Live from the Oosterdam in Alaska - part 2

[cigloo]

Hello all.

 

We are sailing home from Alaska and heading towards Victoria, BC right now. Seems we left all the sunshine in Alaska! Today it is cold and foggy but we are still having a blast (even got lucky in the Casino with Roulette!)

 

The Oosterdam is wonderful and we would sail her again in a heart beat. The bedding in our room was all new as well as the bath towels, thick and luxurious. The cabin was made into a triple this time - never done this before, but never felt the difference. Our child had an upper berth turned the opposite direction and worked great for him. Our cabin was in great condition with the exception of the sofa bed (they need to remove it for a new one). On our deck was brand new chairs and tables that they brought on board in Seattle. Our room steward wonderful, always cleaned while we were away but there when you needed hime. He made the towel animals for our child and me :D

 

The shows have been wonderful and such a great variety and enough family and adult only choices (we sailed the Zuiderdam last October and feel this time the shows had more variety so that was nice).

 

The guest lectures/naturalist speakers were so full of knowledge and answered all your questions. It really made our experience here in Alaska that much more knowing what we did after thier talks.

 

We have enjoyed many wonderful meals with service thus far the best that we have seen. The Lido buffet had wonderful and different choices each day for lunch and outside at the pool the menu changed there also daily in addition to the usual burgers and such.

 

We had early seating at 5:45 and our dinner staff so warm, friendly and skilled. Once our request was made for something, it was always met time after time. HAL so loves the family and when there is child/children they go more out of their way.

 

The flat screen TV's make a difference in the feel of the room as well as all the room to store our suitcases - especially the one full of rain gear that we didn't need.

 

We did shore excursions in each port and one I would highly recommend is the whale watching in Sitka. Sitka by far was our favorite port - so beautiful, clean and friendly. Juneau was our next especially once you got out of town and saw the glacier. For us Ketchikan was ok - glad we did a city/wild life tour. Sailing away from Ketchikan was beautiful though and even saw some whales.

 

We had just one ship in port with us in Juenau and Keitchan. Sitka we had to ourselves.

 

The ship is filled to capacity and it still never feels like that. Getting on and off the ship in each port has been so easy vs the long lines we saw with the other ship (Golden Princess).

 

Like I said in my other posting HAL does a fantastic job!

 

If anyone has any specific questions, please let me know and I will try and answer them when I return as you were all so kind to me.

 

Also, I will post pictures.

 

The crew is excited to head to Mexico and warm weather.

 

Jennifer

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thanks for your report.

 

Sad that you are coming back to bad weather.

 

Will be looking forward to your pictures.