Holland America Alaska Cruise: Our Full Review.

Tips & Must-See Moments on Noordam with Holland America Cruise Line

Ever fancied an adventure where snowy mountains meet wild seas and every morning feels like a scene straight out of a documentary? We (that’s my husband and I from Bucket List Travel Inspo by WorldLee Journeys) just did a 12-day Holland America Alaska Line Cruise, and we’re still pinching ourselves. This wasn’t a standard trip. We set off through the legendary Inside Passage, rolled along on the Alaskan Railroad and even spent time exploring mighty Denali National Park. We’re serving up a genuine, quirks-included assessment so you’ll know exactly what you’re in for, whether you’re a cruising regular or looking for that bucket list trip.

Ready for the inside onboard scoop? We promise honesty with a dash of playful banter—plus handy tips to help you get the most from your own once-in-a-lifetime journey.

Key Takeaways: Holland America Cruise Our Full Review

View our stateroom balcony cabin
Restaurant and alternative options
Room Service option
Lounges and bars onboard
Ship entertainment
Shore excursions in Alaska
Onboard thermal spa
Glacier Bay National Park
Best places for glacier spotting
About The Navigator App
Our itinerary highlights

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Our Holland America Alaska Cruisetour Adventure: The Inside Passage & Denali National Park

Our journey kicked off with a bang—the Inside Passage is everything you’ve imagined and more. Water sparkles, mountains loom and every day a new adventure calls. Here’s our Holland America Line itinerary in a nutshell:

Vancouver → Ketchikan → Juneau → Skagway → Whittier → Denali National Park → Anchorage

We believe in showing what really happens when you trade your daily routine for a cruise holiday. Sometimes the weather had mood swings, and the bathrooms felt snuggly (read: small), but none of that changed the fact that we had an extraordinary time.

If you’re cruising curious, we’ve reviewed other epic journeys (take a peek at our Azamara Quest, and there’s more coming every month. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for even more clever tips and ship secrets.

Why share our story? We really want to help you to work out if this type of vacation fits your style and expectations—no sugar-coating, just real experiences from our own trip.

Aboard the Noordam:

Our stateroom cabin – Where Glacier-Watching Dreams Come True

It’s all about the views when you’re in Alaska. We chose veranda stateroom balcony cabin 4035, on Holland America’s Noordam and it was a winner! Deck four cabins have bigger balconies (bring your camera and extra hot chocolate). The bow is just steps away, perfect for those times you want to see glaciers up close without having to elbow your way through crowds.

Pro tip: The bathroom in our stateroom cabin was on the cozy side. Pack cleverly and you’ll be sweet.

Mealtimes, Drinking & Delicious Discoveries

We never went hungry (or thirsty). The Noordam has food for every craving:

Main Dining Rooms – Level 3 for pre-booked seating, Level 2 for anytime dining. Same menu, zero stress. The wait staff were always happy to see us.
Specialty Eats – The Pinnacle Grill (hello, steak!) on level 2, or Canaletto for Italian nights on deck 9. The Pinnacle Grill was our favourite!
Lido Market Place Buffet – Tacos, burgers, pastas, salads. We became best mates with the pizza chef. On sea days, the Lido Market gets very busy. This is a common thing on a cruise ship. We recommend opting for the main restaurants or room service on these days.
Dive-In – The burger and hot dog spot, all included. We had more than a couple “research” burgers.
Salads & Healthy Options – Yes, we remembered our greens too. These were available in the Lido Market, main restaurants and room service.

Food matters on holiday. We recommend the crusted chicken and spiced prime rib in the main dining room.

Lounges, Bars & Hideaways

The Noordam’s not one of those giant mega-ships—there were only about 1,900 souls onboard, so you’ll always find a quiet corner.

Library & Café – Borrow a novel or sip a flat white while watching glaciers slip past.
Explorer Lounge – Big windows, comfy chairs and never crowded.
Bars & Social Spots – There are several scattered about so you can sample a different spritz in every port, if you fancy.

Did you forget to pack something? Head to the boutique shops on level 3 for those last-minute needs.

Pool Fun & Sports

You might think pools are only for tropical destinations, but think again:

Lido Pool (Deck 9) – The roof closes to keep things toasty even in Alaska, so you can swim while snow floats by outside.
Sea View Pool – At the ship’s rear, it boasts jaw-dropping views and space to stretch out.

Sporty types can shoot hoops or play pickleball up above.

Entertainment

In the evenings, the World Stage Theatre is the spot for music shows and performances. We think level 2 is the best vantage point—it feels like you’re in the show, not just watching from afar.

To be honest, the quality of the shows was a bit hit and miss. We were happy meeting and chatting to other passengers, so this didn’t bother us too much. However, if anyone from Holland America Line is reading this please take note.

Bingo? Casino? Trivia in the Rolling Stone Lounge? It’s all happening. We lost at bingo, but won at making new friends. Best Places For Glacier Spotting (and Pampering)

Crows Nest Lounge (Deck 10) – For rainy days, stellar views and more board games than you’ll ever finish.
Deck 4 Observation Area – When the ship horns start and everyone rushes out to Glacier Bay National Park, College Fjord or Margerie Glacier… this is the place to be if you don’t have a balcony room.
Greenhouse Spa (Deck 9) – Although they are a little on the expensive side, especially for Australians converting USD to AUD, we snuck off for a massage and highly recommend it. We are worth it, right!

