Alaska on the Volendam Review July 2014

[kelly3399]

Have just returned from an Alaska cruise on board the Volendam and thought I would share a bit of a review. We are a couple in our mid 60s and have previously crossed the Atlantic on the QM2 and done the Canada/New England cruise aboard the Caribbean Princess. The Alaska trip has been talked about for over 20 years and we decided that now was the time. We did a 7 day return from Vancouver and chose the Volendam as I wanted to experience another cruise line and the ship looked like a perfect fit for us.

 

We booked with the bonus of a pre cruise night at the Pan Pacific Hotel and that was great. The hotel is right at the docks and they make embarkation easy by taking our bags over for us and walking us to the terminal from the underground parking area of the hotel. A very short wait later and we were aboard and in our stateroom. It was an AA Verandah deck room on the starboard side forward. It looked exactly as the pictures on the website. No surprises. It was large and clean. The bathroom was quite large with a small tub but that meant a very big shower. Lots of grab rails for safety and a medicine cabinet too.

 

The casino was small and never very full. Slots were tight and winning payouts were very small. Tables were mostly empty except Blackjack got busier at night. The movies were shown in the Wajang Theater on deck 4. It was a small theater with poor quality acoustics and picture but was entertainment for a couple of hours and they supplied free popcorn. The main production shows were held in the lovely Frans Hal Lounge on decks 4&5. All the performances there were top notch. Assorted bars seemed to be popular places to be and music was great. Shopping was the usual ship stores with jewellery and souvenirs. Lots of the Alaskan items were clearly marked Made in China or Indonesia. We wanted totem poles and ULU knives so we bought them in ports with the Made in Alaska symbol on them.

 

Food in both the main dining room and the Lido was very good. Food is a very subjective thing so that is all I will say about it. The dress code was quite interesting. Maybe I am spoiled by the QM2 where formal is a tux or dark suit. Here most of the women seemed to have gotten the memo but formal to the men seemed to mean - please try to look a little neater than you did earlier today. There were a few tuxes, a few dark suits and the vast majority was everything else - other coloured suits, no jackets, no ties, golf shirts, t-shirts, etc. No one was turned away. And those who dressed seemed to change back after eating.

 

Excursions were booked through the ship even though it cost more this way. I like the idea that should something occur, bus trouble, weather, or whatever, that the ship will still be at the dock waiting for us. It probably has to do with my age as if I were younger and more adventurous I wouldn't care, BUT with age comes wisdom, and that wisdom tells me I don't want to be on someones youtube video running and screaming down the dock as the ship pulls away.

Juneau has everything literally right at the dock. Huge lineup to get off ship so if you have an early excursion get in line early. Went to Mendenhall glacier, a salmon hatchery and enjoyed a salmon bake.

Skagway did bus up mountain and White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad back down. If taking train down sit on the right hand side for the views or you will be looking at the side of the mountain instead. They let you out on the platform between cars to take pictures as well. Dog mushers village is fun with cute cuddly puppies. The dog-cart ride is a little expensive but where else can you do it.

Ketchikan has the lumberjack show which was good. Sit higher up in the seats as the first couple of rows will get wet if it rains, and Ketchikan gets 13 feet of rain in a year. Everything is right at the docks again.

 

My best advice would be to get a balcony room if you can afford one. No you will not spend all day in there but when you do there is something to see. Got up one morning and as we were about to go to breakfast we noticed whales, lots and lots of them not far from the ship. In Glacier bay we shuffled between on deck, lido deck, Crow's Nest and our balcony. We were on deck while port side was facing the glacier and then when the captain swung the ship to starboard side facing them we went to our balcony for a private vantage point.

 

Oh and they had a salmon bake by the Lido pool at lunch on the last day. That was great.

 

So we had a FANTASTIC vacation aboard a WONDERFUL ship. All the crew and staff were first class with smiles and friendliness to all. Even when leaving the ship, there was about 10 members from the different departments saying goodbye and thanking us for sailing with Holland America. Please come again they said....and WE WILL!

[cbr663]

Thank you for your wonderful review. We also sailed to Alaska on the Volendam in late April - early May and had a wonderful experience. I highly recommend the cruise. It is an experience unlike any other.

 

Now we just have to take a leap of faith and venture on the Canada New England cruise.

[thetexasaggiecruiser]

I like the idea that should something occur, bus trouble, weather, or whatever, that the ship will still be at the dock waiting for us. It probably has to do with my age as if I were younger and more adventurous I wouldn't care, BUT with age comes wisdom, and that wisdom tells me I don't want to be on someones youtube video running and screaming down the dock as the ship pulls away.

 

LOL! Good point.

 

Thanks for posting your review, and glad you enjoyed your cruise.

[MsFancyFree]

Thanks for this ... I'm doing the same cruise starting July 30th, so this great info.

[rkacruiser]

Thank you for your excellent review!

 

I have enjoyed 3 long cruises aboard the Volendam and am extremely fond of this ship. She is a good seaboat in rough weather, her floral decor theme is most pleasant, and has always had a most welcoming, positive crew and officers.

 

I am pleased that you really had a great cruise experience!

[POA1]

Thanks for the review, Kelly! Enjoyable read.

[mort&fran]

Thanks for the insightful review. I'm always amazed - pleasantly - when someone packs valuable info into few words.

[Typhoon1]

Great review. Thanks for taking the time to share.

[KirkNC]

Thanks for the report!

[PathfinderEss]

Thanks for taking the time to write and post a review of your Alaskan cruise on the Volendam. So glad to hear you had a good cruise.

[Keith1010]

I very much enjoyed your review and so glad you had a fantastic time.

 

Keith

[erewhon]

Thank you for reviewing your Alaskan Volendam cruise.

Pleased that you had a fantastic cruise.

 

We are counting down the days until we once again board the Volendam.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thank you for your review.

Glad you had a wonderful Alaskan cruise.

[puppycanducruise]

Thanks for posting your review.

Glad you had a good cruise.