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Name: David Honigberg
Email: ASEARSREP@AOL.COM
Age: 55
Occupation: Commercial Sales
NumberOfCruises: 5
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Maasdam
SailingDate: August 24, 1998
Itinerary: Alaska Inside Passage
FoodDiningRoom: 94
CruiseDirector: 88
CabinComfort: 92
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 92
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 96
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets: 88
CabinSteward: 96
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 84
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 80
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 86
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 85
LoungeService:
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 92
BeautySalonStaff: 94
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 74
OverallPortsofCall: 92
BeautySalon: 94
EntertainmentPoolside: 88
CruiseActivities: 94
Casino: 84
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 92
EmbarkDisembark: 92
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 92
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 92
SpaceRatio: 88
OverallCruiseValue: 93
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 20 Sep 1998
Time: 16:55:57
Remote Name: 205.188.198.41
Remote User:
Comments
On August 14, 1998, my wife & I decided to take an Alaska cruise. We needed to be back
in Los Angeles on September 1, 1998, so our choices
would be somewhat limited.
We called our travel agent on August 14 to arrange an Alaska Cruise returning no later
than August 31. We preferred a seven day cruise and
would accept either a northbound, southbound or roundtrip cruise from Vancouver. We also
preferred an outside cabin with a balcony.
Our agent called back the next day and had two choices for us; The Dawn Princess and The
M.S. Maasdam. He recommended the Maasdam for us
mainly because we were not travelling with children and probably would not appreciate the
Dawn Princess due to the number of families that would
probably be on board. Also, he indicated that the Maasdam had somewhat of a more formal
atmosphere on board. Unfortunately, the only outside
cabins left were on main deck and had no verandah. He suggested an inside cabin on
Navigation deck (the deck where all the suites are located).
I had some frequent flyer mileage to use up so I arranged our own flight to Seattle. I did
purchase the airport transfer from Holland America to
provide bus transfers from Sea-Tac Airport to the ship and from the ship back to Seattle.
True to their word, there was a red-jacketed
representative waiting in the baggage claim area at Turntable 7 who directed us to
turntable 1. At turntable 1 there were representatives from
several cruise lines arranging bus transportation to Vancouver for the various passengers
(there were three ships departing from Vancouver on
August 24). This is where our first glitch showed up.
Our travel agent recommended that we get to Seattle as soon as practicable in order to get
to the ship early to book our planned shore
excursions. We were told that the popular excursions fill quickly, so the earlier you can
get to the ship, the better chance you have of getting the
excursions you want at the times you desire. We arrived at Sea-Tac at 8:55 AM, after
departing from Los Angeles at 5:30 AM on August 24.
When we arrived at the Westours Agent (Holland America) at turntable 1, we were told that
the next bus to Vancouver would depart at Noon.
However, there were approximately twenty passengers in the immediate area who had Maasdam
luggage tags affixed to their bags who were
scheduled to leave at 9:30 A.M. That was when I learned that Holland America had arranged
for only two buses to transport their passengers from
Seattle to the ship.
After some 'negotiating', several cell phone calls and discussions with various Holland
America Westours representatives, my wife & I settled in on
the 9:30 bus to Vancouver.
Our driver, Kevin, was very friendly, knowledgeable as to the surrounding area's history
and economics and provided an informative narrative on
our three plus hour ride to the ship.
One note as to the box lunch provided by Westours - leave it at the airport! If you feel
that you cannot wait until you arrive at the ship to eat,
purchase fast food at the airport and bring it with you. When you arrive at the ship,
there is a full buffet awaiting you in the Lido restaurant. You will
be glad that you waited - the food at the buffet was wonderful.
We were thrilled with the cabin (#019). The cabin steward, Peter, was very accommodating
to our schedule, and since he was also the steward in
charge of some of the larger suites, was extremely cordial and competent. The cabin also
was quite large and well appointed. The bed, however,
was a converted queen (from two twins) and the mattress was somewhat thin and
uncomfortable. However, we were usually quite tired from our
day's activities and fell asleep quickly, notwithstanding the mattress. In addition, since
Alaska has more daylight than the lower 48, we appreciated
the dark cabin during morning hours at sea, so we could sleep in and not be disturbed by
daylight entering the cabin.
We had our mandatory lifeboat drill at 4:15 P.M. and watched mass confusion among the
passengers. I am convinced that few, if any passengers
paid any attention to this drill. Some even had their video cameras going and thought this
was great fun. Fortunately, the drill proved to be a moot
point on our cruise. Perhaps some attention should be given to further stress the
importance of this drill.
