Live from Holland Oosterdam May 25, Vancouver-Anchorage-Denali 21night Alaska trip

[Baatman]

Great photos..looking forward to more.

[shipfriend_max]

Hi,

 

great review with amazing pictures! :)

We consider Alaska in 2015 on Celeb. Millennium so your report is truly helpful!

We also considered Oosterdam but sadly she skips Hubbard Glacier - is there any specific reason?

[aerospace]

I'm not 100% sure but look into up and down as Oosterdam does an alternate route going south; I believe it's glacier bay north and Hubbard south.

 

Denali today was AMAZING!! So many animals I decided not to even hike today.

Moose 2: mom and baby

Sheep 8: 7 adults and one baby

Bear 6: 2 moms each with 2 cubs

Carabou 40: all adults I think

Red fox: 1

...that is just the ones I personally counted, I missed some on the other side of the bus early on

 

Will upload a couple shots after I go through them later today. Stay tuned!

Edited June 8, 2014 by aerospace

[theloo]

I'm not 100% sure but look into up and down as Oosterdam does an alternate route going south; I believe it's glacier bay north and Hubbard south.

 

Denali today was AMAZING!! So many animals I decided not to even hike today.

Moose 2: mom and baby

Sheep 8: 7 adults and one baby

Bear 6: 2 moms each with 2 cubs

Carabou 40: all adults I think

Red fox: 1

...that is just the ones I personally counted, I missed some on the other side of the bus early on

 

Will upload a couple shots after I go through them later today. Stay tuned!

 

Was this on a shuttle to Eielsen or ???

[aerospace]

Yes to Eielsen, mile 66.

 

I am going all the way to the end to mile 92 on Monday, it's the first day of the season you can go. Should be sweet :)

[new kiwi girl]

I have just finished reading all nine pages and it made for such a lovely afternoon for me. I have just booked my cruise for July 20 taking my Mother with me for the 14 day return cruise on the Oosterdam. So now, I'm so excited about going. Need to book my excursions though before they all sell out. Thank you so much for taking the time and effort this must have taken. I do hope the rest of your trip is as enjoyable for you.

[aerospace]

Just a few teaser photos from Denali. I took 230 photos today so there will MANY more to come.

 

^baby dall sheep

 

^2 baby moose calfs

 

^baby bear cub (lots of animal shots but I think I know what my audience wants to see, babies!)

 

^Mt. McKinley, tallest mountain in US at 20,236 ft.

 

^another incredible weather day, might rain tomorrow :(

 

Enjoy!

Edited June 8, 2014 by aerospace

[aerospace]

I have just finished reading all nine pages and it made for such a lovely afternoon for me. I have just booked my cruise for July 20 taking my Mother with me for the 14 day return cruise on the Oosterdam. So now, I'm so excited about going. Need to book my excursions though before they all sell out. Thank you so much for taking the time and effort this must have taken. I do hope the rest of your trip is as enjoyable for you.

 

Glad you like it.

 

Subscribe to the thread, hundreds of photos to come still.

[erewhon]

Thanks for sharing all your fabulous photos.

[shipfriend_max]

I'm not 100% sure but look into up and down as Oosterdam does an alternate route going south; I believe it's glacier bay north and Hubbard south.

 

Hi,

 

no - either northbound and southbound, oosterdam sails Glacier Bay, and excludes Hubbard Glacier on both directions.

nevertheless, your pictures look really amazing, especially the Glacier Bay, and ooosterdam is very appealing to me!

 

For our post cruise program in Seward we consider the Exit Glacier hiking and Kenai Fjord Tours.

[vbmom87]

Hi,

 

great review with amazing pictures! :)

We consider Alaska in 2015 on Celeb. Millennium so your report is truly helpful!

We also considered Oosterdam but sadly she skips Hubbard Glacier - is there any specific reason?

 

Every ship has its own itinerary. Celebrity cannot get permits for Glacier Bay because of illegal dumping a number of years ago. Princess and NCL offer itineraries that include both Hubbard glacier and Glacier Bay. For anyone wanting to see glaciers, it is worth it to look at these itineraries.

 

When I planned our first trip to AK I would have opted for a cruise that included both Glacier Bay and Hubbard but none were offered. I chose a cruise with Glacier Bay and College fjords. I read too many reports of times when Hubbard was iced in or fogged out. I was going to Alaska for possibly only one time and didn't want to come home without having seen a glacier. I did get back to AK and got to see Hubbard. I have also seen Tracy Arm Fjord (Sawyer Glacier). My favorite scenic glacier area is Glacier Bay followed by Tracy Arm, Hubbard, and College Fjords. There are those who prefer Hubbard Glacier, but I am not one of them. Hubbard is about one massive glacier, which is impressive. However, Glacier Bay is hours of scenic sailing I described as paradise. If I get back to AK Glacier Bay is what I want to experience again.

[BarbinMich]

 

^Mt. McKinley, tallest mountain in US at 20,236 ft.

 

Enjoy!

 

I'm enjoying all your photos, but I must say that is the finest shot of Mt. McKinley I've even seen!

