Holland America DVC trip experience?
- Thread starter emacman
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tripletvan
DIS Veteran
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- Aug 11, 2001
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I would also be interested. Hasn't anyone on these boards tried it? We have been talking about a larger trip when our kids turn 15 in two years and thought this may be an option.
eva
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There are a couple of threads about members that have been on that cruise. You might try searching to see what pops up. I would try right not but the search feature is usually turned off at lunch time. I know that the last thread I read on it had a lot of good information and they had a great time.
Mdtigger99
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 18, 1999
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- 126
We just took the HAL cruise on the Amsterdam to AK this past July. Alaska was indescribably beautiful. The excursions were expensive but if you work at it, you can choose very good ones that are worth the price. We did white water rafting(great but cold).
Nature cruise (we saw more in an hour and a half than we did the rest of the cruise eagles, bears, whales, sea otters.
Kayaking, too rushed and wouldnt recommend it.
The cruise itself
HAL does the best at embarking and disembarking period. We experienced no waiting in lines, thank you HAL.
In my opinion the ship does not compare to DCL. The ship looks nice but the details are just not there. Our daughter is a teenager, I would expect that younger kids would get bored between stops. The food and service on the three DCL cruises we took were much better than what we experienced on our HAL cruise.
Its cold up there, you wont have too much need for summer clothes.
I would do it again anytime. The beauty of Alaska is so great it overshadows any deficiency I may have felt in my comparison between HAL and DCL.
Nature cruise (we saw more in an hour and a half than we did the rest of the cruise eagles, bears, whales, sea otters.
Kayaking, too rushed and wouldnt recommend it.
The cruise itself
HAL does the best at embarking and disembarking period. We experienced no waiting in lines, thank you HAL.
In my opinion the ship does not compare to DCL. The ship looks nice but the details are just not there. Our daughter is a teenager, I would expect that younger kids would get bored between stops. The food and service on the three DCL cruises we took were much better than what we experienced on our HAL cruise.
Its cold up there, you wont have too much need for summer clothes.
I would do it again anytime. The beauty of Alaska is so great it overshadows any deficiency I may have felt in my comparison between HAL and DCL.
DH and I have been on the HA Inside Passage cruise but not with DVC points. In fact exactly 12 months ago we had just returned home. It was wonderful. The ship was great, very comfortable, so smooth and no engine noise at all. Food was great and plentiful, entertainment good and superb facilities. Excellent value for money. This trip was part of a package which took in the Canadian Rockies by motorcoach.
The only small downside, which did not spoil it in any way, was the weather. Shortly after leaving Vancouver in lovely sunshine we sailed into cloud and rain. It was clearly visible, almost as a curtain and on the return trip we sailed out of it in almost the same spot. It rained a lot, particularly in Ketchikan, but that is not suprising given the climate there (rainforest).
I would like to go again in a few years time, but by then the cost in points will be more than we've can muster, even over three years!
The only small downside, which did not spoil it in any way, was the weather. Shortly after leaving Vancouver in lovely sunshine we sailed into cloud and rain. It was clearly visible, almost as a curtain and on the return trip we sailed out of it in almost the same spot. It rained a lot, particularly in Ketchikan, but that is not suprising given the climate there (rainforest).
I would like to go again in a few years time, but by then the cost in points will be more than we've can muster, even over three years!
Mary Ellen
DIS Veteran
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- Aug 20, 1999
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- 772
We've sailed on HAL 4x to Alaska, but not on points. We love it but I imagine it is a very different experience from DCL (not having sailed DCL). HAL's children's program isn't their strong point if that is important to you. I would describe HAL as a more 'traditional' cruise.
The three types of Alaska cruises are:
1) r/t from Seattle on the Amsterdam (great ship) or the new Oosterdam (I'm reserving my opinion on her as her sister ship, the Zuiderdam, has received very mixed reviews on the cruisecritic.com boards).
2) r/t from Vancouver, B.C. This is our favorite as it is more 'Inside Passage' than Seattle. We prefer the scenery (yes, we have sailed both itineraries) and like Skagway much better than Sitka.
