My Favorite Experiences Aboard Holland America’s Koningsdam on an Inside Passage Alaska Cruise

Alaska, often called The Last Frontier, was a new frontier for me since, more often than not, I’ve chosen tropical destinations for my travels. But it was time for the Tropical Travel Girl to go north to Alaska!

There were several choices to make. Which cruise line, which ship, and which departure port? Like more than two-thirds of Alaska cruisers, we chose a round-trip Inside Passage voyage from Vancouver (Seattle was the alternate departure port).

Several major cruise lines offer similar itineraries, but Holland America was an easy choice for us to make. In 2014, my husband and I sailed aboard the 1,350-passenger Veendam, considered a midsize ship, on a Canada/New England cruise. It began in Quebec City, Canada, made stops in the maritime provinces of Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, and then onto Bar Harbor, Maine, before ending in Boston. We loved it!

Koningsdam — Newest of the Pinnacle Class Ships

We chose the Koningsdam, the newest of the cruise line’s three Pinnacle Class ships, for our Alaska Inside Passage cruise. While the Koningsdam has a capacity of 2,650 passengers, there were only around 2,000 passengers aboard on our sailing, July 2-9, 2022. While I have cruised more often on smaller ships, the ship’s size still seemed quite manageable, and after walking around the first day at sea, we easily got our bearings.

Our Verandah stateroom had plenty of space, with adequate closet and storage space, including under the bed, where we stowed our luggage. Choose a Verandah if your budget allows, especially for the Inside Passage cruises, which include a day cruising through Glacier Bay National Park.

Since I’m not fond of cold weather (and that’s an understatement), I booked our trip for the first week of July. I wanted to maximize the chances of having warm weather in Alaska, and we were very successful! Temperatures were in the 60s and even into the high 70s in all our ports. Sunny skies prevailed, except for the day we were in Ketchikan, our last port. It was cloudy but still did not rain.

We packed rain jackets and layers for cold weather that weren’t needed or used, but I’m not complaining! On top of that, we traveled with only carry-on luggage! (Yes, it can be done!)

 

We flew in three days early to have plenty of time to explore Vancouver. Stanley Park, including Vancouver Aquarium, was a highlight. (You can read about it here: Indoor Oceans: Vancouver Aquarium.)

 

 

Our itinerary included three ports – Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan — and three days at sea. The days cruising the Inside Passage provided plenty of time to take advantage of the activities, entertainment, and presentations, which enhanced our cruise experience.

Our Alaska Inside Passage Cruise Itinerary:

July 2 – Depart Vancouver

July 3 – Scenic Cruising the Inside Passage

July 4 – Tracy Arm Inlet (Service Call Only, Access to Shore Limited to Shore Excursions)

July 4 – Juneau (1:00-10:00 pm)

July 5 – Skagway (7:00 am-8:00 pm)

July 6 – Glacier Bay (Cruising Only)

July 7 – Ketchikan (10:00 am-6:00 pm)

July 8 – Cruising the Inside Passage

July 9 – Arrive Vancouver

Cruising through Glacier Bay National Park

Holland America’s Koningsdam cruises the 500-mile-long coastal route known as the Inside Passage. It runs from Puget Sound in Washington State to Skagway, Alaska.

The highlight of any Inside Passage cruise is the day at sea spent cruising through Glacier Bay National Park, so I’ll start with it. We need to give “props” to President Calvin Coolidge, who proclaimed the area around Glacier Bay a national monument in 1925.

Holland America has more sailings to this 3.3-million-acre UNESCO World Heritage site than any other cruise line.

Margerie Glacier, a 21-mile-long tidewater glacier (so-called because it interacts with ocean saltwater), was mesmerizing. For me, it was the most spectacular sight of the day!

Passengers can make their way to outside decks throughout the day for wildlife spotting. Dutch Pea Soup, traditionally served on Holland America Alaska cruises, helps keep passengers warm while keeping an eye out for incidents of “ice calving,” when chunks of the glacier break off and become icebergs.

Since we had a Veranda Stateroom (highly recommended), we could easily step in and out to view and take photos of the ever-changing scenery. Using our binoculars and my zoom lens, we spotted seals but no whales or bears.

After lunch, we attended a special presentation by National Park Service Rangers in the World Stage theatre called “The Wonders of Glacier Bay.” Not to be missed!

Specialty Dining – Rudi’s, Canaletto, Pinnacle Grill

We fit three of Holland America’s specialty dining options into our week aboard the Koningsdam. Specialty dining is at an additional cost, but is well worth it! Specialty dining packages are available, too. (At all specialty restaurants, meals are half-price for kids 12 years old or under, or free when they order from the kids’ menu.)

USA TODAY 10 BEST READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS for 2022 put the Koningsdam in the #1 spot as the best ship for dining.

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Rudi’s Sel de Mer was my absolute favorite, hands down. Described as a French seafood brasserie, it met the expectations of my pescatarian palate. It has been called “one of the most coveted reservations at sea.” The restaurant is named for Master Chef Rudi Sodamin, who serves as Culinary Council Chairman for Holland America.  (Rudi’s is also available on the other two Pinnacle Class ships, the Rotterdam and Nieuw Statendam.)

