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Just got back from our Alaska cruise on Holland America. Ship was about 80% full, seemed pretty uncrowded to me. Mask usage was annoying, but not as bad as I expected. Mostly I wore mine in shops, when entering the dining area, in the casino, and in elevators. Otherwise I didn't wear it. On shore, much the same. Lots of shop owners didn't care if you wore a mask or not.
It was good to be out and about in the world again! We had fun. So much so that we booked another Alaska cruise later this month! Not with Holland America though (didn't like the food, lots of problems with our room), we booked on Princess. Princess just announced that you need a Covid test within 2 days of sailing (instead of 3 days, as with the Holland America cruise). Getting that test scheduled is the most complicated part of the process, hopefully that requirement will disappear in the not-too-distant future.
Just got back from our Alaska cruise on Holland America. Ship was about 80% full, seemed pretty uncrowded to me. Mask usage was annoying, but not as bad as I expected. Mostly I wore mine in shops, when entering the dining area, in the casino, and in elevators. Otherwise I didn't wear it. On shore, much the same. Lots of shop owners didn't care if you wore a mask or not.
It was good to be out and about in the world again! We had fun. So much so that we booked another Alaska cruise later this month! Not with Holland America though (didn't like the food, lots of problems with our room), we booked on Princess. Princess just announced that you need a Covid test within 2 days of sailing (instead of 3 days, as with the Holland America cruise). Getting that test scheduled is the most complicated part of the process, hopefully that requirement will disappear in the not-too-distant future.
So glad you had a fun time! I think we're going to try for an Alaskan cruise next year - would love it if you would share what it was about the food you didn't care for. I know we're all individual but I'm interested. Do you think the room issues you had were one-offs or possibly consistent? Your comparisons after your next trip will be interesting!
We're going to the Bahamas/Amber Cove in October - just received an email (Carnival) that we also have to be tested within 2 days, not 3, so I think that may be everyone now and I think it's here to stay until the world gets a handle. I don't mind if it means I get to be on the ship, on the water, not working lol. It may be awhile but at least we're able to travel - I don't even mind if something happens at port and we're not allowed to disembark. Like I said, being on the water and ship is going to be good enough at this point!
So glad you had a fun time! I think we're going to try for an Alaskan cruise next year - would love it if you would share what it was about the food you didn't care for. I know we're all individual but I'm interested. Do you think the room issues you had were one-offs or possibly consistent? Your comparisons after your next trip will be interesting!
Thanks!
Never having been on a Holland America cruise, I can't really say if the food/room problems were due to coronavirus restrictions or not. Food selection, even in the specialty restaurants, seemed very limited, and some of it was just not well prepared (in my opinion). Buffet food was okay, except for breakfast (scrambled eggs had the consistency of chunky soup).
We booked a standard balcony room, but when we checked in, we discovered it had an obvious obstructed view due to an overhang of the bridge structure (this room should have been sold as a partially obstructed view). There would be no looking up at glaciers from that balcony! We complained, they gave us another room with a better view, but the A/C didn't work the first day (no airflow at all in the room), the TV remote control never worked, and the wall covering was peeling up from both top and bottom. Again, I don't know if it was because of staffing difficulties due to coronavirus, or if the ship was just due for updating.
Yep, it will be interesting to compare the two cruises!
Thanks!
Never having been on a Holland America cruise, I can't really say if the food/room problems were due to coronavirus restrictions or not. Food selection, even in the specialty restaurants, seemed very limited, and some of it was just not well prepared (in my opinion). Buffet food was okay, except for breakfast (scrambled eggs had the consistency of chunky soup).
We booked a standard balcony room, but when we checked in, we discovered it had an obvious obstructed view due to an overhang of the bridge structure (this room should have been sold as a partially obstructed view). There would be no looking up at glaciers from that balcony! We complained, they gave us another room with a better view, but the A/C didn't work the first day (no airflow at all in the room), the TV remote control never worked, and the wall covering was peeling up from both top and bottom. Again, I don't know if it was because of staffing difficulties due to coronavirus, or if the ship was just due for updating.
