In summary, we had a good cruise. The weather was good the first few days. But from Glacier Bay back to Vancouver it was cloudy, rainy and the seas were rough. Our cruse was the first of the season. There was still a lot of snow around especially when coming into Juneau and in Glacier Bay. At times the wind was cold. Several tours were canceled because not enough person were interested. Or the tours to the Yukon have been canceled due to customs issues with Canadian government. This was disappointing. Many shops were not open yet and some of the stores did not have all their stock out on display. The positive, we were the first ship so the ports were not overly crowded. Alaskans we’re just happy to see tourist again after two years.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
The first cruise since 2019. There was a breakdown of communication. I thought I had everything ready for a smooth check in. First the person checking me in told me that my Covid vaccine card and letter showing I have had one booster was not enough. Then he said that I had to complete my ArriveCAN before I could get on board. So I sat down, very frustrated and depressed. Fortunately, someone came and helped me. I had completed the ArriveCAN the day before. But I could not access the information. After a long time. I got through. I was stressed by the time I finally got on board.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
Over all the meals were good. I was disappointed in a salmon dinner on board. Especially after going to the Taku glacier lodge and having the salmon dinner there. There is no comparison. The salmon dinner at the Taku glacier lodge was very good, it put the salmon dinner on board ship to shame. On the last full day of the cruise, I ordered and payed extra for the Lobster roll. It was good, but not as good as the one I had a few years ago when I did the Canada New England cruise. As I am a solo traveler. It makes no sense eating in a specialty restaurant. The Buffet was good with lots of selection. The coffee was good as well. Often the coffee in the lido is not good forcing you to pay extra at the coffee shop.
The Dining Room
4 out of 5
The food in the dining room was good. There was a few items like Cesar salad that was available every night. They have a couple of selection if you want to pay extra you can order steak and a couple of other dishes. But I was happy with the nightly selection. One one meal I was disappointed with was the night they offered salmon. The following day I went to the Taku glacier lodge for a barbecue salmon and that was very good. Each night you had to check in at the desk to get taken to your table. They don’t just assign you a table and it is your table for the cruise.
Lido Market
4 out of 5
The food at the Lido Market was good. There is a large selection. The disadvantage is if you go to the omelette station and get one. If you want some bacon, hash browns and toast you have to go to the next station. If you want fruits then you go to the next station. Then you go to get your coffee. Now you have several plates and your coffee and you have to carry this to a table. One of the staff came and helped me. But by this time my omelette was cold. So I decided to go to the dinning room to have breakfast.
Dive-In
4 out of 5
I had the dive in burger. It wasn’t to bad, but I have had better burgers.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
I went to several of the lectures. 150 years of Holland American, the lecture on the Dog mushers (My iPad does not like the proper name) also went to both of the American test kitchen presentation. They were good.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
All of the staff were very friendly and helpful.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
The ship is nicely designed. One of the things I like is it has the walk around Promenade deck. You can get a good look at the wake view. There is a lot of nice art work located around the ship. The other nice place is the crows nest. Offering a view and being able to stay warm and dry. They have the large covered pool and a couple of hot pools. The ship has glass elevators on either side. You get a view while going up and down. But there are areas where the ship seems dark. Like the atrium. The ship has a couple of separate rooms for their elite guests. Every where you went you would see staff cleaning and polishing the brass. The ship has a lot of brass.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
The cabin was an inside cabin. It was just right for me a solo traveler. The cabin has a motion sensor at the entrance to turn on a floor level light. There are switches I think turn on lights in another part of the ship as you could press them and nothing happens. At the desk there is a couple of power outlets both Europe 220 volt and American 115 volt. There is also connections for plugging your iPad and other devices at the desk and beside the bed. I did notice that the desk top the laminate was separated from the top of the desk and the edges of the desk were banged up. They do provide bath robes, but I never use them, not even at home. They have a laundry service. I never use as I use to work on board years ago and if you want to get everything back, you do your own laundry. They have a tray to put your shoes in to put out if you would like your shoes shined. They have gone to liquid soap. I personally do not like the cent of the soap. If you are sensitive, bring your own soap. The room has a bar type fridge stocked with pop and different types of liquor. But I am not a drinker. They charge a lot for bottled water.
Ship tip
I know it is expensive, but the way they have everything set up with the Navigator Application, you need to have the internet package. It makes it lot easier to keep in touch with family back home and you can stay off your cell phone which can be even more expensive to use.
Ketchikan is a nice place to visit but it is a large tourist trap. there is the famous Creek Street, but many of the shops were closed. If you are interested in First Nations art, there are several good shops. they have the lumberjack show. the better time to visit Ketchikan is in August or September when the salmon are running. This gives you an opportunity to see Black Bear and there are a lot more eagles around. I took the tour boat tour to Misty Fjords. But I live on the west coast of Vancouver island. We have the same scenery. It seemed like they were in a hurry and did not stop or slow down at places I would have like to have had a closer look at. I was disappointed for the price they charge for the tour.
Skagway is and always has been one of my favourite parts of calm this town is a historical site it is located between the mountain to mountain passes and the tourists that I took was the masters camp and I also took the trip on the White Pass and Yukon railway we had a Beautiful day on our trip it was the first trip of the season to Alaska so at the top of White Pass they’re was a lot of snow it was a beautiful site to see in a highly recommended both tours.
Like all ports in Alaska on a nice day they can be a beautiful place to visit where the ship docks you are within walking distance to town and many of the shops as well as the cable car to go to the top of the mountain. On this trip I wanted to see glaciers so I took the excursion the flight to her to see the glaciers and to go to the Taku glacier Lodge for the Salmon bake this was a wonderful tour I would highly recommend.
Glacier Bay is a wonderful place to visit both on nice days and on cloudy and rainy days most certainly on a nice day it is more pleasant to see the glaciers but on a rainy overcast day like we had the scenery and the glaciers are just as wonderful to view.
I did not sleep well, stressed about disembarking. But it went very smoothly. Just handed my customs form and that was it. No questions about ArriveCAN or anything. All the worry for nothing.
Holland told us we need to do arrivecan within 72 hours of arrival (sailing out of Vancouver). Alaska weather, at least it good for part of the trip. Two more weeks until the Nieuw Amsterdam.
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