Overall, we had a very good experience. There were six of us -our daughter and son-in-law and two grandsons (who came from Sydney), my husband and myself. My husband and I enjoy meeting people on a cruise, and interfacing with the staff. A big disappointment was not getting into the inner passage, which was the reason we chose this cruise. A passenger got ill and had to be removed and gotten to an airport. Due to circumstances, we had to head back towards Juneau. Not the fault of Holland. I decided to treat myself to a manicure. The staff in the spa was very nice, but my manicure had to be re-done. The polish did not properly cover the tips of my nails - I went back the same day to deal with the situation. We did enjoy and learn from the Windows 10 classes.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
didn't realize there would be so much walking, but it went smoothly. Having different times to embark according to your stateroom location made it faster.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
We did not eat in a specialty restaurant. My husband gave the rating a good - mine would be ok. I didn't think the food overall was that great, but I also have food challenges. Our main dining experiences were great regarding our service. I ordered a baked potato each night, and it never came out even warm. I was glad to have the almost nightly option of a steak, as most of the time I wasn't ok with the entrée choices. The fruit plate was always enjoyable - since I can't do the salads it was a perfect option. My grandson has peanut allergies, and the staff was totally helpful. Re: beverages - I would have enjoyed a pop/soda periodically, but the beverage package was too expensive, and it didn't include sparkling water. The buffet was hard to maneuver with all the people. Again, given my food issues, it was hard for me to find tasty choices. The rest of my family did great.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
We've been on three Princess cruises prior to this Holland America. Holland didn't have as much - I would have enjoyed more interesting options, as would the rest of us.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
We went to 2 stage shows - they were ok - not fabulous. We opted not to go to the last one as a result. It was fun and interesting to see the show done by the Philippine staff.
Children's Programs
4 out of 5
Our two grandsons enjoyed going to the kid's club.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
The staff was very friendly and we always felt positive with every encounter. We looked forward to the towel animal in our room each evening. They went out of their way to be helpful. We did have one problem - we had pre-requested distilled water for our CPAP's and it wasn't in the cabin. I went to customer service and they told me it wasn't in the reservation request and I would have to pay $45 for a gallon - we only needed a small amount for the week and that was ridiculous to expect us to buy a gallon of water. We should have been accommodated with a small size container.
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
The ship overall could use some updating. Way-finding was a challenge sometimes- not all spaces were listed at the elevator bays.Our cabin was fine, but there was mildew in the tub and shower grout. I liked the colors in the carpets, etc. Putting the day of the week in the elevator is a great idea - it's easy to loose track. Public bathrooms were clean. And again, the staff we encountered during our cruise were very friendly.
It was pouring rain, so our helicopter ride to a glacier was cancelled. It was very disappointing, but not the fault of the cruise line. We did find something else to do, so it worked out.
We arrived there without a specific plan, other than to find a way to see the town/learn about the Alaskan culture. We found a fun excursion, and even saw a bear and eagles!
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