[mapleleaves]

I'm enjoying all your review and photos but the one of the Baranoff at Glacier Bay really caught my eye .... we stayed at Glacier Bay Lodge a few years ago and took a day tour on the Baranoff. It's a very different experience to be on a small boat, bobbing in front of the glaciers. Great trip so the photo brought back great memories.

[mapleleaves]

i assume you're using a laptop for this communication?? which one?

[I_r_a]

Hey Aero,

 

Thanks very much for an interesting and enjoyable tour.

 

Ira

[aerospace]

I'm enjoying all your photos, but I must say that is the finest shot of Mt. McKinley I've even seen!

 

What a nice complement, thank you :)

 

I'm in the 30% club now, apparently only 30% of people who visit Denali get to see the mountain as it's usually obscured by bad weather/clouds.

 

~Michael

[aerospace]

i assume you're using a laptop for this communication?? which one?

 

Yep! ...though a few of the posts have been with my iphone or ipad. I use a Gateway NV77h05u, which I choose for it's 17.3" screen(6gb Ram, I3-2310, 640GB HD)...but the battery life suffers from a large screen only about 3hrs. I only paid $399 for it as it was a store return/open box, but came in flawless condition.

 

Highly recommend unless you need to be unplugged for hours on end.

[aerospace]

Ok back to posting. After 17 days I needed a break day so I'm taking the day off from travel. Slept in to 10:30am, then stayed in bed and watched some Orange is the New Black episodes. It's now 2:10pm and I'm up having tea and cereal for breakfast. Not interesting I know, but it means

...I HAVE TIME TO POST TODAY!!

 

So the last real post was from Glacier bay so that's where we will pick things up. I was the first on bow deck, not to cold. Was open 7:23am even though the on location says 8. They prop the door open on deck 4 and my room is close by, whole deck is now cold with air blowing in :( Should drop even more as we approach the glacier.

 

Dress warm; whatever you think you need add a layer, knit hat that covers your ears and gloves to protect you from the wind...or spend the whole day in crows nest inside and wear shorts it's totally up to you.

 

Random thought; Holland is the first line who starts searching for passengers before final boarding time. In Ketchikan announcements began 20mins prior for 2 people not on board yet. In Skagway I got on 8:07 for 8:30 all aboard(9pm sailing) and was told I was the last one. On arriving at my room there was a guy checking to see if I had come aboard and maybe gotten missed by the scanner. I'm thinking with the older clientele maybe they get tired earlier and are less likely to stay out to the last minute. Turns out the captain likes to leave a bit early as we arrived at each port before schedule...which means an extra half hour or hour in port spiffy :)

 

Do you always have two stewards on Holland? I've only ever had one. Only one introduced himself but the card he gave me had 2 names on it for who was taking care of my room.

 

9:26 weather declining as fog is rolling in

 

Lido drink special: Mimosas only 2.95

 

Since there is no naturalist on board consider hopping on ebay or amazon and getting "The Alaska Cruise Companion- a naturalists guide" by Rachel Cartwright. Has better map inside than you get on the ship and tells you everything you need to know about the ports of call and which animals you might see etc. Map even has best animal location sighting points on the route.

 

The best wildlife viewing opportunities at glacier bay; the hour before the rangers board(6am), and near Johns Hopkins Inlet 12miles before Marjorie Glacier. The bay is only a couple of miles across but can be 1500 feet deep in sections, wildlife usually is in the shallow points where nutrients are pushed to the surface.

 

One waffle machine is broken so even though I'm third in line it takes 10mins. She was standing around the whole time while each one cooks, and then when ready realizes she has to restock so we wait again. Tons of topping choices from nuts, whip cream, chocolate, butterscotch, and fruit compote. Not sweet enough for me. Presentation 9 / Taste 5.5 (see pics posted earlier)

 

They do have King Salmon in Pinnacle Grill not sure if I posted that yet.

 

Charcoal Grill and salmon bake right on Lido today so don't pay $50 and do it in port. It's a bit smoky as lido has a roof but it smells of heaven. Staff are all dressed as lumberjacks, cute. 30min line and when I get to the front they run out of the fresh grilled salmon and put in a pan from the kitchen, blah not good. Potatoes totally cold, half my mussels don't have mussels in them...Wonder if they use them for another dish and add a bunch of shells to make it look like you get a lot. Very disappointed. Fish was good but not what I had waited for. 5 (people who did get it early or from the other side said it was fantastic)

 

Vegetarian, gluten free, sugar free all well signed in lido.

 

Starts raining 30mins after we leave Marjorie Glacier, timing is perfect.

 

Alaska Beer promo is gone today, guess it's not everyday but was up 5 days straight.

 

^I go to the Sip and Savor for today. $4 daily for a drink and appetizer that is served in one of the specialty restaurants, not a bad deal. We get the Pol Clement Sparkling wine; very tart and apple note, floral nose 8.

 

^Is served with a Dungeness Crab cake, very small. Double breaded in panko is very crispy, sweet and savory. 7.5 Comes with a 20min lesson this time is how champagne is made and the different methods.

