Holland America Alaska Cruise Guide

Insider Secrets, Tips, and Information to Help Plan Your Perfect Alaska Cruise

Holland America Alaska Cruise Lines is one of the top providers of Alaskan Cruises, with eight ships cruising Alaska each summer.

Known as the most traditional and conservative of the major cruise lines, Holland America provides world-class service, some of the best on-ship activities, and wonderful shore excursions.

While Holland America has long held to more traditional-style cruise dining, with assigned tables and set seating, they now offer an additional option of "anytime" dining on most of their cruises.

H.A.L. is also one of only two cruise lines currently offering cruises to Glacier Bay out of Seattle (the other being NCL).

Holland America Alaska Cruise Line itineraries include:

• Alaskan Explorer Cruises - roundtrip from Seattle. Friday departures: visit Glacier Bay National Park, Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, and Victoria, B.C. (7 Days)
• Alaskan Explorer Cruises - roundtrip from Seattle. Saturday departures: visit Hubbard Glacier, Yakutat Bay, Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, and Victoria, B.C. (7 Days)
• Alaskan Explorer Cruises - roundtrip from Seattle. Sunday departures: visit Glacier Bay National Park or Hubbard Glacier, Yakutat Bay, Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, and Victoria, B.C. (7 Days)
• Glacier Bay Inside Passage Cruises - roundtrip from Vancouver. Visit Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Glacier Bay & Sawyer Glaciers/Tracy Arm. (7 Days)
• Glacier Discovery Cruises - between Vancouver and Anchorage. Sunday departures: visit Glacier Bay/College Fjord plus Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway or Haines. (7 Days)
• Glacier Discovery Cruises - between Vancouver and Anchorage. Friday departures: visit Hubbard Glacier, Ketchikan, Juneau, Icy Strait Point and Skagway or Sitka. (7 Days)

I really like the current Holland America Alaska Cruise itineraries. Many of them visit my favorite spot, Glacier Bay National Park - several large cruise lines no longer have any cruises that enter Glacier Bay, due to new environmental restrictions limiting cruise ship access to the park.

The Glacier Bay Inside Passage cruise would have to be my choice for their best itinerary, as it stops both in Glacier Bay and in Tracy Arm Fjord, perhaps the two most amazing spots on the Alaskan coastline (or anywhere in the world, for that matter).

The Glacier Bay Inside Passage cruise also has the advantage of being a round trip out of Vancouver, which can really save on airfare over the split Vancouver/Anchorage fares.

Because the cruise stays almost completely within the protected waters of the Inside Passage, it should generally be smooth sailing all the way. This cruise would not work for passengers who want to add on an interior tour to Denali National Park, but for everyone else, it is a fantastic option.

For an Alaska Cruise - Holland America is a great choice overall. They have great service, food, excursions, and itineraries.

For price comparison, I would also check Princess cruises, since they have comparable itineraries (and are my personal favorite). But it is hard to go wrong with a Holland America Alaska Cruise.

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