Holland America Line's Westerdam
Alaska Explorer via Glacier Bay
 |
| Lamplugh
Glacier |
 |
| John
Hopkins Glacier |
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| Margerie
Glacier |
Part Two
by Linda Coffman
Alaska Ports & Sights
With the variety of shore adventures Holland America
offers, it was difficult to choose exactly what to do in port.
Fortunately, our first "call" required no decision making. After a
day at sea, we got up early as Westerdam entered Glacier Bay.
Greeted by a pod of humpback whales, we enjoyed some of the
world’s most stunning sights.
Although the day was overcast and
drizzly, we spent most of our time outdoors on Westerdam's aft pool
deck. Sheltered from the wind, and with cover nearby, we were ready
as Lamplugh Glacier came into view. Almost before we knew it, we
were exploring the inlet to John Hopkins Glacier, inaccessible
earlier in the season because it's where sea lions give birth to
their babies.
The highlight of the day occurred as Westerdam slowed in front of
Margerie glacier. Not only did the glacier calve once, it did so
twice. There were more rumblings and we hoped for an even more
spectacular show, but the glacier's face remained intact as
Westerdam pirouetted to provide everyone on board with the best views.
With the
bow open to passengers, a wrap-around promenade deck, open decks aft
of the Crow's Nest, the aft pool deck, and private balconies, there
was plenty of outdoor viewing area for everyone on board. Less
hardy souls had no problem finding a seat at a window. Naturally,
warm drinks were available and steaming Dutch Pea Soup was served.
Juneau:
It was no “fluke” that we saw an abundance of wildlife on our Whale
Watching & Wildlife Quest tour this morning—the tour’s operators
guarantee whale sightings and promise to hand each passenger a one-hundred dollar bill
back at the dock if humpback whales are not spotted. No one has ever
collected and we certainly didn’t have to today.
Although the weather was drizzly, the catamaran, which is
specifically designed for wildlife viewing, was cozy inside and it
was a simple matter to scoot outdoors to the observation deck when whales were
spotted. In addition to the coffee, hot tea, and hot chocolate that
were served, we also had a tasty smoked salmon snack.
The first
wildlife sighting in Stephen’s Passage was a majestic bald eagle
and it wasn’t long before a mama whale and her baby surfaced
alongside our boat. We then passed an island populated by sea lions
and harbor seals and also saw a sea otter swimming offshore. It’s
somewhat unusual to see sea otters, so that was a rare treat for
both the tour’s naturalist as well as us.
I had almost given up seeing a whale rise out of the water and show
his tail when we spotted several spouts, the indication that there
were numerous whales about to surface. And surface they did! A
couple even “waved” their flukes in the air—something I’ve always
longed to see. Altogether, the tour was informative, enjoyable, and
delivered everything it promised.
Sitka, no make That
Tracy Arm Fjord: Oops, what happened
to Sitka? We had good news and bad news
aboard Westerdam when leaving Juneau.
First, the bad news. Before departing Juneau, Captain Henk
Keijer made the announcement that due to the weather forecast of
hurricane force winds and rough seas we would be unable to call at
Sitka as planned. Sitka is a tender port and it would simply
be too dangerous for the ship and passengers.
Instead, the good news. We sailed in the calmer Inside Passage to
Tracy Arm Fjord and enjoyed scenic cruising from early morning until
mid-afternoon. Even on a rainy day with low clouds, the scenery was
remarkable. Waterfalls rushing down the cliffs created a symphony of
sights and sounds that more than made up for the missed port call.
I didn't hear a single complaint but, just in case anyone on board
was unhappy, they received a
complimentary glass of wine or champagne at dinner. A nice touch
from our Hotel Manager and Captain.
Tracy Arm was an unexpected delight and we still had Ketchikan to
look forward to.
Ketchikan: One of my
favorite Alaska ports, for shoppers interested in authentic Alaskan native art, Ketchikan
is a treasure trove of shops and galleries. It’s also a very walkable town with colorful Creek Street just a
short stroll from the piers. While the buildings are now home to
shops, they were once a part of the infamous “red light” district.
The creek that runs alongside was full of salmon during our visit—many of them
putting on quite a show as they leaped into the air.
Back aboard Westerdam we were treated to a Great Alaska Cook-Out
poolside where we feasted on salmon and Holland America Line's
signature bread pudding. And we learned that the after dinner Dessert
Extravaganza, which had to be cancelled due to rough
seas the night before, was rescheduled.
With so many activities to choose from, it was almost difficult to
decide how to spend the rest of the day at sea after leaving
Ketchikan. There was a digital
workshop featuring photo editing, a margarita mixology course, wine
tasting, and a Cupcake Tea. One event I didn’t want to miss was the
Travel Guide Series lecture about Alaska’s Native People.
Victoria, BC:
For Westerdam’s evening port call to Victoria, BC, we chose a
“pub” tour and sampled beers at three micro-breweries. The bus ride
through the city with our knowledgeable and entertaining bus driver
was almost more interesting than the beers. We’d like to come back to Victoria
again for a daytime tour to Butchart Gardens, which we heard weren’t
as impressive at night, even though they are softly illuminated.
Sadly, our cruise had to come to an end, but the Holland America Line
service didn’t stop when we reached Seattle. Based on post-cruise transportation plans, all Westerdam passengers were assigned specific debarkation times.
The
“silent debarkation”
began with the early departures at 7:45am and no announcements were
made afterwards. Our assigned debarkation
was at 8:45am and that’s exactly when we walked off the ship. By 9:40
we had taken the Budget Rent-a-Car shuttle from the pier to
downtown, picked up our car, and were pulling into the parking lot
at The Museum of Flight where we spent several hours wandering
through the exhibits, including Air Force One (that would be the
plane that was used primarily by President Lyndon Johnson).
If You Go:
Holland America Lines offers a variety of ships and itineraries
sailing Alaska waters from Seattle. They also have the most National
Park Service
“passes” to Glacier Bay, offering the opportunity to see Glacier Bay
on three major itineraries.
Sail either round-trip for seven or fourteen nights from Seattle
or seven nights from Vancouver, BC. By sailing one-way northbound or
southbound between Vancouver, BC and Seward (Anchorage), Alaska, you
can extend your trip with the option of a pre- or post-cruise land
tour and cruise combination itinerary. From their gracious ships to their
exclusive sightseeing motor coaches and domed railcars to their Westmark Hotels, relax and let Holland America Line take care of
the work.
Back to Part One: On Board Westerdam
Related:
Behind The
Stage
— It's Show Time! and we ventured behind the
stage after the performance to find out what goes into Holland
America Line's production shows aboard Westerdam.
The Chef's
Table
— Fine dining aboard
Holland America Line's ms Westerdam.
