Holland America's Westerdam ship was a perfect "first cruise" for us - it featured all the amenities we hoped for on our cruise experience, but not as many people as some of the bigger ships (we learned it was half the passenger capacity as some of the ships we met in port!).
Embarkation
5 out of 5
The embarkation was surprisingly easy. There were so many people at the port when we arrived, that we were a little wary, but everyone was friendly and efficient, getting us onboard in a short amount of time.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
The food and beverages offered onboard the Westerdam were wonderful. We purchased the Have-It-All package and were so glad we did. It made it so that we could enjoy a drink anytime with no worries. We enjoyed most meals in the main dining room and were greeted by name - and with a smile - by Dee, the dining room hostess who made us feel very welcome. Pai was one of the dining room wait staff who competently and graciously cared for us during several of our meals. For our "special" dinner at the Pinnacle restaurant, Agus served us with a smile, making us laugh with his special presentation of soup (IYKYK). And Gusto, our waiter at the Canaletto restaurant, was THE BEST. He gave us wonderful recommendations, made us smile, and inspired us for future trips. Even Chef Saryan (Canaletto) came out to personally check on our satisfaction with the meal.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
While onboard, we enjoyed many activities from simply playing board games and sipping cappuccinos in the Crowe's Nest; to learning about the local region with a variety of nature talks with onboard naturalist, Natalie, and cruise director, Stone; to many of the live music and dance opportunities. We also appreciated the opportunity to give back with the "On Board for a Cause" 5k walk. And Stone's presentation about the Iditarod was both beautiful and inspiring.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
We attended two performances by the Step One Dance Company on the Main Stage and both were stunning! We also enjoyed several nights listening to the band in the Rolling Stone Lounge, as well as the piano players in the Billboard Onboard lounge.
Children's Programs
We were not traveling with children.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
In addition to all the staff already mentioned, we want to acknowledge Ruly and Frans, our room stewards. They greeted us often as we came and went for the days' activities and always made sure our room was tidy and welcoming when we returned.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
We loved the ship. It took us a short time to get our bearings and learn where to go and when, but once we did, it was great. There was always someone nearby who we could ask questions of, the ship was always clean and there was no shortage of places to go while onboard.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
We loved our cabin. It was small-ish (as you'd expect of a cruise cabin), but since we opted for the verandah stateroom, we had the luxury of a sitting area and balcony. There was plenty of room to fully unpack and organize for the week, stowing our empty suitcases beneath the bed. We highly recommend splurging for the verandah.
Ship tip
Pace yourself... And take vitamin C! There was so much to do and so many opportunities for wonderful food and drink, that we often felt "more." Review the daily schedule, pick the things you really want to do, then let the rest go.
We flew in early and spent a few days exploring Seattle before our cruise. We were so glad we did. Seattle has a lot to offer and it would have been a shame not to experience at least a bit of it.
While we weren't super excited about the port itself (it's a lot of tourist shopping opportunities and that's not our favorite thing to do), we did find some great food - including grilled oysters at a cute little outdoor food court. And our excursion at this port was THE BEST! We took a helicopter ride and went dog sledding on a glacier. Absolutely 100% recommend this uniquely Alaskan experience.
This day was super special since we had the opportunity to witness the glacier and icy waters up close from the bow of the ship. Adding in danish pea soup and a champagne toast completed the experience.
We didn't have an excursion planned at this port, so we did our best to get outside the port shopping area by taking a hike along the Totem Path through the Tongas National Forest. That was cool! Also, having learned a bit about Sitka from Natalie, Westerdam's onboard naturalist, before arriving in port, we knew to seek out the spawning (jumping) salmon. That was also a special experience at this port.
We did have another excursion at this port and were super happy to quickly jump on a bus that took us away from town and into the Alaskan nature. We went kayaking among the Tatoosh Islands. It was beautiful and serene, and a welcome break from the busy onboard activities.
Our one regret at this port was the VERY LIMITED time we had here. It would have been nice to have a full day on Victoria to be able to explore and take in a bit more of this quaint island. As it was, we barely had enough time to walk from the port to the downtown harbor, have a cocktail, ooo and aah at all the flowers and lights, then walk back before the rain and ship departure.
Since we chose to disembark with our own luggage, it was very easy. We were able to enjoy one last nice breakfast in the main dining room, say goodbye to some of the staff who we'd enjoyed getting to know, then easily leave the ship to continue on with the next phase of our vacation.
Wow!! You write so beautifully.
Your cruise sounds wonderful and yes, the service is remarkably well done. My husband and I were on that ship in 2016. We've not cruised with HAL since.
*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.
