Monday, April 1, 2024

What to Expect on a Holland America Alaskan Cruise

holland america cruise to alaska

I joined a couple dozen other cruisers from Eurodam and the other ships in port to go out on a kayaking excursion to Fritz Cove on nearby Douglas Island. Alaska’s Inside Passage is one of the most popular cruise destinations in the world—and it’s no wonder why. The Passage boasts some of the most stunning scenery on earth, from towering mountains and glaciers to pristine forests and crystal-clear waterways.

holland america cruise to alaska

Holland America Offering Cruises Through the Panama Canal on Three Ships in 2025-2026

Across the hall is Tamarind Bar, which features even more windows, including those on the wings that feel as if you are sitting on the edge of the ship. I joined the Sitka Bike and Hike tour for an easy pedal along paths on the southern part of the island. We went out about two miles before taking a stroll into the temperate rainforest and past Thimbleberry Lake. Then, it was two miles of cycling back to our starting point. I hopped on the bus back to Sitka Sound cruise port to have lunch at the restaurant Halibut Point Crab & Lobster, located right at the pier. Sitka, Ketchikan and Juneau are almost always on the southeast Alaska cruise itineraries.

Holland America to Debut New ‘Glacier Day’ in 2024

Despite its secluded location, the city is home to a diverse population and offers a wide range of activities for residents and visitors alike. The Holland America 11-Day Double Denali cruise and land tour is the perfect way to see Alaska. The itinerary includes stops in Fairbanks, Glacier Bay National Park, Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan, as well as a three-day land tour of Denali National Park. The seven-day roundtrip ‘Alaskan Explorer’ from Seattle visits Puget Sound, Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan and Victoria BC, with select cruises sailing to Glacier Bay, Icy Strait Point and Hubbard Glacier. An unbeatable array of memorable glacier-viewing tours is offered by Holland America. Get a close-up view from a ship or catamaran, or admire them from above on a thrilling helicopter experience.

Cruise To Alaska Travel Tips & Articles

It has a small group-class floor space and all the cardio and weight-training equipment that you would expect to need, so it is adequate for the ship size. During our cruise, we also had standup comedian Jill Kimmel (yes, Jimmy’s sister) performing shows and nightly live music from a band called Third Avenue West, which made their home in the Ocean Bar. Cruisers will find plenty of good options at the included restaurants, as well.

Located on deck nine, passengers have plenty of space to sit on both sides of the ship next to large windows overlooking the water. You can even take your food to the outside deck to eat if you want. For a more casual dining experience, the Lido Market is open often. Most like a buffet; however, passengers do not serve themselves. These are enclosed cabanas with luxurious lounging chairs and couches.

Ports of Call on These Cruises

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

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

Posted: Sat, 20 Apr 2024 16:16:50 GMT [source]

Our Alaska shore excursions get you closer to glaciers, wildlife and mountains. Mush a dog team over a glacier and feel the wind in your face. Go high into the mountains on the White Pass Railway for breathtaking views and a better understanding of the prospectors’ plight.

holland america cruise to alaska

I was worried the food might not be great or healthy onboard. I’d encountered a lot of chicken nuggets and subpar burgers in the past on my brief cruise experiences. However, there was plenty of variety, and I was able to eat healthy and find plenty of options for my one-year-old as well (veggies, grilled meats, and fruit were always abundant).

Planning an Alaska Cruise Itinerary with Kids

Conveniently located an hour and a half from Anchorage, Whittier is a small town on the shore of the glacier-filled Prince William Sound. An elegant and spacious Alaska cruise ship with fresh floral arrangements and garden-inspired décor. Master frontier flavor with regional cooking demonstrations on board. Fluid lines, light-filled spaces and a blend of modern elegance and nautical tradition make Koningsdam a sublime ship for Alaska cruises.

Enjoy local cuisine while your kids play in safe, fun-filled areas. From pier fishing to deep-sea adventures, this post has all you need. We discovered many activities in Ketchikan and visited so many exciting places. The routines and procedures to keep a healthy ship were evident throughout the cruise. The entire crew made this cruise experience a vacation we will never forget. 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.

Or sidle up to Hubbard Glacier and watch house-sized icebergs cannon into the sea. Glaciers, wildlife and frontier towns are yours on these voyages. With 75 years in Alaska, we know every nook, cranny and crevasse.

You’ll often find Skagway on many Alaska cruises, but we didn’t have a fourth Alaska port on our trip. Instead, we had a day sailing to a fjord to see Hubbard Glacier. The Verandah Cabins on board the Nieuw Amsterdam are some of the largest and most popular staterooms on the ship. Located on decks 4 and 8, these cabins offer amazing views of the ship’s wake and also feature a large bathroom with a tub and shower.

The first evening after departing Vancouver was already beautiful, passing by the islands outside of the city and all along the coast of British Columbia. Tamarind ($29) and Nami Sushi (a la carte pricing) are two eateries in the same complex with perhaps the best views for any meal experience on Eurodam. The price was just $19, and the menu is so nice you might want to eat there twice. I have been to Ketchikan on a number of Alaska cruises, so this time, I tried something different. I picked HAL’s Kart Adventure Expedition, a thrilling outing operated by Kawanti Adventures that lets us drive military-grade off-road vehicles through the muddy rainforest. The historic little place was once part of Russian America, and you can still see a lot of Russian influence, including the old Orthodox Church in the middle of downtown.

The HAL employees do a great job walking you through the embarkation process. They even deliver your luggage to your stateroom, where it waits for you outside your cabin door. I soon realized, thankfully, that those passengers were not waiting for our ship. The registration process is streamlined with Holland America Line’s Navigator App.

Holland America has been a leader with its culinary program for years. The variety of food options is excellent, and the menus have been enhanced since the creation of the line’s Culinary Council led by Chef Rudi Sodamin. Then, it was back to Seattle and the end of the cruise, as we disembarked the Eurodam in the morning. Kings Blues Club for some entertainment where each night features a different show. You might see the BBC Earth wildlife documentary paired with live music, a hilarious comedian or entertaining dancers. The Misty Fjords & Wilderness Explorer Cruise is a great way to see some of Alaska’s most beautiful scenery.

This tour is several hours long and is on a school bus, so be prepared for a long, bumpy ride. The bus tour guide -- who is also the driver -- will make several stops for better animal viewing, but unfortunately only about three bathroom stops. Enjoy a wide variety of duty-free shopping in such signature shops as The Vault, Diamonds and Gemstones by Merabella, which offers the best diamonds at sea, brought to you by Effy. World Stage, the largest theater on board is home to a variety of performances day and night.

I ended up really feeling that our veranda was the best place to view it all from, and I can’t imagine taking a scenic cruise without one. The Italian restaurant with seating near the windows offers sharing-style Italian dishes. It’s a must-do if you’re looking for higher-end pasta, meatballs, seafood dishes, and desserts.

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