Koningsdam: Sanitation Record & Health Report
ShipTea Verdict
Let's get one thing out of the way: a perfect 100 on the Koningsdam's latest CDC inspection sounds like a mic-drop moment, and against the fleet-wide average of 96.7 (median 98 across the 162 ships we track), it genuinely is a strong number. But before Holland America starts printing "Spotless!" on the brochures, know that this 100 comes from exactly one inspection, logged January 6, 2026. One data point does not a dynasty make — we can't tell you if this is a trend because, well, there isn't enough data yet to call it one. Ask us again after inspection number two.
Where things get more interesting is the food safety score sitting at 84.0, which lands the ship a "Needs Scrubbing" grade — a phrase that does a lot of work without us having to editorialize further. It's a bit of a split personality: the sanitation inspectors gave the Koningsdam a flawless report card, while whatever internal food-safety metric feeds that 84 is muttering something less flattering under its breath. This is a nearly-decade-old Pinnacle-class ship (built 2016, refreshed in 2023) hauling 2,650 guests and over 1,000 crew across 99,863 gross tons — plenty of galleys and buffet lines for something to go sideways in, even if the official CDC visit didn't catch it. We'll also note that outbreak history for this ship is currently unreachable on our end, so we're not going to pretend we know it's outbreak-free — we simply don't have that data in front of us right now.
Who's this ship for: travelers who want mid-size, art-and-music-forward Holland America elegance sailing out of Vancouver or San Diego, and who can shrug off a "Needs Scrubbing" tag as long as the paperwork from the health inspectors checks out. Who should skip it: anyone who treats food safety scores as gospel and wants a spotless report across the board, not just a spotless one-off inspection — you might want to sit tight until the Koningsdam racks up a second or third CDC visit and that "Needs Scrubbing" label either redeems itself or confirms your suspicions.
Koningsdam at a Glance
Koningsdam is a Pinnacle-class ship in the Holland America fleet, built in 2016 and refurbished in 2023. It carries 2,650 passengers and measures 99,863 gross tons. Koningsdam has 49 sailings on the schedule through October 2027, mostly from Vancouver (28) and San Diego (21), most often on 7-night voyages (trips run 4 to 35 nights). The next departure is November 7, 2026 from San Diego.
We have 2 CDC inspections on record for Koningsdam. The most recent results ran 100 (Jan 2026), 100 (Jul 2026), unchanged across that span.
Pinnacle-Class Sister Ships
Koningsdam has 2 sister ships in the Pinnacle class. Here is how their latest CDC scores compare.
| Ship | Line | Latest CDC score | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rotterdam | Holland America | 99 | Mar 16, 2026 |
| Queen Anne | Cunard | 95 | Apr 5, 2026 |
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Score History
Outbreak Timeline
No outbreaks on record for the Koningsdam.
Outbreak history for this ship is not currently available from the CDC.
Environmental Rating: B-
Making Effort
Score Breakdown
Friends of the Earth Report Card
USCG Environmental Compliance
✓ Clean environmental compliance record — no MARPOL deficiencies on file.
Needs Scrubbing
Food Safety Sub-Score based on 1 inspection with item-level data.
Food Inspection Breakdown
Item-level deductions from the most recent inspection with detailed data.
| Item | Category | Type | Deducted | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #11 | Employee Health & Illness Management | Critical | 0 | 5 |
| #12 | Employee Cleanliness & Handwashing | Critical | 0 | 5 |
| #13 | Food Safety Management & Knowledge | Critical | -3 | 5 |
| #14 | Employee Appearance | Non-Critical | 0 | 2 |
| #15 | Food Sources & Receiving | Critical | 0 | 5 |
| #16 | Food Temperature & Time Control | Critical | -5 | 5 |
| #17 | Food Protection & Prep Practices | Non-Critical | 0 | 2 |
| #18 | Cross-Contamination Prevention | Critical | 0 | 5 |
| #19 | Food Storage & Handling | Non-Critical | 0 | 2 |
| #20 | Food Display & Service | Non-Critical | 0 | 2 |
| #24 | Food-Contact Surface Cleaning | Critical | 0 | 5 |
| #25 | Wiping Cloths Cleanliness | Non-Critical | 0 | 2 |
| #26 | Equipment Sanitization | Critical | 0 | 5 |
| Total Food Deductions | -8 | 50 | ||
⚠ 8 points deducted from critical food safety items.
How Is This Calculated?
The Food Safety Sub-Score extracts deductions from 13 food-specific CDC VSP inspection items (items 11-20 and 24-26) covering employee hygiene, temperature control, cross-contamination, food storage, and equipment sanitation. The maximum possible food deduction is 50 points. Score = 100 × (1 - food deductions / 50).
Crew Treatment: Fair Passage
This score reflects how Holland America treats its crew — based on employee reviews, flag state quality, safety compliance, and editorial assessment. All ships in the Holland America fleet share this line-level rating.
Glassdoor Employee Rating
★★★★☆ 3.3Based on 645 employee reviews
Score Breakdown
Flag State Quality
Koningsdam is registered under a Paris MOU White List flag state — the highest safety and compliance tier. Flag State Score: 100/100
Upcoming Sailings
| Voyage | Departs | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 7 nights, round-trip from San Diego, USA | Nov 7 | 7N |
| 7 nights, round-trip from San Diego, USA | Nov 14 | 7N |
| 7 nights, round-trip from San Diego, USA | Nov 21 | 7N |
| 10 nights, round-trip from San Diego, USA | Nov 28 | 10N |
| 11 nights, round-trip from San Diego, USA | Dec 8 | 11N |
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Frequently Asked Questions
The latest CDC sanitation score for the Koningsdam is 100/100 as of July 23, 2026.
No, the Koningsdam has never failed a CDC inspection. All recorded scores have been 86 or above.
No, the Koningsdam has no recorded gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on file with the CDC.
The Koningsdam has a latest CDC sanitation score of 100/100. See the full inspection history and our ShipTea verdict for a complete assessment.
Based on CDC VSP inspection item-level data, the Koningsdam has a food safety score of 84/100 ("Needs Scrubbing"). This sub-score focuses on 13 food-specific inspection items covering temperature control, cross-contamination, and sanitation.
The Koningsdam was last inspected by the CDC on July 23, 2026.