holland america alaska cruise reviews noordam

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Traveler Reviews

A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com , which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. A total of 528 guests have reviewed Noordam , giving it a rating of 3.9 on a scale of 1-5.

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Reviews by traveler type, most recent reviews.

Excellent Trans-Pacific Cruise

May 11th, 2024

39 days on board, with 18 days at sea seemed long, but it was absolutely great. Would do it again.

Traveler Type

4-6 cruises

Positive and negative

May 4th, 2024

The main negative is we bought the Have Iit All Package and their WIFI is AWFUL!!!! You can not send or receive texts. You are logged out constantly and have to reboot your phone to sign in again. We sailed on Princess a month earlier and bought the same package and their WIFI works perfectly and you can send and receive texts. They also do not have laundry rooms and charge $25 for a very small bag of laundry.

Horrible! Never, ever again on this Cruise Line!

Apr 5th, 2024

Very, very saddened by our experiences on Holland America and the Noordam ship. Heartbroken in Colorado, USA

2-3 cruises

Lovely places to visit!

Mar 20th, 2024

Overall is was a good cruise. Loved visiting more of New Zealand and first time in Australia/Tasmania.

Singles/Friends

First time to these countries, and it was a wonderful experience. Friendly people, beautiful scenery, memorable experiences.

Mar 14th, 2024

Well worth it. Never been to the southern hemisphere and these countries have been on my bucket list for a long time. Great adventure.

Be aware of the hidden costs on the HAL up sell with everything, gratuities especially , we went up to desk and had removed , we gave to who we wanted . If we had left on it would have been another $500 aud . $18 aud per day.

Feb 23rd, 2024

Ship is tied , need more entertainment etc staff fabulous , but everything is a sell on board , photos etc

Alaska was incredible, the Noordam was not.

Jan 15th, 2024

Alaska was so incredible that it saved this cruise. I don't forsee us ever cruising with Holland America Line again after our experience on the ship.

We really enjoyed the New Zealand cruise

Jan 9th, 2024

We really enjoyed Australia and New Zealand. The ship was nice and the crew was wonderful. However, the cruise had a little too many days at sea.

Awesomely relaxing 14- day New Zealand/ Australia

Dec 29th, 2023

A great cruise for people wanting to spend meaningful time together. While there are plenty of enjoyable activities on and off the ship, there are also plenty of quieter moments and spaces in which to enjoy the moment.

Holland America Noordam

Nov 29th, 2023

This was an amazing two week adventure! Great time!

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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Family travel with a toddler

Holland America Alaska Cruise Review (MS Noordam)

When we got married in May 2016, we decided to go to Alaska and go on a cruise for our honeymoon. Picking a honeymoon destination seems like a big deal, with numerous destinations to go to, as well as options on how to get there. In the end, after numerous brochures, and research, we booked a Holland America Alaska Cruise with Holland America Cruises.

Holland America Alaska Cruise Review

Our options, why we chose holland america, your fellow cruisers, the itinerary, shore excursions:, onboard activities:, are you planning to cruise alaska, related posts: , share this:.

It’s not our first time to go on a cruise. We actually went on a smaller one to the Bahamas from Cape Canaveral on Royal Caribbean’s Majesty of the Seas in preparation for this longer cruise. We figured most people on honeymoon prefer to feel luxury a bit: taking an all-inclusive resort in a sunny beach. We’ve done that before, so why not see nature with the all-inclusive benefit from a cruise?

Before we booked this, we attended 2 AAA events with Holland America featuring Alaska cruises. During travel fairs (AAA sponsored as well), we collected brochures from various cruise companies that go to Alaska. Heck, we even researched smaller cruise ships! Here were the cruise lines that went to our short list and why we didn’t choose them:

• Royal Caribbean – We like the vibe of Royal Caribbean. Their activities are more catered for millennials and younger cruises or those with family. However, their ships are bigger- meaning, you share more space with other people on a floating barge. That turned us off.
• Princess Cruises – We also liked the vibe of Princess Cruises, and we were close to booking it. However, the dates of the cruise we wanted (Southbound from Alaska to the mainland) were not available. Boo. Plus, Princess Cruises is a bit more expensive than Holland America.
• Uncruise Adventures – Now this one I really liked. It’s a small ship where you can be adventurous and do kayaking and stuff in Alaska. The downside is that it’s so much more expensive than the other cruise lines. Maybe in the future we can consider this (when we’re FI and not as cash-poor as now).

Aside from the price, the Holland America southbound cruise that we were eyeing had a stop in Glacier Bay National Park. While we wouldn’t physically go down in Glacier Bay, there’s a park ranger who will be going up on the ship and explaining the various wildlife and providing a commentary about the glaciers.

