I have been searching through brochures for every cruise line that covers Alaska for several weeks and have now decided to book Holland America. Hopefully we've made the right decision. We're in our late 30's - have heard that we may be classed as quite young for this cruise line, however, the intinery for Alaska won us over as well as good reviews for the ship etc.

We just need to wait for the 2008 dates to be released and I'll be first in line to book. We're hopefully going to go with a room with a verandah (balcony here in the UK) but ideally we would love a suite. Are they worth the extra cash? Also, what is the difference between a deluxe verandah room and a standard one?

The silly little brochure we get here in the UK doesn't really give much information as to the different cabins and the additional extra perks that are on offer.

Thanks if you manage to respond!

We have been on both HAL Oosterdam and Ryndam, both very good ships, just depends on the cruise you want. Oosterdam is round trip from Seattle where Ryndam is from Vancouver to Seward. We liked the 2nd cruise better as we have family in Alaska, but also because we spent 2 days watching glaciers, one in Glacier Bay and one in College Fjords. Both are good trips though with personnel that is out of this world when it comes to helping. Have a great time, I guarantee you will not be disappointed with either ship.

We had a window view room which as enough for us. We spent most of our time out of the room and on both cruises it really wasnt warm enough to constitute having a balcony. Just a thought.

While we were on a different Cruise line (Princess). We were in an inside cabin, we were not in the cabin much. My Aunt and Uncle had a balcony, they enjoyed it, but we were bless with nice weather. Don't forget to add in the windchill factor when thinking about a balcony, when the ship moves there is a breeze.

I've sailed over 150 days with Holland America and well over half have been in the Deluxe Veranda Suites - here is a link that will take you to HAL's website for a full description, the size of the Deluxe Veranda Suites and the amenities you receive. I can assure you an experience well worth the money. I just returned from a cruise around Cape Horn (Valparaiso to Rio) on the Rotterdam in a Deluxe Veranda Suite. We were traveling with another couple who had the adjacent suite. The cabin steward unlocked the partition between the verandas which then gave us an immense space to have cocktails. You will find it a very civilized way to enjoy your cruise - there is also something very special about a pre-dinner cocktail on your own veranda while watching the sun set.

And speaking of cocktails, HAL will allow you to purchase bottles of your favorite liquor for consuption in the privacy of your own suite/veranda - I posted the list and pricing on this board some time back. That was what we did rather than attempt to sneak liquor aboard like boarding school students trying to sneak liquor or beer into the dormitory. In addition, you can openly bring wine aboard. There is no corkage if consumed in ensuite.

I love your analogy to "boarding school students"; I can understand wanting to save a buck--heck, I've been there--but the whole mouthwash bottle/bubble wrap thing is really a turn-off; as is the wine-in-a-box fiasco.
I'm glad to hear HAL has such an adult attitude about wine and liquor.

quote:

That was what we did rather than attempt to sneak liquor aboard like boarding school students trying to sneak liquor or beer into the dormitory. In addition,

LOL Aw come on, you're taking all the fun away from trying to beat the system are you not?

We are first time cruisers and my thinking is that we will spend little time in our cabin on an Alaska HAL cruise this summer and expect to take a number of excursions. We are going cheap on the room and using the savings on more/better side trips.

Is this s good idea that I have, or am I being simplistic about the savings on the cheap room?

The first cruise we took to Alaska on HAL we had an inside room. We were only there to sleep and shower, otherwise we were out and about on the boat. The 2nd time we sailed up there my mom paid my way as she cannot do a cruise alone due to being on oxygen and needing a wheelchair a lot. She got us a window room. It was good too, but still we didnt spend a lot of time in the room so it didnt matter. The first cruise my mom and hubby's mom had a balcony room. It didnt matter, it was too cold when the ship was moving to be out there anyway. Have fun, you will be hooked on Alaska, we are.

quote:

Originally posted by mickeyd:

quote:

That was what we did rather than attempt to sneak liquor aboard like boarding school students trying to sneak liquor or beer into the dormitory. In addition,

LOL Aw come on, you're taking all the fun away from trying to beat the system are you not?

We are first time cruisers and my thinking is that we will spend little time in our cabin on an Alaska HAL cruise this summer and expect to take a number of excursions. We are going cheap on the room and using the savings on more/better side trips.

Is this s good idea that I have, or am I being simplistic about the savings on the cheap room?

Simplistic would be my answer. It's a cruise, live it up. By the way, the only system one beats in bringing liquor aboard is raising costs for other cruisers, but there are multiples of posts on that subject.

First-time cruisers? Go on, you must be joking.

quote:

Originally posted by Greyson:
We have been on both HAL Oosterdam and Ryndam, both very good ships, just depends on the cruise you want. Oosterdam is round trip from Seattle where Ryndam is from Vancouver to Seward. We liked the 2nd cruise better as we have family in Alaska, but also because we spent 2 days watching glaciers, one in Glacier Bay and one in College Fjords. Both are good trips though with personnel that is out of this world when it comes to helping. Have a great time, I guarantee you will not be disappointed with either ship.

Hello Greyson,

We are having a bit of a cold snap aren't we?

I know that glaciers "calve", do they do anything else? I mean I am getting the mental picture of watching grass grow and for ignorance failing to see what could take two days to watch. Help me out here.

If you look real close, you can see them receding;
this is most likely due to global warming.
So while it's not really too interesting, it's very PC.

Ah.

PC it is then.

Not too PC is 900 years of weather
patterns recorded by French vintners
showing several identical periods of
"global warming". I believe those periods
were due to hydrocarbons emitted from belching
cows or volcanoes before a single combustion
engine ever turned over. But that's just the
word on the street.

Ken, I'm with you. Interesting stuff!

We didnt sit there the whole day you silly guy. Maybe a couple hours. It is fun to watch and listen to the calve. Its just beautiful scenery. While sitting in there we saw seals, sea lions and bear up on the hillside.

Greyson,

Well I knew with all the ice in Minnesota, it couldn't be that absorbing. I have been watching travel shows on Alaska and have convinced myself to plan a cruise up there. It is such a beautiful part of the world.

Cold enough for you? -15 below here, no windchill! It actually doesn't feel too bad because there just isn't much wind.

Stay warm!

Ken

This weather is just nuts for sure. I have friend in California whining that is in the 20s sometimes at night. Oh boo hoo. You will love the Alaska trip, you will not be disappointed. If you want some suggestions on excursions I can give you some. If you take the trip from Vancouver into Seward, I have a cousin who owns a B&B up there and I can give you the info. The best thing to do is take the cruise, rent a car and then do some sight-seeing between Seward and Anchorage. You will love it up there. We have about 3" of snow right now and it has finally really slowed down. Im so ready for spring.

Don't be too hard on your California friend; most of us whine when it dips below 40--myself included!

If he would quit wishing more snow on us, I wouldnt even pick on him. Im so sick of winter. Im ready for spring thats for sure. We have had 2 weeks below zero this year and enuogh is enough. It was -15° here one day, with a wind chill of -40° and when I called my cousin in Anchorage, Alaska, it was almost 60°. Where is the fair in that?

My wife spent her teens in Minneapolis (she is from Latvia) before coming west and for 40 years lamented the "lovely change in seasons there"; that is, until she spent two months there last winter caring for her mother. Now I don't hear anymore about visiting in the winter.