Cruising the Inside Passage with Holland America Line

Posted - September 8, 2017

I highly recommend arriving in Seattle a day early, as there are many hotel options in the downtown area and it’s very convenient to get to your departure port.

Day 1: Today is a great day to become familiar with your ship. You will find a flyer in your stateroom describing the various tours offered by Holland America.

Day 2: This was a day at sea, and I purchased a pass to the hydropool for a few hours of R&R, which I highly recommend. The evening schedule was filled with entertainment options, including B.B. King’s Blues Club.

Day 3: We arrived in Juneau, Alaska! This day I pre-arranged an excursion to Mendenhall Glacier. I recommend signing up for excursions in advance, but if you are undecided you may speak with a representative at the excursion desk. Other excursion options included a scenic glacier-landing helicopter ride, Alaska salmon bake, and Alaska whale discovery.   

Day 4: Beautiful cruising in Glacier Bay! During the day, a park ranger joined us onboard, narrating what we were passing and providing information about the national park. I spent most of my time in the crow’s nest listening to the park ranger, which you can also hear throughout the ship.

Day 5: Our port of call was Sitka, Alaska, a very picturesque seaside village known for its fishing and natural trails. Today I walked to Sitka National Historic Park and joined a walking tour of the park led by a ranger who explained the totem poles and Russian history.

Day 6: Today we docked in downtown Ketchikan. I chose to take the Eagle Islands sea kayak tour. We had a very knowledgeable tour guide who brought us to the protected waters of Eagle Islands in the Tongass National Forest. We learned about the culture and natural history of the area while keeping an eye out for wildlife. 

Day 7: We were scheduled to dock in Victoria, British Columbia today. Unfortunately, we were delayed getting into port and all excursions were cancelled, so we took in the beauty of the Victorian-style architecture and toured the beautiful Fairmont Empress. Some of the optional tours offered here include Butchart Gardens, city highlights, wine tasting at the Bateman Gallery, and high tea at Gatsby mansion.

Day 8: Disembarkation day. I purchased my transfers with Holland America to take me from the ship directly to the airport and check me in for my flight. I recommend doing this, as it saved me time when arriving at the airport.
  
Alaska is a “bucket list” trip for many and I highly recommend it! When you are ready to start planning your trip, stop by our office and I will be happy to assist you!