Volandamm

[TylerRose]

Hi All
Haven't checked this board in ages!
Hope all are well.
Beginning to prepare for our yearly cruise. This year we're back to Alaska... AGAIN!
We're back to back on July 20, July 27: Volandamm.
First visit to Icy straight point.
Any one have recommendations?
Any one on board those weeks?
Any new tips for HAL?
Robyn

[jtl513]

Here is a Roll Call (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=550364)for the Volendam for 7/20. There's just two couples on it so far, and they are both b2b like you. :)

[FLACRUISER99]

Hi All
Haven't checked this board in ages!
Hope all are well.
Beginning to prepare for our yearly cruise. This year we're back to Alaska... AGAIN!
We're back to back on July 20, July 27: Volandamm.
First visit to Icy straight point.
Any one have recommendations?
Any one on board those weeks?
Any new tips for HAL?
RobynWe are one of the the two couples going B2B the same 2 weeks.

[BumperII]

Like you, we just can't get enough of Alaska. We too will be doing the Volendam b2b on the August 17 and 24 sailings. This will be our fourth b2b to Alaska out of Vancouver.

We did this cruise on the Statendam last year and were in Icy Straight point twice. The whale watching tour is excellent, but there were literally hundreds of whale sightings from the ship at anchor.

We went ashore both times. On the return stop, we took the tram ride through the temperate rain forest and along the shore line. We saw twenty or thirty whales within fifty yards of the shore line. It was the closest we've ever been to a whale. We liked the tram well enough that we will be doing that excursion again this cruise.

Icy Straight is just being developed as a cruise stop, so it is still pretty pristine. They don't have all the diamond shops, but they have a family run food concession with an excellent chowder. The souvineer shops are reasonably priced. Just being there makes one feel good.

Sitka was a first visit for us. It is a small town, you can walk every place you want to go right from the tender dock. The only disappointment was the bus ride. Their "luxury coachs" are actually dilapadated 1980s school buses rescued from recycling centers in the lower forty eight. Anyway, we will not again pay the $100.00 pp fee for that excursion.

Like I said, this is our fourth back to back Alaska cruise. We have enjoyed every port on every cruise, great excursions, great float planes and great boat rides for wild life, whale watching and dungeness crab fishing. The greatest show on earth is right outside your window.

Good Lord willing and the creek don't rise, we intend to do this cruise every summer in retirement.

Bon Voyage!!!

[ChasingMyDreams]

My first cruise will be on the Volendam, July 27. I've been reading these boards and really appreciate all the information. I've based our itinerary on many of the suggestions and reviews posted. I'm confident it's going to be a fun vacation!

I must admit that I was getting a little nervous when I didn't see anyone here stating that they would be on the Volendam. Hope to see you on board!

[Len3]

We were on the Volendam for the March 13th sailing - 10 days from FLL. This was our first cruise with HAL. We had a grand time. The cabins are larger than we've seen on any other line (NCL, RCCL, Princess). The food and service were wonderful. My only reservation was that we were confirmed for the early dinner seating and actually assigned to the late seating. We tried to get this changed but couldn't. Ending dinner at 10:30PM just didn't work for us. With HAL, nothing much is happening onboard after about 10:00PM and going to bed on a totally full tummy doesn't make for a good nights sleep, plus it's not very healthy. Even with Alaska and having daylight until very late, my suggestion would be to try for the early seating. We won't cruise again with HAL unless we can be guaranteed by HAL (not a TA) that we have the early seating.