check off the bucket list

We started our trip with a stay at the Hilton airport. The hotel was OK. The light rail was across the street so we got a all-day pass for $6.00 and went to Pikes market.

The hotel included the transfer to the ship the next day.

The Maasdam is an older ship, but is well maintained.

I had booked an inside cabin as usual as we have had balconies and view cabins but have found inside a more affordable and perfectly good choice. I did get a window for the Panama Canal and did find the view in the canal fascinating.

My wife wanted a balcony for the Alaska trip so when they offered a discount the last 4 days before we left down to an additional $ 499 per person I thought I would surprise her, they were all out but did have a lanie witch is a sliding glass door that opens out to the deck where people can walk by. You have two lounge chairs dedicated to your rom (just convince the people that want to sit there they are for you), the chairs are supposed to be labeled as such. They finally attached the labels on the 2nd to the last day. Our neighbor got into a shouting match with another passenger over this and had to call the front desk..

Our cabin was CA 732 and happened to be under the galley. This was the most noisy cabin we have had in 54 cruises. Every night the was noise 11:00 - 5:00 was the worst. I called the front desk and they offered another room to sleep in? They at a later date gave us an additional $ 150.00 ship board credit.

Holland America has a DVD collection that you go and checkout at no fee to watch in your room. We had trouble a few days with our DVD player so they changed it out with a new one. They gave us a free ($10:00 value) in the Italian restaurant for our trouble.

The Holland America was one of the last cruise lines that up held the dress code in the dining room and I an sad to say the now have a "Gala " night and do not require a jacket or tie (very disappointing).

The food was not as good as our last Holland trip with a lot of repeat food types.

The buffet (Lido) was not as good and running out of some main courses.

They had great beer battered fish but did not always have tarter sauce?

The pool deck burger stand "The Dive in" had a long wait time after ordering and they wound run out of condiments. The had taco shells with chicken, shredded beef with all the fixings but the would put a frozen block of guacamole out for chips?

The shows were alright but I have seen better,

The staff is one of the more friendlier you will find.

Take money foe excursions and they are not cheep.

You can walk or ride shuttles into most of the towns, but the are small towns with not much to do, except for Juneau, Anchorage and Ketchikan.  

The boarding and disembarkation was easy.

Glacier bay was great the others I could of done without.