First Time HAL Cruiser: Coming Soon, Live Review of Alaska Cruise on Nieuw Amsterdam May 28- June 4 2023

[Denise T]

41 days to go! I think that we are all ready to go. My sister still needs to get some shopping done but we will probably to that in the next week or so. To say I am in cruise mode is an understatement. Hard to focus at times. I am currently watching the live Juneau port cam as the first ship, the Norwegian Bliss, is scheduled to arrive. Let Alaska season begin!

[Denise T]

38 days and counting! Getting closer and closer. I am going to start organizing the outfits I plan to bring. I created a group message for our little party of 4 to communicate on the ship as my sister's phone is old and she can't download the Navigator app. She keeps saying she needs to upgrade but doesn't. My sister-in-law have scheduled our massages, got 25% off for doing so. 

 

keeping my eye on the weather for next month. Looking pretty good for traveling. 

[Denise T]

35 days out! The excitement continues to build. All the needs doing now is the packing and I will doing that little by little. So far, the plan is as follows (keeping in mind the need for flexibility).

May 26th: Cats go to boarding and we go to the hotel outside of the airport. 

May 27th: Travel Day! Leaving Pennsylvania at 6:30 am. Into Charlotte, then Dallas/Fort Worth where we meet up with my brother and sister-in-law, then to Anchorage at 8:35 pm. Overnight in Anchorage. 

May 28th: Cruise Day! Take cruise train to Whittier then sailing at 8:pm!

 

 

[Hogladyrider]

I can feel your excitement building!

 

What time is the train to Whittier, was hoping you would have some time in Anchorage to sightsee there is so much there to see, especially the Visitors Center downtown.  The flowers should be spectacular.

[Denise T]

36 minutes ago, Hogladyrider said:

I can feel your excitement building!

 

What time is the train to Whittier, was hoping you would have some time in Anchorage to sightsee there is so much there to see, especially the Visitors Center downtown.  The flowers should be spectacular.

My preliminary boarding pass states that it leaves Anchorage at 12:30 and arrives in Whittier at 3. Ship leaves at 8. I might have some time in the morning. Not sure. 

[mtncruzr2]

2 hours ago, Denise T said:

My preliminary boarding pass states that it leaves Anchorage at 12:30 and arrives in Whittier at 3. Ship leaves at 8. I might have some time in the morning. Not sure. 

My boarding pass also shows 12:30 train departure, however, I am concerned because a Holland rep had previously told me the train will depart at 9:45 am. I only see a 9:45 departure from Anchorage to Whittier on the Alaska Railroad schedule.

[Denise T]

3 hours ago, mtncruzr2 said:

My boarding pass also shows 12:30 train departure, however, I am concerned because a Holland rep had previously told me the train will depart at 9:45 am. I only see a 9:45 departure from Anchorage to Whittier on the Alaska Railroad schedule.

This has been confusing to me as well. I have a contact who lives in Anchorage and works in the travel industry and my TA is located on the West Coast and is a cruise specialist in the area. Both tell me that the cruise train transfer is not the same as the Alaskan Railroad time. I intend to find out more. 

[quilty964]

I just read this whole thread, you're making me want to go to Alaska again!  Our first cruise was Alaska in 2019.  We went early June, and the weather was great!  The flowers in Anchorage were beautiful, they said because of all the daylight hours.  We saw bears on top of Mt. Roberts, the scenery was beautiful.  Glacier Bay was awesome!  We did the train in Skagway,  then did a walking tour with Park rangers in the town, not sure if they are still doing that.  We had a wonderful time!  Can't wait to follow you as you begin your travels!  Karen

[Haljo1935]

She hooked me in - we leave in a week April 29 - May 6 on Eurodam. Very much looking forward to it. And looking forward to reading Denise's posts and see her pictures!

[Denise T]

2 hours ago, ktbraun said:

I just read this whole thread, you're making me want to go to Alaska again!  Our first cruise was Alaska in 2019.  We went early June, and the weather was great!  The flowers in Anchorage were beautiful, they said because of all the daylight hours.  We saw bears on top of Mt. Roberts, the scenery was beautiful.  Glacier Bay was awesome!  We did the train in Skagway,  then did a walking tour with Park rangers in the town, not sure if they are still doing that.  We had a wonderful time!  Can't wait to follow you as you begin your travels!  Karen

You should just go! 😊

[Denise T]

1 hour ago, Haljo1935 said:

She hooked me in - we leave in a week April 29 - May 6 on Eurodam. Very much looking forward to it. And looking forward to reading Denise's posts and see her pictures!

You better provide pictures too! I want to see what is coming up for me. You got the head start! 😊

[grapau27]

7 hours ago, Denise T said:

You better provide pictures too! I want to see what is coming up for me. You got the head start! 😊

Hi Denise.

I am looking forward to your Live From cruise review.

