Bead Babe

The Tklinget natives run tours in Sitka. Much less cost if you want to see Fortress of the Bear and the Raptor center. It's a close-in bus ride and they have multiple buses. Not need to fear not getting back to the ship.

Yes I left the gratuities on my account. I had a $35 "promo" credit (not sure what that was for, but not going to look a gift horse in the mouth) and a $19 Alaska water credit. Yes, I had the automatic gratuities added to my account but with the credits, I only owed $47. I tipped the girl in the coffee café some extra cash the last day and left a $50 bill and a thank you note for my cabin steward, for exceptional service and for anticipating my every need. I don't know what everyone else tips but both of these service personnel seemed really pleased with the extra I gave them. I hadn't charged much on my trip. Holland America probably doesn't rate me very highly on their promotion list. :)

 

I have to say, I don't think on the Amsterdam, things could get much better. Service was fantastic. Smiles were everywhere. Honestly, except for the scrambled eggs in the Lido (blah), everything was clean and top notch. I was treated like royalty in my inside cabin and nothing was ever amiss. I was a happy cruiser. I'd go back today.

I was on the Amsterdam with you. The weather was wonderful and I loved our cruise. I agree with your review. I found the food excellent and the service wonderful. We had the anytime dining and ended up with the same table and service reserved upon request each night. Worked well for us. This was my first cruise and I have no other experience to compare but why would I want any other type of vacation? I want to go back next year and look forward to living and traveling long enough to be awarded 5 Mariner stars. Congratulations.

Just back from a 7 day cruise to Alaska on the Amsterdam. Had a SBP comped by the travel agent for every one in our beading group and it was great. Our group met next to the Explorations Café and I had some great coffee drinks, both hot and cold, every day. They had water and diet soda too. It was very convenient. We also used our beverage card for a cordial after dinner, cocktails everywhere on the ship, in fact it worked everywhere except on the gangway (no computer) and on the deck during glacier viewing (again, no computer.) I was able to get the house wine by the glass simply by asking what I could put on the card. We were told it worked for drinks up to $7 up to $50 charges a day, or 15 beverages (in case you were only drinking cokes and water.) The tip was automatically added to the card. I never exceeded the daily charge. There is a certain freedom that was very enjoyable knowing you could have a drink without it going on your shipboard account.

 

I only owed $47 on my final bill. We had a $35 credit promo and a $19 Alaska water tax refund. That was really nice too.

Thanks for the food bits. I'm really enjoying your review. I'm supposed to be doing preliminary packing but perhaps I work best under pressure. ;)

Do you post the really tasty items you try from the menu or is this too personal? Hoping to know what to order for dinner. It all sounds yummy and not the kind of thing I eat every day. I'm counting the days until my Amsterdam Alaska adventure. Please let me know if there is any menu item you really don't feel is up to par. Thanks so much.

I'll be on the Amsterdam on Sept. 7th so I'm looking forward to your review. Thanks for being there for us.

I just found out that the small beading group I'm joining for my cruise received a perk. The person that is in charge told us we have a $50/day "special drink package" (their quotation marks) and can use it for soft drinks, beer, wine and spirits under $7.00 per drink. We also get a meal at the Canaletto but must book it onboard, not online. Do you think this is the Signature Beverage Package or is there something else they give to small groups with a $50 limit?

 

I'm not really worried about it...just curious. I really don't think I can drink $50 worth of drinks per day and I'm thrilled that I won't have to count pennies if I want a drink.

 

Is it hard to book the Canaletto on board? Where do we do this and is it often booked up? Should we do this as soon as we get onboard or do we have time to think about it?

 

Thanks for the advice. I've learned so much on the boards of CC.

 

Pam

Virtually joining your adventure.

Pam

I leave for my cruise in 3 weeks. I will fly aboard a large tin can in the sky, breathe recycled air and sit next to someone I don't know, change planes in a big busy airport, eat some yucky airport fast food and may well be exposed to multiple germs that could cause miserable illnesses.

 

Later, I'll board a luxury hotel on a ship, breathe lovely sea air, eat gourmet food and see sights I've only dreamed of seeing and probably will never see again. I'll have memories that will last a lifetime. I will probably drink too much at least one night and will learn my lesson. I may be exposed to germs that I somehow avoided in the airport.

 

I have a chance that I'll be sick, maybe quite ill through some of this. Unless, it is a hemorrhagic fever I'm exposed to, I don't care. To answer the original questions, Yes, it's worth it.

Thanks for all the laundry tips. I'll launder the borrowed items when I get back home and probably send out casual clothes that I own for HAL to do. It's better to be safe than sorry and I won't care as much if something I own is damaged. No way I will iron anything on vacation. That's why they call it vacation.

I do not have enough clothing for a 12 day vacation, including pre and post cruise sightseeing. My job in the office of a western wear store has a dress code of jeans and boots and this is not what I want to wear on my cruise. I am borrowing clothing for the most part.

 

My cabinmate/friend and I are hoping to send our laundry out and split the cost of the "unlimited" laundry. Do they do a good job? There was an implied comment that made me wonder...certainly don't want to ruin some borrowed clothing.

As you walked around the town, were there benches or other seating available to rest?

Thanks for your help.

Thank you for posting! I am looking forward to my Alaskan cruise in Sept. I've been hoping for more information! I look forward to your full review and more pictures.

Ha! My first inclination after reading the above posts was to forget posting a review of my very first cruise, but now I think I'll come back on September 16th and post a long review so that all of you can revisit and imagine that it is your first adventure, all over again. All of the excitement, the nervousness, the wide-eyed wonder will be yours again! Not knowing exactly what to expect is just so exciting. I can hardly get a full night's sleep.

 

Alaska, MS Amsterdam in September. I will be there!

Best review I have read. Thanks for all the information on the ship and the Alaskan experience. It has been an enjoyable journey with you!

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

So happy to read your review and looking forward to my trip on the Amsterdam in 2014. A warm thanks for an entertaining review.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

I couldn't wait to get home from work and see if there was another installment of your review. Thanks for your efforts. Your review is just the type of review I want to read as I anticipate my first cruise. Very entertaining!