shealea

We've been on 6 cruises to Alaska, round trip out of Seattle.

I know many folks won't agree with our preferences, but ......

We prefer Hubbard Glacier (our top choice) and

2nd choice, Sawyer Glacier and

3rd choice, Glacier Bay

4th choice, Endicott Arm to Marjorie Glacier

(visited this as ice kept us out of Sawyer Glacier)

The closest the Captain got to a glacier was at Hubbard Glacier, aboard

the Holland America Amsterdam. Nice smaller ship. The view from up front of

the ship took your breath away! We had lots and lots of loud, thundering

calving!!

Sawyer Glacier takes you through a couple hours of back-and-forth

through fjords, with awesome cliffs going up each side. Simply breathtaking.

We absolutely loved it. The actual glacier, itself, wasn't all that

impressive to me. Maybe the Captain wasn't able to get real

close up because of ice??? Not sure.

One thing about Sawyer Glacier is that it can

often not be accessed due to ice, even in mid-summer. We

were diverted to Endicott Arm Marjorie Glacier in mid-July.

Glacier Bay is really beautiful. I don't think it ever gets iced over,

causing no access. It's a really big, wide bay. I could be wrong

about that, though. On NCL, they bring aboard Naturalist Rangers to

narrate as you proceed, and Naturalists are on the upper deck to

answer questions. If you are going early in the Alaska cruising

season, Glacier Bay would especially be a very good choice!

Whoopsie......disregard last post. Just realized I am now on the NCL board and not the HAL board. Oh dear!

We cruised on the Amerstam to Alaska last summer.

On many areas of the public decks there were nice-sized plaid blankets for use. Folks snuggled up under them on deck chairs. Many folks walked around with them around their shoulders. Just grab a couple and keep them in your room.

We tell our cabin steward that he doesn't need to make us towel animals. They were fun on our first few cruises, but now I would rather save the steward some work.

I was on NCl cruise to Alaska. Either Pearl or Jewel, can't remember as we've been on both a few times.

But we were at a late evening show, and a dad with a child was told he had to leave. I think the child was about 8 or 9.

If I remember right, we were in the Spinnaker Lounge and it was a comedian.

I was on NCl cruise to Alaska. Either Pearl or Jewel, can't remember as we've been on both a few times.

But we were at a late evening show, and a dad with a child was told he had to leave. I think the child was about 8 or 9.

We had a little card on our tray that requested us to call the room service number to have our try picked up when we were finished

We tip $2 or $3, depending on how much we order

We order room service a lot, mainly breakfast items, and then late-night snacks.

I learned early on, to bring a stack of $1 bills. I keep them in the top drawer of the desk area. Right after I place my order, I get my tip out to have it handy when they deliver. LIke others have said, they make the deliveries fast.

Are there small items you could wrap and bring? Such as hand held video game system of some sort? A new outfit that would be fun for the cruise? Gift cards to GameStop or other cool place? A cool magazine subscription? Books?

If it were me, I would do my main xmas celebration before leaving, and then bring some of the items I mentioned above to open on the ship.

Rocketman - you were asking about cabins at or near the elevator lobby area.

Dh and I love that area, and if we choose a cabin rather than use guarantee, we will always choose this area.

We had initially thought they would be noisy, but we've never, ever had noise. We don't hear folks coming and going. It could be different if you were at a elevator lobby at the point where people are leaving to go Port. We've never been there.

We love when we can get off the elevator, and our room is Right There. Straight ahead, or right around the corner. I don't ever get lost! Ha!

Sounds wonderful! Have a great time!

Drones flying all up and down the halls delivering room service orders. Yikes.....Duck, duck, duck!!!!

We always travel really light. I bring one pair of black slacks and one skirt. Also two tops that go with both. One pair of sandals that work for day or dinner hour.

I just wear the same outfits over and over. Works perfect and doesn't take up much room at all in my suitcase.

Dh brings one pair of brown pants and two docker shirts. Wears them over and over.

We fit in really well with what other folks were dressed like. But nice jeans would work just fine.

Sequim - Same here. We live in Maple Valley, WA. Thus, we cruise to Alaska most summers lately.

We never tire of it, and we always find something new to do in the same ports.

I do wish we had more cruising options from here, though. We are thinking of taking the Mexican Riviera cruise out of San Diego this Dec, for our 40 year anniversary. We have never done this cruise.

I would like to do Hawaii out of San Diego, but husband doesn't want all of those sea days! I love sea days!

On our Alaska cruise on the MS Amsterdam this past summer we went to the beverage station a lot. Located right straight out from the buffet.

IN addition to those drinks mentioned in the post above, that were always available, during times when the buffet was open, they had pitchers of lemon-aid on the counter. They didn't do a very good job of keeping the pitchers filled, though.

I prefer the set-up we've always had on NCL. They had machines available 24/7 with various flavored drinks. Fruit punch, lemonaid, etc.

Thanks for your post. It will help newer cruisers know, or a reminder to others to check deck plans before choosing a cabin.

I remember our first 3 cruises I didn't know about cruise critic here. I just willy nilly picked a cabin without any thought, except for price. And thank goodness I just got lucky and got quiet cabins.

After discovering cruise critic here, I quickly discovered from reading posts to check the deck plans.

I've also learned here some price-saving strategies, and all about upsells and that sort of thing.

Sure glad I discovered this place!!! Yes!

Curios .... Do the water temps really vary from season to season? I'm used to Pacific Ocean, and the water temps basically stay the same. They don't change from Winter to Summer.

