bobontheblue Posted January 14, 2018 #1 Share Posted January 14, 2018 Having already sailed to Alaska, for a second trip we would like to see more than the usual stops taken by all the major cruise lines. This itinerary has peaked my interest for several years now. This could be the year i pull the trigger on this sailing. Looking for some feedback from anybody having taken this sailing with Hollands America. The idea of sailing right into Anchorage really appeals to me. Thank you all for your thoughts and input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kplady Posted January 14, 2018 #2 Share Posted January 14, 2018 My DH and I have done this cruise twice on HAL - we love visiting Anchorage, Homer and Kodiak. Icy Strait Point (Hoonah) is wonderful, not spoiled with commercial jewelry stores, but still controlled by the native Tlinkit tribe. In fact, we've done 2 seven day Alaska cruises, 2 14-day Alaska cruises, and just booked one on the Maasdam in May-June 2019 that's 21 days....more different places to visit!! Definitely a great cruise - I wouldn't hesitate to book it again. Enjoy! Laura Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oaktreerb Posted January 14, 2018 #3 Share Posted January 14, 2018 Done it twice and looking forward to doing it again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlsSalt Posted January 14, 2018 #4 Share Posted January 14, 2018 My DH and I have done this cruise twice on HAL - we love visiting Anchorage, Homer and Kodiak. Icy Strait Point (Hoonah) is wonderful, not spoiled with commercial jewelry stores, but still controlled by the native Tlinkit tribe. In fact, we've done 2 seven day Alaska cruises, 2 14-day Alaska cruises, and just booked one on the Maasdam in May-June 2019 that's 21 days....more different places to visit!! Definitely a great cruise - I wouldn't hesitate to book it again. Enjoy! Laura Thanks for the report. We are signed up for the late May 14 day trip and wondered about cancelling it, since we want to also take the later and longer transpacific to Japan that duplicates some of the same Alaska stops in Sept. Think we will just do both, and enjoy this area now doubly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted January 14, 2018 #5 Share Posted January 14, 2018 We have also done this cruise twice. Both times were on the Amsterdam. Loved it!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joekerstef Posted January 14, 2018 #6 Share Posted January 14, 2018 I'm not sure I've ever seen anything negative about that cruise written on this board (and a lot has been written about it). It is much loved by past passengers including myself. We took it on Maasdam in 2016 first two weeks of June. Weather was awesome, great ports, great ship for this itinerary (Amsterdam and Zaandam carry a few more pax than Maasdam). I too have signed up for the three week version in 2019 on Maasdam and I can't wait. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liketraveling Posted January 14, 2018 #7 Share Posted January 14, 2018 I have done this itinary twice, once on the Amsterdam and once on the Maasdam. It is an awesome trip! It never gets old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimnKaren Posted January 14, 2018 #8 Share Posted January 14, 2018 Yes, our interest was "piqued" when we booked Amsterdam for 2017. It was my best Alaska cruise!! You get to some ports where others aren't able to go. Homer was a blast! BOOK IT! Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superoma Posted January 14, 2018 #9 Share Posted January 14, 2018 We did this in 2012 and loved it. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loreto Posted January 14, 2018 #10 Share Posted January 14, 2018 We have taken this cruise 3 times and will probably do it again! We have friends in Anchorage who are amazed that we come to visit them! The Hubbard Glacier is the best. I wear my Homer Salty Dawg hoodie to the gym every day and think of the great times we had in Homer. You won't regret going. Although we love verandahs we have always booked a lower prom obstructed under the MDR for this itinerary and loved the location and $$$ saved.. Karen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katrina915 Posted January 14, 2018 #11 Share Posted January 14, 2018 Docks in anchorage? Or Seward? Sent from my SM-G930V using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
towhee Posted January 15, 2018 #12 Share Posted January 15, 2018 Docks in anchorage? Or Seward? Sent from my SM-G930V using Forums mobile app Yes, it docks in Anchorage at the freight terminal near the train station. We've done this itinerary 4 times and have signed up for another one this year. I guess we don't like it.;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmjnh Posted January 15, 2018 #13 Share Posted January 15, 2018 We are excited about the Alaska itinerary as well. We have sailed Princess to Alaska but the 21 day Alaska in June 2019 peaked our interest. We considered the Japan extension but not sure we could handle the long flight home from Japan. So many new ports that we have never visited. We are hoping to take a bear viewing tour in or out of Kodiak. ::D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utahtea Posted January 15, 2018 #14 Share Posted January 15, 2018 (edited) We did this cruise in 2014 on the Amsterdam and are doing it again this summer on the Zaandam. We loved it so much the first time we knew we would be doing it again. We also loved the 7 day Alaska cruise but there is so much more to see on this extended cruise. I vividly remember the beautiful scenery on the sea day between Kodiak and Hubbard Glacier. The 21 day out of San Francisco has peaked my interest too but don’t want to wait until 2019. Utahtea Sent from my iPad using Forums Edited January 15, 2018 by utahtea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdschwrt Posted January 15, 2018 #15 Share Posted January 15, 2018 For those who have taken this cruise, which if any ports are tender ports? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvteaching Posted January 15, 2018 #16 Share Posted January 15, 2018 We've done this itinerary 4 times and none of the ports are tender ports anymore. Icy Strait Point and Sitka used to be but now both have docking facilities. Icy Strait Point involves a bit of a walk and at Sitka they bus you to town. The system works well and is very efficient. It's a wonderful itinerary and we'll probably book it again in 2019! Karen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cle1 Posted January 15, 2018 #17 Share Posted January 15, 2018 We also did this before, and will be doing it again "the end of August this year. Carol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlsSalt Posted January 15, 2018 #18 Share Posted January 15, 2018 Love getting all this positive feedback. Our hard decisions was picking the time to do it - early, late, middle of summer - each had pros and cons. We finally picked late May - before the black flies, before the summer crowds, less chance of rain, but also before most wildlife and summer greenery, still cold - may be even limited port access still due to ice. How have others picked their "best time" to do this itinerary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old As Dirt Mom Posted January 15, 2018 #19 Share Posted January 15, 2018 Love getting all this positive feedback. Our hard decisions was picking the time to do it - early, late, middle of summer - each had pros and cons. We finally picked late May - before the black flies, before the summer crowds, less chance of rain, but also before most wildlife and summer greenery, still cold - may be even limited port access still due to ice. How have others picked their "best time" to do this itinerary. We keep going back for more, LOL! :D We have done three of these 14-day Alaska itineraries, two on Amsterdam, and one on Maasdam, travelling in May, August, and September. We have also done numerous 7-day Alaska itineraries, from May through August. (We live near Seattle, and it's easy and relatively cost-effective to do an Alaska cruise from Seattle, or even Vancouver, B.C., so we do a lot of them). In our experience, our preferred time to cruise to Alaska is any time from late May to early July. I'll add to what others have already stated: HAL's 14-day itineraries to Alaska are wonderful, in our opinion. Maasdam's longer 21-day Alaska itineraries from San Francisco in 2019 look great, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NMLady Posted January 15, 2018 #20 Share Posted January 15, 2018 Having already sailed to Alaska, for a second trip we would like to see more than the usual stops taken by all the major cruise lines. This itinerary has peaked my interest for several years now. This could be the year i pull the trigger on this sailing. Looking for some feedback from anybody having taken this sailing with Hollands America. The idea of sailing right into Anchorage really appeals to me. Thank you all for your thoughts and input. We did the very first one in May 2010. Awesome experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlsSalt Posted January 15, 2018 #21 Share Posted January 15, 2018 We did the very first one in May 2010. Awesome experience. Did you have to miss any ports due to ice in early May - and if so, what did they substitute for them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted January 15, 2018 #22 Share Posted January 15, 2018 Following this thread, as we are signed up for the June 3 2019 sailing on Amsterdam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Crew News Posted January 15, 2018 #23 Share Posted January 15, 2018 For those who have taken this cruise, which if any ports are tender ports? Icy Strait Point and Sitka according to my booking for May 21. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Italy52 Posted January 15, 2018 #24 Share Posted January 15, 2018 Icy Strait Point and Sitka according to my booking for May 21. Icy Strait has their own dock for one vessel. I wonder if there is going to be another ship in port when you arrive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkacruiser Posted January 15, 2018 #25 Share Posted January 15, 2018 I sailed this itinerary on the Amsterdam last July and it is my favorite Alaskan cruise. I don't recall any ports requiring tenders and all ports on the itinerary were visited with no substitution. We visited Hubbard Glacier on a magnificent weather day. Having just returned from the Zaandam's South America/Antarctica cruise, Hubbard Glacier is better than any of the glaciers I saw in the Chilean Fjords. (My opinion; others may disagree.) The Zaandam will be sailing this itinerary in 2018 and her crew are excited about doing so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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