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I opted for the helicopter trek of the Mendenhall Glacier, which was a fantastic decision (more on that later). 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. 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.
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Spending an hour taking photos and videos, you could sense everyone’s excitement. The combination of favorable sea conditions and warm weather meant we could marvel at the glacier for some time. Passing waterfalls and other scenic landscapes, it was a good three hours into the trip when we got our first glimpse of the South Sawyer Glacier face. My filet was cooked to the perfect medium-rare texture and melted in my mouth. Heidi’s chicken was pretty standard, but she did comment it was more flavorful than other cruise lines.
Your Ship: Nieuw Amsterdam
Our sides, which included sautéed mushrooms and fries, were slightly better than average. Taking our time getting ready, we met our team right before 7 pm at the Pinnacle Bar. Tonight, we were being treated to the cruise line’s steakhouse, Pinnacle Grill. Following some cocktails and conversation, our group headed to the main dining room for our 7 pm dinner reservation. With the time change, we were both more than ready for bed by the time dinner ended.
Preparing for Our First Port of Call
There’s also a spa, shopping, casino, a few live music venues, and a large theater. I thought we would take more advantage than we did, but we loved the dining room so much, we went there more often. The room was also serviced twice per day by two incredibly attentive staff members who always left towel animals for Felix. The next morning, we arrived in Skagway, another small, charming coastal town, and took the scenic railway as our excursion.
The last day of the land portion of our cruisetour involved another train, the White Pass & Yukon Route railway, a narrow-gauge railroad built in 1898 to get wannabe miners up to the gold fields. It's truly an engineering marvel, and the views along the sheer cliffs, where waterfalls spill over, are genuinely jaw-dropping. Excursion options include a trip to the hard-to-reach Tombstone Territorial Park, but if you're not feeling yet another tour bus, there are other things for you to do. Parks Canada has a series of historic walking tours that cost less than $10. My favorite was a walk featuring the wilderness-themed poetry of Dawson City resident, Robert Service. Your first stop in the Yukon territory is Dawson City, the epicenter of the Klondike Gold Rush.
hour room service
Aside from exploring the town, take advantage of Dawson City's proximity to the Yukon wilderness and spend some time outside. If you're hiking the Ninth Avenue Trail to its views overlooking the Klondike River, remember to go with a group and speak loudly or bring a bear horn; grizzlies are common in these parts. Let us create the perfect event while you relax and have the time of your life. For booked guests, please see our travel planning details on how to book an airport transfer. What should I expect boarding to like for my cruise departing Seattle, WA? Please visit our cruise preparation FAQ for information on how to access or print boarding passes, how to check in online, and to see if you need a passport.
10 of 1,947 Holland America Line Alaska Cruise Reviews
The 11 Best Alaska Cruise Excursions in 2024, From Whale Watching to Glacier Tours Condé Nast Traveler - Condé Nast Traveler
The 11 Best Alaska Cruise Excursions in 2024, From Whale Watching to Glacier Tours Condé Nast Traveler.
Posted: Thu, 07 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
The town of 13,000 has a thriving arts community and is a sport fishing haven with five salmon species. As another hot summer dragged on, husband Rob and I decided the best place to cool off was America’s last frontier. So we booked a balcony cabin on a Holland America Alaska cruise. Passengers on a Land+Sea Journey enjoy the attentive services of a professional host in Denali and the Yukon.
Alaskan Explorer Cruise Ships
After taking some photos and videos of the stateroom, we headed out to explore the rest of the ship. It was a short 15 minute ride to the pier; although, dock officials made our driver drop us off at a different location, and we had to take a shuttle to the ship. As mega-ship enthusiasts, we were pleasantly surprised that Nieuw Amsterdam was able to pack in many of our favorite amenities and experiences on a ship 60% smaller than those on which we typically sail.
Grabbing coffees at the upstairs Explorations Café, this forward observation area was already packed with eager sightseers looking for a glimpse of glaciers and wildlife. Sadly, I didn’t have much hope for them given the current visibility. Exiting the ship, we found our tour provider and bus that drove us literally around the corner to board our vessel with Allen Marine Tours. Pre-cruise, we had decided on a rather leisurely day in downtown. We had booked a lunch at Tracy’s Crab Shack and the Mount Roberts Tramway through the cruise line. Knowing I had to be up early, we ordered room service breakfast to be delivered for 7 am.
They are living laboratories that show what the Earth was like thousands of years ago and how it is changing today. With more than 20 animal sanctuaries and sightseeing excursions, we bring you closer to creatures great and small. Learn about the Big Five and other amazing animals you might spot. Billboard Onboard features pop hits from a pair of piano players.
While an Alaska cruise checks many items off that bucket list, there's no denying that these typical itineraries barely scratch the surface of the state's offerings. You may want to extend your vacation and head even farther north on a ship-sponsored cruisetour, especially with Holland America Line. Holland America Alaska cruise tours allow you to explore the Last Frontier, including the remote towns and majestic yet unforgiving landscape. Our cruisetours combine an ocean cruise with a land tour into Alaska’s interior.
The first portion was an approximately 2.5 hour sea otter and whale watching boat tour. Getting our morning coffees and a few breakfast pastries, I was back and ready for the day by 8 am. As the ship began to approach the pier, we were in LTE, which meant we could catch up with some of our social media updates from the trip.
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