ms Rotterdam's 2010 Alaskan Explorer Cruises Highlight Hubbard Glacier

ms Rotterdam's 2010 Alaskan Explorer Cruises Highlight Hubbard Glacier

Ship sails roundtrip from Seattle and features the latest Signature of Excellence enhancements

Seattle, WA, October 27, 2009 – For the first time, Holland America Line’s flagship ms Rotterdam will sail from Seattle to Alaska in 2010, featuring convenient, seven-day, roundtrip cruises. The Rotterdam will offer a total of 18 Alaskan Explorer sailings departing Saturdays from May 15 through September 11.

The Alaskan Explorer itinerary highlights the scenic Inside Passage and immense Hubbard Glacier in Yakutat Bay, North America's largest tidewater glacier. Hubbard Glacier is one of only eight glaciers in Alaska that is currently advancing instead of retreating. First mapped in 1895, the Hubbard’s huge open face is more than five miles wide and actively calves icebergs as large as 10-story buildings.

“Next May the Rotterdam will have Holland America’s latest Signature of Excellence enhancements, including a new category of lanai staterooms,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales, and guest programs. “These and the ship’s verandah suites increase guests’ opportunities for viewing Hubbard Glacier and Inside Passage as they cruise.”

Under Holland America’s $525-million Signature of Excellence program, the Rotterdam gains 39 new lanai staterooms, created by replacing existing stateroom windows (on Lower Promenade Deck 6) with lanai doors that open directly onto the walk-around promenade. The ship also adds 23 new spa staterooms, featuring a variety of enhanced spa amenities, on its Verandah Deck. All staterooms and bathrooms will receive complete new décor and furnishings.

Public areas will add The Retreat, a resort pool feature; the Showroom at Sea, a glamorous nightclub; and Mix, a new concept with three separate bars: Martinis, Champagne and Spirits & Ales. Canaletto, Holland America Line’s popular and complimentary casual Italian restaurant, will also be added to the ship.

The Rotterdam’s Alaskan Explorer cruises call at the historic ports of Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan, plus Victoria, BC, and feature scenic cruising of the Inside Passage and Vancouver Island. In Alaska’s capital of Juneau, guests can visit the Alaska State Museum or opt for an active adventure such as kayaking, rafting, whale-watching or flight-seeing over the Mendenhall Glacier.

In Sitka guests can learn about Alaska’s Russian heritage at onion-domed St. Michael’s Cathedral, visit the renowned Raptor Center, or see otters, whales and seabird rookeries up close by day boat or kayak. In Ketchikan they can enjoy its colorful Creek Street, Totem Bight State Park and Saxman Native Village or opt for a floatplane flightseeing trip to Misty Fjords National Monument. Cruise-only fares start at US $649, per person, double occupancy, for a seven-day Alaskan Explorer cruise on the Rotterdam.

The Leader in Alaska Cruises and CruiseTours

Holland America Line has been Alaska’s leading tour operator for more than 60 years. The line has eight premium ships, offering 148 Alaska cruises and more than 30 different CruiseTour programs in 2010.

For more information, consult a travel agent, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (877-724-5425) or visit www.hollandamerica.com.

DH and I are booked to sail her in May for our anniversary. I'm excited to see the changes after drydock. I'm also excited for the itinerary, as I'd much rather see Hubbard glacier than Sawyer or Tracy Arm.

I'm also excited that they have Sitka on the itinerary, vs. Skagway.

Thanks for the interesting post!

Going with (2) 8 yr olds want to see whales if we can.... any recomendations on shore ex. that would be kid freindly and fun for all. Any help would be great.... Thanks

I am going on May 29th!! :D

Very strongly considering this one myself at some point this summer.

The combination of Rotterdam in Seattle (this never happens), the recent dry dock, an opportunity to see Sitka again (and restock my smoked salmon reserves at Taku in Juneau) as well as Hubbard Glacier (never seen it) all add up in my book. :D

We are also booked for this itinerary.

Smoked salmon -- we get ours from Salmon, Etc -- Ketchikan -- was introduced to this company years ago on a HAL cruise -- it was recommended by HAL. Now I just order it online whenever we run out of it.

sept 4 cant wait rotterdam here we come!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello everyone. First post and first cruise. Rotterdam from Seattle September 11th. :D

Hello everyone. First post and first cruise. Rotterdam from Seattle September 11th. :D

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

We'll be on the August 21st sailing - my mom, aunt, uncle, partner and myself. Also have a range of cabins (inside, outside and a lanai) so we'll be able to get a good cross section on staterooms to compare!!

Wife and I July 3rd.

We'll be on the Sept. 11 cruise to AK.(our 2nd AK cruise)!

DH and I are booked to sail her in May for our anniversary. I'm excited to see the changes after drydock. I'm also excited for the itinerary, as I'd much rather see Hubbard glacier than Sawyer or Tracy Arm.

 

I'm also excited that they have Sitka on the itinerary, vs. Skagway.

 

Thanks for the interesting post!

Actually, we are no longer booked on this sailing. Cancelled for 2 reasons... #1 was because the kids decided to join us, and there weren't any quad balconies, and #2 was reading about all the issues Rotterdam had out of drydock.

However, we booked into the Oosterdam, so we are still looking forward to going to Alaska, we are just going to miss Hubbard Glacier :(

May 15th booked

Our first time in a deluxe suite August 28. Can't wait.

I know the Rotterdam is currently on a longer voyage and so I assume no one has heard if some or all of the "problems" from the post dry dock sailing have been fixed?

I am really looking forward to this my first HAL cruise and our first trip to Alaska!

I know the Rotterdam is currently on a longer voyage and so I assume no one has heard if some or all of the "problems" from the post dry dock sailing have been fixed?

 

I am really looking forward to this my first HAL cruise and our first trip to Alaska!

Is it Rotterdam or ROTTENDAM??

Some more recent reviews say the latter.

Lets assume no news is good news. I will be anxious to read any reviews.

Is it Rotterdam or ROTTENDAM??

Some more recent reviews say the latter.

It's RotteRdam---let's get it right. Yes, she had a disasterous drydock, and first post-drydock cruise. She may even still have had unresolved problems on her second post-drydock cruise. But she has been a marvelous flagship, and she will be again.

Her problems will be solved.

I'm not worried at all :) There are always glitches after a drydock.