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The second thing which was especially meaningful to us was when the crew members pulled up a crab pot that had a bunch of tags on it. They explained that each tag had a handwritten message from guests who wanted to honor a loved one and we knew it was something we wanted to contribute to as well. It was perfect, considering the whole purpose of our trip — to honor my mom and take her on her bucket list trip. Along the way, the guides told us about the local area including the wildlife, what life is like there, and the price of groceries. They explained how everything has to be flown in and the meat and dairy products are nearly at their expiration date upon arrival. We stayed in cabin 6170 of the Eurodam which is an aft verandah stateroom (balcony cabin) at the very back of the ship looking straight out.
Ziplining in Skagway Cruise Excursion
It’s a peaceful place to go to, and some of the other cruisers just sit in there and hang out. There’s also puzzles to be completed which became a communal thing – where anybody can help put the puzzle together. You can read more on what we did and on which dates in our 2 week itinerary post.
Excursions
THE 25 BEST Holland America Line Cruises to Alaska (with Prices) 2024 & 2025 on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
THE 25 BEST Holland America Line Cruises to Alaska (with Prices) 2024 & 2025 on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Fri, 19 Apr 2024 11:31:17 GMT [source]
For the most part, the jokes were predictable and mildly amusing. Though, Steven did a lot of voices and sound effects which gave his show a unique twist. What was really on the Princess’ agenda was the planned comedy show at 9 pm.
Glacier Bay
They all had USB outlets so you can plug your chargers directly into the USB ports. The calving action creates a booming sound that’s music to the ears. Sometimes the remnants were small and other times, it resulted in a small tidal wave. After leaving Mendenhall Glacier on one of the shuttle buses, I had time to do some shopping therapy in Juneau.
You will be impressed by Holland America Line’s ms Westerdam menus and dining experiences. Explore the fishing opportunities in Port Aransas, Texas. From pier fishing to deep-sea adventures, this post has all you need. Book your trip today and prepare to embark on an unforgettable journey through the Last Frontier. The best part of the Holland America cruise is its itinerary.
In Royal, they made sure to seat us at the same table or area even if we had an open seating plan. Next to the Pinnacle Grill, Rudi’s Sel de Mar is the most premium specialty dining experience you can experience on board. The restaurant is small and intimate and features a seafood-focused menu. This is a dining experience, so allow up to two hours to enjoy the food and your dining companions. There’s the traditional dining room, which has flexible dining times, as well as multiple specialty restaurants that will delight food lovers aboard.
Specialty Upcharge Restaurants
Even the more predictable buffalo mozzarella starter was more flavorful than you would expect on a cruise. Finishing up before 4 pm, it was time for our typical afternoon coffee. Officially, the Explorations Café is one of the bars on the ship. So, we upgraded our normal drink orders to espresso martinis. Once the whales were out of sight, we headed indoors to the Lincoln Center Stage.
Your Fellow Cruisers
Although conservative compared to newer mega-ships, the large tapestries and traditional paintings gave the vessel timeless appeal. Since my previous cruises were to Glacier Bay National Park and Hubbard Glacier, I was eager to experience Tracy Arm, a different part of Alaska. My Volendam cruise included three ports; Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway. However, it also cruised to the Twin Sawyer Glaciers in Tracy Arm and Glacier Bay. However, if choosing to sail from Vancouver, you can cruise a one-way itinerary on the Noordam or Nieuw Amsterdam vessels.
Overall, I found the decks easy to navigate, maybe partly due to the vessel’s size. Currently, Holland America has six ships scheduled for Alaska, with four vessels cruising from Vancouver, British Columbia, and two from Seattle. When comparing an Alaska cruise from Seattle to a Vancouver departure, Seattle’s 7-day itineraries on the Eurodam and Westerdam are roundtrip.
Either way, we were able to squeeze in all three courses in just under two hours. So, we excused ourselves right around 9 pm to head to the Mainstage. Back on the ship, we grabbed a quick snack at the Lido Market. While it was not open for “lunch”, there were select stations open for snacks.
Desserts ranged from tiramisu, to a hot fudge ice cream sundae, to a fruit crumble, and so much more. First up, you board the Aleutian Ballad that’s been outfitted for tours and you have the option to sit either upstairs or downstairs. Make sure you arrive early so you can get a front row seat. There were several electrical outlets in the cabin to charge your devices right next to the bed and by the desk.
Holland America Eurodam Cruise: Expert Review (2023) - Cruise Critic
Holland America Eurodam Cruise: Expert Review ( .
Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 15:38:27 GMT [source]
These are enclosed cabanas with luxurious lounging chairs and couches. The Retreat cabanas can be reserved for $50 on port days and $85 for at-sea days. Westerdam has ten lounges and bars located on several decks of the ship. I’ll soon post a new story about the drinks in the Signature drink package.
Granted, you can do it yourself or book in another company outside the cruise line but the difference was only $5-10 per person and we didn’t bother. Our first port was Juneau and we had a whale watching/glacier excursion booked. It was a small group tour of just 20 people and included an easy hike to the Mendenhall Glacier first, followed up by a scenic trip on a whale watching boat. When selecting an Alaska cruise, travelers have many choices, from cruise lines, embarkation ports, and itineraries. Holland America (HAL) and Princess Cruises have long relationships with Alaska. For cruisers who don’t love being in big groups of tourists, renting and doing this self-guided tour is a great way to enjoy the scenery of Juneau.
I had only been on a couple of cruises prior to this, wich were rather short and felt like a mixture between McDonald’s and a frat party, to be honest. The experience on the Koningsdam sailing the Inside Passage to Alaska via Vancouver was delightfully different. It was mostly families, retirees, and some multigenerational groups like ours. We aim to see the world one weekend and vacation day at a time so come along for the journey.
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