Let go of whatever you thought about regarding Holland America and learn about the new Holland America.
What comes to mind when you hear Holland America? Older demographic, stuffy, boring? The new Holland America throws that bias out the window.
My husband and I were invited to cruise the Koningsdam round trip from Vancouver to Alaska and Glacier Bay. It was spectacular!
Who is Holland America good for? All age groups. I saw families, multigenerational, and even teens. The ideal Holland America cruiser is someone who wants learn more about a destination and the world around them. They had several lectures/talks each day. We learned about Alaska, the wildlife, conservation and their culture. Not only did we learn on board but they had shore excursions available by Food and Wine that are exclusive to Holland America.
The cabins were comfortable and the food was delicious. We stayed in a forward veranda cabin that was 3 floors below my favorite spot on the ship - the spa. The cabin has spacious closets and plenty of room to fully unpack. My favorites: the large shower, large balcony and lots of electric plugs; even one at the bedside table. I was able to work on my laptop using their high speed internet. Pro-tip: upgrade your internet before you sail.
On our 7 night cruise we ate at 3 different specialty dining restaurants: Pinnacle steakhouse, Rudi’s sel de mer and Canaletto Italian restaurant. I really loved Rudi’s which is elevated french food. Each course was beautifully presented and so delicious. Our other favorite is Canaletto which was a last minute decision and I’m glad we went. It’s not your grandma’s lasagna. It’s like you are in a smalrestaurant in Italy. I started with an Aperol spritz and calamari and the meatballs are to die for. Meals are served family style so order as much or as little as you want. For the main course I had the beef short ribs and my husband ordered the grilled lamb chops. But save some room for the dessert.
Let’s talk about the entertainment. Here’s where they differ. They don’t have the broadway type shows of the larger cruise lines, or the waterparks and slides that most of the new ships have. But they do have fabulous live music by Lincoln Center artists, Jazz music at BB Kings, Rock concerts at Rolling Stone Live and most importantly the 270 degree screen that helps support the live lectures at the World Stage.
My favorite places to see wildlife like whales, dolphins and eagles? The Crow’s nest on deck 12, the outside areas all around deck 3 (where the on board naturalist was) or just sitting on our balcony with binoculars and a wool blanket.
I can’t wait to take another cruise with Holland America. We booked a 35 day cruise out of San Diego to Hawaii and Tahiti. I’m already counting down the days.
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