[nana51]

I'm not a fish eater of any kind, did they have any non fish option at the Salmon Bake. I'm assuming all my cruise friends will want to attend.

[aerospace]

^Stopped by the lido bar for a beer; a Blue Moon that is light, crisp, and goes down easy, something you could get drunk on. Prefer something with more flavor 6.5

 

^Duck Pate, smoked salmon topped with caviar, apple slaw and a dark bread, Very nice and balanced 8

 

^4 Mushroom soup, savory and ok, mushrooms and chopped super fine would be better left whole or in large pieces to appreciate them more 6

 

 

^Surf and Turf; good sized lobster teeny tiny steak. Flavor was fair but not impressive. No butter brought 6

 

^Chefs Sundae; vanilla ice cream topped with nuts, mango and pineapple. Nothing special and looks crappy, skip it. No good chef, no good. 5

[aerospace]

I'm not a fish eater of any kind, did they have any non fish option at the Salmon Bake. I'm assuming all my cruise friends will want to attend.

 

Unfortunately not, it wasn't a big spread. You got mussels, potato and salmon, that was it. Lido was open, and taco options are great.

[aerospace]

Finale day Internet special; 15min $8.25 or 30min $12

 

Tv Channels all have different loudness. One channel lv10 I'm wondering if my neighbors can hear it, on another at 80 and struggled to hear talking. Odd.

 

There are wine glasses and lowball in lower cabinet in your room. Actually went to a bar and picked up 2 wine glasses...oops

 

My bible was empty but I put my 2 match play and bogo tournament coupons in it for the next group. :-) Your welcome whoever is in my room next...

 

Ship is rocking a bit this morning, not enough to get sick but everyone walks like they are drunk at 9am, bunch of lushes. :D Eating a quick breakfast at the aft pool in short sleeves and blue jeans, sunny yet cool probably 55-60F. Blue sky, a few tuffs of white clouds, sea is a deep blue just gorgeous.

 

We now have a free wave pool, use at your own risk doesn't look safe lol.

 

There are mini newspapers in the library daily if you need to stay caught up.

 

Something called feathers fins and furs is actually about the many kinds of wildlife you might see in AK(thought it was a shopping thing). Went to the theater to get a photo and walked in on it...kinda dumb it's on the last day and wasn't described better in the "on location".

 

 

 

^They have 2 interactive tvs that show location like on some of the planes, along with daily weather, pics of the staff etc. check em out.

 

^Mariners Lunch Menu, very limited I'm not impressed

[aerospace]

Mariner Brunch; got free Sparkling Wine and free refill, not bad. Free gift was a Holland Coaster.

 

^Beef was really good, tender and cut with a fork, deep brown sauce. Is served with carrot, cherry tomato, mashed potato 8

 

^Blueberry Crumble, needs whip cream or ice cream 7

 

 

^So I wanted to check our Mariner Brunch and hadn't yet tried Pinnacle so just had 2 lunches.

 

 

 

 

[aerospace]

^my view, not sure why I didn't get a window when they had a total of 6 guests in the place. Host guy said they only had 15 signed up for lunch plus any walk ins so you don't need a reservation.

 

Ordered a wine, the Michelle Riesling from Washington. great nose very floral, taste is apple, almost seems flat. First impressions not great 5.5

 

^Ordered the scallop creme brulee no idea what to expect...looks odd.One small scallop sliced in half served with what is best described as a flan with a side of mango, red and green pepper, and onion salad. Very savory, hot, smooth flan but with mild flavor. Eaten with the Parmesan chip brings the dish another level. The saltiness comes through and ties it into a cohesive dish. 8.5

 

^Wagyu Beef Burger; not medium as requested. Served with a shoestring potato fries and topped with white onion, heirloom tomato, cheese, and crispy bacon. To big to eat, if I wasn't in a restaurant I would smash it down and eat it with my hands. Instead I had it without the bun and fork/knife. Fries were better with some cracked pepper added, had to ask for ketchup was not offered. 8.5

 

Captain says to expect 45F in Seward and a chance of rain.

 

In Pinnacle they did not add 15% to my wine or Heineken.

 

Double tequila with grapefruit juice in the room, 2 glasses of sparkling wine in Mariner brunch, wine and beer for lunch(about 3 hrs total), it's good the ship is rocking or I might be anyway.

 

^They call it a brownie but it's more the consistency of pudding with a cake layer on top. What I imagine mixing chocolate pudding and cake mix would be like. Not bad but less than either would be alone rather than great than the sum of it's parts. Tastes saturated like soaked in something but the flavor is weak. Chocolate stick is nice and sweet, vanilla sauce is light and flavorful 6.5

 

Was not offered coffee/tea. I'm sure I could have asked but that's not the point is it? Service was not great. BTW lunch is not the menu posted outside, that is the dinner menu you don't see the lunch menu before...was disappointed I wouldn't have come for a burger had I known. Still was worth $10 to try it, in fact they didn't charge me even though I told guest services about it and it wasn't fixed.

[Mishmell]

Thanks for all of the detailed posts and pictures.