Embarkation was quick and simple. I believe from the time I was dropped off at the port to my first drink was less than an hour! That is one good thing about smaller ships is that there are fewer people trying to board.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
Holland America has some of the best food at sea hands down. They pay great attention to the quality as well as the presentation of their food. I can only really talk about the specialty dining because I don’t mind spending a little extra to have the best dining experience onboard. I’m sure the dining rooms and buffet are just as good, but that’s not what I’m looking for on a cruise.
Pinnacle Grill
5 out of 5
Pinnacle Grill is probably one of the best restaurants in Holland America’s fleet and for good reason. The quality of the meat and seafood is superb and as fresh as one can get, and they do a remarkable job with cooking it the way it should be and then presenting it so it’s elegant. There is nothing I have ordered that I did not like or was not to my standards, but I am not one that is hard to please but I would say something if it was not what I was expecting. If dinner is too expensive than you can also check it out for lunch when they have a limited menu.
Ocean Bar
5 out of 5
Ocean Bar was always a fun place to go before dinner to have a pre drink. The bartenders always greeted you by name and remember what your favorite drink was. I would just be walking by and they would say my name and ask what I was up to. I definitely will be checking out this bar on my next trip on the Eurodam!
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
Holland America always gets a bad wrap because people say there is not as much to do as some of the larger ships, and that could not be further from the truth! I am in my late 30s and I always find activities to participate in or lectures to watch. Some may say that is boring, but when cruising Alaska especially it is nice to learn more about the history and what we are seeing. If I want a party and more energetic atmosphere than I’ll book that type of cruise. Holland America offers a different kind of relaxation and fun and mostly kid free, which is a plus for me.
Outside Pool
5 out of 5
The cruise I was on was going to Alaska in September so it was quite chilly for most people. However, being from Minnesota it was normal for me so I had the pool almost to myself all week. The pool was somewhat heated but naturally the wind/air would cool it down almost immediately; however, I thought it was refreshing. I can’t say how it would be on a warm weather cruise but if you’re cruising Alaska chances are you’ll have it to yourself.
Casino
5 out of 5
The casino onboard is not huge but it is plenty big for the size of the ship. I had a little luck which was nice because it kept me playing all week. I’m not one to spend a lot but I’ll play each day because it can help you get perks on future cruises, some even complimentary!
Entertainment
5 out of 5
Entertainment onboard Holland America has greatly improved over the years. The addition of the Music Walk has to be one of the biggest improvements and what I enjoy the most now. I spent the afternoons at Lincoln Center Stage watching classical performances. Around dinner and after I would go to BB Kong’s and enjoy some amazing Blues music. And towards the end of the night Billboard Onboard would have dueling pianos playing requests. This really is quite entertaining even for me as I typically don’t like to sit at one place very long. The only theater show I made it to was the Alaska experience and that was amazing because the band played songs to the movie.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
The service on Holland America is definitely of a higher standard than other cruise lines, especially those who hold double or triple the amount of passengers. On the Eurodam each and every staff member would greet you with a warm and pleasant hello and those who knew you would call you by your name. They would all go out of their way to ensure you had the best vacation possible. When there are fewer passengers onboard you can socialize more with the staff because they are not constantly trying to help someone else and you get to hear their stories and about their family. This is one thing I love about small to mid sized ships.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Holland America has really improved the design of their ships and is working on the older ones as they go into dry dock. One of the major improvements is the Music Walk as it offers a variety of entertainment throughout the day. They also take pride in ensuring the public areas and your stateroom are always tidy and kept up. I also enjoy that the ships are somewhat compartmentalized as it makes it feel less crowded. On some ships everything is open and just makes it appear to be more busy and that is now always a good thing.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
There are 4 interior spa rooms on the Eurodam that have a pleasant perk, a window! These are listed as an interior room so that is what you pay for but it has a window that does not look out to anything other then some stairs or the pool roof; however, it is still nice to be able to see daylight or how the weather is before heading out. I had read reviews about this room before I had purchased it so I knew about the window beforehand, but it definitely would have been a nice surprise if I didn’t know. So if you don’t mind not having a view than look at 10041, 42, 43, and 44 I believe all have the window, and the room is a nice size with some spa perks.
Ship tip
Make sure to check out the Music Walk as they always have something going on at Lincoln Center Stage, BB King’s, or Billboard Onboard throughout the day and night.
There is nothing quite as exciting as seeing some of the biggest glaciers in the Juneau area than from the air! You don’t really know how big and expansive they are from the water when you’re cruising, but in the air you can see all the texture and colors of the glaciers and the surrounding mountains. This was definitely an excursion of a lifetime and well worth the cost. We were probably in the air for 45 minutes but it felt much longer, there are others the go to a lodge and you can have a lunch and then helicopter tours that will land on a glacier so you can walk around. The thing with the helicopter tour is you may not have a window because of the seating, but on a seaplane everyone has a window.
I had a pedal pub excursion booked for Sitka but it was canceled the day before for some reason. So I just spent the time wondering the small town and looking at the stores. I’m sure there are plenty of excursions to do but I just use the cancellation as a reason to spend a port day on the ship with even fewer people.
I had a Flightseeing excursion over the Misty Fjords but it was too cloudy for a good portion of the morning so it was canceled. This happens a lot with flight and helicopter tours in Alaska so be prepared. So I just spent the time walking around and I went to Creek Street. Depending on the time of year you will be able to see salmon swimming up stream. There is also a lot of shopping and can find some great deals in September as it’s the end of the season.
I arrived 2 days early so that I could explore Seattle. I stayed at the Thompson Seattle and it was a really nice hotel that has views of the Puget Sound. I also purchased a City Pass so I could visit up to 5 of the top attractions in Seattle. I was able to see the city of Seattle from the water on a cruise around the sound, visit to the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass, and the Museum of Pop Culture. I could’ve also visited the aquarium but that did not interest me. So it definitely is worth the price if you have to time to spend at each place. I believe it was around $80 so it saves you money from purchasing each separately.
Disembarkation for me was quite smooth and hassle free. One program that Holland America offers is a luggage service that will handle your bags all the way to your final destination. So as I left the ship all I had was my carry on. Then I could explore Seattle on the hop on hop off bus without having to worry about my luggage. This is a complimentary service you just pay whatever baggage fee your airline charges.
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