What our Alaska cruise was like aboard Holland America Line's Eurodam

holland america cruise reviews alaska

If you are planning on going to the spa or the hot tubs or pool, don’t forget your swimsuit. On our first day as we left Seattle, it was in the low 70s F and people were in the pool, so it’s not always too cold to swim. I’d also like to point out that the entire Holland America staff took extra care with my food allergy and no mistakes were made. I let the dining staff supervisor know about my problem with citrus right when we boarded and everyone was made aware.

Alaska Cruise Itineraries

Thus, we spent the rest of the afternoon on our balcony. In between work and socializing with our cabin neighbors, we admired the scenery and soaked up the sun as the ship slowly pulled out of Ketchikan. Thanking our tour guides, we browsed the property taking photos of some of the exhibits and totem poles and the gift shop until our bus was called. While some of his stunts were entertaining, he certainly did not rank among the top illusionists that we have seen at sea.

Why Cruise Our Mid-Sized Ships

It was a rainy and cool night, so my dad and I decided to stay on the ship. It was a late arrival, and since we had food and drinks on the boat and were tired, we figured we’d catch Victoria another time and call it an early night. Later that day after hitting the casino a bit and trying our hand at pickleball, we pulled into Icy Strait Point around 6 p.m. And promptly hopped off the ship to head out to our kayaking excursion. Despite the fact that neither my dad nor I have kayaked much in the past decade, we figured it would be fun.

REVIEW: Our Alaska Cruise with Holland America PLUS our Excursions

Holland America Rotterdam Cruise: Expert Review (2023) - Cruise Critic

Holland America Rotterdam Cruise: Expert Review ( .

Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 15:38:27 GMT [source]

Sadly, I didn’t have much hope for them given the current visibility. Onboard experienceAlthough Westerdam carried 1,923 guests and 800 crew, there were no long lines—and we never felt crowded. That’s because management strategically schedules meals and activities to avoid congestion. A festive ambiance greeted us during our Friday evening port call.

Holland America Line Alaska Cruise Reviews

holland america cruise reviews alaska

She had always wanted to do an Alaska cruise but never got the chance, so we did it in her honor. Ketchikan, the last port and my favorite Alaska town provided another sunny day. I enjoyed browsing the boutiques on Creek Street, touring Dolly’s House Museum, and walking up to Cape Fox Lodge. Back at Skagway, I had time to hike to Gold Rush Cemetery and Reid Falls before returning to my ship. Once onboard the Holland America Volendam, I walked around the Promenade deck to enjoy the nice weather. My Volendam cruise was my 4th time to Alaska, but my first experience with Holland America.

Day Double Denali###

Tony and the teen, however, chose to go on a pub crawl after dinner. Now, this could be because the legal drinking age in Victoria is 18, or it could be because the city’s history and old world charm was the big draw. Elias National Park and Preserve, glacier viewing is often the primary reason for taking a cruise to Alaska.

We’re always eager to engage with a wine steward to help make a selection, learning more each time we try something new or pair it differently. We were in cabin 6175 (a wheelchair accessible suite), located on Deck 6 (Upper Verandah Deck) at the aft of ship, starboard (right) side. This was the first time we’ve sailed in an aft-facing cabin, and we recommend it. Our verandah was huge – with two loungers, a table with two chairs, and still room to move about. I’d often have morning coffee there, and it great for a sunset glass of wine.

However, if choosing to sail from Vancouver, you can cruise a one-way itinerary on the Noordam or Nieuw Amsterdam vessels. One-way cruises allow guests to add a land tour to Denali National Park. There are plenty of restaurants nearby, and you’re also within walking distance of many of the popular shopping areas of Vancouver. We enjoyed dinner and the sunset in their Coal Harbour Bar that is onsite and the live music was an added treat.

Find Holland America Koningsdam Cruises to Alaska (with Prices) - Cruise Critic

Find Holland America Koningsdam Cruises to Alaska (with Prices).

Posted: Tue, 24 Oct 2023 07:40:02 GMT [source]

Although, it does have two tiled abstract armchairs next to the water, which I enjoyed on sea days. I enjoyed breakfast from the Lido each morning because it was fast and easy. Gluten-free bread, waffles, pasta, and sweet treats were readily available onboard. Currently, Holland America has six ships scheduled for Alaska, with four vessels cruising from Vancouver, British Columbia, and two from Seattle.

Before last summer when Tom and I went to Norway on Holland America’s Rotterdam, I didn’t know what to expect. As a teen and young adult, I had cruised on Carnival and wasn’t familiar with Holland America Line at all. When I asked around, people said it’s for elderly people and the ships don’t have much going on.

The excellent staff held an impromptu parade for the cruise passengers, created a towel animal zoo at the pool area, and served red, white, and blue jello at the Lido Deck. After our first day on board, I commented to my husband that I didn’t think the word, no, was in the staff’s vocabulary. For a more casual dining experience, the Lido Market is open often.

How appropriate as a visit to Walt Disney World is our next official trip. Unlike the two previous shows, this production did include some live vocals by the male lead in the All-Star band. It was a bit short, lasting less than 40 minutes though.

With the WiFi being a bit spotty, we did our best to work poolside until about lunch time. Having tested the quick service venues the day before, I opted for the Lido Market today, the cruise ship’s buffet. The wife went with a grilled chicken sandwich from the Dive-In. Both sandwiches were on par with other cruise ship selections. Dining on the cruise ship is included, as always, but you can also pre-purchase a dining package on land with these trips.

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