Since I was a teenager, I have wanted to go on an Alaskan cruise. I had told my mother on countless occasions- “let’s take an Alaska cruise”. Last year I went to Alaska via land, train, and air on a solo trip and saw the stunning scenes from nature. It was amazing and I still clung to the idea of my bucket list cruise to Alaska. And, this trip would not only be solo but with my mother.
Read more: Holland America Should Be Your First Alaska Cruise- Journey of Exploration: Our Bucket List Mother/Daughter TripDisclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase or booking, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.Travels of Sarah Fay is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliated sites at no cost to you. This was a part of a press trip hosted by Holland America. All views are my own and honest opinion of my experiences.
After living in Florida for many years, she truly loved the warm, sunny vibes of the Caribbean and other warmer places. But after my prior trip to Alaska, I knew she would love the cruise experience since it would give her the comforts of home while seeing majestic, jaw-dropping Alaska, the last frontier with its colossal glaciers and charming frontier-like towns.
I knew a cruise, especially on Holland America Line (HAL). would be the key to exploring the Inside Passage and the great glaciers and ports of Alaska. My mother was only 62, but after recent surgery including two cancers, and open heart surgery, my mother had somewhat limited mobility, etc. but going on a mid-sized ship with only 1,052 staterooms like the MS Eurodam made this a very doable way to navigate a vacation to Alaska. Plus she would not only see Alaska, but Seattle as well since we arrived a few days earlier than the cruise embarkation date. And, this would be no ordinary cruise, but one with Holland America Line on the MS Eurodam.
Is Holland America The Best Alaska Cruise?
Holland America has celebrated over 75 years of traveling to Alaska and is voted the top Alaska cruise operator. We sailed on the MS Eurodam which was voted the #1 Best Alaska Cruise in 2024 by the readers of USA Today. In addition, Eurodam stops in the amazing Glacial Bay in Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve to see the majestic Margerie Glacier (U.S. National Park Service) Only a few cruise line operators get to go to the extraordinary Glacial Bay. From all my research I knew HAL and Eurodam could make this a wonderful, memorable bucket list trip for us both.
Arriving at Seattle’s Embarkation and our Stateroom with a Verandah
First getting onto the Cruise terminal, the gentlemen just outside the terminal took my bags that had our HAL-provided name tags with our suite numbers on them. Then they whisked them to our room flawlessly. If you have any meds or a change of clothes, you may want to bring them with you in a separate bag backpack in case the weather changes before you get to your assigned stateroom. A staff person helped bring my mom up in a wheelchair to the ship via the elevator to avoid the steps, ramps, and escalator that would have been difficult. It was quite easy to get assistance and the staff was so helpful.
Accessibility on Holland America Ships
While the ship does have handicap staterooms, we did get a room with a balcony that gave us both time to relax and enjoy the view without having to leave the stateroom. This was a great way for my mother to enjoy the cruise no matter how she felt. It was so relaxing to have the balcony and I highly recommend getting one if it’s in your budget. From what I read, many staterooms had a balcony (yes, we had a verandah). The stateroom provided my mom with a good view of the ocean and we saw the outdoors as we passed snow-capped mountains. It was a no-brainer to have a verandah. Plus if you watch the ship’s cruise TV, you can hear if they see wildlife like whales, sea otters, wolves, and then go to your balcony to watch them.It was also wonderful to have morning coffee and pastries here on our lovely verandah thanks to the complimentary room service on Holland America cruises.
The staff on the ship and the greeters outside the gangway were also wonderful. Their kind smiles and the great enthusiasm they shared for our next adventure was so awesome. This, and the marvelous food, excursions, and activities made this Alaska cruise a great way to explore nature’s Last Frontier. Plus, not having to change hotels in different cities, etc. was truly adding to the relaxed setting. I suggest looking at our Itinerary Post which will give you an idea of what activities, excursions, shore stops, etc. we experienced along the way.
Before An Alaska Cruise
First, before I get started, let me share our cruise. We were on a 7-day round Trip Cruise along the inside passage which started in Seattle. I arrived in Seattle a few days before, since we came from the East Coast. It was a great way to help with any jet lag or make sure you don’t miss the cruise if the airline is delayed, etc. Arriving a few days earlier allowed us to explore more of Seattle, like Pike Place, the Farmers Market, the First Starbucks, etc. But you can see my blog article on Seattle to learn more about this itinerary and what excursions we took.
