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Since we had a baby sleeping inside, most of our evenings were spent on the veranda, which could not have been a better spot from which to experience the beauty of Alaska all throughout the cruise. Book your trip today and prepare to embark on an unforgettable journey through the Last Frontier. 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. 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.
Royal Caribbean
The staff for these facilities is adjusted based on the number of kids booked on each itinerary, but families with young children may want to pack plenty of entertainment options. After just one sailing, you're entitled to drink vouchers, a special welcome lunch, discounts on Holland America merchandise and half off third and fourth passengers in a cabin on select cruises. Plus, you'll be eligible for onboard credit when you book certain voyages. Unless you prepay gratuities or purchase a cruise fare that has them included in the price, you will be charged $16 per person during each day of your cruise ($17.50 if you're booked in a suite). You can adjust the amount up or down or remove it completely (which we don't recommend doing) by visiting the guest services desk. You cannot adjust or remove gratuities after your sailing has ended.
Holland America Line Westerdam Cruise Reviews for Family Cruises to Australia & New Zealand (2023 UPDATED ... - Cruise Critic
Holland America Line Westerdam Cruise Reviews for Family Cruises to Australia & New Zealand (2023 UPDATED ....
Posted: Mon, 03 Jul 2023 03:52:03 GMT [source]
Ketchikan Historic Wilderness Sea Plane
When it was especially busy, we would bring our plates out to the Lido deck and use the ample and less busy seating there instead. There was definitely a time in my life when I was all about taking small ships, cargo ferries, and local buses, and avoiding experiences like cruises. However, now with a young child, it ended up being such an easy, beautiful way to take a vacation. We didn’t have to worry about logistics, food, cleaning up after meals (which can be messy with a one-year-old), or having things to do while he napped. Each time my son went down for his nap, sneaking out to the veranda with the baby monitor ended up being so lovely, with plenty of wildlife and scenery to take in.
Included with your cruise fare:
Holland America Koningsdam Cruise: Expert Review (2023) - Cruise Critic
Holland America Koningsdam Cruise: Expert Review ( .
Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 15:38:28 GMT [source]
Guests who are deaf or hard of hearing can request kits that include visual or tactile alerts for phone ringing or door knocks, and cabin TVs have closed captioning features. For guests who are blind or have low vision, HAL can provide a downloadable daily newsletter and menus for guests with screen reader programs; Braille menus are available with advance notice. However, you might get more value out of one of TPG's favorite credit cards for booking cruises. Holland America sailings aren't the least expensive you'll find, but they won't totally bust your budget, either, particularly if you opt for a more bare-bones cabin in the inside or ocean-view categories.
Making The Most Of The Holland America Oosterdam With Teens: Review
I thought we would take more advantage than we did, but we loved the dining room so much, we went there more often. The staff were so great with my little guy, I was always happy to eat there, which we did for most breakfasts and dinners. This is the highest-end restaurant onboard, with the smallest capacity — and also, of course, my favorite. This was a highlight for us, as we spent the day cruising through Glacier Bay National Park.
Prepare to Cruise – Holland America
We tried the lamb chops and a few cuts of steak over two nights. All were perfectly cooked and the steaks came with nice sauces on the side. If you’re not counting calories, the onion rings are huge and crispy. If you want something lighter, the grilled scallops or the classic steak tartare are a good way to go; I liked both.
Entertainment and activities
Dinners highlight international fare from HAL’s Culinary Council of celebrity chefs, and gluten-free and vegetarian options are always available. While meals in the Dining Room are covered with the cruise fare, there is an up-charge for select items, such as steak or lobster at dinner, or crab Louie salad at lunch. Maximizing your time by booking excursions in the ports is also important. That does make things cost a bit more, but it really does make this a bucket-list trip.
Prior to your cruise, you will receive an embarkation time. Luckily, 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. The app includes a countdown to your cruise and notification reminders. Holland America Line (HAL) sends countless notifications in the days leading up to embarkation. I’ve had the distinct pleasure of sailing on Holland America’s lavish Vista-class vessel, the ms Westerdam, to Alaska’s breathtaking wilderness.
Additionally, when you want to watch the sunset from your patio, you can have your dinners delivered from the main dining room. The Dive-In next to the Lido Deck pool serves hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, Nathan’s hot dogs, fries, and milkshakes. For a more casual dining experience, the Lido Market is open often. Most like a buffet; however, passengers do not serve themselves. Check with the attendant on duty in The Retreat on the first day of your cruise to book.
At breakfast we could choose congee (Chinese rice porridge) or from a large selection of cold cuts if we didn’t want the usual waffles and eggs. The ocean-view and balcony-class rooms have a small bath tub and shower. Suites have a full-size tub with separate shower and side-by-side sinks.
We did this and they made all our transfers mindlessly easy. We used the free room service option for a couple of early mornings. It always arrived on time, although the quality was not as good as food in the restaurants, probably because it had to be carried across the ship to us. Still a handy option for days with an early day in port. There was also a gym that had regular classes and plenty of machines to choose from.
Great routes, great staff, good service, but you're going to get sick. "We're not allowed to ask someone who is obviously sick to isolate, wear a mask, or even cover their cough." That was the restaurant manager, also echoed by the cruise director in almost the exact words. They have policies in place to isolate and wear a mask if you are sick, and even call 911. Over half the passengers and crew were sick by the end of our 31 day cruise. They failed to take even the most basic precautions to protect the health of their passengers and crew.
It seemed odd at first, but the service was attentive and the food was a good mix of classic and modern Italian. Having staff control portions also cuts down on food waste, which is a priority for cruise line. To this end they’ve also stopped providing trays at the buffet, a move that cut food waste by more than half, according to the general manager. I was told that having staff dole out dishes has helped to stop the spread of germs on the Holland America ships. It also controls portion sizes, which I appreciated as it helped me to avoid overdoing it.
On Pinnacle Class vessels, a live band jams out to rock tunes in the Rolling Stone Rock Room. On ships in the Vista Class, the similarly themed Rolling Stone Lounge hosts a seven-piece band that covers a range of music styles, including R&B, rock, pop and country. Because Holland America cruises focus on the destinations visited, rather than onboard attractions, the entertainment roster is lighter than what you'll find with other mainstream lines. However, just because there are fewer options doesn't mean the ones that exist aren't excellent. I highly recommend arriving at least two days ahead of your cruise.
The company should not confiscate the deposit amount ($175) like what happened with me, because I canceled my booking. Some itineraries have additional requirements, including all Canada, Alaska and Australia cruises. Room service is also available 24 hours, and afternoon tea is served in the Dining Room daily at 3 p.m.
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