Page 74 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2017

Irma Thomas, the Soul Queen of New Orleans, is always a treat with her classic style Blues cruisers enjoying the Lido Pool Mid-Ship venue onboard the ms Koningsdam
delivered from the heart Photo by Ÿ Joseph A. Rosen Photo by Ÿ Joseph A. Rosen
Getting the Royal Treatment

Aboard the ms Koningsdam

By Katie Martin
I had been looking forward to the Legendary Rhythm and and alcoves include musical themes and entertainment icons
Blues Cruise (LRBC) #28 in January 2017 since I heard they from Prince to Frank Sinatra. We made sure to hit every stairwell
were sailing on Holland America’s newest (and biggest) ship, on our onboard “gallery tour.” The ship’s “music walk” on the
the ms Koningsdam, whose name is derived from the Dutch word second deck meanders along venues dedicated to B.B. King,
for king: “koning.” After two cruises, I had come to expect the Billboard and the Lincoln Center. It gave me chills more than
best from Holland America and the LRBC team. How could I once thinking that the vessel was dedicated to music history, and
resist the first blues cruise on a brand-new pinnacle-class of ship? we were sailing with a whole ship of living blues music legends.
My daughter Grace was game to join me for a week of music, One of the first icons we met was Irma Thomas, checking
food, sunshine and first-class service aboard “The King’s Ship,” out the World Stage venue for her upcoming performance. The
so away we went. World Stage venue is smaller than the main theaters of the ms
Music is literally the theme of the Koningsdam. The ship Westerdam and ms Nieuw Amsterdam ships, but the round
features architectural elements that recall musical instruments stage and amazing artistic lighting makes each seat a winner
such as the mid-ship three-story harp-like spiral staircase. Many for catching every moment of dynamic acts like Walter Trout and
of the paintings and sculptures that grace the Koningsdam’s walls Marquise Knox.

Always a late-night favorite, Tommy Castro and company join together in a Pro Jam Multi-instrumentalist Taj Mahal, an international treasure, has fused and defined his
session Photo by Ÿ Joseph A. Rosen blues with many cultural influences Photo by Ÿ Bob Sekinger

72 Blues Festival Guide 2017