We were on the Amsterdam this past summer. In our cabin we had a booklet with movies available for check-out. There were hundreds of titles listed.

Just call the phone number made available, and the movie is soon delivered to your room.

I think I remember that you can only check out one title at a time.

On our recent cruise to Alaska on the MS Westerdam, I had no idea what the Captain looked like. He did come on over the intercom and speak a few times a day, letting us know our location, weather, port information etc. He also was really good in letting us know when he would spot whales or dolphins so we wouldn't miss out!

I've always sailed previously on NCL. I do like how they have their opening night gala show. The captain is introduced, along with most other department heads. It's a fun time and I like seeing who everyone is! I kind of missed that on Holland.

On NCL, the captain does a Q & A session. There was also a Q & A session and many of the entertainers were there. We got to learn about their life onboard. Both were really fun and interesting.

On NCL there was also a staff show, where several of the staff showed off their talent. Very good! On the last night, a huge production with staff parading and thanking all customers for sailing with them! Quite impressive!

I missed having all of that interaction on our last cruise.

Hello - My dh and I did a cruise to Alaska in August on the MS Amsterdam. I've never cruised to Alaska in Sept., so I can't comment on the weather during then.

There was a good age range of people, but I would say it was mainly 40 to 70 for the most part. Not too many 20 to 30. Not many teenagers.

Every time we went to dinner - and we did Anytime Dining - we were asked if we wanted to dine with others. We never did, but the choice was there. I saw people being seated, and then they would keep adding to the table with other folks. They all seemed very happy visiting and getting to know each other.

Yes, there is a Wonderful Culinary Arts Center. They usually had around two demonstrations each day. The Center is great, with wonderful, comfy seating. They have a chef demonstrating cooking various dishes. It's great fun and great learning. Plus, they go around and give each person samples. And recipes.

At the end of the cruise there was a time you could go and they had a big portfolio of recipes from dishes cooked on the cruise. You could get those recipes, plus we were told if there was anything you ate on the ship that you would like a recipe for, just ask and they would get it for you.

There are a lot of computer classes. How to use Windows 10, how to take great vacation pictures, how to use photo editing program. Really fun, informative.

I went to a seminar about Tea. All of the health benefits, and all about the different types of tea. They took your Cabin # and delivered a packet of information to my cabin a couple of days later.

Your mom will have a super time, even when out and about by herself. My dh has Chrons, and quite a few times he was resting in the cabin watching movies. But I would go out and about to different activities, by myself.

I went to an art auction -- not to buy, just to watch. I was fun to watch and really interesting to learn of the various artists.

Karoake night was a blast! It was amazing that so many folks were fantastic singers!!

There are quite a few talks about Alaska -- history of the Gold Rush, etc.

On Glacier Day, Dutch Pea Soup is served. So very, very good. Don't miss out!

The Crows Nest at the front of the ship had huge windows all across the front and down the sides. Super comfy seating all around. If the weather is chilly or rainy, it's a perfect spot to view the scenery or watch for whales. In the evening, they had a wonderful singer and band. Some folks danced.

I went to a sing-along, computer classes, cooking classes, craft classes, watched Pictionary, art auctions, etc. All by myself. Your mother will love it. I found that folks loved to visit! There are always great spots to sit and just people watch.

Have a Wonderful cruise! And report back when you get home.

I hope my question won't distract from the OP's question, but it's a bit on the same subject, so I guess I will go ahead with my question .....

I've never used a PCC. What exactly does a GOOD PCC do for you that you can't just get by calling the cruise line and speaking with whatever representative answers the phone.

I just took my very first cruise on Holland, and I just always spoke to whoever answered when I called. I do believe they did assign me a PCC, though. But I don't even recall who it is or how I would go about contacting her if I wanted to.

Thanks for your replies.

I have 3 grandchildren. We took them on a cruise as pre-teens/teens.

I'm just not sure a cruise with a 3 and 4 yo would be the best choice for a vacation, in my opinion. I think there are better land-based choices for a vacation with the ages of your grandchildren.

Just curious - did you mean you were dressed comparable to the other diners or nicer? Our first Alaskan and HAL - just familiar with what was worn in the MDR on Carnival on Caribbean routes

We were dressed comparable to other diners. Most folks were dressed about the same as us. We were in AnyTime Dining. I could see folks coming in that were from Set Dining Times. Quite a few folks came in dressed fancier than us. But, for the most part, folks around the ship in the evening were dressed as we were.

In comparison to NCL, which is who we have always previously sailed, Dress in the evening is nicer. On NCL, you see many folks in jeans and t-shirts in the evening. On Holland, most people kept on their nicer dining clothes throughout the evening as they attended shows, in the casino, at the night clubs.

I want to send NCL an email, but online I'm only finding telephone #'s for various things and also their snail mail address.

I want to send them an email to tell them we no longer have been using their cruise line and why.

Thank you.

Dh and I just cruised to alaska on Amsterdam.

We didn't do Gala night. On the other nights I wore black slacks and pretty tops, not sequined or that sort of style. Dh wore Docker-type pants and black polo shirt/collared. We looked fine in comparison to other folks. We don't really do fancy or have those types of things to wear.

At one large table with diners, all folks were dressed up, except one fella. He had on a red flannel shirt and his baseball cap. I had kind of thought that he should have taken off his cap, or that Holland would have asked him to. He looked out of place sitting with all of his family that were dressed up fancy.

I am LOVING reading all of your stories!!

Keep them coming!!!