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It was a great spot to get some exercise and take Felix for his beloved stroller walks with the ever-changing scenery. I thought we would take more advantage than we did, but we loved the dining room so much, we went there more often. This is the highest-end restaurant onboard, with the smallest capacity — and also, of course, my favorite. It was safe for my baby to crawl around and enjoy, and my favorite place from which to spot wildlife. I preferred it to all of the common spaces on the ship since it was so peaceful and felt like my own little retreat. This was a highlight for us, as we spent the day cruising through Glacier Bay National Park.
Main Dining
Start your journey in Anchorage followed by three days spotting wildlife such as moose, wolves, and grizzly bears at Denali National Park. Explore Fairbanks, Alaska's second-largest city, and historic Dawson and Whitehorse before boarding the ship to explore Alaska's highlights by sea. You'll see Glacier Bay, one of the planet's largest biosphere reserves, Skagway, Ketchikan and the glacier-cut fjords of Alaska's famous Inside Passage before your cruise tour ends in Vancouver. Denali is the number one reason to pick Alaska cruisetours and it’s easy to understand why. At 20,310 feet above sea level, it’s the centerpiece of the state and looms over hundreds of miles of pristine wilderness.
Featured Alaska Cruisetour Ports
The city of Fairbanks isn't too exciting; if you have a chance to take an excursion that gets you out of town, do so. My flightseeing excursion to the Brooks Range north of the Arctic Circle was one of the more interesting of the entire trip. The Alaska Railroad between Anchorage and Denali is billed as the most scenic way to make the trip, in domed train cars that feature special viewing platforms. And the mountains and rivers that you pass by are scenic, although after eight hours, the extended trip becomes wearying. Stretch your legs and rent a bike to ride the gorgeous Coastal Trail. Or go to the Glacier Brewhouse and dive into your first (but certainly not last) salmon meal of the trip.
Alaska Cruises
In Seward, a cruise navigates the glacier-filled Kenai Fjords National Park. During the prime time of May to September, seven-day cruises depart every weekend, either roundtrip from Vancouver on ‘Alaskan Inside Passage’ itineraries or from Seattle on the ‘Alaskan Explorer’. Guests with easy access to Seattle or Vancouver have an opportunity to cruise to Alaska at a reduced rate of $49 per person, per day with Holland America Line’s Standby program.
Holland America’s Global Fresh Fish Program
Standby Cruising: A New Option for Bargain Seekers - The New York Times
Standby Cruising: A New Option for Bargain Seekers.
Posted: Fri, 05 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
There’s the traditional dining room, which has flexible dining times, as well as multiple specialty restaurants that will delight food lovers aboard. If you’re a foodie and love dining experiences, you’ll want to budget to add in a visit to some of the specialty restaurants onboard. Their chefs create meals that are tasty as well as spectacularly presented. If you opt for the longer itineraries (at least seven days on land), you'll have more time to build upon the classic Denali circuit, with perhaps a longer stay in the Denali area. A longer cruise tour can also take you to the Kenai Peninsula, where you'll spend a night or two in a wilderness lodge or at the famed Alyeska Resort, or you might extend your trip into the Yukon instead. Holland America Line’s “Alaska Up Close” program truly immerses guests in the local native culture with authentic onboard programming, cruise activities and shore excursions.
Travel Is Our Tradition
As would be a trend with the towns we visited in Alaska, Juneau had a charm to it, with historic, Wild West–style buildings and gorgeous surroundings. The downtown is mainly bars, restaurants, and souvenir shops, but there’s quite a bit to do in the area. I opted for the helicopter trek of the Mendenhall Glacier, which was a fantastic decision (more on that later). The fleet’s sleek, nautical lines express Holland America’s authentic heritage. The elegant ships are tastefully appointed, with museum-quality art and fresh flowers. Thoughtfully designed suites and staterooms ensure a comfortable home away from home.
Bottom Line: Cruise Tours Are Unique Ways to Explore Alaska's Vast Wilderness
Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed -- please confirm details at time of booking. Stateroom photos are for sample purposes only -- actual design and layout may vary. With our rockfish stored, we headed to another couple of spots to try our hand at salmon fishing. We each had a chance to reel in a fish, including one lovely Sockeye salmon and many Pink salmon. After zipping, the bus transfer offered to drop cruisers in town versus at the dock (a short walk outside of town) and so we took advantage of that. We walked along the main street which is filled with some unique and local shops as well as tourist shops you’ll find in every cruise port.
