I boarded my first ever cruise in Vancouver, sailing on Holland America Line's Koningsdam. I was absolutely blown away by the standard of the ship. Upon boarding, I was in awe of my surroundings. Koningsdam is elegant yet relaxed, and the staff were friendly and helpful throughout. Sailing round trip from Vancouver, each day brought us towering mountains, deep fjords, glaciers and charming frontier towns.
We sailed beneath the famous Lions Gate Bridge before making our way up the scenic Inside Passage. Along the way I watched bald eagles soar overhead, and whales occasionally appeared alongside the ship. There's something quite special about spotting wildlife from the comfort of your balcony, coffee in hand, with the coastline sliding past.
Julie in Alaska
Alaska Glacier
Ketchikan
Ketchikan
Holland America's Koningsdam
Glacier in Alaska
Onboard Koningsdam
Our first port was Juneau, Alaska's capital and a city that cannot be reached by road. It's a fascinating place, hemmed in by mountains and the sea, with a real sense of remoteness. Some guests aboard opted for whale watching excursions, while others headed out to Mendenhall Glacier. Wherever you choose to go, Juneau gives you a proper taste of Alaska's wild scale.
Our next stop was Skagway, a Gold Rush town that felt like stepping onto a film set. Wooden boardwalks, historic shopfronts and stunning mountain scenery gave the whole place a step back in time feel to the 1890s. We chose to simply stroll around at our own pace, popping into little shops and soaking up the atmosphere. It's a small town, but one packed with character and history.
One of the true highlights of the cruise was sailing through Glacier Bay National Park. Rather than docking, the ship slowly navigates among immense glaciers while National Park Rangers come aboard to provide commentary. You can hear the crack of ice as enormous chunks calve and fall into the sea below, a sound that's hard to describe until you've heard it yourself. We watched seals resting on floating icebergs, while sea otters and puffins bobbed about nearby. It's a rare kind of quiet spectacle, one that stays with you long after you've sailed on.
Throughout our cruise, Koningsdam offered terrific dining, but two standout specialty restaurants really stood out: Tamarind and Pinnacle Grill.
Tamarind sits high up at the aft of the ship, offering stunning ocean views alongside dishes from Southeast Asia, China and Japan. It was one of my favourite dining experiences of the whole trip, both for the food and the setting.
Pinnacle Grill is a fabulous steakhouse, and I'd wholeheartedly recommend the fillet steak and lobster. It's the sort of meal worth dressing up for.
I was genuinely surprised by how fantastic the entertainment was aboard Holland America. Koningsdam places a strong focus on music, and live performances fill the ship's Music Walk venues, with something for everyone. From blues and rock to piano performances, it created a lively atmosphere without ever feeling too busy or overwhelming.
On sea days, we relaxed with a coffee and pastry in one of the lounges, watching wildlife and glaciers drift by. It's the perfect balance to the busier port days, giving you time to simply take it all in.
Below is a selection of itineraries which feature Holland America Line Cruises.
Canada & Alaska Cruises
Canada Adventure Holidays
Alaska Cruises
Alaska Cruises
Alaska Cruises
Yukon & Alaska
Canada & Alaska Cruises
Canada & Alaska Cruises
Alaska Cruises
Canada Escorted Tours
Canada Escorted Tours
Canada & Alaska Cruises
Canada Rail Holidays
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