Pauline and I prefer warm weather cruises but are booked for a Norwegian Fjords cruise this year so your cruise is particularly interesting.

Graham.

[Denise T]

2 hours ago, grapau27 said:

Hi Denise.

I am looking forward to your Live From cruise review.

Pauline and I prefer warm weather cruises but are booked for a Norwegian Fjords cruise this year so your cruise is particularly interesting.

Graham.

I am the opposite. I have an affinity for cooler weather places. The Norwegian Fjords is on my bucket list. 

[Denise T]

We are at 29 days and counting!

 

Cruise day is coming up fast. So, what does one do on a rainy day? Start packing!

 

I am starting to pack things that I won't need within the next several weeks. My sister and I are going to go out last minute shopping. American Airlines had us pick lunch and dinner on two of our flights. I must say the description of the food is not that appealing, but it comes with the ticket so I will see what happens. 

 

The excitement is building. I have been watching some YouTube vloggers and their impressions of Alaska. I am hoping to see whales. This should be an interesting trip with the four of us. 

 

[Haljo1935]

Boarding was a snap - our flight was almost 30 minutes early and I was not looking forward to sitting 4.5 hours at the cruise terminal waiting for our group to be called. We didn't have to - we did have to wait a bit while all debarking passengers got off before we were allowed to even enter the cruise terminal. That wait was longer than the wait inside!!

Went through check in very quickly  - only showed boarding pass & passport twice.

Our cabin wasn't ready but we were allowed to drop our carry-on in it then head to lunch. 

We had finished Mariners Lunch in MDR and taken a picture from our balcony before our 1:20 boarding time!! Yay - we're starting off well.

Beautiful weather, clear blue sky for waiting outside the terminal. We were too close to get the entire ship, but the clear blue sky is visible  🙂

Balcony is too big to get in a single shot (I know - high class problem :) ) but the view from it is stunning (2nd picture).

Today has been very foggy, so no pictures; sun is now starting to poke out, so maybe later.

First stop is tomorrow - Juneau - where I hope to get nice pictures from atop Mt Roberts.

 

So excited for you and your group!!

Edited May 1, 2023 by Haljo1935

[Haljo1935]

After a foggy, rolling (no rocking) day yesterday, today is starting off very nice - cloudy but no rain. About 5 hours from Juneau; the beautiful AK scenery is abundant.  I love how the fog sits low so you see the water below and mountain peaks above.

Had whales spouting last night during dinner - no pictures (I don't take my phone to dinner) but very lovely - it was dinner and a show!!

[Haljo1935]

Entering Stephens Passage, anticipating great wildlife spotting - according to the Daily Program.

[Denise T]

14 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

Boarding was a snap - our flight was almost 30 minutes early and I was not looking forward to sitting 4.5 hours at the cruise terminal waiting for our group to be called. We didn't have to - we did have to wait a bit while all debarking passengers got off before we were allowed to even enter the cruise terminal. That wait was longer than the wait inside!!

Went through check in very quickly  - only showed boarding pass & passport twice.

Our cabin wasn't ready but we were allowed to drop our carry-on in it then head to lunch. 

We had finished Mariners Lunch in MDR and taken a picture from our balcony before our 1:20 boarding time!! Yay - we're starting off well.

Beautiful weather, clear blue sky for waiting outside the terminal. We were too close to get the entire ship, but the clear blue sky is visible  🙂

Balcony is too big to get in a single shot (I know - high class problem 🙂 ) but the view from it is stunning (2nd picture).

Today has been very foggy, so no pictures; sun is now starting to poke out, so maybe later.

First stop is tomorrow - Juneau - where I hope to get nice pictures from atop Mt Roberts.

 

So excited for you and your group!!

Great pictures! Thank you for sharing. 

[Denise T]

37 minutes ago, Haljo1935 said:

After a foggy, rolling (no rocking) day yesterday, today is starting off very nice - cloudy but no rain. About 5 hours from Juneau; the beautiful AK scenery is abundant.  I love how the fog sits low so you see the water below and mountain peaks above.

Had whales spouting last night during dinner - no pictures (I don't take my phone to dinner) but very lovely - it was dinner and a show!!

Beautiful! I am so excited for you. I have started packing. 

[Haljo1935]

We're getting into about 2 hours early - beginning to see buildings on the beach.

[Denise T]

Here you are. 

[Denise T]

[Denise T]

Welcome to Juneau Eurodam. 

[Haljo1935]

So cool - I've never watched myself come into port!! It's chilly out here on the balcony, but only overcast, no rain, so best place to be as we come in.

This will be you in just a few short weeks!!

 

[Denise T]

2 minutes ago, Haljo1935 said:

So cool - I've never watched myself come into port!! It's chilly out here on the balcony, but only overcast, no rain, so best place to be as we come in.

This will be you in just a few short weeks!!

 

I cannot wait.