A Holland America Alaska Cruise Review: Everything You Need to Know
Having sailed to Alaska with Holland America over the past two summers, I’m eager to share my experience with you in this insightful Holland America Alaska cruise review.
I’ve had the pleasure of sailing on Holland America’s lavish Vista-class vessel, the ms Westerdam, to Alaska’s breathtaking wilderness.
Holland America Line is one of the most popular cruise lines cruising to Alaska, having just celebrated seventy-five years sailing here.
This review covers everything from what to expect in the cabins to the onboard entertainment, incredible dining experiences, and Alaska ports of call.
Hopefully, it will inspire you to plan your next cruise to Alaska.
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Prepare to Cruise on Holland America
Preparing for a cruise seems overwhelming initially, especially for a first-time cruiser when Holland America Line (HAL) sends countless notifications in the days leading up to embarkation.
Luckily, the Holland America Line’s Navigator App streamlines the registration process. This free app walks passengers through the necessary forms and keeps track of what has already been completed.
The app includes a countdown to your cruise and notification reminders.
The app allows users to access the cruise itinerary when on board and text friends and family onboard throughout the cruise. As someone who considers herself pretty tech-savvy, this app was helpful before and during the cruise.
Older folks who may not be as tech-savvy or who may still have a flip phone like my dad may feel overwhelmed by accessing all this information online.
Do not worry!
During the embarkation process, Holland America has many employees ready to assist anyone who needs help with paperwork and provides paper itineraries throughout the cruise.
Holland America Alaska Cruise Review of Embarkation
Prior to your cruise, you will receive an email with an embarkation time. Our time was noon.
Having never cruised before, I had no idea what to expect on the cruise, including what it would be like to board the ship. As our taxi dropped us off at the Seattle cruise terminal, I saw what seemed like hundreds of people waiting in a line in the rain.
I immediately felt dread. I soon realized, thankfully, that those passengers were not waiting for our ship. They were Princess Cruise passengers waiting to board.
Imagine my delight when a HAL employee directed us to the Holland America section of the terminal. We dropped our luggage at the curb and immediately proceeded inside.
The taxi dropped us off at the terminal at 11:45, and we were in our cabin by 12:15. The process could not have been smoother. We even stopped for pictures around the ship before seeing our cabin.
The HAL employees do a great job walking you through the embarkation process. They even deliver your luggage to your stateroom, where it waits for you outside your cabin door.
TRAVEL TIP: Having an embarkation day bag with you is a good idea. It should contain a change of clothes, your identification, wallet, medication, and other things you may want to access on the first day. Use my Alaska printable packing list so you don’t forget a thing!
RELATED POSTS: If Seattle is your departure port, you may be interested in these posts:
A Tour of the ms Westerdam
The Holland America Line cruise ship, the ms Westerdam, is ideal for a first-time cruiser.
The msWesterdam is a smaller ship, with only 1,916 passengers and 817 crew members. This makes for a more intimate experience and allows you to meet people from all over the world.
Recently refreshed in dry dock, the ship is 936 feet long and 105 feet wide with eleven decks.
Lounge Areas and Bars on a Holland America Cruise
There are plenty of areas to relax on board the Westerdam. Finding a spot to sit and enjoy a drink or admire the view is not difficult.
Lounge areas throughout the ship, indoors and outdoors, never feel crowded.
Holland America Alaska Cruise Review of the Cabin
I have stayed in balcony cabins on both of my Alaska trips.
On the first cruise, I stayed on Deck 4 in an aft verandah cabin. If you are a new cruiser, an aft cabin is at the back of the ship. In a word, AMAZING!
On my second cruise to Alaska, a last-minute booking put me in a port-side verandah room, and I much preferred the aft view.
The aft cabins have oversized balconies and overlook the ship’s wake. I honestly could have sat out on the balcony the entire cruise, staring at the seas, and been extremely happy.
The sounds and sights are absolutely breathtaking. Imagine being on a beach and hearing the waves crash against the shore for seven days. I loved every minute of it.
The video below is a tour of the aft balcony cabin onboard the Holland America Neiuw Amsterdam, giving you a glimpse of its size and amenities.
The aft cabins tend to be longer than other verandah cabins, which gives them a more spacious feel. They include a queen-size bed, a couch, a small table, a built-in desk with a mirror, lights, and a chair.
The balcony includes two reclining chairs with legrests and a small table. You can request a larger table to dine outside, which they will honor if one is available.