Tip: Even if you’re not a thermal spa person, the steam room is unbeatable after an icy day.

Holland America Lines Navigator App

Holland America Cruise Line’s phone app serves as a comprehensive digital companion for passengers, enhancing their cruising experience from embarkation to disembarkation. Designed to provide easy access to essential information, the app allowed us to view our daily itineraries, explore onboard activities, and make reservations for dinner and excursions. We were also able to communicate with fellow guests and access real-time updates, ensuring we stayed informed about ship schedules and events. By creating a personalised agenda and offering seamless navigation of the cruise experience, the app aims to simplify planning and maximise enjoyment, making it an invaluable tool for both new and seasoned cruisers.

Holland America Line Itinerary Highlights & Can’t-Miss Excursions

Where We Stopped & What Wow’d Us

Glacier Bay was the superstar. We woke up, flung open the balcony doors and there it was—Margerie Glacier, quietly calving chunks of ice into the water. We spent hours out there, mugs in hand, making sure we didn’t blink and miss a whale.

Ports of Call:

Ketchikan – Totem poles and salmon-rich streams.
Juneau – Helicopter tours, crazy landscapes.
Skagway – Gold rush vibes, old-town charm.
Whittier – Gateway to adventure.
Denali National Park – The grand finale.

How We Nailed Our Excursion Planning

Alaska’s famous for wild activities and animal encounters—everyone wants in. Want to ride sled dogs or set foot on a glacier? Pre-book your excursions online before you leave home. The best ones fill up lightning-fast. If you’re the spontaneous type, the shore excursions desk on deck 10 can work its magic, but don’t gamble on missing the popular tours.

Our Top 3 Unmissable Excursions

Mead Glacier Helicopter Tour (from Juneau or Skagway)
- Fly above snowfields, land on the ice, and drink fresh glacier water (no filter needed!)
Alaskan Railway Journey to Denali
- The carriage windows are practically panoramic. You’ll want to keep your eyes glued open.
DogGoneIt Tour (near Denali)
Watch champion sled dogs in training and—bonus—puppy cuddles galore. Not just for kids!

If you love seeing what real Alaska working life is like, dabble in these experiences. They were our trip highlights, paws and claws down.

Essential Insider Tips: How to Make Your Holland America Alaska Cruise Even Better

We believe holidays are for relaxing, not stressing. Here’s what we wish someone had told us before our first Alaska sailing:

Buy the “Have It All” Package
- If you fancy a gin at sunset or need caffeine to function, this approx. USD$400 per person package covers it all.
- Includes alcoholic drinks, specialty coffees, Wi-Fi, specialty restaurant access for two, and $100 excursion credit per person.
- Worth its weight in cruise gold.
Book All Shore Excursions Before You Board
- Popular options sell out fast. Do it from your sofa before the trip so you don’t end up disappointed.
- Register on the Holland America website and lock it in.
Don’t Miss the Once-in-a-Lifetime Tours
- The Mead Glacier helicopter ride will blow your socks off (in a cold but epic way).
- The DogGoneIt Sled Dog Tour in Denali is a crowd-pleaser—the humans and the fur kids both love it.

Pro tip: Have your camera ready for every shore day. You never know when a moose or a pod of orcas might photobomb you.

Should You Choose Holland America Line for Your Alaska Cruise?

Let’s be clear: if you like huge ships, endless waterslides and never finding a sun lounger, Holland America might not be your jam. But if you’re looking for:

A smaller, friendlier ship (1,900 guests)
Gorgeous dining options
Thoughtful amenities and personal service
Quality customer service provided by staff
Easy access to the ship’s best glacier views

Then the Noordam shines. We found that having space to breathe and access to the best views really mattered. Nothing felt crowded or rushed, which is exactly what you want when you’re soaking up the wild landscapes of Alaska.

And if the Noordam is not available, Holland America Line’s fleet includes several other ships for Alaskan cruises, such as the Koningsdam, Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Volendam, ms Westerdam, and Zuiderdam. Each vessel presents a unique blend of amenities and experiences, ranging from contemporary sophistication to traditional nautical aesthetics.

There are options to depart from either the Vancouver or Seattle cruise terminal.

Final thoughts

If you’ve ever wondered if a Holland America Line Alaska Cruise truly lives up to the hype, our answer is a huge YES. We did this 12-day cruisetour ourselves and would recommend it in a heartbeat. Stunning scenery, amazing food, and shipmates from all over the world—what’s not to love? Take our tips, pack your sense of adventure (and maybe an extra scarf), and you’ll have a holiday you’ll never forget.

Craving more jaw-dropping destinations, turquoise waters and dreamy islands? We also reviewed our unbelievable South Pacific island cruise! Don’t miss our Tahiti cruise ship review—full of lagoons, sunsets, and next-level paradise. Click the image below to get inspired for your next bucket list adventure.

Thanks for joining us on this wild, whale-spotting Holland America Alaska Cruise. Let us know in the comments which cruise you’d want to try, and don’t forget to subscribe for more honest reviews, quirky tips, and a stack of holiday ideas from Bucket List Travel Inspo by Lee at WorldLee Journeys. Safe sails and happy travels!