Enjoyable and Good overall but A LOT of Cancelled Shore Excursions with No Reasons Given in most cases

Item: Nieuw Amsterdam
Rating: 4
Author: SPW24

Nieuw Amsterdam Cruise Review to Alaska - Inside Passage

SPW24

Contributor Level: Purser

291 Days Till Next Cruise

Cruises: 4-6 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 5

Overall rating:

4 out of 5

7 Night Alaskan Inside Passage (Vancouver Roundtrip)

Sail date: September 24, 2023

Ship: Nieuw Amsterdam

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 6121

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 1 year ago

Review summary

V Enjoyable However from 3 Ports we ended up booking 7 Shore Excursions because 2 were cancelled 2-4 weeks prior to Cruise; 1 Cancelled on day of Embarkation - all these 3 WITH NO REASONS GIVEN!!!! 4th trip cancelled at Time f Helicopter flight to Glacier in Skagway due to low cloud in Mountains and therefor fully understandable But Holland America could/should COMMUNICATE BETTER

Embarkation

5 out of 5

Excellent

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

Fantastic service Quality of food excellent. Limited Dairy Free/Vegan options outside Main Din ing Rooms but very accommodating there

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

Thermal Suite v good - although could do with a Cold/Ice Room

Entertainment

3 out of 5

Main Theatre vvv Limited and low level BB Kings Superb Music venue

Children's Programs

No kids

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

4 out of 5

Ship tip

Go to Alaska EARLIER in the Season

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Vancouver (Canada Place), British Columbia

3 out of 5

Stayed in Vancouver for 2 days Plenty to do

Thumbs Up 0

Cruise Inside Passage, Alaska

4 out of 5

Juneau, Alaska

2 out of 5

Arrived Late in the day (through Ship choice) Therefore limited time went on Shore excursion but arrived back in Dark with little time to see Juneau, and mainly Closed!!

Thumbs Up 0

Skagway, Alaska

1 out of 5

Shore Excursion on Skagway Railway Excellent Town itself RUBBISH Good Seafood restaurant near boat

Thumbs Up 0

Cruise Glacier Bay

5 out of 5

Ketchikan, Alaska

5 out of 5

Nice Town within easy walking distance Superb Wild Black Bear walk just 25 min coach ride out of port Fantastic close up sightings of Wild Black Bears and Cubs

Thumbs Up 0

Disembarkation

4 out of 5

Slow and later than stated but overall good

5 Comments

Ladyjunecliff 1 year ago

Lucky you to see the bears. We have been twice this year and bears refused to show up! Thanks for your detailed review.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

Gwbigdog 1 year ago

Thanks for sharing

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

karlgrgurich 1 year ago

Glad you enjoyed most of your cruise. Skagway is one of our favourite ports tho. I’m guessing you missed many of its highlights!

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

cruising2004 1 year ago

Thank you for sharing your cruise to Alaska. Thanks for the review.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

javawoody 1 year ago

Appreciate you sharing your experience

Thumbs Up 0

Flag