We departed at 5:00 PM and slipped under Lions Gate Bridge and headed up the coast for a
wonderful and memorable trip to Alaska.
Tuesday, August 25 was spent as sea, getting accustomed to the ship and also having a much
needed day of rest. Breakfast and lunch is open
seating in the Rotterdam Dining Room, however the Lido Restaurant on Lido Deck is open and
the food is wonderful. Forget the main dining room
for breakfast and lunch; eat at the Lido! There is also a buffet lunch served at the
Terrace Grill poolside which includes hamburgers, hot dogs,
tacos, salads, etc.
Wednesday afternoon, we docked in Juneau with light rain. Chances are that it will be
raining in Juneau when you get there. They have almost 200
inches of rain each year. If you have a waterproof jacket or 'foul weather gear', bring
it. You will need it. An umbrella is also a good idea.
Mandatory gear is binoculars! The scenery is fabulous and even more enjoyable with
binoculars.
In Juneau, we arranged for a helicopter flight to Norris Glacier and Hole-in-the-wall
Glacier. The popular Mendenhall Glacier also has helicopter
flights to it that land on the glacier. The price of a helicopter trip was $174.00 per
person but well worth it. The flight gives you a unique panorama
of the Alaska wilderness. I recommend it. It is not necessary to book your trips on the
ship. Generally you can find the same or similar trips at the
dock when you arrive in port. Also, there is more information about the trip and
sometimes, though not always, the trips are cheaper. Another trip
that I would recommend in Juneau is the flight on a floatplane to the Taku Lodge for a
Salmon dinner. I went there on my last cruise to Alaska and I
discussed this trip with passengers who went there on this cruise and they all said it was
as good as I remembered it.
Thursday morning we were in Skagway, the high point of our trip. The weather was
beautiful. It was sunny, the wind was calm and the air was crisp.
We spent the morning on a walking tour of the town. Skagway is four blocks wide and twenty
two blocks long. There are no traffic lights, no movie
theaters, one market and one post office (and 5,000 passengers off three cruise ships).
The must see trip in Skagway is the trip up White Pass on
the White Pass & Yukon Railroad. This railroad follows the trail of the miners from
1898 on their way to the Yukon. It is a fabulous story of human
endurance and persistence. Skagway has attempted to preserve as much of the town as
practicable, given the number of people who visit
Skagway each year. Skagway is the northernmost town on the Inside Passage and the gateway
to the Yukon.
Friday is spent cruising Glacier Bay and viewing Marjorie Glacier. The water temperature
is 36 degrees and the air is usually about 40. Bundle up
and view the glaciers on deck. You have to hear the sounds coming from the glaciers to
fully appreciate them. They are truly magnificent.
Saturday is Ketchikan, and probably the most commercial town on the itinerary. Lots of
shops, tourist attractions, etc. Creek Street is forgettable
and the tram ride up the hill is so-so. You can also walk up the hill if you are
physically fit.
Sunday is another day at sea and you dock in Vancouver early Monday morning. The transfer
back to the airport was uneventful.
The Maasdam was a very pleasant and enjoyable ship. The crew is Indonesian and Filipino
and they truly go out of their way to make sure you are
enjoying your trip. There is a no tipping policy on the Holland America Line which means
that they do not pass out envelopes on the last day of
your trip, however, we tipped our waiter and cabin steward because they truly went out of
their way to make sure we were well cared for.
The Maasdam singers and dancers who entertained in the Rembrandt Lounge were mediocre at
best. The production numbers were long and all
contained the same old stuff. The individual lounges on the ship had small groups and
singers that were better than the main show. There was a
comedian, Don Sherman, who appeared one night who had a very funny routine of 'observation
humor'. His jokes revolved around experiences
on board the ship, which most passengers could relate to and enjoy. He indicated that
since the shower in his inside cabin was so small, he found
it easier to soap up the walls and 'do the twist'.
The casino has a poker table, however it was never used. Several passengers showed an
interest in getting up a poker game, but it never came to
pass. Perhaps having a dealer at the table would encourage passengers to sit down and
play.
There are the usual bingo games with a jackpot game on Sunday. In addition, they had slot
machine and blackjack tournaments and they were well
attended. The blackjack tables were always full with people waiting. Perhaps another table
would ease the congestion.
The cruise was delightful overall. The ship was clean and the staff was courteous. The
food in the Rotterdam Restaurant was well prepared, but not
anything to rave about. The Lido Restaurant offers delicious food in a beautiful relaxed
atmosphere. The only complaint I had in the restaurant,
both in the Rotterdam and the Lido is that they charge you for soft drinks. I think, with
the cost of the cruise, that soft drinks should be included.
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