Westerdam Alaska Review, june 11-18, 2006

[mozart1999]

Westerdam, Alaskan Explorer

June 11-18, 2006

Seattle roundtrip

Itinerary and Weather :

Seattle ..... Partially Cloudy

At Sea ..... Cloudy

Yakutat Bay ..... Sun Shine (Glorious Day)

Juneau ..... Morning Sun Shine – Afternoon Cloudy – Evening Rain

Sitka ..... Partially Cloudy

Ketchikan ..... Cloudy

Victoria ..... Cloudy

Seattle ..... Sun Shine

Background : I’m in my late 40´s and travel with my DW, MIL and SIL, I’m from Mexico (so my english is not that good). This was my 6th. cruise (3 Princess, 2 HAL and 1 Carnival). I have been reading this boards for the last 4 months, so my expectations for this cruise where very high.

If You add to the high expectations I get from this boards the fact that in my family We don’t have children and have a good children-less budget to travel (You know what I’m taking about) and like to have a good use of it, so, I consider my self a travel and food enthusiastic that really enjoy everything and is very positive about all new experiences.

WHY CHOOSE THIS CRUISE : We want to visit Seattle, Sitka and Hubbard Glacier and cruise with HAL, so this was perfect for Us.

Now to my expectations and what I can tell about this cruise now (only experiences I lived for better or worse) :

MUCH, MUCH, MUCH, REALLY, MUCH BETTER THAN EXPECTED :

1.- Hubbard Glacier (new for Us). (Now my favorite glacier over those in Glacier Bay).

2.- The quality, variety and presentation of the food. (One of the best week-long dinning experiences in my life, just stay away from the carbs).

3.- The cold soups, Smoked Salmon with bagel and cream chess for breakfast and Bread pudding with vanilla cream.

BETTER THAN EXPECTED :

1.- The aft. Corner balcony (!!! Greeeeat ¡¡¡).

2.- The Westerdam Layout and design (easy to adapt and walk, never crowded).

3.- The Casino. (1-cent slot machines …… and You can actually win).

4.- The beds. (a good night sleep all week).

5.- Room service.

6.- Hot and cold hors d´oeuvers served in Your Suite.

7.- Laundry service. (Suite perk).

8.- The Concierge. (Suite perk).

9.- Embarkation and Disembarkation.

10.- St. Lazaria Island in Sitka (lot of birds with a great National Geographic rough sea experience) (Capt. Davey Lubin tour).

AS EXPECTED :

1.- The aft. corner suite.

2.- The Westerdam Crew.

3.- Live music on board.

4.- Sitka (new for Us).

5.- Seattle (new for Us).

WORST THAN EXPECTED :

1.- Capitan Larry Whale Tour in Juneau. (begin late and end early, only 3 not cooperating whales).

2.- Wildlife (almost no wildlife all week, but that is life).

3.- Yakutat Bay cruising. (not even close to Glacier Bay cruising).

4.- The seas. (rough always at sea days and from port to port, but that too is life, but unexpected and not welcome).

5.- The Westerdam shows (except for the juggler comedian).

6.- Formal nights. (Tux´s less than 10% and a lot of color and sports jackets. HAL is going more casual, at least in Alaska).

7.- Neptune Lounge. (Suite perk).(why can anybody go there instead of staying on their balcony or suite or order room service or else).

8.- Suite Lunch, Suite Cocktail reception and Mariners reception.

9.- The Butchart Gardens Ship´s Tour in Victoria. (Always running).

MUCH WORST THAN EXPECTED :

1.- The route (itinerary).

118 at sea hrs. + 6 Yakutat bay cruising hrs. + 33 Alaskan port hrs. + 5 Seattle hrs. (Too much open rough seas and not that scenic like inside passage).

Conclusions:

-Even with the rough seas and less scenic views, this was the best cruise of all 6.

-Never going to do the Seattle route again, Cruising Alaska is the inside passage and in/out of Vancouver.

-Next cruise will be with HAL, hope in the Noordam.

-This was the last time I do tours in Alaska, next time just walk the ports (this was my 4th. time in Alaska).

-Next time I will go casual all week, sorry, but the lido is very good and ….. is casual by HAL standards.

-I will never go less than a mini-suite.

-I always will fly a day early.

-Next time will start my pre-cruise diet one month earlier (I only gain 2 pounds, but like to eat more carbs next cruise).

All in All, a great vacation ….. Thank You CC´s.

[vie lee]

Thank You for taking the time to post your review. We just today booked the Westerdam for Sept 17th to celebrate our 25th wedding ann. This is our 5th time to Alaska, but our first time on this ship. Was very interested in very thing you said. We are a little worried about the weather, but that's how it fell for our 25th, so we are keeping our fingers crossed.

Vie Lee

[Old As Dirt Mom]

Buenas Tardes, Sr. Mozart:

 

Muchas gracias for your review:) Your English is mucho better than my Spanish! I liked the way you categorized your experiences. We also are going with Captain Davey Lubin of the Esther G Sea Taxi in Sitka. Do I understand correctly, that you did not care for the Butchart Gardens tour because you had to keep running in order to see everything, or to keep up with the tour guide? Unfortunately, it seems as if the stop in Victoria is quite short, and really doesn't allow enough time to enjoy this very friendly and lovely city with all it has to offer.

[krewzin]

Thanks for the review!

 

Could you explain this a little more:

 

"7.- Neptune Lounge. (Suite perk).(why can anybody go there instead of staying on their balcony or suite or order room service or else)."

 

Thanks!

[grannynurse]

Hi vie lee,

I finally found someone who will be on our cruise on 9/17. Welcome. I started a roll call on the roll call Westerdam board several weeks ago. Please visit the board and sign on. We can chat over there.

GN

[grannynurse]

Mozart,

I think your English is spectacular! I wish I could speak and write in a second language as well as you do. Your review was fun to read and so focused on the important things. I also liked the way you set up the topics.

I enjoy reading posts from people who love the cruise experience.

Did your family enjoy the cruise as much as you did?

Thank you for posting, and please stay on this board you certainly have much to offer us.

GN

[mozart1999]

middle-aged mom :

Capitan Davey Lubin was great as a capitan and tour guide, but was better as a friend, we have bad weather but He make a memorable trip to St. Lazaria Island, dont miss this oportunity and be sure to go there. Butchart Gardens is great, but we only stay there for 90 minutes to see the gardens and do a little shopping, if I have another chance I take a taxi and stay one more hour, it´s enough time to be back on time and You dont have to wait for everybody to be at the bus.

krewzin :

The Neptune is a middle size inside lounge with juices, coffee, some hors d'oeuvers and pastries, no view. The perk is for suite pax, so they have a suite with a nice balcony and a great view and You can order everything the Neptune have, so what is the advantage if not only the concierge office.

grannynurse :

My family enjoy the cruise as much as I did, but they have some minor sea sickness problems, but, as I stated in my original post, if we can ignore the bad seas, this was, also for them, the best cruise of their lives, but clearly not for the itinerary but for the Westerdam and everything that happens in the ship. All of my notes were taken from a poll We do at the plane coming home, so this reflects their points too.