Wow. I've never been on a HAL ship that had those kinds of difficulties. Makes me wonder if they didn't do maintenance during their long downtime. Might have had only a skeleton crew onboard.
Was there bread pudding? You know you're on a HAL ship when you see the bread pudding.
Wow. I've never been on a HAL ship that had those kinds of difficulties. Makes me wonder if they didn't do maintenance during their long downtime. Might have had only a skeleton crew onboard.
Was there bread pudding? You know you're on a HAL ship when you see the bread pudding.
I'd read good things about Holland America, so I really suspect this was due to staffing problems, and the fact that the ship was last updated in 2017. We haven't ruled out giving them a try again in the future, but our next cruise is on Princess, which we are well acquainted with.
Well, bread pudding isn't my thing, but my wife said it was fine!
Just finished the Alaska cruise on Princess. Compared to the Holland America cruise, I’d say the ship was in better condition, and since it was a larger ship, there was more to do on board. The ship was about 60% full (about 2200 passengers), but it felt much more crowded than the Holland ship (which was smaller, and had about 1500 passengers, about 80% capacity). Food was decent, but half the buffet stations were closed, crowding people into smaller areas. I actually liked the feel of the Holland ship better...seemed less crowded, with older, calmer passengers (which I now am!).
People on this ship were much more vigilant about wearing masks, nearly everyone I saw was wearing one, even though it was only required in certain areas.
Next time I will avoid taking this cruise so late in the season. This was the last cruise for this ship in Alaska, and some of the stores on shore in Juneau were already closed for the season. Plus the weather was not good, so they canceled the other port visits. We ended up with just a few hours in Juneau, then cruising around the rest of the week trying to avoid the worst of the weather. We did have decent weather in Glacier Bay though. Overall, kind of a boring trip. In fact, they offered us partial credit for another cruise. We’re looking at 7 day west coast cruise later this month.
Just finished the Alaska cruise on Princess. Compared to the Holland America cruise, I’d say the ship was in better condition, and since it was a larger ship, there was more to do on board. The ship was about 60% full (about 2200 passengers), but it felt much more crowded than the Holland ship (which was smaller, and had about 1500 passengers, about 80% capacity). Food was decent, but half the buffet stations were closed, crowding people into smaller areas. I actually liked the feel of the Holland ship better...seemed less crowded, with older, calmer passengers (which I now am!).
People on this ship were much more vigilant about wearing masks, nearly everyone I saw was wearing one, even though it was only required in certain areas.
Next time I will avoid taking this cruise so late in the season. This was the last cruise for this ship in Alaska, and some of the stores on shore in Juneau were already closed for the season. Plus the weather was not good, so they canceled the other port visits. We ended up with just a few hours in Juneau, then cruising around the rest of the week trying to avoid the worst of the weather. We did have decent weather in Glacier Bay though. Overall, kind of a boring trip. In fact, they offered us partial credit for another cruise. We’re looking at 7 day west coast cruise later this month.
Did you do another cruise? I think Holland America tends to have relatively large rooms and more lounges than other lines, so it tends to seem less crowded even if it is full. I think the last one I went on with them was a Thanksgiving cruise. Obviously it was filled, but seemed less crowded than other ones I have been on with other lines.
I am going on my next cruise with Disney over Christmas. It is just a 3-day cruise. I have read that they are the stricter about the COVID restrictions than any other line, so we will have to see how it goes. I haven’t been on Disney since one of the first cruises it ever offered back in 1998.
I'm thinking about hopping on a last-minute cruise to Ensenada in the next couple of weeks. We are fully vaccinated and the prices are incredible. Even the spa rooms are dirt cheap.
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Do you think the room issues you had were one-offs or possibly consistent? Your comparisons after your next trip will be interesting!