Not many ships actually include Glacier Bay National Park on their routes. In fact, to preserve the site, the National Park Service limits only two cruises per day in the park. Most other ships include the Hubbard Glacier if they can’t get to Glacier Bay, so if you find a cruise that actually suits your schedule AND stops by Glacier Bay, it’s a shoe in.

The price of Holland America’s verandah is also comparable to the other cruise lines. However, they gave us a deal when we booked through Costco: we got $250 in shore credit to use on the ship. We could use it for anything we would want: drink packages (NOT), shopping, shore excursions, even tips!

In summary, we mostly chose the Holland America cruise because it fit our dates and budget. Oh, and also because Glacier Bay National Park was part of the itinerary, of course.

Holland America attracts certain types of clientele. As our host in one excursion said: newlyweds, nearly dead, and overfed. It was a bit funny, but it’s actually true.

While we didn’t meet a lot of newlyweds, we would say that majority of the cruisers (like 70% +) are.. err… from the baby boomer era. Most of them are pretty cool, but you can’t expect a cruise to be the same level and energy as Royal Caribbean in terms of entertainment.

The cruise that we chose was a 7 Day Southbound from Seward, Alaska and disembarks in Vancouver, British Columbia. I silently complained to Peter – “Why do we have to disembark in Vancouver? Why not Seattle?” But it is what it is.

The 7 Day Alaska cruise itinerary is as follows:

• Day 1 : Seward, Alaska
• Day 2 : Cruising
• Day 3 : Glacier Bay National Park
• Day 4 : Haines, Alaska
• Day 5 : Juneau, Alaska
• Day 6 : Ketchikan, Alaska
• Day 7 : Cruising Inside Passage
• Day 8 : (7AM) Arrive Vancouver, BC, Canada

You can read more on what we did and on which dates in our 2 week itinerary post. You can also read more about our first impressions of Alaska .

In a nutshell though, here are our comments:

I wish we went to Skagway instead of Haines . Seems like there’s plenty more to do in Skagway than in Haines itself. Good thing I managed to find a local Haines company to book a tour with. And we were in our own group when we went to see the bald eagles up close (not to mention we didn’t pay the exorbitant amount the cruise ships were asking for).

I wish the ship spent more time in Juneau . There’s so many things to do there. Also, a good friend of mine lives in Juneau, so we definitely had options and activities. Also saw a humpback whale near the ship, so that was a plus.

Ketchikan was a good stop. It was rainy when we were there, but we made the most of it nonetheless.

Almost every cruise line overcharges you on their shore excursions. They must make such a big markup on every tour that they sell. After talking to one of the local Haines operators, the cruise lines dictate how much you should sell the tour to, and will forbid you to sell activities outside of the cruise lines. The cruise lines take up around 40% of the cut!

We did our research beforehand and we ran the numbers. We won’t be a finance and travel blog if we didn’t do our due diligence, right? Our verdict? Avoid these shore excursions with a ten foot pole. Some of them are crazy expensive like $200+ to go to Kenai Fjords National Park, $400+ on a helicopter tour + something that lasts only 4 hours. That’s like $100/hour… per person. It’s crazy!

We did, however, book one shore excursion… an extended Mendelhall Glacier experience. For almost 3 hours (2 hours exploring, and the other hour just getting to the glacier and back), you get a bus to the Glacier. Granted, you can do it yourself or book in another company outside the cruise line but the difference was only $5-10 per person and we didn’t bother.

Oh, as a disclaimer: we had extra shore credits to spend, so instead of letting it go to waste by buying stuff on the ship or even buying booze/alcohol, we spent it on an experience.

There’s a huge library on the ship, and I think it’s called the New York Times lounge . You can use the computers to read New York Times articles (Peter did, almost daily) or you can also check the ship’s activities in advance. You can borrow a book and take it to your stateroom or you can read in the lounge.

It’s a peaceful place to go to, and some of the other cruisers just sit in there and hang out. There’s also puzzles to be completed which became a communal thing – where anybody can help put the puzzle together.

There are daily trivia contests onboard the ship. You can be in a group with a maximum of 6 people, and if you win, you get Holland America pins. Yay. I think this is one of our most favorite things to do and we ended up trying to join the trivia contests daily. We won two: one from BBC Earth, and another one on our last night of the cruise.

One big event on the ship is the BBC Earth Game Show . This is separate from the BBC Earth trivia show, where three teams of two people compete on stage in front of the other cruisers. The questions were all related to BBC Earth TV shows: nature, animals, maybe even a bit of travel in it (something I am passionate about).

I have to say I got really competitive in the game show. In the end, we won (yay – bragging rights), and everybody got a bottle of champagne as a prize (wish they gave me BBC Earth DVDs or something, but whatever).

