Westerdam Alaska Cruise Review July 5 - 12

[Caraway]

Just returned Sunday from Alaska on the Westerdam. Had to go straight back to work but will post the review within the next few days. Was in a Deluxe Verandah and have all activity sheets and menus if anyone has any questions. Talk to you soon!

[dandro]

Awww...I was all set to read a review since we were on the same cruise only a month earlier.

These teasers can be disappointing.

Can't wait to read your review...hope it's soon.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Welcome home.

Can't wait for your review.

[vino100]

I'm sailing on the Westerdam on Sept. 6th. I can't wait to read your review.

[randych]

We're on the 8/16 sailing, so are anxiously waiting your review.

I'm also curious about activities on Monday, the first sea day. Have you scanned the activity sheet? if so, could you post?

Thanks!

[NorthPhoenixGuy]

I was disappointed not seeing your review as I'm sailing in September. Looking forward to reading your review. Was there a Captain's Dinner night? and if so, which night was it?

Thanks.

[Caraway]

I tend to be long winded so I will have to take this a day or two at a time but would like to answer the questions already asked on this thread. We also took the whale watching tour with Captain Larry ( saw 23 whales bubble feeding), took the Copter and dog sled ride with Coastal (awesome), and the deadliest catch Bering Sea tour (don't miss if you are a fan of the show and some of the best bald eagle viewing as they are permitted to feed the eagles next to an island Indian reservation).

Activities on Sea Day (Day 2) - I have not scanned anything yet but will get around to that for you. Here are a few things listed on the daily program:

This was a formal night and included:

Shore Excursion Presentation
Captain's Welcome Toast
Basketball Shootout
Slot Tounament
Bingo
Culinary Presentation
Texas Hold Em Tournament
Singles Luncheon
Alaskan Brewed Ale Tasting
Blackjack Tournament
Wine Tasting
Win a Cruise Bingo
Happy Hour
Westerdam Singers Show
And other activities

Regarding the Captain's Dinner they had a Welcome Toast on Day 2 (Sea Day) and a Master Chef's dinner on Day 6 in Ketchikan. Our formal nights were Day 2 at Sea and Day 5 at Sitka. I thought our fomal night would be Day 6 at Ketchikan since it was a short day but was told that the second formal night had been changed to split the second formal night from the Master Chef's night.

Day 1 (Pre-Cruise)

We had booked the Olympic Fairmont with HAL for July 4. My wife has MS and restricted to an electric wheelchair. I cannot say enough for all of the HAL employees who really went the extra mile to accomodate our needs. We arrived at the airport and were immediately greeted by HAL personal who arranged our transportation to the Fairmont. It is a very nice hotel which I would compare to the Peabody we have stayed in in Memphis. It was very hot in Seattle. Upper 80's and not what we were expecting. We walked to Pike's market and really enjoyed seeing everything. My wife is an elephant collector and purchased one made from the ashes of Mt. Saint Helen's. There are plenty of samples to take advantage of and the place was packed. Be sure to pick up some flowers ($10 - $15 ) for your room. We wished we had after seeing the fresh flowers that were provided in our cabin.

We ate at a local restaurant serving seafood and such and were not really impressed. I forget the name but it is tucked in the back. It was hard to enjoy our meal as many do not have strong air conditioning and again it was in the mid to upper 80's. I thought that the prices were high for the food provided and a coke was $1.50 for a can. No fountain soft drinks and no refills.

We saw the first Starbuck's and went to an Irish Pub that had good brew's and claimed to have the best Irish Whiskey Cake desert. Not very good. Walked around a bit and stopped at a local grocery to pickup some wine. Hiked back to the hotel encountering several homeless. Seattle seems to have more than other cities we have visited. We always help if we can but the number is Seattle seems overwhelming.

Went back to the hotel and had planned to attend the cities fireworks display but decided we were just too tired and went to bed to get ready for boarding day.

Have to stop here but will continue tomorrow and provide some of the details everyone enjoy's reading.

[dandro]

Thanks for your pre-cruise review.

$1.50 for a can of coke in a restaurant sounds like a bargain.

And as far as the homeless in Seattle, you haven't seen anything yet. Come to California and visit San Francisco, Sacramento, San Jose, Los Angeles, etc.


Looking forward to your actual cruise review. I loved the "Westy". :)

[oregongirl2009]

Thanks for the review so far. Any more for us? We leave in 8 days for our cruise on the Westerdam and am dying to hear your thoughts and see the menus/daily programs!

Thanks so much in advance. I know how much work goes into it. I (and everyone else) really do appreciate it!

:)

[Susie51]

OP, I will be cruising on Westerdam on Sept. 6, so I'm looking forward to reading your review.

Did you use the hydro pool and thermal suite? My mom, daughter and I plan to get the weekly pass. Was it crowded?

Vino100, have you checked out our roll call for Sept. 6?

[4104ever]

OP, I will be cruising on Westerdam on Sept. 6, so I'm looking forward to reading your review.

Did you use the hydro pool and thermal suite? My mom, daughter and I plan to get the weekly pass. Was it crowded?

Vino100, have you checked out our roll call for Sept. 6?

We sailed on the Westerdam, March 2008, Mother and 3 grown daughters. We got the weekly hydrotherapy and thermal suite pass and loved it. Not crowded at all and it was so relaxing to spend the late afternoon there after a long day in port. You will enjoy it immensely!!

[Susie51]

Thank you for your quick response. I'm glad to hear it won't be crowded.

[Rockymountainsparky]

What happened to day two?:confused:

[CalGal254]

Caraway, thanks for all the great info so far. If you have a way to scan and post a couple of dinner menus, that would be great! I wouldn't know how to do that myself, but I hope you do. :)

Can't wait to get up to Alaska again! It's coming up soon.

Happy sailing to all.