Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Cruise Review: Holland America Returns to Alaska on Nieuw Amsterdam

holland alaska cruise reviews

I let the dining staff supervisor know about my problem with citrus right when we boarded and everyone was made aware. 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. We didn’t have an excursion booked and decided to explore Sitka on our own. There’s a free shuttle bus right from the port that’ll get you into town in about 10 minutes.

Excursions

Our cruise began on September 1 so the amount of young children was really minimal. There’s trivia contests, dance lessons, computer classes and more. Everything is listed in the daily planner that you’ll receive at bedtime. As part of Holland America’s EXC, Explorations Central – a destination immersion program, the naturalist narrated our 9 -hour cruise through Glacier Bay. Alice was on hand to talk about Native American life in Alaska. I had met Alice a couple of weeks before on another guided trip so it was fun to see her again.

Revealed! Queen Mary 2 Exclusive Behind the Scenes Tour

The adventure continues with Alaska land and sea cruisetour packages, including accommodation and tours not offered by any other cruise line. The timeless experiences in nature remain as memorable as ever. Witness the “white thunder” of iceberg calving from the ship, while spotting Alaska wildlife including whales, birdlife, brown bears and moose.

Your Ultimate Guide to the Sitka Cruise Port

Explore the top sights, history, and local cuisine for an unforgettable experience. 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. The best part of the Holland America cruise is its itinerary. Having sailed in Alaska for 75 years, HAL has an exceptional reputation with the ports.

Alaska cruise review: a voyage through the Inside Passage - The Week

Alaska cruise review: a voyage through the Inside Passage.

Posted: Wed, 02 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Holland America Westerdam Alaska Cruise Review

The Princess went straight to New York Pizza located aft on Deck 9. I made a b-line to Dive-In Burger located midship on the same deck. As part of the new muster drill process, cruisers need to check-in to their muster station on Deck 3 at some point prior to sail away. So, we made sure to complete this mandatory stop along the way. We would also need to view the required safety video on the stateroom television later to complete the mandatory drill. With personal service, well-executed dining, and diverse entertainment, Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam was an ideal backdrop to the amazing vistas of the Alaskan wilderness.

Holland America’s Exclusive McKinley Chalet Resort at Denali

holland alaska cruise reviews

For me, Holland America is suited to my personal cruise style. Great food, a nice selection of music and entertainment, nicely equipped gym, a casino and spa, and loads of areas in which to relax and hang out. 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.

Even though the Holland America line attracted an older crowd, it’s nice to know they’re doing their part to entice families to sail. Additionally, one deck above, an outdoor oasis, and a pool provide some much-needed fun in the sun. When HAL had no activity in the Crow’s Nest, I enjoyed reading a book and soaking in the surrounding views. On the plus side, the fewer venues meant I kept my onboard spending to a minimum. For those who want a quieter voyage, Holland America delivers.

The ship experienced a few choppy seas the following day, so bring some motion sickness patches if you suffer from seasickness. On the aft of the sports deck, Club Hal provides activities for kids and teens. The supervised activities are divided into kids (3 to 6 years), tweens )7 to 12 years), and teens (13 to 17 years). Being a night owl, I found it disheartening not to have a late-night venue or activities to enjoy in the later hours. The Mainstage Theater on the Upper Promenade Deck and Promenade Deck holds over 550 guests, and I enjoyed many shows there. After the performances, the decks emptied as most guests retired for the night.

Holland America Eurodam Review and Photos

Destination-specific menu items use native ingredients from around the world, highlighting the flavours of each region where guests are cruising. We are not usually fans of seafood restaurants on cruise ships. As New Englanders, we have some of the best seafood back home.

I’ll admit that the rooms felt a bit small, so carefully check the square footage when deciding what type of cabin to book. One of the most popular spots is the Crows Nest lounge on one of the top decks (deck 12), which features cozy seating along with a bar and coffee shop. Holland America has been cruising Alaska for more than 70 years -- longer than any other company and even longer than Alaska has been a US State. This provides extra peace of mind when it comes to dealing with some of the weather and logistical issues that Alaska sometimes dishes up. The seven-day roundtrip cruise from Vancouver, Canada, sails through the Inside Passage to Tracy Arm Inlet and Glacier Bay, with stops in Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan. In the evening, make s’mores over an outdoor firepit and swap stories of the day’s adventures.

Like previous nights, we finished dinner with just a few minutes to spare before the 9 pm showtime. This time around, we convinced essentially everyone to join us for the main theater show. Finishing up before 4 pm, it was time for our typical afternoon coffee.

After the show, we learned that In Tandem was a brand new production debuting on the ship. It featured a variety of contemporary music and dancing from the Step One Dance company. With rich chunks of beef and baked gnocchi, it was a hearty and satisfying pasta dish. Heidi also went with one of the homemade pastas, pasta genovese, which she enjoyed. Even the more predictable buffalo mozzarella starter was more flavorful than you would expect on a cruise.

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