There are three floor-to-ceiling closets, two for hanging clothes and one with drawers and a safe. Two slide-out drawers are located at the foot of the bed and under the bedside tables.
Underneath the bed is plenty of room to slide two large suitcases. The wall includes two large hooks for hanging items. I brought these magnetic hooks for other things as well.
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Cabin and Bathroom Amenities
The cabin includes several unexpected amenities free of charge.
Two robes, beach towels, and blankets are all provided in your cabin for use during your stay.
Additionally, the cabin has a magnified makeup mirror, a hair dryer, and a mini fridge. The mini fridge includes items that cost extra, but you can ask for those items to be removed, which I did. I then used the refrigerator to store extra drinks and leftover food from room service.
The bathroom shower/tub combo has wall dispensers filled with shower gel, shampoo, and conditioner.
Next to the bathroom sink, wall dispensers hold hand soap and hand lotion. Honestly, I don’t like the smell of the soap or lotion. In my opinion, it is too musty.
There is a medicine cabinet and a shelf under the sink for personal items. I brought a hanging toiletries bag from home and had plenty of space for all my bathroom items.
Lights and Plugs in the Cabin
Extra touches in the cabin, such as light switches by the bed, a motion sensor light in the hall leading to the bathroom, and USB ports, make the room even better.
You will also find many plugs in the room, but you can request an extension cord, and the stewards will bring it to your room.
RELATED POST: For a printable packing list for your Alaskan cruise, read my post, A Complete Printable Packing List for an Alaska Cruise.
Who Cruises on Holland America Line to Alaska?
I booked my Alaskan cruise, and as I scoured the internet for information, I read that HAL cruises were for “older” people. This isn’t true. I’ve been on two Holland America Alaska cruises and one Holland America Caribbean cruise. All three sailings had a huge variety of age groups.
The majority of passengers were couples in their mid-40s to mid-60s. Multigenerational family groups and groups of women and friends were also common. The largest group consisted of twenty-two people from Texas celebrating a wedding.
I saw a small group of kids under twelve playing and swimming in the pool area. It’s funny how kids always gravitate toward each other.
A handful of pre-teens/teens hung out on the pool deck and were occasionally seen walking the hallways or playing ping-pong. All the kids were well-behaved, and none seemed obnoxious.
Holland America Alaska Cruise Review of the Entertainment
If I am honest in my Holland America Alaska Cruise review, I have to say that the entertainment on board a Holland America cruise lacks substance. Although there are plenty of things to do, the experiences aren’t too exciting.
Daily activities include trivia, bingo, talks about Alaska and its ports, music, movies, wildlife spotting, exercise opportunities, casino play, and shopping.
My husband and I participated in the ship’s On Deck for a Cause 5K. Walking laps as the ship moves is quite an experience.
Check out our cruise director’s enthusiasm as we came around the deck for a lap count.
The ship’s casino opens up when the ship hits international waters. While not large, the casino has enough slot machines of all denominations and $5 minimum table games to accommodate those who want to play.
Musical entertainment is the heart of the nightlife.
Dance, music, or comedy shows are presented on the main stage twice each evening: one at 7:00 p.m. and another at 9:30 p.m. In addition to the main performances, B.B. King’s Blues Club and the Billboard Onboard dueling piano bar offer live music.
Holland America Orange Party
Holland America hosts an Orange Party on each cruise. Guests are encouraged to dress in orange clothing or accessories and are invited to the special party on a selected evening.
You will see people decked out in orange from head to toe, including orange wigs, and others with something as simple as an orange tie or scarf.
These nights are as casual or as dressy as you wish. There really is no right or wrong attire.
Ready to book your cruise? Check out my post, Planning a Cruise? Six Tips for the First Time Cruiser.
Holland America Spa and Pools
Spa facilities are located on the Lido deck of the ship.
The fitness room has a nicely equipped weight room with treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, other typical machines, and free weights. My husband used it often in the mornings and felt he got a great workout.
The spa includes saunas, changing rooms, a full beauty salon, and treatment rooms.
You can access the thermal spa and warming loungers throughout the cruise for a flat fee. On our cruise, the cost was $169 per person for seven days. If interested, pre-purchase or book on the first day of embarkation.
The ms Westerdam houses two pools: an outdoor sky deck pool and an enclosed Lido deck pool, as well as many hot tubs.
