Cruising Alaska: Five New Ports and sunny Glacier Bay
A two-week journey along Alaska’s coast aboard the Nieuw Amsterdam, combining ever-changing scenery and glacier waters.
Going on an Alaska cruise
has become a yearly tradition for us. You can check our cruises on board the
Cunard Queen Elizabeth in June , and on the same ship in Alaska in August . Regardless of the month during the cruising season, the ship
we are on, or where we go, the experience is always different. The scenery
changes daily, and you get to see different wildlife. From last year, you can
check our blog post when we cruised on board the Holland America Noordam ship. This year, we embarked again with Holland America, but this
time on the Nieuw Amsterdam ship, on a 14-day cruise at the beginning of May.
For us, it is very easy and affordable to go on an Alaska cruise when the
embarkation port is Vancouver, as it eliminates the cost of airfare to the
departure port.
Embarkation
Embarkation in Vancouver is at Canada Place, and it is an easy process. After checking in the luggage, next are the security check and immigration, and then you are directed to go onboard. From that moment, you can already relax and start your vacation. Lunch is already prepared for the new passengers, and as soon as the ship leaves the port, there is entertainment on the upper deck, drinks are being served, and everybody starts having fun and taking pictures, especially when the ship departs Vancouver and goes underneath the Lions Gate Bridge.
Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam Ship
This year’s 14-day Alaska cruise itinerary was a rare one. Compared to our previous cruises, we got to see five new ports: Kodiak, Anchorage, Icy Strait Point, Wrangell, and Prince Rupert. Because 85% of Alaska’s goods and supplies are distributed through Anchorage, the port only sees passenger cruise ships very few times a year. We also had the opportunity to sail this time on the Nieuw Amsterdam, a Signature Class ship with a modern design, similar to its sister ship Noordam, a Vista Class ship. Nieuw Amsterdam has a capacity of 2,106 passengers supported by a crew of 929, ensuring a good service ratio per guest.
Stateroom
The most budget-friendly
room for us is the Inside Room. We don’t spend much time in the room, so the
size of the room and having a window or balcony does not really matter to us.
The room had everything we could need, it was cleaned twice daily, and the room
staff was very friendly.
Juneau
First stop was Juneau, the
capital of Alaska. Having been here already on past voyages, we just took a
relaxing stroll through the city, up to the Whale Project City Park, located at
the base of the Juneau-Douglas Bridge.
Kodiak
Next was Kodiak, where we
were taken to shore by ship tender. The city is situated on Kodiak Island,
Alaska’s largest island. The city is very walkable, and after visiting some of
the main attraction points like Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center,
Holy Resurrection Cathedral, and St. Paul’s Harbour, we ventured on a walk to
North End Park, across the bridge, enjoying peaceful harbour views, seabirds,
and the serenity of the woods. One of the most fascinating things we learned
about Kodiak was its incredible bear population. The island is home to roughly
3,500 Kodiak brown bears, nearly matching the human population in some parts of
the archipelago.
Anchorage
The ship docked at the
Port of Anchorage for two days, so we had plenty of time to explore the city
thoroughly. Surrounded on three sides by snow-capped mountains, glaciers, and
endless forests, Anchorage is also the most populous city in Alaska. Other than
shopping in souvenir and gift stores, visiting the charming Log Cabin Visitor
Center, and wandering the city’s streets, we also visited the Ulu Factory,
located near Ship Creek. This is one of the most authentic cultural experiences
to have in Anchorage. The factory lets travelers watch craftsmen create the
distinctive curved blades while learning about their history and everyday use
in Arctic cultures. Of course, we could not resist and purchased some original
items from there.
Icy Strait Point
Icy Strait Point is
located in the Tlingit village of Hoonah, Alaska, a place with a year-round
population of about 750–920 residents. Unlike many cruise destinations, Icy
Strait Point is Native-owned and operated by the Huna Totem Corporation, with
tourism directly supporting the local community.
Among the most popular
attractions, other than paid tours, are visiting the restored historic salmon
cannery transformed into a Native-owned cultural and adventure center and whale
watching. Walking from Icy Strait Point to downtown Hoonah, we were lucky to
see humpback whales from the shore.
There are also two
gondolas in Icy Strait Point: a free Transporter Gondola connecting the cruise
piers and main attractions, and the paid Sky Peak/SkyGlider Gondola, which
climbs higher into the mountains for scenic viewpoints and hiking access.