3) the one-way sailings - Vancouver to or from Steward, Alaska. We haven't sailed this as some members of our family don't fly and it is more 'exposed' to the Gulf of Alaska which can be MUCH rougher than the Caribbean (and I get seasick).
The three types of Alaska cruises are:
1) r/t from Seattle on the Amsterdam (great ship) or the new Oosterdam (I'm reserving my opinion on her as her sister ship, the Zuiderdam, has received very mixed reviews on the cruisecritic.com boards).
2) r/t from Vancouver, B.C. This is our favorite as it is more 'Inside Passage' than Seattle. We prefer the scenery (yes, we have sailed both itineraries) and like Skagway much better than Sitka.
3) the one-way sailings - Vancouver to or from Steward, Alaska. We haven't sailed this as some members of our family don't fly and it is more 'exposed' to the Gulf of Alaska which can be MUCH rougher than the Caribbean (and I get seasick).
HAL is the best cruise line for me - and the one I prefer over all others. If I'm cruising using points, it's on DCL and there's some special deal or event (like the member cruise). Otherwise, it's strictly HAL for me. HAL is superior to DCL in every way that matters to me - I'd only rank the kids program better on DCL, and thankfully I don't need that!
As someone said, the best itinerary would be the round trip from Vancouver. We did the Amsterdam from Seattle in 2002 and although the ship & service were excellent (much better than any of my 5 DCL cruises), there is more time "at sea" rather than in the scenic inside passage.
I would never use dvc points for the HAL cruise - you're far better off to pay cash (rent a portion of the dvc points for $10/each to raise the cash if needed - you'll still come out ahead). If you use points, you not only pay the equivalent of $2000 per person for a cabin that rents for less than that, you'll also pay the $95 fee AND port fees close to $200/person. You also can't get a verandah on points - you'll be in the cheapest outside cabin (which is comparable to DCL but a little prettier but no split bath). You can probably book a verandah for cash for $2000/person and have the port fees included in that figure.
As someone said, the best itinerary would be the round trip from Vancouver. We did the Amsterdam from Seattle in 2002 and although the ship & service were excellent (much better than any of my 5 DCL cruises), there is more time "at sea" rather than in the scenic inside passage.
I would never use dvc points for the HAL cruise - you're far better off to pay cash (rent a portion of the dvc points for $10/each to raise the cash if needed - you'll still come out ahead). If you use points, you not only pay the equivalent of $2000 per person for a cabin that rents for less than that, you'll also pay the $95 fee AND port fees close to $200/person. You also can't get a verandah on points - you'll be in the cheapest outside cabin (which is comparable to DCL but a little prettier but no split bath). You can probably book a verandah for cash for $2000/person and have the port fees included in that figure.
I forgot to mention - my HAL Alaska cruise was taken with my son. He was 15 at the time, and it was his favorite cruise overall (he's been on 5 cruises). He did a couple of HAL cruises, then I took him on DCL and he asked that his future cruises be back on HAL...even he felt HAL was a better experience.
There were about 15-20 teens on board, they were all really nice kids, and the group was small enough that they got to know each other and hung out together. Our most recent HAL cruise had significantly more teens (but not as many as DCL) and it wasn't as much fun as the Alaska cruise.
There were about 15-20 teens on board, they were all really nice kids, and the group was small enough that they got to know each other and hung out together. Our most recent HAL cruise had significantly more teens (but not as many as DCL) and it wasn't as much fun as the Alaska cruise.
I will be booking our HAL cruise inside passage on points this Monday (9/29) for 8/28/04 (205 pp). We will be doing this on points due to we have excess points to get rid of. I will be booking the catagory A veranah suite. This will be our first ever non disney vacation and I cannot wait to experience the ship the Zaandam (thank you Mary Ellen for your assistance on this
).
If you want more infomation on HAL and the ships please go to this link:http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?q=Y&a=frm&s=927093444&f=077097554 This board has great infomation for you.
Go to this post on HAL on points: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=330252
Minybear
).If you want more infomation on HAL and the ships please go to this link:http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?q=Y&a=frm&s=927093444&f=077097554 This board has great infomation for you.
Go to this post on HAL on points: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=330252
Minybear
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