The Retreat
The ship has a private area called The Retreat on Deck 10. These enclosed cabanas have luxurious lounging chairs and couches. The Retreat cabanas can be reserved for $50 on port days and $85 on at-sea days.
The price includes the cabana with private service from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. A setup of chilled water, fresh fruit, hot/cold towels, ice cream, chocolate-dipped strawberries, and chilled grapes are just a few of the items included in the price.
We originally had a cabana rented for our Glacier Bay day, but after being on our balcony, we didn’t feel like we needed it.
If you are in an inside cabin, I would rent one. To book, check with the attendant on duty in The Retreat on the first day of your cruise.
Holland America Cruise Review of the Food
I once read the average cruise ship passenger will gain seven pounds on a seven-day cruise. After being on the cruise, it is not hard to see how this happens. You will not go hungry, that’s for sure!
Holland America Line offers several dining options included in the cruise price: the main dining room, the Lido Market, the Dive-in counter service, the Explorations cafe, and room service.
For an additional price, specialty restaurants are available. These include the Italian restaurant Canaletto, the steakhouse Pinnacle Grill, and a pop-up seafood restaurant, Rudi’s Sel de Mer.
READ NEXT: For sample menus and more food pictures, please read the Ultimate Dining Guide to the ms Westerdam: Menus and Dining Experiences
The Main Dining Room
The main dining room is located on two decks. Included in your price is the option of an assigned dining time or a flexible time in the main dining room. Those who choose a set dining time are given tables on the third deck, while those with flexible times are seated on the second.
The main dining room is for you if you want to be pampered and served. White linen tablecloths, flowers, and fine china adorn the tables while servers meet your dining needs.
Dining here includes extra touches like a biscotti with your cappuccino and baskets of freshly baked bread on the table. We ate dinner here twice and lunch and breakfast once. Each time felt just as memorable.
The Lido Market
For a more casual dining experience, the Lido Market is often open. Here, the choices seem unlimited. Most are like a buffet; however, passengers do not serve themselves. You point and tell the staff what you want.
Servers take care of your drinks at the table.
Located on deck nine, passengers have plenty of space to sit on both sides of the ship next to large windows overlooking the water. You can even take your food to the outside deck to eat if you want.
The best thing about the Lido Market is that you can try many new things you might not normally eat. I tried turkey bacon and actually liked it. They also make the best stir fry dishes.
Dive-In
The Dive-In next to the Lido Deck pool serves hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, Nathan’s hot dogs, fries, and milkshakes. This area is popular but never feels crowded. Music plays here often, and the bar always seems open.
Explorations Cafe
The Explorations Cafe is located in the Crow’s Nest, an extensive area in the front of the ship used for games, puzzles, wildlife watching, and exploring.
It serves the best specialty coffee drinks and light breakfast fare. The Crow’s Nest is a popular spot to begin your mornings, as it is a peaceful area to grab a cappuccino and enjoy the sights.
Room Service
My Holland America Line Alaska cruise review would not be complete without telling you about my favorite dining experience: room service.
I love that HAL includes the twenty-four-hour room service in the cruise price.
A highlight is waking up to a pot of coffee, pastries, and fruit delivered to your stateroom.
It allows you to enjoy watching the wildlife from the balcony in the early morning when it is at its best while taking your time to prepare for the day.
Additionally, when you want to watch the sunset from your patio, you can have your dinners delivered from the main dining room.
Having complimentary room service as an option is fabulous!
The Pinnacle Grill
As part of the Have-it-All package, one specialty restaurant visit is included. We used ours on the Pinnacle Grill on one of the two dressy gala nights.
Like a fine steakhouse, the staff moves to meet every need from when you walk in to when you leave. It is incredible.
The food, the atmosphere, and the service are all equally outstanding.
The clothesline bacon appetizer and the warm chocolate soufflé still make my mouth water while writing this post.
I recommend visiting a specialty restaurant at least once on your next cruise.
The Extras – WiFi and the Laundry Package
When added to the introductory cruise price, the Have-it-All package includes an onboard credit, an excursion, a dinner at a specialty restaurant, WiFi, and the Signature drink package.
We purchased the package and thought it was a great purchase. Our WiFi worked great in the room; even with our phones on airplane mode, we could FaceTime with friends and family.
The Have-It-All did not include the laundry package, but we used part of our onboard credit to cover the cost. At first, I laughed at the laundry package, thinking, who needs that? Honestly, it was the best “extra” that we purchased.
