 |
Great sight seeing opportunities. by
Paul from Riverside, CA Sailing date: Aug 2007Pros: I thought the ship was pretty clean. It was a great trip. I learned a lot about Alaska and saw some great places, and wildlife. I did not do a lot of pre-planning, actually I believe the cruise line has it figured out pretty well, we went with the flow. Dining/Food
Stateroom Quality
Ship Staff Quality
Entertainment & Activities
Collapse List of Ports
Cruise Frederick SoundI can't believe this is sea level.
It is hard to belive but I saw it with my own eyes.
Juneau, AlaskaFish jump.
Whales.
Don't Miss: Go out to the glasier. Sitka, AlaskaI used to think a rainforest was a tropical thing.
Take caution walking in the woods if your afraid of ghosts.
Don't Miss: Fishing. Cruise Tracy Arm Fjord, AlaskaI'm glad it was a guided tour.
Beautiful.
Don't Miss: The blue ice.  17 out of 24 people found this review helpful.
Did you find this review helpful?
  Lusurious cruise only on surface. by
Kris from Illinois Sailing date: Sep 2007Pros: Clean public areas. Need more attention to basic needs like woring bathrooms and maintenance problems. Great day trips and entertainment. Dining/FoodSoft drinks should be free and should be readily available. The only place to get them was at the bara or in the dining room. Couldn't get a diet soda prior to 10 AM. Many Americans have a diet coke with breakfast instead of coffee.
Stateroom QualityBathroom toilet backed up and overflowed 4 times during cruise. Not enough towels for both of us. Over half of all the washers on the ship were broken. The fruit basket delivered to our cabin had overripe/bad fruit in it.
Ship Staff QualityFitness staff concentrate on guests who really didn't need as much help.
Entertainment & Activities
Entertainment: The show in the theater were excellent. The passenger talent show was awesome. The lounge piano player played great, he just couldn't sing at all!!! The name that tune games were fun and the different themes each night made it more fun.
Collapse List of Ports
Cruise Glacier BayBreathtking beauty in glacier bay.
Amazing.
Juneau, AlaskaNature upclose and personal in Juneau.
Great.
Don't Miss: Whale watching and Mendenhall glacier. Ketchikan, AlaskaOk.
Lumberjack show and Totem Bight good, not great.
Sitka, AlaskaGreat wildlife quest in Sitka.
The best wildlife expedition of the cruise.
Don't Miss: The wildlife quest (sea otters, eagles, harbor seals, whales). 8 out of 12 people found this review helpful.
Did you find this review helpful?
Excellent dining experience and overall by
James from Nevada, US Sailing date: Aug 2007Pros: The indoor pool with the cover that could be opened or closed depending the weather days. The dining room experience was very pleasant and the food was excellent. Good value and an excellent dining experience with a friendly staff, but they need to stop charging for sodas. This cruise is geared toward an older crowd. If you are looking for a slow paced relaxing cruise, this is for you. There are not a lot of activities geared for a younger crowed, but this cruise is more about the destinations; the ports were beautiful. Dining/FoodExcellent food selections and quality.
Stateroom QualityThere is only one plug in the entire cabin; warm and very stuffy. I suggest an outside cabin.
Ship Staff Quality
Entertainment & ActivitiesActivities: Not enough activities for families; rather dull. Just gambling and bingo, not very exciting. Of course the scenery is beautiful.
Children's ProgramsNot enough activities for families. However, the scenery is beautiful and that is the entertainment.
Collapse List of Ports
Cruise Frederick SoundBeautiful.
Especially enjoyed the ranger's narration while approaching the glacier.
Juneau, AlaskaBeautiful.
Enjoyed a great bus tour and have a wonderful day.
Sitka, Alaska
Cruise Tracy Arm Fjord, Alaska
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Did you find this review helpful?
Relaxing, beautiful and easy trip. by
Marnie from Honolulu, HI, USA Sailing date: Aug 2007Pros: That it is not a "party" ship -- that the "forced fun" is kept at a minimum -- that it is classy and dignified and elegant, but not snobbish. Oh, and the food. We were able to carve out our own experience on this cruise -- leaning more toward long walks on the promenade decks, sunset- and whale-watching, than lounge shows, casino or movies. We were able to "get away" from the crowds, with the manageable population and size of the ship and appreciate the ocean and views in relative solitude. We ate when we were hungry, more what we wanted (avoiding certain areas on the dressy nights) and had a simply wonderful time. Service, appointments, food, shopping, all delightful. We want to go again (and again). Dining/FoodWe ate every meal on the Lido deck at the buffet -- being from Hawaii we didn't have the wardrobe for the fancier places -- food was amazing and we were never disappointed. Room service breakfasts likewise were excellent -- eggs over easy as of they just came off the griddle -- amazing.