The shows are good: except for a comedy show that I had no idea what he was referencing. We decided to leave before it ended and retreated to our room. My favorite shows were the ones with the singers and dancers: they did one with fairy tale themes and I really liked that.

There were onboard talks and presentations like what to expect while cruising, and how to buy stuff on shore. We mostly went to them in the hopes of winning a free item, but sadly we came home empty handed.

My favorite onboard talk was from our shore excursion expert: but I think she did her talk a little bit too late. It was scheduled while we were cruising the inside passage and it was the day before we were set to disembark in Vancouver. The talk highlighted the various animals and places that our director has seen. It would have helped if this was done on the cruise day before we were going to these cities. It may have helped us look for more wildlife.

We were in the MS Noordam – a smaller ship. The shopping options were a bit small – as compared to Royal Caribbean, where the atrium is where everything is happening and makes the ship feel bigger than it is.

The layout of the ship is quite confusing as well. Where you’ll embark/disembark will change depending on your port, and you may need to walk through corridors with rooms just to get to the other side of the ship. I pity those people who stay in those rooms – it must get noisy.

Personally, I prefer the food in Royal Caribbean’s cruise ship. It feels as if the Lido deck is the same as the sit down dinner in Holland America. Like, there’s nothing that will make us want to go have a sit down dinner.

Related Post: Our First Ever Cruise (Royal Caribbean Majesty of the Seas Review)

They changed our tables so many times in Holland, so we didn’t get to connect with any of the waiters/attendants. In Royal, they made sure to seat us at the same table or area even if we had an open seating plan. In Holland, it is a bit awkward that you’ll end up sitting on a table waiting for other people to join you for dinner as well… until nobody arrives after waiting for a few minutes then you get reassigned to your own private table. Waste of resources, if you ask me.

We did enjoy the choices in the Lido – there were tacos, Asian food, and steak… lots and lots of steak choices everyday. A difference though – you have to wait in a queue for someone to serve you your dinner portions. You can’t just get the food on your own (except maybe for the dessert table).

If so, Holland America may be a good option for you. We would even go so far as to recommend a balcony when you cruise Alaska as the outside scenery is just amazingly beautiful. You don’t want to stay cooped up in an inside room and have nothing to see.

While the activities could have been more entertaining, if you went on the cruise to spend time with your loved ones, or you are happy enough to watch DVDs in your state room, or just to sit and read a book during the cruise down times, then this may be the perfect, quiet cruise for you.

Any tips on cruising in Alaska? Do you think this review helped you out? Please feel free to save this post on your Pinterest for more inspiration!

• Two Weddings and an Alaska Honeymoon

First Impressions of Alaska

An alaska itinerary: what to do in alaska for two weeks, travel hacking alaska: planning our trip.

• Our First Ever Cruise (Royal Caribbean Majesty of the Seas Review)
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Holland America’s food was average to very bad in my opinion. Sushi in the buffet was inedible and Asian food a variation on the Indonesians cooking it with a different sauce only. Meats like any us buffet choice. Desserts dry and hit and miss. Ice cream cheap in quality. Pizza inedible. Dining room just a step above this with excellent service though

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10-Day Double Denali: Tour D6l

Amazing food and superb service make Holland America one of the longest running cruise lines.

Thrills, massive hills, and a few chills in America’s 49 th state—that’s the way we do Alaska Cruisetours.

Experience the best of the Last Frontier in quaint Whittier, Alaska. Enjoy the clear water filled with salmon, red snapper and trout along with the freely roaming wildlife, all combining to make Whittier a treat to visit.

• Noordam - Passenger Capacity: 1,972 (double occupancy) Year Built: 2006 Last Refurbished: 2019

Take advantage of limited-time offers and special deals

Cruise Line

Cruise Ship

Departing From

Whittier, Alaska

Destination

Alaska Cruisetours

Ports of Call

Whittier, Alaska , Glacier Bay, Alaska , Skagway, Alaska , Juneau, Alaska , Ketchikan, Alaska , Vancouver, British Columbia

Special Promotions*

Holland America: up to 45% OFF and up to $300 OBC*

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• Itinerary & Pricing

10-Day Double Denali: Tour D6l sailing on the Noordam

Departure dates: may 2024 - sep 2024.

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Stateroom prices for May. 30, 2024

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Rates & offers are subject to select dates & categories, cruise only, per person, based on double occupancy, in US Dollars, & include NCCF. Government taxes & fees are additional. All rates & offers are capacity controlled, are subject to availability & confirmation, & may change without notice. Additional restrictions may apply. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed -- please confirm details at time of booking. Stateroom photos are for sample purposes only -- actual design and layout may vary.

