Koningsdam Signature Suite Review: Was It Worth the Upgrade?
I boarded Holland America’s Koningsdam in Vancouver not totally sure what to expect.
This was my first Holland America cruise, my first time sailing from Vancouver, and my first Alaska cruise for the channel. Over 7 nights, we sailed the Inside Passage, visited Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan, and spent a full scenic cruising day in Glacier Bay.
I also made a full video on this, which is worth watching if you want to see the ship, cabin, food, scenery, and ports for yourself.
Watch the Full Video
The video gives a much better feel for the full experience: Glacier Bay, whale watching in Juneau, the muddy Ketchikan excursion, the ship’s lounges, and what Koningsdam actually felt like onboard.
In this post, I’ll break it down in a more practical way: what worked, what didn’t, what surprised me, what it cost on my sailing, and who I think Holland America Koningsdam is best for.
Quick Verdict: Is the Koningsdam Signature Suite Worth It?
For us, yes. The Koningsdam Signature Suite was worth the upgrade for three people sharing a cabin on an Alaska cruise.
The biggest benefits were the extra space, large couch, pull-down Murphy bed, oversized bathroom, large balcony, and huge amount of storage. This cabin felt much more livable for a full week than a standard balcony cabin would have.
Best for:
Families, three friends, couples who want extra space, or anyone who wants a more comfortable Alaska cabin without jumping all the way up to a Neptune Suite.
Skip it if:
You’re only two people, don’t spend much time in the room, or expect full suite perks like Neptune Lounge access.
What Is a Signature Suite on Koningsdam?
On Holland America’s Koningsdam, a Signature Suite sits above a standard Verandah cabin but below the Neptune Suite category.
That distinction matters.
You are getting a larger room, a bigger bathroom, a larger balcony, and a better overall layout. But you are not getting the full Neptune Suite experience. On our sailing, that meant no Neptune Lounge access, no priority embarkation, no Club Orange access included with this cabin, no coffee maker, and no special suite gifts in the room.
So this is not really a “perk-heavy” suite.
It is more of a space-focused upgrade.
Our Signature Suite came in at about 400 square feet, which felt massive compared with some smaller cabins I’ve stayed in. It was especially noticeable after recently sailing in NCL’s tiny solo studio cabin, which was basically the opposite end of the cruise cabin spectrum.
Cabin 7102 Location: Deck 7 Midship
Our cabin was 7102, located on Deck 7, midship, port side.
I thought this was a great location. You are high enough for good views, but not directly under the pool deck or a major public area. Being midship also made it easy to get around the ship.
The Lido Market buffet was only a couple of decks above us, while many of the main indoor venues were just a few decks below. For Alaska, I liked that we could get from the cabin to public viewing areas, lounges, dining, or outdoor decks without feeling tucked away at one far end of the ship.
First Impression: This Cabin Feels Big
The first thing I noticed walking into the cabin was the space.
This did not feel like a standard cruise cabin where everyone immediately has to shuffle around each other. There was a real entry area, a wider layout, and the room opened up nicely toward the sitting area and balcony.
With three of us sharing the cabin, that extra breathing room mattered almost right away.
Someone could sit on the couch, someone could be at the desk, and someone could be getting ready without the whole room feeling like a traffic jam.
Sleeping Area and Charging Setup
The main sleeping area had Holland America’s Mariner’s Dream bed, which can be configured together or separated depending on your setup. In our case, it was a real king-size bed.
The bed was comfortable, and the room had a warm, classic-but-modern cruise ship feel. It was not flashy, but it felt polished and comfortable.
One practical win: there were plenty of outlets and charging options throughout the cabin.
With three people, phones, cameras, battery packs, watches, and other gear can quickly turn into a charging mess. In this cabin, keeping everything powered was not really a problem.
The Large Couch and Extra Living Space
The sitting area was one of the biggest reasons this cabin worked so well.
There was a large couch, a coffee table, and an extra dressing area that honestly felt as big as some small cruise cabins on its own.
That extra living space made the room feel like more than just somewhere to sleep. On an Alaska cruise, where you may spend more time inside due to weather, scenery, early mornings, or cooler temperatures, that matters.
This is where the Signature Suite started to feel less like a slightly larger balcony cabin and more like a genuinely upgraded room.
The Murphy Bed Makes This Great for Three People
One of the best features of our cabin was the pull-down Murphy bed.
Instead of someone sleeping on a small sofa bed or feeling like an afterthought, the Murphy bed gave us a real third sleeping space. It was located in the extra dressing/living area, which made it feel almost like a second bedroom.
Almost.
The key downside is privacy. There is no real door separating the Murphy bed from the main bed area. So while this layout gives you more space, it does not create truly separate sleeping areas.
For three friends, it worked really well. For parents traveling with a child or older teen, it could also be a strong setup. For two couples, I would think more carefully about the lack of privacy.
Storage Was Almost Too Much
Storage was another major highlight.
There were closets, drawers, shelves, cabinets, and storage spaces all over the cabin. For three of us on a 7-night Alaska cruise, it would have been hard to use it all.
That is not something I say very often about cruise cabins.
It mattered even more in Alaska, where you are packing bulkier items like jackets, layers, rain gear, extra shoes, and camera gear.
We had room to unpack, put the suitcases away, and keep the cabin from feeling cluttered. You know I like to unpack and banish the suitcase, and this room made that very easy.
Cabin Amenities: Safe, Umbrellas, Binoculars, and Mini Bar
There were several small amenities that made the room more useful.
The safe was large enough for a laptop, which is not always the case in cruise cabins. There were also extra blankets, two umbrellas, and binoculars included in the room.
The umbrellas and binoculars felt especially appropriate for Alaska. I would not rely on the binoculars if wildlife watching is a huge priority for you, but they were a nice touch.
The cabin also had a small refrigerator stocked as a no-host mini bar, which means you pay for what you use. On our sailing, that applied even if you had the drink package. There were also a few snacks available for purchase.
The Bathroom Was a Huge Upgrade
The bathroom may have been the biggest surprise.
By cruise ship standards, this bathroom was genuinely impressive. It had dual vanities, a jetted tub, and a separate glass-enclathroom osed shower.
It was larger than some hotel bathrooms I’ve stayed in.
For three people, this made a huge difference. There was more counter space, more room to move around, and the separate shower made the bathroom feel much more usable than a typical cruise cabin bathroom.
You were not fighting over one tiny sink or trying to squeeze into a small shower with barely any space. For a weeklong cruise, that kind of comfort adds up.
Twice-Daily Room Cleanup Was a Plus
Another thing I appreciated is that Holland America still offered twice-daily room cleanup during our sailing.
The room was cleaned during the day, and then later they came back for evening turndown. That also included pulling down and making the Murphy bed each evening, instead of leaving it in our way all day.
With three people sharing one cabin, that made the room feel much more manageable.
The Balcony Was Noticeably Larger
The balcony was also much larger than a standard balcony cabin. I would estimate it was almost twice as big.
There was room to sit, move around, and actually use the space without feeling like everyone had to line up shoulder-to-shoulder.
On this Alaska itinerary, we used the balcony a lot. The table was great for morning coffee, and it was nice to step outside quickly without always heading up to the public decks.
I’ll cover the bigger question of whether you actually need a balcony for Alaska in a separate post and video. But for this cabin specifically, the larger balcony was definitely part of what made the upgrade feel worthwhile.
If you want to see how much more usable the balcony felt compared with a standard cruise balcony, the full video tour is worth watching.
What I Didn’t Love
As much as I liked this cabin, there are a few things to know before booking.
