By Jen Kleinberg, Director of Strategic Accounts | August 08, 2019 ( Comments)
This is a review of Holland America's Alaska Cruisetour #Y4C, 11 Night Yukon & Double Denali.
Day 2 was spent onboard, cruising Alaska's scenic Inside Passage, giving us plenty of time to explore the Niuew Amsterdam and enjoy our Verandah cabin.
Nieuw Amsterdam Verandah Cabin Review
Upon first entering the cabin, we were greeted by a gorgeous view from the large glass doors leading to the verandah. The balcony is the largest I've seen in a standard cabin, spacious enough for two chairs with ottomans, and a small side table, without feeling crowded. More than enough room for two people to relax and take in the fresh air.
Our cabin size is comparable to others I've stayed in, with two double beds, a small sofa and a vanity. The closet space is impressive though, and there were two storage cabinets above the sofa as well.
I was happily surprised at the size of the bathroom - I expected much smaller. There is actually room on the sink counter to keep toiletries and one could move around the shower without knocking into a wall or door.
One of the nicest touches were the wool blankets we found in the closet (see cozy blanket reference from Day 1!)
Nieuw Amsterdam Ship Review
We walked around and acquainted ourselves with the ship. The Nieuw Amsterdam is a mid-size ship, with classic decor. Its size makes it easy to navigate - familiarizing ourselves with the layout was a breeze, and nothing is more than a 5 minute walk away. We also appreciated how the ship feels uncrowded, even at full capacity. Compared to the mega-ships I've been on, that are double the size and carry thousands more passengers, it's a nice change of pace.
We headed up to the Explorations Cafe on Deck 11 and spent some time with the interactive maps before making our way down to the Mainstage for an EXC Talk on Alaska's whales. The talk was engaging as well as informative, and if we had more time onboard I would certainly attend more.
Dinner was at Canaletto, a specialty restaurant that had a nominal $19 per person fee. The food was delicious, but the perfect end to the dinner was the whale that made an appearance right outside of the window where we were seated! It made us that much more excited for tomorrow's whale-watching excursion.
After dinner, we were back at the Mainstage for a magic show with master illusionist Leon Etienne. I exptected a kitchy performance, but it was actually really well done. We capped off the night with a show at BB King's Blues Club. I'm an avid live music fan, (maybe even a little bit of a live music snob) which is to say I'm not generally impressed by musical acts on cruise ships. This was far and away the most talented group of musicians I've seen at sea. Ever. If you're on a Holland America ship that features this venue, it's a can't-miss show.
And now to rest up for tomorrow's excursions - Mendenhall Glacier, whale watching, and a salmon bake!
Click here to read Day 3 - Juneau
