Back from Alaska on the Volendam

[andigene]

Just returned from a week in Alaska 8/9/06 - 8/16/06 on the Volendam (Vancouver to Vancouver). The ship was very clean, Purell dispensers everywhere and they make you "wash" your hands whenever entering the ship or dining roooms. the library internet cafe was the nicest I have seen, and the new beds/pillows/sheets were very comfortable. Alaska was fabulous, did 3 tours through the cruiseline which were great - Whale watching in Juneau, Helicopter Pilots Choice with 2 glacier landings in Skagway, and Misty Fjords flightplane in Ketchikan. The weather was perfect, as we just hit a little rain in 1 day in Juneau, but the whale watching boat was covered and visibility was fine. We found no problems at the Vancouver airport or going through customs there back to the states with the new security situation. In order to pack up some last minute liquid items, I used one of our carryons and checked it in instead, and then used the tiny tops from the containers of film to place liquid makeup, vaseline, etc.! To sum up my first cruise with Holland America: Had I not taken a cruise with Celebrity before, I would rate Holland America excellent, however I feel it is "beneath" Celebrity and just above Royal Caribbean. This was the only cruise I was on (out of 8 prior cruises) where I was not able to get a shrimp cocktail at dinner, even though it was not on the menu, other than on 1 night. My waiter was creative by ordering 3 seafood appetizers that happened to have one shrimp on each, and placed the 3 shrimps on a separate plate with a bowl of cocktail sauce. But he said that I would have to order one a day in advance. The food was good, but not the best, especially the dinners, but didn't go starving. We ate in the Pinnacle Grill once, and I had a porterhouse steak which was excellent. The volcano cake at the Pinnacle that everyone talks about was just too drippy. They gave the recipe in the cooking demonstration, along with shrimp bruscetta which was quite good and very easy to make. The ice cream bar during lunch usually offered free liquors on top, a nice touch. The "free hot chocolate" out on the deck durng the cold morning cost $6. No "welcoming" on board with champagne as on Celebrity. The "mixology" class was cancelled due to "less than 10 people". I was looking forward to learning how to make all those good martinis. Everyone was very friendly. We are in our 50's, the others in their 80's (mom's 85th birthday celebration), brother and sister in law 50's and 60, my niece 30, boyfriends' daughter 16. There was plenty to do onboard during sailing days, but though I don't mind, it is not a "party" ship. Dress walm in layers and spend the days outside. Nice deck blankets to wrap around or sit on the cushioned wooden chaises. The scenery is spectacular. Saw glacial calving! The shows were the usual, heard the pianist was excellent, but I missed most of them. The naturalist on board is not to be missed. Announcements during the day of whale sitings, etc. Still recovering from jet lag, so if any questions, feel free to ask and I will answer them.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Even though you are still going through jet lag, thanks for taking the time to post your review.

[thomasale]

I am a little nervous about your take as I too am a Celebrity fan...but number 2 isn't too bad now is it? It sounds like you had a great time. We will be doing the Southern carribbean and am looking forward to it tremendously. Which are your favorite Celebrity ships???

[Tinknock50]

Glad you enjoyed yourself ...and thanks for posting.:)

[kikiwik]

$6.00 for hot chocolate!!! are you kidding me?

[gizmo]

Thanks for the review. I enjoyed reading it.

$6.00 for HOT CHOCOLATE :eek:

I thought it was complimentary.

[Roz]

I thought it was $6 if you got booze in it.

Good review...simple and to the point.

Roz

[Ferry Watcher]

Was your cruise scheduled Wednesday to Wednesday? Would you say that you had fewer cruise ships in ports that you were visiting because of the midweek departure? Were many of the people on the ship cruise/tour passengers and were disembarking in Alaska to continue on the land based part of their trip?

Would you recommed a Wed-Wed cruise?

Thanks

[RuthC]

Ferry Watcher, may I take the liberty of answering? I was on the Volendam 7/12-19/06.

I liked the Wednesday-Wednesday cruise as it seemed there were fewer cruisers descending on each port at a time. There was one huge Princess ship in Juneau when we arrived; I can't remember another ship in Skagway; there was one or two in Ketchikan, with one anchored later.
I get the feeling this was not as crowded as others have experienced.

We lost many passengers in Skagway, then gained as many that afternoon. Since it was such a short cruise, though, it was impossible to figure how big the turnover was. My dinner table was passengers doing the full week, so there was no turnover there.

[Bucky3]

Thanks for reviewing your cruise. We were on this cruise in May, our second cruise with HA and the first on that class of ship. We really liked the Wednesday-Wednesday schedule. We were also on the RT cruise. The size of our B cabin and bath was wonderful, and the Crow's Nest was the perfect place for early/late Alaska viewing in MHO. And, on our cruise, there was FREE hot chocolate up there early on the morning we arrived in Glacier Bay. Never cruised Celebrity, but we loved the Volendam's size and deck layout especially for Alaska. We loved not having to leave our cabin until our "number" was called on that last morning, and we loved the wonderful room service full breakfast we were able to have on that morning.

[KAYEF]

I, too, thought the hot chocolate is FREE unless there's booze in it..........
Guess I'll find out in just a very few days!

[OldCodger73]

Ferry Watcher, our experience about ships in port and passangers getting on and off in Skagway echoed that of Ruth C on our Volendam July 5-12, 2006 cruise.