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Holland America Line Takes Cruisers to the Iconic Sites and Natural Wonders of Australia and New Zealand in 2025-2026

Longer Collectors’ Voyages combine a 14-day cruise Down Under with a South Pacific Legendary Voyage to create an extended vacation up to 50 days

Seattle, Wash., Jan. 31, 2024 — For guests dreaming of a cruise vacation to the Land Down Under, Holland America Line’s Australia and New Zealand season sailing from November 2025 to March 2026 is now open for booking. From vibrant capital cities to captivating scenery, Holland America Line’s cruises to Australia and New Zealand are a tapestry of diverse landscapes and unique cultures.

The 14-day itineraries aboard Noordam allow travelers to easily journey between the two countries and visit the best locales in the region — all while experiencing Holland America Line’s award-winning service and authentic, localized programming. New Collectors’ Voyages combine a two-week cruise with an epic Legendary Voyage to the South Pacific, creating a longer vacation up to 50 days across several cruising regions. 

“Australia and New Zealand are excellent options for cruisers looking for global destinations, iconic cities and wild wonders,” said Beth Bodensteiner, Holland America Line’s chief commercial officer. “We craft our cruises to showcase the best of each region. With these voyages, guests can immerse themselves in New Zealand in a port-intensive itinerary that also features scenic cruising through Milford Sound, or they can see wildlife like penguins and kangaroos while exploring South Australia.”

Holland America Line’s Australia and New Zealand cruises sail roundtrip from Sydney, Australia, or between Sydney and Auckland, New Zealand.

Highlights of the 2025-2026 Australia and New Zealand Season

· All cruises are aboard Noordam.

“Australia and New Zealand” — 14 days, between Sydney and Auckland:

o   Departures in November, February and March.

o   Combination of ports in Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand:

§  All cruises call at Melbourne, Australia; Hobart and/or Burnie, Tasmania; and Tauranga, Napier and Port Chalmers (Dunedin), New Zealand.

§  Additional New Zealand ports include a combination of Picton, Wellington, Timaru, Lyttelton (Christchurch) and Waitangi.

“ New Zealand Discovery ” — 14 days, roundtrip from Sydney:

o   Departs Dec. 7, 2025.

o   All New Zealand Ports: Auckland, Waitangi, Tauranga, Gisborne, Napier, Wellington, Lyttelton (Christchurch) and Port Chalmers (Dunedin).

 “ South Australia Discovery Holiday ” — 14 days, roundtrip from Sydney:

o   Departs Dec. 21, 2025.

o   Melbourne, Phillip Island, Eden, Adelaide and Penneshaw, Australia; Burnie, Port Arthur and Hobart (late departure), Tasmania.

    ·All itineraries that visit New Zealand include scenic cruising in the stunning     Milford Sound located within Fiordland National Park.

    ·Holland America Line’s Global Fresh Fish Program brings native fresh fish and     other local ingredients on board like New Zealand green lipped muscles,     Tasmanian Atlantic salmon, Sydney rock oysters and Tasmanian meat pies.

Book Back-to-Back Cruises with a Collectors’ Voyage

Noordam will sail five Collectors’ Voyages that combine back-to-back, nonrepeating itineraries that allow guests to explore multiple areas in one seamless voyage. These Collectors’ Voyages range between 28 and 50 days and merge two 14-day Australia and New Zealand cruises, or one14-day Australia and New Zealand cruise with a Legendary Voyage to the South Pacific.

41-day “South Pacific Crossing & New Zealand” Collectors’ Voyage

· Departs Oct. 12, 2025 ; from Seattle, Washington, to Auckland.

28-day “New Zealand & South Australia Discovery” Collectors’ Voyage

· Departs Dec. 7, 2025 ; roundtrip from Sydney.

42-day “South Australia & South Pacific Islands” Collectors’ Voyage

· Departs Dec. 21, 2025 ; from Sydney to Auckland.

42-day “South Pacific Islands & New Zealand” Collectors’ Voyage

· Departs Jan. 4, 2026 ; roundtrip from Sydney.

50-day “New Zealand & South Pacific Crossing” Collectors’ Voyage

· Departs March 1, 2026 ; from Auckland to Seattle.

Have It All Booking Bonus

For a limited time, when guests book select 2025-2026 Australia and New Zealand cruises with the Have It All premium package, the standard package amenities of shore excursions, specialty dining, a Signature Beverage Package and Surf Wi-Fi are included — plus the added perk of free prepaid Crew Appreciation, along with free upgrades to the Elite Beverage Package and Premium Wi-Fi. Terms and conditions apply.

Beginning fares for 2025-2026 Australia and New Zealand 14-day cruises start from $1,759 per person, double occupancy. Taxes, fees and port expenses are additional. Visit hollandamerica.com for full details.