First, this is not a Neptune Suite. You should not book a Signature Suite expecting the full suite experience. On our sailing, there was no Neptune Lounge access, no priority embarkation, no Club Orange access included with this cabin, no coffee maker, and no special suite gifts in the room.
You are mostly paying for the cabin itself: the extra space, larger bathroom, bigger balcony, storage, and more comfortable layout.
Second, the Murphy bed is a great feature, but there is no door separating it from the main sleeping area. This cabin works well for families or three friends, but it does not give you true bedroom privacy.
Neither of those were deal-breakers for us, but they are worth knowing before paying for the upgrade.
What We Paid
For our Alaska cruise, the cruise fare came out to $2,715 per person, including the Signature Suite and Holland America’s Have It All package.
That price included more than just the room, so I do not want to pretend that the full amount was only the cabin upgrade.
But this was definitely not a budget cabin choice.
Prices can vary a lot by sailing date, itinerary, promotions, cabin availability, and what package you choose, so treat that number as one real example from my sailing rather than a guaranteed price.
Best For / Skip If
Book This Cabin If:
You are traveling with three people
You want more space than a standard balcony cabin
You are sailing Alaska and expect to use the room more
You care about a larger bathroom
You want a bigger balcony
You want lots of storage
You want more comfort without jumping to a Neptune Suite
Skip This Cabin If:
You only need a basic room to sleep and shower
You want true separate bedrooms
You expect full suite perks
You are trying to keep the cruise as budget-friendly as possible
A standard Verandah cabin would already meet your needs
Final Verdict: Was the Koningsdam Signature Suite Worth It?
For us, yes.
This cabin made a lot of sense for three friends sharing a room on an Alaska cruise. The extra space, large couch, pull-down Murphy bed, huge amount of storage, bigger balcony, and oversized bathroom all made the cabin feel much more livable for the week.
I would especially consider this cabin for a family, three friends, or anyone who wants more space without jumping all the way up to a Neptune Suite.
Just know what you are paying for. This is still one shared room, and it does not come with the full suite perk experience.
For two people, I think a standard Verandah cabin may be enough. But for three of us, especially on a scenic Alaska itinerary, this was an upgrade I was glad we had.
If you want to see the full room layout, bathroom, Murphy bed, storage, and balcony, watch the full video tour above. And if you enjoy honest cruise reviews and practical tips, I’d love to have you along for the next one.
4. FAQ Section
FAQ
Is the Koningsdam Signature Suite worth it?
For us, yes. The Koningsdam Signature Suite was worth it because three of us were sharing one cabin on an Alaska cruise, and the extra space, Murphy bed, large bathroom, storage, and balcony made the room much more comfortable.
How big is a Signature Suite on Koningsdam?
Our Signature Suite was about 400 square feet. That made it noticeably larger than a standard balcony cabin and gave us enough room for a main sleeping area, sitting area, Murphy bed space, larger bathroom, and bigger balcony. Verify the exact square footage for your specific cabin before booking.
Does a Holland America Signature Suite include Neptune Suite perks?
No, not in the way a Neptune Suite does. On our sailing, the Signature Suite did not include Neptune Lounge access, priority embarkation, Club Orange access, a coffee maker, or special suite gifts. The main benefit was the larger cabin itself.
Is the Koningsdam Signature Suite good for three people?
Yes, I think this cabin worked very well for three people. The pull-down Murphy bed gave the third person a real sleeping space, and the extra living area kept the room from feeling cramped. The main downside is that there is no door separating the Murphy bed from the main bed area.
Is the bathroom bigger in a Koningsdam Signature Suite?
Yes, the bathroom was a major upgrade. It had dual vanities, a jetted tub, and a separate glass-enclosed shower. By cruise ship standards, it felt genuinely spacious.
Do you need a balcony for Alaska on Koningsdam?
A balcony was very nice to have on this sailing, especially for morning coffee and quick scenic views. I used mine often, but I’ll cover the broader question of whether you actually need a balcony for Alaska in a separate post and video.
