mjcruise101

Trish   thanks for posting your complete review.   6 of us are on the HAL Zaandam Sept 13-24 Canada New England cruise and starting to look at ports and excursions. We like taking excursions by local tour operators.  Your review will really help. We are spending a few days in Boston and Montreal. I am going to post the link on our roll call. 

6 of us are on the Sept 13-24 HAL Zaandam, Canada-New England cruise. We have never sailed on the Zaandam, but sailed on the Amsterdam which was the sister ship until it was sold. We loved the Amsterdam, small by cruise ship standards, about 1400 passengers. Great service. Only the smaller ships go all the way to Montreal. Larger ships can only go to Quebec City.  I spent time in Toronto a long time ago and the fall is a great time to visit. 

3 hours ago, jdavid said:

The Fortress and the Bell Museum are in two different directions so you should pick one or the other. I can check with a friend who lives in the area to see if they will give you a privately guided tour. Email me at jimdavid224 at gmail dot com

Just happen to see your post, starting to look at excursions. We like to take local tours instead of ships tours. Jim there are 6 of us going on HAL Zaandam scheduled to be in Halifax on Sept 16, 2023,Arrives 8 departs 6 so plenty of time. I'll email you. Interested in tour. do you have any information on line.

Michael Giblin

Zaandam-18-FEB-23- 14 day Panama Canal

MJCruise101

We hiked Deer Mountain trail in July 2017 while on a cruise. Earlier in this tread or another there was a discussion about getting to the trail head and hiking from the Totem Heritage Center. We wound up taking a cab ( Rick, Yellow Cab 907-617-4594, Dispatch 907-225-5555 )from the port to the trail head and glad we did. It is steep road up in a residential area up to the trailhead.  The trail is in dense rainforest growth. Make sure you wear insect repellant. It is real quiet, not many hikers. The trail is well marked. After about 45 minutes, we hear rustling in the brush and though, oh no bears, but it turned out to be 3 young men working for the forest service doing work on the trail.  They said there are bears, but they had never seen any, they avoid  humans.  The first outlook is about a 1 mile up the trail, Nice views. We turned around before the top because the bugs were getting to us.  Overall a nice hike for 2-3 hours. 

As DaveOKC stated the 14day RT Alaska cruise out of Seattle  goes to ports that the 7 day cruise don't go.  We went in 2017 on the Amsterdam. Anchorage was great, we hiked Flattop Mountain. The cruise goes through the gulf of Alaska to Homer and Kodiak where very few cruise ships go. In Kodiak, we toured an old WWII army camp. Also Homer was interesting. Check out Trip Advisor, there are a lot of 5 star local tour operators in all the Alaska ports . At Icy Strait Point we went whale watching with Glacier Winds. Only 6 people compare to the ship excursion that uses a 50-60 passenger boat.  The glaciers and scenery is spectacular.

Julie  I just happen to be reviewing HAL posts for our next cruise and saw your  post. We went to Alaska last year on a 14 day HAL Amsterdam. It was great and we chose it because it went to Kodiak and Homer across the gulf of Alaska where most the cruise ships don't go. I just looked at the 2019 Eurodam itinerary and it go to Ketchikan, Sika and Juneau.  Nice ports but I am not sure how much wild life viewing there is. In Juneau they have an excursion to Mehdenhall glacier, and Nugget falls really nice. If you are adventuresome, instead of taking the excursion offered by the cruise line, we took the white bus, Juneau tours rt to the glacier for $30. each. Much cheaper. They have a pick up right at the port. Look at some of the reviews on Trip Advisor for each port, there is some real good information that might include wildlife viewing. if you can afford the time, I really recommend the 14 day Alaska cruise. Also there is a 7 day cruise RT Seattle on the Oosterdam  that has the same ports as the Eurodam but also cruises the Hubbard Glacier that is spectacular. Good luck. We love Holland America, medium size ships with great service. Next year, we are off to Iceland on the Zuiderdam I found part of my review, some of the information pertains to the Amsterdam  but has information on Juneau.

