HAL Koningsdam - Mexico Riviera
Explore the stunning Pacific coast of Mexico with Holland America's refined mid-size ship. Beautiful beaches, vibrant towns, and world-class onboard entertainment.
Price Range
$
Budget
*Prices vary by cabin type, sailing date, and availability. Confirm rates with Holland America Line before booking.
Ship Details — Koningsdam
View full Koningsdam details
Year Built
2016
Tonnage
99,500 GT
Passengers
2,650
Crew
1,036
Decks
14
Class
Pinnacle
Itinerary & Route Map
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Where this cruise calls, day by day
5 ports and 3 sea days over 7 Nights.
- Day 1
San Diego, CA
United StatesDepartSan Diego is one of the easiest cruise arrivals in the country: the B Street and Broadway piers sit directly on the downtown Embarcadero, with the aircraft carrier USS Midway permanently moored a few hundred yards along the same waterfront. The Gaslamp Quarter is a flat ten-minute walk. It works as both a turnaround port for Mexico runs and a pleasant one-day call.
- USS Midway Museum, with the flight deck and hangar open to walk
- Balboa Park's museums and the San Diego Zoo
- Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, the original Mexican-era settlement
- The ferry across the bay to Coronado and the Hotel del Coronado
- Getting ashore
- Docks downtown at the B Street or Broadway Pier; the Gaslamp Quarter, Midway and Little Italy are all walkable.
- Best months
- Year-round (Sep-Oct warmest and clearest; May-Jun often grey until afternoon)
Day 2 · At sea
- Day 3Cabo San Lucas port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
Cabo San Lucas
MexicoPort - Day 4Mazatlán port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
Mazatlán
MexicoPort - Day 5Puerto Vallarta port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
Puerto Vallarta
MexicoPort Day 6 · At sea
Day 7 · At sea
- Day 8
San Diego, CA
United StatesArriveSan Diego is one of the easiest cruise arrivals in the country: the B Street and Broadway piers sit directly on the downtown Embarcadero, with the aircraft carrier USS Midway permanently moored a few hundred yards along the same waterfront. The Gaslamp Quarter is a flat ten-minute walk. It works as both a turnaround port for Mexico runs and a pleasant one-day call.
- USS Midway Museum, with the flight deck and hangar open to walk
- Balboa Park's museums and the San Diego Zoo
- Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, the original Mexican-era settlement
- The ferry across the bay to Coronado and the Hotel del Coronado
- Getting ashore
- Docks downtown at the B Street or Broadway Pier; the Gaslamp Quarter, Midway and Little Italy are all walkable.
- Best months
- Year-round (Sep-Oct warmest and clearest; May-Jun often grey until afternoon)
Onboard Amenities
Cruise Highlights
About the Ship
What Travelers Say About Koningsdam
Reviews of the ship itself — the same for every Koningsdam sailing. Distilled from 110 traveler threads, Cruise Critic member reviews and travel blogs.
Koningsdam, the lead ship of Holland America's Pinnacle class (2016, refurbished 2023), is the line's pitch to a slightly younger premium cruiser while keeping the calm, enrichment-focused soul HAL is known for. Carrying roughly 2,650 guests at double occupancy, it lands squarely in the mid-size sweet spot - big enough for a deep roster of dining and live music, small enough to avoid the megaship crush. Its signature is the Music Walk: a cluster of live-music rooms (Lincoln Center Stage, Billboard Onboard, B.B. King's Blues Club and the Rolling Stone Rock Room) that, paired with the LED-wrapped World Stage theater, gives it the best music-and-entertainment lineup in its class.
What People Love
- Strong 4.3/5 aggregate score from 628 U.S. News reviewers, matched by ~4.3/5 on Cruise Critic - unusually consistent praise for service and ship upkeep
- Standout dining for the mainstream-premium tier: 11 venues including Pinnacle Grill steakhouse, Rudi's Sel de Mer, Tamarind, Canaletto, plus the new Morimoto by Sea sushi venue added in 2025
- The 'Music Walk' concept is a genuine differentiator - Lincoln Center Stage (classical), Billboard Onboard (dueling pianos), B.B. King's Blues Club and the Rolling Stone Rock Room give nightly live music other mid-size ships can't match
Common Complaints
- Skews to an older demographic with little for kids - families and travelers wanting a high-energy vibe consistently report it feels too sedate
- Standard balcony cabins draw complaints about small bathrooms and an awkward toilet/shower layout where knees hit the wall
- Some reviewers call the decor and cabin furnishings dated or 'lacking class,' with worn furniture and uncomfortable sofa beds noted post-2016 wear