Glacier Bay National Park
Cruising in Glacier Bay is
the highlight of any Alaska trip, but this day was even more spectacular
because of the perfect sunny weather, and as the Ship Captain said, it is a very
rare and magical experience. Because the region has a cool maritime rainforest
climate, most visitors experience a mix of mist, clouds, and rain.
As we entered Glacier Bay,
National Park Rangers boarded the ship and, throughout the day, they shared
stories about the park’s history, wildlife, glaciers, and ecosystem, making the
experience even more meaningful as we sailed through the breathtaking
landscape. Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is home to dozens of
impressive tidewater and mountain glaciers, and on this cruise we passed by and
enjoyed seeing again Margerie Glacier, Grand Pacific Glacier, John HopkinsGlacier, and Lamplugh Glacier, all iconic and of striking beauty.
Next stop was Wrangell, a
small borough in Alaska with a little more than two thousand people. Among the things
we could do in this quiet harbour were walking to the Petroglyph Beach State Historic Site, visiting the Totem Park, and hiking the short Mt. Dewey Trail. The
trail is one of the easiest and most popular short hikes, known for giving big
views with very little effort. The elevation gain is only 87 metres, it is 1 km
in length, and it takes only 0.5 to 1 hour to complete.
Ketchikan
Considered “The Salmon
Capital of the World” due to its prosperous century-old commercial fishery,
Ketchikan is a port city included in almost all Alaska cruise itineraries, and
we have visited it quite a few times on our prior trips. It was too early for
the salmon season, but it is always nice to walk along Ketchikan’s streets,
especially along the famous Creek Street. All the streets are lined with unique
craft and souvenir shops.
Prince Rupert, British Columbia
This coastal Canadian stop
felt more like a working port than a tourist destination. We visited the
historical downtown expecting it to be more touristy, but we were met with many
weathered wooden buildings and old storefronts. Nevertheless, the city is still
full of early 20th-century coastal charm shaped by its role as a fishing and
railway port on Canada’s North Coast. The most interesting area was close to
the cruise terminal, along the waterfront, where a few colourful gift shops
were lined up. We also took a walk on the Rushbrook Trail, a scenic waterfront
trail that runs along the inner harbour of Prince Rupert and is very popular
with both locals and cruise visitors.
Alaskan Wildlife
We knew traveling in May
meant wildlife sightings might be less frequent; nevertheless, we were still
amazed by how many incredible animals we saw: playful northern sea otters,
soaring bald eagles, a big colony of Steller sea lions on South Marble Island,
seals, orcas and humpback whales. As always with marine sealife, it is not easy
to capture on camera, some of the sights will stay only in our memories.
Shows and Entertainment
When on a cruise, there is
entertainment daily and everywhere on board. The ship’s main two-storey theatre
featured musical performances, live instrumentalists, and special
presentations. This year’s evening shows presented at the World Stage were the
best we have seen since starting cruising. At Billboard Onboard, we listened to
an amazing pianist and vocalist Amanda and attended many trivia events for fun.
Rolling Stone Lounge hosted a very good live band playing classic rock, pop,
and everybody’s favourites. Other enjoyable happenings on the ship included a
live cooking show presentation by the ship’s master chef and a fair-style
event, where the atrium transformed into a lively carnival with games, music,
and small prizes.
The Famous Holland America Orange Party
One of the most fun traditions on our Holland America cruise was the famous Orange Party, a lively celebration of the company’s Dutch heritage inspired by the Netherlands’ King’s Day. Everyone dressed in orange, from simple scarves to full bright-orange outfits, and the ship came alive with music, Dutch-themed cocktails, and a festive atmosphere.
Onboard Dining
Holland America Nieuw
Amsterdam has different options for dining, some included in the price of the
cruise like the Lido Buffet, The Dining Room restaurant, New York Pizza kiosk,
and the Dive-In eatery for burgers, hotdogs, and fries. Some other restaurants
come with an upcharge. The food is very delicious regardless of where you eat.
One of the sweetest
surprises onboard was Cake Day, when the crew presented an incredible display
of beautifully decorated cakes that almost looked too good to eat. We also
experienced the ship’s chocolate surprise evening, a festive dessert event
where elaborate chocolate treats were served on the ship.
Snapshots from Around the Ship & Alaska Cruise Moments
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