Also good to know: Holland America Line has been awarded Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) certification—making it the first cruise line to achieve this distinguished credential by serving only fresh, certified sustainable, and traceable wild Alaska seafood.

Canaletto has a classic Italian menu, featuring nightly specials like Osso Bucco and Veal Saltimbocca. Our entrees included Branzino Alla Siciliana, and Grilled Lamb Chops with truffled polenta, both perfectly prepared.

We chose Pinnacle Grill, available on all Holland America ships, for dinner on our last evening. Known as a traditional steakhouse, it offers plenty of fish and seafood to satisfy those who aren’t meat lovers, like my scallops and risotto with asparagus (pictured below).

We (regrettably) missed trying Tamarind, an Asian restaurant, but our meals in the Main Dining Room were, without exception, very good, too!

Music Walk® – Entertainment at Sea

Every night after dinner, we made our way to Deck 2’s Music Walk® live entertainment area.

Within a short walk of each venue, we could enjoy Memphis-style rhythm and blues at B.B. King’s Blues Club or Billboard OnBoard, which became our favorite. We stopped by almost every evening to listen to the two talented singers/pianists play Billboard chart-toppers, along with requests from the audience.

The third choice in this area is the Rolling Stone Rock Room, featuring a live band playing classic rock.

Laugh at BB’s

The BB King’s Blues Club stage is used for more than just music! Two comedians performed during the week we were onboard. Game nights and trivia contests were also held here.

Talks by the Naturalist

Check the daily calendar for talks by the naturalist. I learned a lot about salmon, my favorite fish, from Naturalist John’s presentation, “Consider Salmon – Introduction to the iconic fish of Alaska.” “How to Identify Animal Tracks” was another talk we missed.

Lecture Series at Sea on the World Stage

In addition to the Glacier Bay presentation, a series of lectures and presentations were held throughout our week at sea. Here are the ones we attended; all were excellent. I’d recommend you try to fit as many in as possible:

• We are Alaska
• Ask the Captain – Capt. Draper gives a virtual behind-the-scenes tour
• Breaking the Ice Ceiling – Pioneering Women of Alaska – Alaska Native Voices Program
• Origin Story – The rich history of the Holland America line, how it got started as a cruise company, and how they were the first to brave the Alaskan cruising frontier!

 

 

Did you know? Holland America has been cruising in Alaska since 1947 (before it became a state in 1959) —longer than any other cruise line!

Sip & Savor: Wine and Appetizer Pairing

One evening before dinner, we signed up for the Sip & Savor: Wine and Appetizer Pairing ($7 – Blend). This was a nice, “happy hour” type experience that allowed us to sip and savor two wines — a Chilean Pinot Noir and a South African Sauvignon Blanc. It was fun to become acquainted with several other passengers who appreciate good wine.

Other wine and spirits experiences available (at additional cost) include a Whiskey Tasting, Mixology Class, Winemaker for a Day, and a Cocktails Mixology Class.

Afternoon Tea in the Dining Room

Afternoon Tea is served at 3 pm in the Main Dining Room on days at sea (Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday). Try to make it at least once!

I was seated near two other passengers who came to enjoy tea sandwiches and a selection of mini-tarts, sweets, and scones while our husbands relaxed in their cabins. I have a mid-afternoon cup of hot tea on most days at home, so it was nice to continue my “tea-time” tradition with tasty treats in a lovely atmosphere. 

Greenhouse Spa & Salon

The ship’s Greenhouse Spa & Salon received the Cruise Critic Editors’ Picks Awards for Best Spa and Best Service 2022. After doing an incredible amount of walking in Vancouver before boarding the ship, I was ready for a therapeutic massage to prepare me for our planned excursions. I scheduled it the day we boarded, and since the first full day aboard is “at sea,” it was the perfect time to take advantage of the spa services aboard the Koningsdam.

Things We Didn’t Take Advantage Of

• The Pools — While we didn’t use the pool, the main pool is on the top deck and features a retractable glass dome to cover the area. Families with children especially seemed to congregate here. Food venues near the pool include pizza (New York Pizza & Deli), burgers and other fast food (Dive In), and ice cream and sweets (Gelato). Another smaller pool and lounge area are at the opposite end of the ship on top deck.

• Room Service — Complimentary room service is available for even the lowest cabin category.

• And a lot more — Casino (above), Trivia Challenges, Single and Solo Meetups, Arts and Crafts, Party Bridge, Mahjong, Cornhole, Pickleball, Basketball, Ballroom Dancing, Painting Classes, Movies, Sports, Fitness classes, including Pilates, Yoga, and Tai Chi. Onboard duty-free shopping, too.

So Much More to Discover

We barely scratched the surface of all the experiences available on the Koningsdam, but we thoroughly enjoyed everything we did. Have I piqued your interest in thinking about booking an Inside Passage cruise? If so, I’d recommend you check out Holland America Line’s website to read more about the activities and amenities available to passengers.

I hope to sail again on another of Holland America Cruise Line’s itineraries that cover the seas of the world!

Holland America celebrated its 150^th Anniversary in 2023! Read about its history here.

Also: Read my article, Visit Alaska on a Holland America Inside Passage Cruise, in Parks and Travel magazine.

And… watch my interview on Big Blend Radio about my Holland America Inside Passage cruise: