Cruisetour Meal Plan Option

[sckal]

We have booked on a Holland America Alaska Cruisetour in May 2007 on the Zaandam and were wondering if anyone who has taken on this year could advise us whether or not we should include the meal plan option? I understand food in Alaska is expensive, but $220 pp for 10 meals (5 being breakfast) seems a bit too high? Also, if we are finishing up in Anchorage and don't fly out until 4pm, is there a city tour we could take?

Just got off the Crown, while ship is beautiful we enjoy the small ambiance of the Holland America ships more and look forward to being back on board the Zaandam. Thanks for any help available

[obriendan]

We haven't taken this trip recently, but when we did in 1998 it certainly wasn't worth it. It cost $289 for 14 meals: Seven dinners, six breakfasts, and one lunch. Although prices may be expensive, in places like Skagway, Whitehorse, Dawson City, and Tok, there was a very limited choice of restaurants and they were mostly modest and not as expensive as the per meal charge of HAL's plan, especially for breakfast. We felt that we would have saved about $75 each and would have liked to be able to choose other restaurants in cities like Fairbanks and Anchorage.

[PlankOwnr]

We were on a cruisetour in 2003 and opted out of this plan and are glad we did. I noticed alot of folks on it got the most expensive items on the menu rather than something they wanted because it cost less. You are also limited in the number of restaurants which are mostly in hotels. We had the chance to wander the towns we were in and sample the local restaurants which were very good and not any more expensive than those in the lower 48. So my advice is to explore the areas and enjoy you trip!!!!

[sckal]

Thanks for the input. I usually am wary of such offers, especially since we are light eaters. My ony expensive output may be in the Denali lodges, and McKinley Explorer train, but I'm sure there are soups, salads, sandwiches, etc that will do just fine. Thanks again and hope to help you out with any future questions you may have for us.