Mary with the Koningsdam

In August, Trips by Mary had the opportunity to cruise Alaska with the original Alaska cruise line, Holland America Line. We boarded the Koningsdam and sailed an Inside Passage itinerary out of Vancouver, B.C., Canada. The cruise visited Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay National Park and Ketchikan. Here's my trip report:

I had a beautiful verandah cabin that I was sharing with a friend of mine. The bedding was set up as twin beds, but you can also have them set up as a queen bed. We found the cabin to be very comfortable and you definitely want that verandah in Alaska. The views are just breathtaking!

Smaller ships rule the seas in Alaska. You do not want to be on a mega-ship because the ports are small and the huge ships cannot dock there. PLUS - the ports get overwhelmed with too many tourists descending on them at once. The Koningsdam is perfectly sized. And, Holland America has a long history in Alaska which affords them unparalleled access to the best docking locations PLUS glorious Glacier Bay National Park.

There were so many shore excursions to choose from, I have to go back to do more! In Juneau, we did the Mendenhall Glacier Hike with Small Group Whale Watching. It was EPCI! We saw a mom and calf humpback breech over and over again. Then, Captain Brook had the inside track on a pod of orca! We also saw stellar sea lions, harbor seals and bald eagles.

In Skagway, I got to meet some Alaska husky dogs and learned all about sled dog racing. I even got to hold a puppy for a few minutes, but he just wanted to chew on my sweatshirt! Then, in the afternoon, I decided to go on the White Pass Railway excursion. We learned all about the gold rush in Alaska and saw some absolutely tremendous views!

Glacier Bay National Park was so beautiful! The camera cannot capture the colors we saw. National Park rangers boarded our ship and narrated our journey. They were available for questions and had Junior Ranger information for the kids on board and gave a presentation about the park in the theatre.

Our final port stop was in Ketchikan where my friend convinced me to go ziplining. So, I am afraid of heights. Like, my palms get sweaty watching someone on TV climb a mountain. And, I won't go up ladders beyond two steps. But, I decided, why not try it. The first line was the worst and I kind of panicked. The guides there were incredible though and I decided to stick it out. I'm glad I did it, but I think I will choose something else next time. We did see a black bear fishing from our last platform, so that was cool.

After out adventure, we walked around picturesque Ketchikan for a while as the day was absolutely gorgeous!The next day, we wailed back through the Inside Passage and enjoyed more of the ship's beautiful spaces.

Some of my favorite things were the Dutch House coffee bar and the amazing World Stage theatre onboard. Step One dance company did three different shows and we also saw presentations on native people in Alaska and the Iditarod dog sled race.

If you enjoy live music, you'll love Holland America! The ships have several music venues onboard, like Billboard Onboard, Rolling Stone Rock Room and BB King's Blues Club. Definitely a fun place to spend the evenings.

Or, if you prefer a quieter venue, The Crow's Nest has a coffee bar, adult beverage bar plus lots of board games and comfy chairs, all with amazing views from the 12th deck!

All in all, I highly recommend Holland America Line for your cruise to Alaska!   www.tripsbymary.com.

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