Cruising Beautiful Alaska with Holland America Line

Posted - September 4, 2019

Those who see the world, better understand the world. I was fortunate enough to experience the beautiful state of Alaska while cruising aboard Holland America’s Eurodam on a seven-day Seattle round-trip itinerary. I highly recommend arriving in Seattle a day or two early to explore the downtown area, such as famous Pike’s Market.

Day One – Departure. This is a great time to make dining reservations, reserve show times, visit the excursion desk, and explore the ship. Evening wear for dining aboard this ship is generally smart, casual dress, with some formal nights also included.

Day Two – At Sea. This was a day at sea, at which time I watched a segment of American’s Test Kitchen, offering demos, cooking tips and recipe cards. In the evening, there was a Gala Night, then I took in a show at The Mainstage and ended the night at BB King’s Blues Club.

Day Three – Juneau. It’s a good idea to arrange excursions prior to arriving in Juneau. There are many excursion options, including whale watching, salmon fishing, or taking a floatplane. I set up an excursion to Mendenhall Glacier. Before the excursion I took some hiking trails to get a closer look at the glacier as well as Nugget Falls. I also recommend taking a look around town. Tracy’s Crab Shack is located next to the port and is a must if you enjoy Alaskan King Crab Legs. The Red Dog Saloon is also a must to experience the bar culture.

Day Four – Cruising Glacier Bay. Today we enjoyed the beautiful scenery of Glacier Bay while listening to an onboard park ranger. Pinnacle Grill was the dinner choice this night. This specialty restaurant costs an additional nominal fee, but with the AAA Member Benefit dinner for two is complimentary.

Day Five – Sitka. This is a small town known for its fishing. A shuttle will take you from the port to town, about 15 minutes away. Here you can opt for hiking tours, a guided walking tour, nature safari, or even a fishing expedition. I chose to walk around town and explore, seeing totem poles and touring the Russian Bishop’s House.

Day Six – Ketchikan. Here I decided to venture out of my comfort zone and take a kayaking excursion around Eagle Islands. We were lucky enough to see some eagles and their nests, a whale and sea lions up close. If you want to, you can try a crabbing or fishing excursion, see a lumberjack show, or take a floatplane to see the fjords.

Day Seven – Victoria, Canada. From the port a bus will take you to downtown Victoria, where you can take a guided city tour or tour the beautiful Butchart Gardens.

I highly recommend visiting Alaska, it really is a must do. Come in today and I will be more than happy to help set up your Alaskan experience.

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