Get travel insurance before you go just in case anything happens. Check out Visitors Coverage or EKTA.
Alaska Itinerary Highlights
- Day 1 – Embarkation Day in Seattle WA
- Day 2 – Day at Sea
- Day 3 – Stop in Juneau
- Day 4 – Glacial Bay (7 am to 4 pm)
- Day 4 – Stop in Icy Strait Point (6 pm to 10 pm)
- Day 5 – Stop in Sitka
- Day 6 – Stop in Ketchikan
- Day 7 – Stop in Victoria, Canada
- Day 8 – Farewell in Seattle, WA
Preparing For Your Alaska Cruise
Before the cruise, I recommend making reservations for the excursions that interest you since they can fill up. But, HAL offers a wide array of excursions at each stop. I recommend maybe 2-3 excursions for your week trip depending on your budget, but you will see I did one at each stop. Honestly, I could have done more than one at each stop since there were so many options. Now I know why we met some cruisers who have been on this same cruise more than once.
Also, prepare yourself for the cruise. Bring layers of clothes since it can be cold or rainy at times. Bring a pair or two of binoculars, since there is so much to see. I had a larger pair for the boat and a small one for my tours that could fit in my pocket in case you see an eagle flying by (yes there are so many eagles). Of course, a camera is a must and you may want to have one with a telephoto lens if you are into wildlife photography. (And one must not forget to bring some clothes or a costume in Orange, as you will read about later.)
Fantastic Food and Special Dining Options on Your Cruise
Another thing is so true, while nature and the sights of Alaska are superb, the restaurant and food options were also fantastic on the Eurodam. From the standard dining room, and buffet on the Lido deck, to Specialty Dining options, we loved dining and drinking on the ship. While I don’t drink alcohol, we did have a drink package for special lattes, etc., and we loved the High Tea that we enjoyed twice on the ship. Below I outline some of the specialty dining and other interesting edible options:
Specialty Dining & Reservations:
There are several great specialty restaurants. These restaurants do have an extra fee and include Pinnacle Grill (a grand steakhouse at sea with impeccable service), Tamarind Restaurant (a robust Asian-Fusion restaurant including Southeast Asia, China, and Japanese cuisines) and Canaletto Restaurant(Italian restaurant). Specialty Dining prices vary but all have excellent selections and I thought it was well worth it. Another great option was Morimoto at Sea, a great pop-up dining experience by Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto. It is typically offered one day per cruise, so watch for the date/time for your cruise. It was wonderful! But as you will see in my cruise itinerary for this trip, I tried 2 of the three specialty restaurants, plus the Morimoto at Sea.
Tea Time & High Tea:
Each afternoon you can get tea, but on certain days they have a High Tea in the formal dining room. They have tea and a great tier selection of small sandwiches, pastries, etc. And, if you have to have decaf, they had decaf tea upon request at High Tea. It was great so we did it twice. Prepare though, many go and line up for this event! This was a great time to sit down and relax, especially if you returned from an excursion or workout in the gym and needed a break.
Tamarind Sushi Bar:
While I didn’t get to try it, there is an actual sushi bar in the Tamarind Restaurant if you desire some sushi. It’s definitely on my list if/when I go again.
New York Pizza
New York Pizza is a great poolside place to enjoy personal-size pizza and salads. We enjoyed this and even ordered the pizza ahead via the online menu. We brought it back to enjoy on the verandah and it was easy to eat there one day before going on an excursion.
Dive In:
By the pool, you can order burgers, hot dogs, fries, shakes, etc., and enjoy by the pool or take it with you. There are many tables near the pool to enjoy this. We did this one day especially when we wanted something easy! Our burgers were great. (One day maybe I’ll try the milkshakes, I heard they are so delicious and creamy.)
Dining Room:
If you like formal meals, you can eat in the dining room, which we did a few times. There was even a singles table so if you travel alone or eat alone, you can eat at that table. One day, I didn’t go to the dining room with my mom, so I sat with other single diners. It was nice to meet a few other cruisers (my mother was relaxing). The staff was great and I do love the fish and chips that we had one day.
