Holland America Line
Koningsdam
- Cruises
- 47
- From
- $399
Ship comparison
Koningsdam vs Norwegian Star
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Star
- Cruises
- 61
- From
- $549
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Koningsdam is a large Holland America Line ship carrying 2,650 passengers, in service since 2016. Norwegian Star is a large Norwegian Cruise Line ship carrying 2,348 passengers, in service since 2000.
Choose Koningsdam if you want a more romantic trip, a newer ship or better-rated dining: it outscores Norwegian Star for romantic (8.5 vs 6.0) and dining (7.0 vs 6.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its maiden voyage was in 2016 (vs 2000).
Choose Norwegian Star if you want more of a party, a more family-friendly ship or more crew per passenger: it outscores Koningsdam for party (8.0 vs 6.0) and family friendly (7.0 vs 6.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and it has a crew member for every 2.2 passengers (vs 2.6).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Koningsdam | Norwegian Star | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Holland America Line | Norwegian Cruise Line |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2016 (better) | 2000 |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | — | 2018 |
| Gross tonnage | 99,500 | 91,740 |
| Passengers | 2,650 | 2,348 |
| Crew | 1,025 | 1,065 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.6 | 2.2 (better) |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 37.5 | 39.1 (better) |
| Decks | 12 | 15 |
| Length | 935 ft | 935 ft |
| Beam | 115 ft | 105 ft |
| Speed | 28 mph | 28 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 10 / 10 (better) | 7 / 10 |
| Cruises on sale | 47 | 61 |
| Upcoming sailings | 101 | 69 |
| Cruise lengths | 4–35 nights | 6–16 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $399 (better) | $549 |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Koningsdam leads on 4 of the ten, Norwegian Star on 2, with 4 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Holland America Line
Koningsdam
Launched in April 2016, ms Koningsdam from Holland America Line helped usher in the new Pinnacle class of ships for the venerable cruise line. The 2,650-passenger ship is the first in more than a century to bear the name Koningsdam (pronounced CONE-ings-dam, not CON), which honors Willem-Alexander, the first king of the Netherlands.
Highlights
- Billboard Onboard features Top 50 music for passengers
- Hands-on kitchen in the Culinary Arts Center
Sailing now
47 cruises on sale, from $399.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Star
The ship where Norwegian's Freestyle Cruising mantra all began, Norwegian Star has been at sea since 2001, offering a large variety in dining options, lounges from the popular to the secluded, and a childcare program that is top notch.
Highlights
- Bring your own chopsticks and enjoy Asian cuisine, from sushi to hibachi to Thai and Chinese
- Extensive childcare services on board make cruiseing with the wee ones a cinch
- Celebrate like the famous F. Scott Fitzgerald character at Gatsby's Champagne Bar
Sailing now
61 cruises on sale, from $549.
Questions
Koningsdam or Norwegian Star?
Which is bigger, Koningsdam or Norwegian Star?
Koningsdam is bigger at 99,500 gross tons, against 91,740 gross tons for Norwegian Star. Koningsdam carries 2,650 passengers and Norwegian Star carries 2,348.
Which ship is newer, Koningsdam or Norwegian Star?
Koningsdam is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2016 against 2000 for Norwegian Star.
Which has more space per passenger?
Norwegian Star, with 39.1 gross tons per passenger against 37.5 on Koningsdam. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
Norwegian Star, with one crew member for every 2.2 passengers against one for every 2.6 on Koningsdam.
Which is better for families?
Norwegian Star scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 7.0 out of 10, against 6.0 for Koningsdam.
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