This is the prefect beginner cruise with smooth waters and great sights. However, this was our second time on this particular cruise and it is one that you could do over and over and see something new every time. Great fun and very relaxing.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
This was really well organized and processed.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
While Holland America is not the ultra luxury cruise line, they are clearly a cut above. No matter which venue you chose, the food was always delicious and choices were abundant. Service was always spot on.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
What was available seemed average.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
This is a real mixed bag. All of the entertainers are outstanding. However, the producers and directors do not seem to make the most with the talent they are given. Whoever creates and whoever makes the artistic decisions needs to get out of the box in some areas. That is especially true of the two musical evening stage shows. On the other hand, the piano and violin duo is always in good taste and provides a nice touch of elegance. The jazz/blues show seemed to be well received.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Service was stellar, as always, from everyone. We did have the misfortune of having to make use of the medical facilities when my mother-in-law fell and broke her wrist. We were pleasantly surprised to find that the medical staff included two Board Certified Emergency Physicians! They were able to do x-rays, set the break and cast it right on board. That was fortunate because we were in Skagway, AK where medical facilities were very limited. The doctors were very attentive as were all the staff in the medical unit.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
The layout of the ship was very straight forward and easy to navigate. Staff were constantly cleaning, especially in the public restrooms and I never observed anything out of place in any of the common areas.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
Almost by definition, rooms aboard ship are small. However, it was more than adequate for two people. Three might have been tight. The couch was a foldout type that made it possible to have three people in the room. However, it was not very comfortable as a couch to sit on. The bed(s) were comfortable. The towels were thick and soft. The room was surprising quiet.
The whale watching is guaranteed and sure enough we saw many humpbacks. I was a little disappointed that we did not see any Orcas. However, we did get the see the humpbacks engage in "bubble feeding" (look it up) several times, a fairly rare occurrence according to our guide.
Skagway is a great little town that lets you imagine what it must have been like years ago. Several great stores. The White Pass Railroad is an engineering marvel that must be experienced.
Ketchikan is ok. There are some stores and galleries but you can tell this is a real town with real working people even when the cruise ships are not in port. We did the "Misty Fiords" excursion. If you haven't taken any previous boat excursions in Alaska, this would be a pretty trip. However, it was very long and the payoff was not really that spectacular. Spend the money and take the glacier trip at Tracey Arm.
Enjoyed reading your reviews of the ports. Great to hear this is a perfect beginner cruise as we are taking our first cruise on Nieuw Amsterdam to Alaska in September - 63 days to go!! Thx for your reviews
*Cruiseline.com is not a booking agent or travel agency,
and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Our partners
(travel agencies and cruise lines) provide prices, which we list for our
users' convenience. Cruiseline.com does not guarantee any specific rates or
prices. While prices are updated daily, please check with the booking site
for the exact amount. Cruiseline.com is not responsible for content on
external web sites.
Contact us
Submitting...
Need help from a personal vacation planner?
Loading...
Find the perfect cruise with weekly tips and cruise deals for as little as $30/night!
Sign up for weekly cruise deals
Join other subscribers and get the best
cruise deals of the week in your inbox every Thursday.
