Holland America’s Koningsdam returns from refit with upgrades ahead of Alaska season

Holland America Line’s Koningsdam has returned to service following a two-week dry dock in the Bahamas, introducing a series of upgrades focused on accommodation, entertainment, and onboard flow ahead of its deployment to Alaska for the summer season.

The Pinnacle-class vessel resumed operations on March 29th, 2026, welcoming guests for its final Caribbean sailing before transiting the Panama Canal en route to the U.S. West Coast.

The voyage marks the first opportunity for passengers to experience the updates, which include additional staterooms designed for group travel, refreshed live music venues, and changes to public areas aimed at improving circulation across the ship.

Among the most notable changes is the addition of five new ocean-view staterooms, each configured to accommodate up to four guests. The rooms include convertible bedding and sofa beds, with four of the new units offering connecting layouts to support larger groups travelling together.

A further 22 Vista Suites have been updated with new sofa beds, expanding the ship’s capacity for multigenerational travel.

The changes reflect a broader shift in cruise demand, with lines increasingly adapting accommodation to suit families and groups travelling together, particularly on itineraries such as Alaska, where extended voyages and destination-focused programming tend to attract a wider mix of age groups.

Public spaces onboard have also been reconfigured, particularly in the area linking the Billboard Onboard and Rolling Stone Lounge venues. The revised layout introduces additional seating and shared lounge areas positioned between the two venues, creating a more continuous entertainment zone and allowing guests to move more easily between performances.

The casino has been expanded as part of the dry dock, with the increased footprint intended to support additional gaming capacity while also improving passenger flow in surrounding areas.

The changes form part of a wider series of adjustments aimed at reducing congestion and creating more flexible use of space across the ship’s main entertainment zones.

Interior updates have been implemented throughout both staterooms and public areas, including the replacement of carpets and finishes to refresh the ship ahead of its next deployment.

Several specialty dining venues, including Pinnacle Grill, Sel de Mer, and Club Orange, have also been modified, with some fixed seating replaced by movable tables to allow for more adaptable dining configurations.

The ship’s fitness centre has been updated with new equipment, while retail space onboard has also been reworked.

The Effy jewellery boutique has undergone a full refurbishment, with new lighting, flooring, and display elements introduced to align with design changes implemented across other vessels in the fleet.

The scope of the refit suggests a focus on incremental enhancements rather than structural changes, with the emphasis placed on improving usability and adapting existing spaces to current passenger preferences.

Key updates to Koningsdam

• Five new ocean-view staterooms accommodating up to four guests
• Four connecting staterooms for larger groups
• 22 Vista Suites upgraded with new sofa beds
• Refreshed Billboard Onboard and Rolling Stone Lounge areas with added seating
• Expanded casino footprint and improved circulation
• Updated carpets and interior finishes throughout
• Flexible dining layouts introduced in Pinnacle Grill, Sel de Mer, and Club Orange
• New equipment in the fitness centre
• Refurbished Effy jewellery retail space