Posted on: April 14, 2023 at 10:34 AM
Alaska is hands down one of the most unique, beautiful and popular destinations when it comes to cruising, and Cruise Planners Travel Ambassador Vik Bhatnagar got a chance to visit the famed frontier on Holland America's Koningsdam ship!
What specific cities and /or countries did you visit? Alaska
What was your favorite memory? Glacier Bay was lovely! So close you could touch it!! And apparently, Holland America ships are one of the few ones that can go inside the bay so up close. The weather was just perfect and a lot of wildlife sightings too!!!
Top excursions and landmarks/sites to visit:
- Glacier Bay
- Ketchikan
- Skagway
- Juneau
We personally did not do any excursions, but they are highly recommended in the area with lots of wildlife viewing, salmon spawning and whale watching!
Standout restaurants or foodie must-haves? Tracy's Crab Shack in Juneau is a landmark!!
How would you describe the people and culture of this destination? Any interesting cultural lessons? Learned a lot about the native Alaskan Tlingit tribes and their history, which was so rich and interesting.
What is something people would be surprised to learn about this destination? We have something so gorgeous in our backyard - amazing glaciers and you can see them calving too once the ships get close! A CruiseTour would have been even better where we could see the interiors of the land.
Top 5 Tips and recommendations for this trip:
- Definitely take a balcony cabin at the very minimum on the ship
- Combine with a land tour (CruiseTour) if you can to experience the interiors
- Go whale watching in smaller boats to get up close and personal
- July/August are the best times to see salmons, and consequently bears
- At least do one hike to get even closer to nature there!
Did you travel via cruise ship? If so, please describe the experience and some of the standout features that you ere excited about. Absolutely Holland America was an outstanding experience! The service was impeccable and the destinations/itinerary was very well chosen. It is one of the few ships that allowed us to go much deeper into the magnificent Glacier Bay. They are perfectly-sized ships that let you get close to the glaciers. The food was great, the shows were a good mix of educational and fun! Park Rangers came on board to guide us through the glaciers.
What makes this destination a must-see in your opinion? The beauty is magnificent!! Glaciers and waterfalls are galore! Wildlife is abundant in the right season, and all from the comfort of your stateroom with a balcony!
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