Loved it so much that I'd love to do it again
Oosterdam Cruise Review to Alaska - Inside Passage
Contributor Level:
Purser
Cruises: 4-6 cruises
Reviews: 2
Helpful Votes: 65
Review summary
Alaska was a surprise to me. Some of the areas experience a winter not much different that what I experience in Maryland. It's just that their summers are definitely cooler. It's such a wild and wonderful place. There are such nice people there. The flowers seem especially bright, perhaps because they don't have to fight the heat and get sunburned. It's a place worth returning to. Holland America line is a step above some others I've cruised.Embarkation
We were in our room without any real wait at all
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
Even my special dietary needs were covered. I couldn't get over the fact that sugar free desserts were provided that could not be differentiated from any other gourmet dessert. It's a far cry from the simple sugar free jello provided on some cruiselines.
Onboard Activities
Enjoyed that daily Mass was provided. This was the first time we experienced this on a cruiseline.
Service and Staff
We never lacked for anything when we went for our meals. Even High Tea was well served. Our room was kept clean at all times. We could enjoy our view from our sparkling doors. Loved that food in Lido was served by staff rather than a regular buffet line with everyone handling the same spoons . Cuts down on possibility of transferring pathogens.
Ship Quality
Crew was always cleaning. They even cleaned an intricate ceiling area over the food on lido deck. Everything sparkled
Cabin / Stateroom
Plenty of room to store all our belongings. Our room stewards kept it spotless. We always had everything we needed
Ship tip
We were on starboard side. I'd say port side might be better because you can see the ports better when you pulled in to the dock.
Thumbs up
0
Ports of call
We spent extra days in hotels before and after our cruise so that we could really get to see Seattle. It's super easy to get around. Walking isn't even out of the question. It's an easy city to navigate.
We did an excursion that included some glacier gardens with upside down trees, a museum and totem park and a hatchery. The Mendenhall Glacier and the Falls were breathtaking. Loved the walk down the path to the Falls. It was all fun and informational
Loved that the Captain spent a good amount of time getting us as close as he could so we could get the full impact of the majesty of this huge glacier
The walk around the city to St. Michaels was great. So much beauty with the icons and the friendly priest. Loved the dancers. The stories with the dances were interesting and fun
Did an excursion walk through a rain forest and a visit to the Potlatch Village, a privately owned place. Our group was very small. This made it even more fun. We learned quite a bit with the guide telling us some wonderful personal stories as well as the historical and contemporary information
What a gorgeous city with flowers bright like jewels. NO BUGs! Loved walking by the waterfront and through the lovely old neighborhood and into the park with peacocks walking free. Also enjoyed the downtown with their parliament building and the Empress hotel. Great architecture and great stories
Disembarkation
Well organized