14 day Amsterdam Inaugural Alaskan Adventurer Review

[SeaGypsies]

Thanks NM Lady and Kween Karen for your replies on Internet coverage.

[Loreto]

Can you help me try to figure out what 48 feels like on the ship?? I have a feeling it might be colder than 48 here in Michigan when you add in the movement and ocean breeze. Did you wear a jacket that day? Gloves? Hat?

 

Thanks so much,

Cheryl :)

 

Hi Cheryl,

 

I thought it was comfortable. We sat on the back deck while cruising the inside passage, under the cover. There were lap blankets available which we wrapped around us. People walked the deck every day...I couldn't due to a sore foot....I love to walk. The last sea day when it was somewhat rough, I didn't go out.

 

I wore a turtleneck shirt, boiled wool jacket...almost a knit...purchased from Lands End years ago but too warm for our desert...topped with an above the knee rain/all weather unlined jacket with hood from Liz Claiborne. I wore a wool hat... a beret, and knit gloves. I never felt cold except on the top deck of the ship that took us from Homer to Seldovia...the wind was brisk on the bay. It was windy going to see Glacier Bay and the Hubbard Glacier, but I was never cold.

 

Some days were nice on deck, I do think hat and gloves are a must. The temperature inside the ship was very comfotable. If you are from Michigan, 48 should be a heat wave!

 

Karen

[mescat4]

We promised Gimer a review when we got back last week but have procrastinated because, quite frankly, attending to shopping, laundry, Doctor dancing and planning for our next cruise next month has gotten in the way. We did take some time to post however on some other threads that related to this cruise.

We posted at length on a Homer thread about the 'Homer Highlights' excursion we took which was outstanding, In particular visiting the Norman Lowell Gallery was a special treat and the Wildlife Center alerted to the concentration of whales and porpoises we saw cruising from Homer to Kodiak as we passed the Barren Islands about 10 PM that evening.

We also posted at length on a Culinary Center thread about the two spectacular cooking classes we took with Chef Das from the Pinnacle- the food we cooked and ate was by far the best we had on the cruise.

There has been some discussion about which White Pass and Yukon excursion ons should take. We are train buffs and have ridden the diesel excursion on previous visits. The Amsterdam arrives in Skagway on a Friday. This is one of the two days a week that White Pass runs Steam to Lake Bennett in Canada. This is the complete route the Stampeders took over the White Pass where they built rafts and boats at the Lake Shore to sail down the Yukon River to the gold fields. This excursion is not part of the HAL Program but is bookable directly through the Railroad- it leaves at noon and returns at 4pm so there is plenty of time to do other things in Skagway. Plus they offer Champagne on the trip and you get to shake the empty glasses at HAL trains on the way back. We were on the inaugural run of the Steam Excursion and mosrt of the snow was still on trackside-spectacular.

The weather cooperated in both Glacier Bay(split pea soup) and Hubbard (Salmon Chowder) both great but Salmon Chowder was better and Hubbard put on a better show-lots of 'calving'

Victoria was too brief although we had the opportunity to spend 2+ hours in Burchard Gardens on the HAL excursion which included a nice tour through the town. We'll be back!! Finally got some rain on the drive back to the Amsterdam on the last evening of the Cruise.

We thought the selection of movies in the Wajang was exceptional. On several evenings we preferred the movie to the production show. The entertainment in the showroom was fair although we felt the big name 'Lorna Luft" was very good. But maybe it was the nostalgia virus that clouds our opinion. Our favorite on board spot was the Ocean's Bar where the Crossroads Trio played OKOM (Our Kind of Music)- Big Band, Standards and Ballads- the keyboard artist can make that box sound like the Miller Band! and the dance floor is large enough to actually dance on. Kudos to the many couples that filled the floor in the evening.

We felt food quality in the MDR was uneven, with beef and veal being done better than poultry and fish. We returned a fish dish at the Mariner's Lunch as it was loaded with bones. The braised beef we got as a replacement was excellent. The best meal was the Sauerbraten dinner.

We ate twice in the Canelletto and once in the Pinnacle. The Canelletto was excellent both evenings, yet , surprisingly it was only half-filled each evening.

The 11PM bufffets, with the exception of the Chocolate buffet were disappointing as to variety and quality . It appeared that dessert leftovers from the MDR were offered. Pizza and Burgers at Lido Pool grill and ice cream bar were also excellent.

We took the internet packages and had strong signal in stateroom on our netbook. Response time was quite fast and acceptable to us.

Only played machines in Casino and they were NASTY!

Thanks to all the Roll Call who came to our M&G (95%) in spite of the fact we were displaced from our original venue by a Suite Pax lunch. We had a great gift exchange and thanks to Gimer for the Badges,Bookmarks and posters. We're sorry that Tinknock who started it all couldn't come, but were happy to step up and fill in.

Thanks to the unbelievable weather for an unbelievable trip

Finally, thanks to HAL for instituting a policy where we can get our airline boarding passes on board, place our baggage outside the cabin not to be seen again until the Baggage Carousel at Sky Harbor in Phoenix all for $19pp.