Buffet / Lido Market:
One of the easiest and quickest ways to eat was at the buffet. We often ate or got a snack at the buffet, plus they had certain options at various times like Cake Day, etc. Those cakes were like a mile high and what a great selection.
Alaska Broil:
There are other special meal options. One night it was an Alaska Broil. You reserve a spot for this meal and pay more for it than the standard free meal, but this is due to the preparation time. I enjoyed this meal and being in Alaska the food is so fresh.
Things to do and Entertainment on the ship
While you’re on the cruise, each night the steward for your cabin provides you an itinerary of the day’s events and times. They place it outside your stateroom on a tiny shelf near your door. Watch for the special events and times posted each day.
Spa and Salon:
Many love a good message or get a day or a week pass to the wonderful spa area with a thermal pool, relaxation area, steam room, and sauna room. I got the week pass to enjoy the therapeutic pool and sauna and used it for a few days, but I did many excursions off the ship that took time. A visit to the spa is a great way to relax while cruising.I also did a deep tissue massage and I can tell you it was GOOD!
Orange Party:
During HAL cruises there is an Orange Party in the Rolling Stones Lounge. The cruisers dressed in Orange and many had orange costumes. It’s a fun night with a contest for best costume, etc. HAL is a Dutch cruise line and Orange is the color most associated with the House of Orange. People wear boas, crazy hats, etc., and danced the night away in the lounge.
Formal Night:
There is a formal night and you have a champagne toast on the World Stage. The captain is there to say a few words and give the toast.
World Stage / Learning Event:
Watch the itinerary. Besides the evening entertainment, there are several presentations where you can learn more about the environment, and learn more about the ship “behind the scenes”,etc. At one of the events, the heads of various departments came out on stage. It was nice and we were fortunate to meet a few of the top managers.
Art/Jewelry:
During the cruise, you may see various art pieces that are auctioned off, etc. Many were very pleased to get some great art pieces on their cruises. Same with the Jewelry gallery on the ship. They would have little contests where you may win something along the way.
Cake Night:
Stay tuned to the daily handout or ask, but one night during the cruise they had a Cake Night. There were so many wonderful cakes and treats. It was so delicious and hard to turn down those massive cakes! It was so special, but remember many cruisers are there waiting for these delicious cakes to come out. There were too many to choose a favorite, since I had a few. I did ask for a sliver of one or two.
Fitness Center:
One can’t forget, there is a fitness center on the ship to help you burn off any calories. They offer both cardio and weight equipment, plus classes. Plus you can walk around the ship decks to get in your daily steps too. One thing I loved was working out here facing the open sea in front of you. I even spotted a whale while I was on the elliptical.
Watch What Embarkation Day and a Day at Sea Is Like!
Other Activities:
There are so many other activities on the ship, including the casino, trivia contests, and even a few art classes, I just couldn’t do them all, and maybe one day get to go back to do even more.
The Journey Draws to a Close
Time does pass so quickly and I can’t believe the cruise went by so fast. While we did many things as you will see from my Itinerary later, remember to stop and savor the moments. Sitting on the verandah and peacefully watching the shoreline go by, seeing whales, wolves and other magnificent animals were mesmerizing. Being an only child with a single mom, you never know how much time you have left with those you love and may as well make your bucket list happen. Mine was a special mother-daughter trip; yours may be a birthday, anniversary, or a solo trip to gain confidence traveling alone; you must do it!
HAL and the Eurodam and its marvelous staff did not disappoint. Our 7-day round-trip Alaska journey from Seattle was the perfect cruise! From the jaw-dropping views from our sea/float plane to the happy humpback jumping out of the water it was amazing. This combined with the wonderful coverage of majestic Glacial Bay, the delicious food, and great service, I can see why Holland America Line Eurodam ship is the best. I can’t wait to go back again! While the journey drew to a close, the memories will be in my mind (and pictures) for many years to come. Enjoy your journey!
Book your stay in Seattle Before and After Your Cruise
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Check out my other articles on Alaska Below
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