With an “Uptown Funk” introduction by the BB King’s Blues Club band, Holland America Line President, Orlando Ashford, unveiled an exciting lineup of entertainment venues for ms Koningsdam, during this past week’s Cruise Shipping Miami.
When Holland America Line’s ms Koningsdam debuts next March, the new Music Walk will steal the show each night, offering a extensive variety of music venues for guests of all musical preferences. Along the Music Walk, guests will find the popular BB King’s Blues Club has been expanded to the new ship, housed in Koningsdam’s expanded two story Queen’s Lounge. BB King’s features classic blues in an upbeat and funky atmosphere similar to the clubs found in cities such as Memphis and Nashville. BB King’s has already been expanded to a number of other Holland America ships with increasing popularity.
Newcomers to the Music Walk will include Billboard Onboard, an exclusive partnership with music authority Billboard; and Lincoln Center Stage, a unique partnership with New York’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
The new Billboard Onboard venue will essentially reinvent the traditional piano bar found aboard many ships. The new music experience will feature dueling pianos, a guitarist, or a house DJ in rotating shifts throughout the evening. Billboard Onboard will take guests on a musical journey with a playlist of hit songs throughout the decades. Guests can join in on the fun by singing along to their favorite hits or competing in music trivia displayed on screens spread throughout the lounge.
“Our guests love music that spans all genres, and Billboard Onboard is the perfect way to showcase a wide range of popular hits under one roof,” said Orlando Ashford. “We’re thrilled to partner with Billboard to debut a venue that will cater to all ages and nationalities.”
Lincoln Center Stage will offer Holland America Line’s more traditional guests a proper, classical music experience. Each evening, guests can be treated to an ensemble performing classical chamber music or an afternoon recital on leisurely sea days. Each musician brought aboard for Lincoln Center Stage will be carefully scrutinized and hand selected by professionals at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
“Classical music has been one of the many hallmarks of a Holland America Line cruise, and to partner with an organization as esteemed as Lincoln Center takes our program to an entirely new level,” said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line. “We are excited about this opportunity and look forward to bringing the best of this musical genre to our guests.”
Reinventing the traditional Holland America theater experience, ms Koningsdam will debut the World Stage, an immersive theater experience. The new World Stage will feature 270 degrees of massive LED screens, offering a theater experience that can place guests into any world destination or a scene of one of the production shows. The new theater design will allow Holland America Line to offer completely unique and stunning production shows each evening.
The new ms Koningsdam is scheduled to debut in April of 2016, taking her place as Holland America Line’s newest and largest ship to date. Koningsdam represents a new generation of ships for Holland America Line, debuting a number of new dining venues, entertainment, and design features. The upcoming ship is currently under construction at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard.
