Last night we had an “official” e.g. planned, black out from 20.00 – 22.00 hrs. Everybody was advised to leave the ship as there would absolutely no light available in the cabins. The two hour black out was meant to test the Emergency Generator and the Emergency Batteries under load. If there is enough power from there then the emergency systems can continue to work and it was tested extensively. The Emergency alarms were beeping and bleating through the whole ship without stopping until everybody was nearly going nuts. But it is an extremely important test and thus it had to be done. A lot of the crew descended upon the only café directly outside the Gate and the owner did very good business. I think he would not mind a few more blackouts.
The Grand Dutch Cafe is nearing completion. The time for Bitter balls and a Heineken is not far away.
The stocking/loading of the ship continues at a steady pace but the ware house is not getting any emptier as more and more trucks are arriving. Today we had a 40 foot container with large Audio /visual panels and monitors for the public spaces. Some of them were crated up and so large you could never have walked away with them but others where regular size TV boxes and could be prone to be picked up by “Collectors”. These sorts of things go straight on board and are locked away in completed Guest cabins where the door goes on double lock. A lock can always be by-passed of course but only with brute force. If the door would be opened with an electronic key then this entry can be verified by the Security Officer and key & owner identified. There is a very good security system in the shipyard both with security at the entrances to the ship but also with roving fire patrols who apart from checking safe work practices – so there will be no fire- are also continuously checking if the doors to occupied cabins are completely locked. I moved cabins today and while moving my suitcase into the new cabin, I left the door ajar and 30 seconds later I had a Fire Guard poking his nose in. Into the ship there are three entrances, the forward one for HAL personnel only, and the other two for the yard people. Everything that comes OFF those two gangways is very carefully checked. Ours is less of an issue as we live on board and thus only take things on board and not off the ship.
The whole ceiling of the Dining room is now visible and the tables are in place.
A lot of boxes which are now opened contain the furnishings for the lounges. Chairs for the Music Walk areas have arrived and also the tables and chairs for the Main Dining room. We are still waiting for chairs for the Pinnacle Grill and Explorers Lounge where there is still panel work going on. But give it one or two days and that will also be finished.
The full ceiling of the Queens lounge is now visible. Quite a feast for the eyes.
Although the Queens lounge is almost finished, scaffolding has gone up again as now the Sound and Vision guys are doing complicated things with speakers, lights and the Operators Booth. This Queens Lounge is basically a smaller version of the show lounges on the other ships with this difference that the Dance Floor is a lot bigger. This will be a great venue for the New Year’s Celebrations although it cannot hold 2500 people.
This is the Digital Workshop which is just waiting for the chairs.
Our painting friends are still making everybody’s life difficult, they are either in the way, or something is wet from paint and if not one of the two then we can smell the paint everywhere. The AC is running for the whole interior of the ship and our friends are of course also painting the grills which protect the fan room intakes. Luckily it does not go on continuously otherwise we would all eventually be walking around very happy from the thinner smell.
This is the walkway along the Culinary Arts Centre and a Lady Crew member is cleaning the Stainless Steel window frames.
We now have nearly all the crew on board and those who work in certain dedicated areas such as the Greenhouse Spa have been issued cleaning material and are starting to deep clean their own work areas. The ship is delivered dust free but there is a bit of a difference between what a ship yard considers dust free and what Holland America considers Spotless. We used to have the nickname in the 1920’s & 1930’s of being the “Spotless Fleet” and that ethic is still very much present in our today’s ship culture. Thus I observed several cabins being open this morning and in two of them a crew member was happily sitting on the toilet and slowly removing paint splatters from the inside bathroom door. In another I saw two legs sticking out from under the bed and I thought……..that this was taking it a bit too far in cleaning but it turned out she had lost an ear ring.
And thus shipyard life continues at a steady pace. There is still some big work being done on the upper decks such as the Centre Lido Area and the Crow’s nest but also there all the paneling is nearly in place and the fitting out is starting. As long as it stays dry, things will go very fast.
March 15, 2016 at 10:55 am
Thank you for taking the time everyday to write the posts! It’s exciting to see it all come together!
March 15, 2016 at 11:07 am
Thank You for your updates. You are bringing the Koningsdam alive for those of us who are patiently waiting. The ship looks beautiful.
If you are in our cabin. Please don’t crease the sheets.
Sandra
March 15, 2016 at 11:23 am
Thank you for your reports on the Koningsdam. I reminds me of a similar time in my life.
I sincerely hope that we will be able tour some of the ship at some time that we will be at sea.
We hope to see her on the April fourth sailing. It will be our fourth Holland America Ship.
March 15, 2016 at 12:45 pm
Thank you Captain for taking the time to do this blog. It is truly the highlight of my day to get this inside view to how a ship prepares for its first customers. I’m sure I’m not the only one that appreciates the effort you put into this keeping in mind how busy you must already be just getting your job done.
Thanks again!!!
March 15, 2016 at 1:56 pm
correction
That is the April eight sailing.
March 15, 2016 at 2:38 pm
It must an honour & a privilege to be chosen to command a brand new ship. The pictures of her fitting out of the rooms & areas look fantastic. We hope to sail on her in the coming years. All the best to you and your new command and all who will sail on her.
March 15, 2016 at 2:54 pm
Goedendag kapitein,
Het is een feest om iedere dag uw blog te lezen.
Op 9 mei zal ik de doopreis meevaren, bent u dan ook nog aan boord?
Ik wens u nog vele avonturen aan boord toe.
Vriendelijke groet,
Henk van Essen
March 15, 2016 at 6:11 pm
We are on Koningsdam on the 4th September 2016, we cannot wait to board, the ship looks amazing.
March 15, 2016 at 6:45 pm
Priceless, Captain!
March 16, 2016 at 9:48 am
Thanks for your reports, it’s all very interesting!
March 16, 2016 at 10:44 am
I have been reading your blog for several years now and absolutely enjoy all the information regarding the coming together of all the ships. My wife and I are looking forward to sailing with you on April 8th and perhaps having a chat. Thank you again for all the info and details.
March 16, 2016 at 4:19 pm
We’re looking forward to the 20 day Christening Cruise and Norway trip coming up in less than 60 days. We’re really liking the blog and pictures.
March 16, 2016 at 10:33 pm
Without a doubt, the most fascinating series of blog posts I’ve ever read. Thank You, Captain, for bringing us loyal HAL fans inside the birth of a great new ship!