[andigene]

The only Celebrity I have been was a couple of years ago, on the Century to the Caribbean, and loved it. I have spoken to others (in real life) who felt the same way about the Celebrity as I did. So I have really only 1 to compare the Holland America to, but to add, on the Celebrity, in the "Lido" there were waiters lined up during lunchtime to take my tray, (with a white linen cloth on it, and linen napkin), asked me what I would like to drink, brought me an iced tea, and asked me where I would like to sit. And being in my early 50's and healthy, that was the usual. That happened once on this trip, and not every day either for my mom who is 85. Those are extra nice touches. As far as the $6 hot chocolate is concerned, I did not ask about it, but was told that there was no choice, and nothing was mentioned about liquor. My boyfriend's 16 year old daughter wanted hot chocolate and was disappointed and my 60 year old brother also asked for it. And you did not get to keep the cup. That was not like the drinks are $4.25, but in a special glass they are $6.75. The split pea soup served outside was free, and my parents said that it was the best split pea soup they had ever had. The Wednesday to Wednesday was great, and was not as crowded. Even the tour guides said so. There was either 1 or 2 ships in each port besides ours, and when there was 3, ours never did. I know there is a site that you can see which ships are with you and where you dock, but I don't recall now where you find that. Some passengers did get off in Skagway, and others got on, but I did not notice any great numbers either way. We were just our family at the table for 8. I also liked the size our the Volendam, just a little smaller than the Celebrity Century.

[Tinknock50]

I don't know that I have ever seen free Hot Chocolate outside on a HAL ship while viewing the glaciers. I had the free split pea soup and it was great. I did buy hot chocolate in a souveneer insulated cup while watching the calving in Glacier Bay last year on the Veendam.

[venicecruiser]

thomasale - For what its worth, I used to be a Celebrity fan. After being onboard Volendam last March, I've come back to HAL....

Claudia

[Sage]

I'm so glad that you enjoyed my favorite ship the Volendam. We loved the RT cruise from Vancouver, but unfortunately, the Volendam will not be making that run next year. I believe the Zaandam will be doing the RT Vancouver instead.

[Ferry Watcher]

Thanks to everyone who answered my Wednesday - Wednesday question.

I am thinking of doing the Zaandam next summer which will be 'replacing' the Volendam. Your answers are increasing my desire to do the Wed-Wed cruise.

Did you folks have to book early for a suite or verandah, or did rooms open up as the year went on?

Thanks,
Mary

[robntawn]

I don't know that I have ever seen free Hot Chocolate outside on a HAL ship while viewing the glaciers. I had the free split pea soup and it was great. I did buy hot chocolate in a souveneer insulated cup while watching the calving in Glacier Bay last year on the Veendam.

Interesting...On our Volendam Alaska cruise last August, there was free hot cocoa and coffee while at Tracy Arm and Glacier Bay. There WAS a charge for the insulated mug and/or alcohol drinks.

[Tinknock50]

Interesting...On our Volendam Alaska cruise last August, there was free hot cocoa and coffee while at Tracy Arm and Glacier Bay. There WAS a charge for the insulated mug and/or alcohol drinks.

That is interesting....was there a stand outside serving free cocoa?

Also, I will report back after my September 8th Zaandam cruise to say wether they did it or not.

[robntawn]

That is interesting....was there a stand outside serving free cocoa?

Also, I will report back after my September 8th Zaandam cruise to say wether they did it or not.

We had coffee and cocoa from the same location that sold the alcohol drinks and insulated cups, but got it in regular cup instead. I will be onboard the Volendam on 8/23/06 and will report my findings as well.

[Bucky3]

If you want a balcony cabin on any of HA's smaller ships, book as soon as possible. We booked in June of '05 for our May '06 cruise and category B was sold out a couple of weeks later when friends booked. I understand booking for '07 in a balcony is difficult right now.

[robntawn]

We had coffee and cocoa from the same location that sold the alcohol drinks and insulated cups, but got it in regular cup instead. I will be onboard the Volendam on 8/23/06 and will report my findings as well.

OK, we're back and here's some feedback. Our day at Tracy Arm was wet, cold, and drizzly. They served hot cocoa in the Crow's Nest but I did not see anyone on the bow of the ship like last year. To be fair, we accessed the bow from the port side of the Frans Hals lounge, so they may have been in the starboard alcove area. They had 2 different types of HAL logo mugs for sale ($18 and $6) with free hot cocoa refills the entire cruise. I asked specifically about free cocoa in a cup, and they said it could be done, but I never saw any cups available so who knows?

Glacier Bay was also cool and misty, and they had a booth set up in the Crows Nest and the startboard alcove area of the bow. Logo cups were being sold as mentioned above, and this time I was told that cocoa was for those cups only, and it was NOT available for free.

I will post a review in the near future, but this trip was marked FREQUENTLY by poor communication and shoddy implementation of policy. I got so many different answers to my questions that it actually became comical as the cruise progressed.

[doninla]

We were on the same cruise and enjoyed it very much. I would give Holland an A+ for the ease of embarkation. Checked the luggage in LA and didn't see it again till it arrived in our room. Holland had many representatives at the Vancouver airport to make it very simple to get to the ship. I had heard horror stories from people about long lines and problems getting on board, but this was a pleasure. I really couldn't believe how easy the embarkation was. Getting off the ship in Vancouver was just as easy.
I thought our room was excellent, the bed, perfect, and the bathroom very large for a ship. Room service in the morning was right on time. Even with poor weather in Tracy Arms and Glacier Bay, it was a pleasure to sip our morning coffee on our balcony. I thought the food was fair at best, except in the Pinnacle where I had one of the best steaks I have ever eaten. The service was top notch there too. The chef's dinner in the main dining room (Dutch Night) was a disappointment.
I agree with robntawn in that the communication could have been much better. It seems every time we asked a question to a member of the staff, their answer was "they weren't sure because this was their first time on the Volendam". All in all I was very pleased with the cruise and would recommend the Volendam highly, though not to an under 50 crowd.

Don