Stateroom QualityVery comfy, great use of space, lots of storage.
Ship Staff QualityHA's reputation for superb staff is not overrated -- friendliness was sincere, helpfulness not intrusive, allover top notch.
Collapse List of Ports
Juneau, AlaskaMendenhall Glacier & Whale Quest.
From our guide on the Mendenhall Glacier bus to the marine biologists on the Whale Quest, every one was knowledgeable and friendly. This shore excursion was fantastic -- plenty of time at the glacier, with bears and salmon -- and Allen Marine's whale watching operation is perfect. Amazing vessels, wonderful commentary, once-in-a-lifetime chance to go to the whales -- in a boat that has no propellor and won't harm them. Breath-taking -- hospitality par excellence, staff sharing an experience they love -- you can tell.
Sitka, AlaskaSea Otter & Wildlife Quest.
Allen Marine makes its own water-jet-driven (no props) vessels which are amazing -- they can maneuver for best viewing and are large and comfy. The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly -- this really is an adventure and you feel it -- we saw whales, seals, sea lions, sea otters (the stars of the trip), eagles and even an eagles' nest. Photographic opportunities at every turn. Hot drinks and smoked salmon on crackers. We had a wonderful time, recommend this operation to all. Go for it!
Don't Miss: Sea Otter & Wildlife Quest. Cruise Tracy Arm Fjord, Alaska
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Did you find this review helpful?
Had a wonderful time; wish there had not by
Linda from Missouri Sailing date: Jun 2007Pros: The size of the ship; big enough for a good time; not so big that there are too many people.
Dining/FoodGood table attendants.
Stateroom QualityComfortable.
Ship Staff QualityWonderful cabin staff.
Entertainment & ActivitiesActivities: Would like to have been offered more 1 hour informational classes about the area where we were cruising.
Entertainment: The entertainment group was very good; it would just have been nice to see something else. Children's ProgramsThis is where I have the most complaint; in everything I read before the cruise about the Amsterdam, it indicated that the clientele was a more mature group. That is why I chose to cruise with this company. Boy howdy, was I ever surprised with the number of rug rats running around and the people who had brought babies and strollers on a cruise! Others who I visited with about this were in agreement that they had made arrangements for their kids and were on vacation.
Collapse List of Ports
Juneau, AlaskaSide excursions a must.
The trip to the glacier was awesome. The salmon bake-lots of fun.
Don't Miss: The dog sled tour. Sitka, AlaskaLoved sitka.
Delightful, beautiful place; want to spend a month there every summer.
Don't Miss: The upstairs cafe. 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Did you find this review helpful?
Ship Review by
Pez from USA Sailing date: Jun 2007Pros: Size.
Entertainment & Activities
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Did you find this review helpful?
Wouldn't change a thing. by
Patricia from Sparta, MI Sailing date: Jun 2007Pros: The over-all luxury, the wonderful food and the helpful and pleasant staff. My husband has been talking about taking an Alaskan cruise for a few years. We couln't have made a better choice with our cruise. The accomodations exceded our expectations as far as roominess pleasant decor. The ship's staff were all very accomodating and eager to please. The selection of shore trips was great. A very pleasant and restful experience. Entertainment & ActivitiesActivities: Because of physical limitations we didn't participate in many activities. Just some bingo.
Collapse List of Ports
Cruise Glacier Bay
We didn't leave the ship. We spent the day sailing amid the glaciers.
Juneau, Alaska
We went on the whale watching excursion. We are not shoppers.
Don't Miss: The whale excursion. Ketchikan, Alaska
Sitka, Alaska
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Did you find this review helpful?
I loved the Amsterdam. by
Kacie from Bloomington, IN Sailing date: May 2007Pros: Great service. The level of service and quality of food was better than I'd experienced anywhere in my travels. I'm definitely going on another cruise with Holland America, and potentially aboard the MS Amsterdam, if our schedules mesh. Entertainment & Activities
Collapse List of Ports
Cruise Glacier Bay
Juneau, Alaska
Ketchikan, Alaska
Sitka, AlaskaTown overall seemed very touristy.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Did you find this review helpful?
All in all a good trip. by
Mac from Little Rock, AR Sailing date: Dec 2006Pros: The back deck. It was a great trip. Entertainment & Activities
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Did you find this review helpful?
Ship Review by
Holly from St. Helena, CA, USA Sailing date: Sep 2006Pros: Food and dining room staff.
Entertainment & Activities
13 out of 16 people found this review helpful.
Did you find this review helpful?
|
|