Standby List Program - Holland America
Standby List Program.
Posted: Tue, 10 Oct 2023 10:42:54 GMT [source]
Unfortunately, the viewing platform can be crowded with other travelers blocking views and viewfinders. The Alaska Railroad -- which traverses the long distance between Anchorage and Talkeetna, and on to Denali -- is a can't-miss experience, but be sure you know what you're getting before boarding your train car. The Anchorage Museum has an excellent exhibit on Alaska Native cultures, in partnership with the Smithsonian, with fascinating items like a jacket made of seal intestines and a helmet with a human face on it.
Bear sightings often align with salmon-spawning season in the spring and summer, as they head to the water to catch a meal. Popular bear-viewing tours depart from Anchorage, Kodiak and Juneau. In the 150-year history of Holland America, Alaska has been a favourite destination for more than 75 years. With an overwhelming world of choices, we understand you may need some personal assistance to plan your perfect vacation. From finding the right destination to choosing the best departure date, we're here to help. Plus, our experienced travel consultants have access to exclusive vacation deals to make sure you get the best value for your time and money.
Let Holland America host you on a comfortable cruise to see Alaska’s incredible scenery, massive glaciers and wildlife. Experience more by combining your Alaska cruise with land tours featuring Denali National Park, the Kenai Peninsula, or the gold rush of the Yukon Territory. Alaska is synonymous with stunning wilderness, and Holland America Line offers more ways to see wildlife in its natural habitat. Ashore, Holland America Line offers nearly 180 shore excursions to see species of all kinds. Alaska is synonymous with stunning wilderness, and HollandAmerica Line offers more ways to see wildlife in its natural habitat. Ashore, Holland America Line offers nearly 180 shoreexcursions to see species of all kinds.
Compared to other ships one thing I didn’t love was that the promenade deck view was mostly blocked by lifeboats. If you’re someone who likes to pop out on one of the mid-decks to enjoy the scenery and walk around, this ship isn’t the best for that. If you like enjoying time in your room, a verandah (balcony) room can be an absolute treasure for an Alaskan cruise.
We booked a 2-door Jeep since there were just 2 of us, they do have a 4-door option as well. And the price is per jeep, which for a family can work out to make the excursion not too expensive per person. We cruised the 7-Day Inside Passage route on the Koningsdam to and from Vancouver, BC, in August. Another complimentary restaurant near the pool is the New York Deli & Pizza restaurant, where you can order a custom or chef-designed personal 9″ thin-crust pizza. Holland America does an EXCELLENT job of drawing their Alaska cruisers into the story of Alaska.
Dining on the cruise ship is included, as always, but you can also pre-purchase a dining package on land with these trips. Choose a breakfast-only plan or a plan that also includes lunch and dinner. Triple Denali dining plans include a night at the Music of Denali dinner theatre at Gold Nugget Saloon. Some vacations combine a cruise of spectacular coastal Alaska with a land tour that features transportation by motor coach or train and hotel stays. Before or after your cruise, you might explore Denali National Park in Alaska or the resort towns of the Canadian Rockies, for example. I’m delighted to say that Holland America still INCLUDES room service as a main (included) dining option.
Denali Land and Sea Journey cruise tours offer the comfort of settling in for up to three nights at 60-acre Denali Square at McKinley Chalet resort. That way, you can experience Denali by day and relax in front of a fire at night, telling tall tales with fellow travelers. Alaska cruise tours with Holland America allow you to visit the spectacular coast of our state by large cruise ship in style.
We all reeled up our lines and each of us had landed two rockfish on our hooks. You’re limited to a certain number of fish total, so our guide had to drop a couple of the rockfish back down. When we arrived, we had to show our driver’s licenses (or passports) to obtain a fishing license for the trip. We were able to pay with a credit card and it was $25, kids & teens (not from Alaska) under 16 don’t have to have a license. We were put into a group of six, assigned a guide, and boarded our open-air skiff boat. Club Orange costs $25 per person per day on cruises up to 13 days and $15 per person per day on cruises of 13+ days.
For the caffeine and pastry fans onboard, the Grand Dutch Cafe will become your new favorite home away from home. This is an additional charge restaurant, although coffee drinks are included with some beverage packages. This is another popular spot and you’ll want to order in advance via the app, especially during busy dining times.
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