 

Enjoyed meeting the many CCers and hope to cruise with some again (C and D Cruisingfans will have to put up with us for 35 days next month on the VOV)

 

So long for now

 

Ev and Sybil

[alpal1993]

That gives me something to think about.Do I get Internet service just to get our boarding passes and pre pay luggage or just pay the 19 and not have to worry about our luggage at all?HUM! How far in advance did you have to sign up for the Luggage Service?

[mescat4]

the paper work for the baggage service was in the cabin by about the third night of the cruise with a reply deadline of about a week later- sorry I can't be more precise-

Ev

[alpal1993]

the paper work for the baggage service was in the cabin by about the third night of the cruise with a reply deadline of about a week later- sorry I can't be more precise-

Ev

Thanks just like on Celebrity and RCCL.I think I remember that there is a cut off date for filing.

[Loreto]

Thanks for your review, Ev and Sybil, and doing the roll. It was nice to meet you!

 

Karen

[mescat4]

Loreto- nice meeting you as well- hope we have the opportunity to sail with you again

 

Ev and Sybil

[bigpaulh]

I've enjoyed reading the various reviews of this cruise. Sounds like you got the best weather possible! Hope you left some for those of us coming later in the season.

 

I have a question about luggage when I disembark. Did anyone notice if Southwest has it's version of luggage direct at the Seattle pier? They have it in Ft. Lauderdale, and it's a major help.

(Yes, I know it's not included in HAL's plan.)

 

Southwest is in fact included in HAL's plan - at least it was for this cruise. I know because I used it and it worked fine - Southwest 1877 SEA-RNO.

 

Paul

[RuthC]

Southwest is in fact included in HAL's plan - at least it was for this cruise. I know because I used it and it worked fine - Southwest 1877 SEA-RNO.

Thankyouthankyouthankyou! That's good to know! It makes it so much easier when I disembark!

[Gimer]

Ruth C - I also just return from the Alaska cruise on Amsterdam. I did use "Luggage Direct & Airport Transfered". See 'Pier to Airport in Amsterdam' post #11. Gimer

[RuthC]

Ruth C - I also just return from the Alaska cruise on Amsterdam. I did use "Luggage Direct & Airport Transfered". See 'Pier to Airport in Amsterdam' post #11. Gimer

Thanks for the confirmation. I love the way it worked in Ft. Lauderdale. And I LUV Southwest. :D

[Loreto]

Thanks for the confirmation. I love the way it worked in Ft. Lauderdale. And I LUV Southwest. :D

Ruth, I am glad you can use luggage direct...it looked tempting, as our Alaska flight didn't depart until 8 P.M., and after we arrive at Ontario International in SO CAL at 10:45 P.M. and we still have another hour to drive to the high desert to get home, the thought of our luggage possibly not being there was a deterrent.

 

We went to Alaska Airlines to give them our luggage and were told "if we take it this early (8 hours) you will probably never see it again....come back in 4 hours." At least they were up front about it!:)

 

We hauled our luggage to a restaurant/ bar, drank heavily:eek: and ate slowly. People watching was interesting.:D

 

You will love this intinerery!

 

Karen

[RuthC]

You will love this intinerery!

Just hoping the weather's great this time. It has been on most of my Alaska cruises; only one less than great was the last one.

The only new port to me is Kodiak, which I am very excited about, and thrilled to be going back to Homer. Although I didn't sail into Anchorage, I did spend most of a couple of weeks there after a northbound cruise. I tooted around the north country for a week, then spent another week there at a business conference.

 

Reading various reports on this new itinerary is only serving to make me more excited about going back.

[tjcox9]

We were on the Royal Princess about the same time you were on the Amsterdam. We also had wonderful weather. This was our second time doing the 14 day with Princess.

 

We've enjoyed both so much and since Princess is not doing it next year, we may have to take a look at HAL (not too far a stretch since we're 4 star Mariners). Or perhaps Oceania who is also picking up AK for next year with some 10-14 day itineraries.

 

Such a lovely unspoiled are once you get out of the BIG THREE ports, although we thoroughly enjoyed our time in Skagway, Ketchikan and Juneau this time.

[NMLady]

Ruth, I am glad you can use luggage direct...it looked tempting, as our Alaska flight didn't depart until 8 P.M., and after we arrive at Ontario International in SO CAL at 10:45 P.M. and we still have another hour to drive to the high desert to get home, the thought of our luggage possibly not being there was a deterrent.

 

We went to Alaska Airlines to give them our luggage and were told "if we take it this early (8 hours) you will probably never see it again....come back in 4 hours." At least they were up front about it!:)

 

We hauled our luggage to a restaurant/ bar, drank heavily:eek: and ate slowly. People watching was interesting.:D

 

You will love this intinerery!

 

Karen

 

Our flights were on American and we used Luggage Direct. It was so nice not to have to look for our luggage in the warehouse and take it through Customs since we also each had a backpack, Joe had his CPAP case, and I had a huge tote-size purse. Not having to also pull a wheeled suitcase each was nice.

It was even nicer to be able to completely skip the luggage check-in at the airport and go directly to Security lines.

I'd been concerned about whether our luggage would actually show up in El Paso TX since there was a connecting flight enroute. But our two bags were among the first ones to show up on the conveyor belt.

I wish we could use that service again for our next cruise, but NCL doesn't offer it in Orlando.