Review of 14 day Alaska cruise7-3-17.docx

Jacqui

Please delete the HAL Zuiderdam July 5-19 2019 14 day Northern Isle cruise. It was cancelled along with many other HAL cruise when they sold the Prinsendam. We are now booked on the June 10-24, 2019 14 day HAL Zuiderdam Northern Isle cruise

The July 5, 2019 Zuiderdam 14 day Northern Isle cruise out of Copenhagen was cancelled about 3 weeks ago. Many of us have transferred to the June 10, 14 day Zuiderdam cruise with almost the same itinerary. There is a roll call for it. As far as different fares, There is a $ 600 deposit offer and the deposit is non-refundable. There is also a fare with beverage package and specialty dinner package but it is $500-or $ 600 more than just there normal $1200 deposit per couple.

As far as whale watching, we really liked Glacier Winds Charter in Icy Strait Point. Small boat, only holds 6 persons. Real personal. You really get a sense of being in a small boat on the ocean. We saw whales and the coolest was two Orcas just cruising along. The 6 of us all agreed, that even if we wouldn't have seen any whales it was the best excursion. Mostcruise lines use Allan Marine. They use large boats ( 50-75 persons) crowded, impersonal. Check out the reviews on Trip Advisor. GlacierWinds fill fast, they only have one boat. Reserve on their website.

We took a Alaska cruise in 2017. Based on Trip Advisorreviews we took the White bus (Juneau tours) to Mendenhall Glacier. The busstop is right at the cruise ship terminal and leaves every 30 minutes, takesabout 20 minutes. They return to the ship every 30 minutes all day long. Costwas 30 RT and included entrance fees. We bought the tickets online, just googleJuneau tours. Make sure sign up for the shuttle not the tour bus. Based on idahospud post, maybe the price has gone up but they alsohave a tour bus I think that is 45 RT. When you get Mendenhall Glacier, there are two nice easy hikes both fromthe visitor center. The most popular oneis Nugget Falls, nice and easy, flat, about 45 minutes RT. We like the trail oftime, hardly anyone takes it. Takes about 45-1 hr and has markers that shows where the glacieruse to reach. At one point, it shows Calvin Coolidge in a parking lot at theedge of the Glacier in the 1920’s that is now 5 miles from where the glacier isnow.

Wedid the 14 day cruise on the HAL Amsterdam in 2017 and use local tours and onour own. We like to hike and there are some nice easy hikes in Juneau. Take theWhite bus (Juneau tours) to Mendenhall Glacier. The bus stop is right at thecruise ship terminal and leaves every 30 minutes, takes about 20 minutes. They returnto the ship every 30 minutes all day long. Cost was 30 RT and included entrancefees. We bought the tickets online, just google Juneau tours. Also you can seetheir reviews in Trip Advisor. No need to take the ships excursions. The hiketo nugget falls was nice about 45 minutes RT from the visitor’s center. The hike we like best was the trail of timefrom the visitors center, took about an hour. There were stop along the trailthat showed where the glacier was during the early 1900. Some very interestinginformation and hardly any other hikers on the tail. As far as whale watching, we really likes Icy Strait Points. TookGlacier Winds Charter. Small boat, only holds 6 persons. Real personal. Mostcruise lines use Allan Marine. They use large boats ( 50-75 persons) crowded, in personal. Check out the reviews on Trip Advisor. Glacierwinds fill fast, they only have one boat. Reserve on their website

We reserved a refrigerator on the Amsterdam and Zuiderdam, $2.00 a day and well worth it. Forget the minibar. Also the advantage of getting a refrigerator is you get an extension cord with gives you a few more outlets. I have seen posts about bringing a power strip or extension cord. Not allowed and they will remove them.

Thank you for sharing the pictures, we are taking the July 5, 2019 Norway Iceland cruise and really looking forward to visiting Bergen.

We booked the July 5, 2019 Northern Isle Zuiderdam on March 9, just paid the $1200 deposit and trip insurance through our TA. There was a special about paying 1/2 deposit but it was non refundable. Nothing about paying in full.

