 50.4 megawatts (67,600 hp).[2] Main propulsion is via two ABB Azipods, each driven by a 14 megawatts (19,000 hp) electric motor.[2] The system gives the vessel a service speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) and a maximum speed of 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph).[2] Koningsdam was designed to operate at an optimal service speed, with an extended hull and modified bulbous bow to improve the ship's efficiency and glide and reduce resistance.[7] The ship is powered by heavy fuel oil and marine gas oil and equipped with scrubbers from Ecospray Technologies.[7] Enhancements, such as fan coil units being used to maintain temperatures in public spaces instead of centralized air conditioning, has allowed the ship to use 20% less power than Nieuw Amsterdam, despite carrying 20% more passengers.[7] In addition, there are 16 150-person lifeboats and six tender boats, all provided by Hatecke.[7] All infrastructure and IT systems are provided by Lufthansa Systems.[7]

References
  1. "New Carnival, Holland America cruise ships on the way". USA Today. 26 October 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  2. "Koningsdam" (PDF). Fincantieri.com. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  3. "Construction Milestone: Keel Laid for New Pinnacle Class Ship". Holland America Line. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  4. "A Milestone Reached for Holland America Line's New ms Koningsdam with Move to Outfitting Dock at Fincantieri Shipyard". Carnival Corporation & plc. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  5. "Holland America Line's Koningsdam Christened in Rotterdam". Porthole Magazine. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  6. Leppert, Jason (31 March 2016). "Holland America Line Takes Delivery of New Koningsdam". Travel Pulse. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  7. "Holland America Line reaches pinnacle". Riviera Maritime Media. 19 April 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  8. "Holland America Line Announces Plans for New Ship!". Holland America Line. 26 October 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  9. Thakkar, Emrys (6 February 2014). "Steel Cut For New Holland America Pinnacle Cruise Ship". Cruise Hive. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  10. Knego, Peter (15 September 2014). "KONINGSDAM cometh". Maritime Matters. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  11. Thakkar, Emrys (22 January 2016). "ms Koningsdam Completes Sea Trials". Cruise Hive. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  12. Stieghorst, Tom (9 March 2015). "Koningsdam 2016 delivery delayed". Travel Weekly. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  13. "Queen Máxima of the Netherlands Named Godmother of Holland America Line's ms Koningsdam". Porthole Magazine. 18 April 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  14. "Koningsdam Itinerary Preview: Bookings Open Dec. 1 for 'Premiere Sailings'". Holland America Line. 19 November 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  15. "Holland America Line Takes Delivery of ms Koningsdam from Fincantieri". Holland America Line. 31 March 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  16. "Seven Holland America Line Ships Explore The Caribbean's Tropical Jewels And Cruise Line's Award-Winning Private Island On 2019-20 Cruises". Holland America Line. 12 August 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  17. "Four Holland America Line Ships Set To Explore The Contrasting Landscapes Of South America And Antarctica In 2019–20". Holland America Line. 2 July 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  18. "Holland America Promotes 2020 Alaska Program". Cruise Industry News. 20 December 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  19. Saunders, Aaron (6 May 2020). "Holland America, Princess, Seabourn Cancel Cruises Through Summer and Into Fall". Cruise Critic.
  20. Shillinglaw, James (23 June 2016). "Koningsdam: Targeting a Changing Holland America Guest". Travel Market Report. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
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