Each day, you fill a given laundry bag with your dirty clothes and complete an itemized checklist of your clothes. The next day, your clothes arrive in your room, folded or hung. It was awesome! My husband loved it, too.
Holland America Alaska Cruise Review of the Staff
I would be remiss if I did not include a section on the staff in my Holland America Alaska cruise review. You will never be more pampered than on a HAL cruise ship.
Even if everything else on board was terrible, and it wasn’t, the staff alone would make the experience memorable.
After our first day on board, I commented to my husband that I didn’t think the word, no, was in the staff’s vocabulary.
The staff granted every request we made.
The room stewards kept our cabin clean and tidy. The food service staff were cheerful and happy to serve you. The hospitality staff kept the activities light-hearted and fun.
The entire crew made this cruise experience a vacation we will never forget.
Our cruise was at sea during the July 4th holiday.
The excellent staff held an impromptu parade for the cruise passengers, created a towel animal zoo at the pool area, and served red, white, and blue jello at the Lido Deck.
Routines/Procedures
Holland America’s routines and procedures make sailing after COVID-19 feel safe. There is no time, morning or night, that you won’t see the crew cleaning the ship. The staff constantly cleans every inch from the walls to the floors to the stair railings.
HAL keeps hand sanitizer at the entrance to each dining facility. Signs in all public bathrooms remind you to wash your hands and use a tissue to open the door.
The routines and procedures to keep a healthy ship are evident throughout the cruise.
Alaska Excursions
Excursions are a huge part of an Alaskan cruise. They offer plentiful opportunities to do activities you might never get to do again.
Before you set sail, HAL sends you lists of every excursion available at each port. I highly suggest reading through the activities and pre-booking them.
If you wait until you board, the excursion desk employees can help you book them.
I researched the activities made available through HAL and then through independent operators. The prices are comparable.
We enjoyed a morning in Juneau and booked an independent whale-watching tour.
In Sitka, we went on the Wildlife Zodiac Tour in collaboration with Food & Wine Magazine, booked through HAL. This was equally amazing!
We discovered many activities in Ketchikan and visited so many exciting places.
We did a self-guided tour in Victoria, BC. Walking around the port on the last night of our cruise in this beautiful city was a beautiful way to end the trip.
One thing to remember is that with excursions purchased through the cruise line, you are guaranteed the ship will not leave you in port if your tour is late.
If booking through an independent, ensure the operator guarantees to cover the cost to get you to the ship at the next port should the ship leave without you.
My best advice is to read the excursion itinerary carefully. A pass by the Mendenhall Glacier does not mean the same as a visit to the Mendenhall Glacier.
RELATED POST: To read about the best binoculars for your cruise, check out my post, The Top 4 Best Binoculars for Whale Watching in Alaska.
TRIP TIP: Ask about the number of people on your excursion. Whale watching with thirty other people will not be the same experience as whale watching with six.
Alaska Ports
All of the Alaska ports are amazing, and you don’t need to book excursions to have a good time.
When we could not decide what to do in Victoria, we asked the excursion agent. The HAL employee didn’t try to upsell us into a pricey sunset cruise; instead, she encouraged us to walk into the city independently. It ended up being a lovely time in Victoria without an excursion.
Why Book a Holland America Alaska Cruise
The best part of the Holland America cruise is its itinerary. Having sailed in Alaska for 75 years, HAL has an exceptional reputation with the ports.
We often saw ships from Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, and Princess Cruises in our ports. Even though the other cruise lines were in the same Alaskan ports, our ship had prime docking spots.
The Holland America Line is one of the few ships allowed to enter Glacier Bay National Park for an up-close view of the glaciers. Cruising through areas like this and the Tracy Arm fjord will leave you speechless. The photos can’t do it justice!
With ports like Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Whittier, and Skagway, you will see the wonders of this great state. If that is not enough time in Alaska, add a land package to your cruise to visit Denali National Park.
This is Why you Cruise to Alaska
In conclusion, a Holland America Alaska cruise is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that offers breathtaking views, unforgettable adventures, and exceptional service.
From the stunning glaciers to the charming port towns, this cruise showcases the best of Alaska’s natural beauty.
With an abundance of onboard activities and delicious dining options, there is never a dull moment on this luxurious ship. Whether looking for relaxation or adventure, the Holland America Alaska cruise has something for everyone.
Book your cruise today and get ready for an unforgettable experience through the Last Frontier.