Thank for your review. The information really helps. We are taking the Zuiderdam on 14 day Northern Isles cruise on July 5, 2019 . We were on the Amsterdam 14 day Alaska cruise last year and loved it so we thought we would chance another HAL cruise.

Many people have complained about the lack of outlets in the cabins. Usually there is only one sometimes two. I was told no power strips allowed when we travel on the Amsterdam last summer We rented a refrigerator for 2.00 a day and with that they give you an extension cord that has extra outlets that can be used. Problem solved.

Thanks for the information, we are taking this cruise on the Zuiderdam July 5 2019. Went to Alaska, July 2017 on the Amsterdam. The weather was nice in most ports 60-70 F. but found on sea days and evenings the ship is a little cool for my wife. We live in Southern Calif. She plans to bring more winter clothes for this cruise. I hope some of the cruisers taking this cruise in 2018 will post reviews. They are a great help in planning.

Hi Roy

We are booked on July 5, 2019 Zuiderdam, 14-day Northern Isles cruise to Norway and Iceland.

In 2017, took the 14 day cruise to Alaska on the Amsterdam and enjoyed it so much that we booked this cruise.

Cruise Mob

We did this cruise in 2017, Great cruise, The 14 day cruisegoes up to Homer and Kodiak where most cruise ships don’t go. There were several groups of teens on ourcruise, maybe 15-20 total that we noticed. They seem to find each other and enjoythemselves. They often hung out on the sports and pool deck onsea days. Also they often hung together during the evening Queens loungeshows. If you like to hike there weremany good hikes that we did on our own, no need to take the ships excursions. InJuneau, take the white bus Juneau tours to Mendenhall Glacier, nice hike toNugget falls. The best hike was Flattop Mt in Anchorage. It was a beautiful sunny day and there were lots of local young peoplein short and Tee shirts hiking. About 2 hr hike up and back. Took a shuttle. Ifyou look at the reviews in trip advisor, it is the most popular hike in Alaska.Review trip advisor and cruise critic for each port. We found lots of helpful information.We liked Holland American so much that next year taking the cruise to Norway and Iceland and the Amsterdam through the Panama Canal in January.

Just off the Amsterdam 2 week Alaska cruise. Great cruise. Has a very nice library and reading area with windows to look at the great Alaskan scenery. Lots of recent best sellers, a wide variety of subjects and lots of magazines. I left a book that I brought. No librarian, as some mentioned. Just take a book and put it back when finished. Also a nice card room and there was a side room with a group of people working on puzzles.

For those planning on hiking Deer Mountain trail. Melinda mentioned the free shuttle from the dock to Totem Heritage Park then walk the 1/2 mile to the trailhead. For some reason I wasn't able to paste the link, but if you Google free shuttle in Ketchikan there is a PDF of the shuttle loop stops and time operating.

Melinda

Thank you for the information. I think we are going to do Deer Mountain. We've hiked a lot in Zion and Bryce canyon. We are coming on the Amsterdam July 5, and will be in port from 8-5 so we have plenty of time. If it is raining hard, we will just walk around and see the Discovery Center where my nephew works and visit some of the museums I really appreciate you and other cruise critic cruisers posting information, it really helps. :)

To answer Karima J and Hsmama question on possible hikes. There are lots of good reviews on Rainbird trail, 2.6 miles RT about 2 hrs. Easy to get to from the docks and not very difficult . No need to rent a car. Also Deer Mountain but most reviews say you have to be in good shape and it is a pretty strenuous climb also 4 miles RT but most reviews say it takes 4-5 hr.

Melinda, since you have hiked it twice, how long does it take RT from the trailhead to the 2nd overlook hiking at an easy pace.

Thanks Melinda. The information really helps. We do a lot of hiking in Zion, Bryce and the Grand Canyon and really looking forward to hiking in Alaska. I like the idea of just going on are own or taking local tours. My nephew is a US forest service ranger in Ketchikan and we plan to visit him and get some ideas.