Thank you so much for watching! It really does mean the world to us! Please give this video a THUMBS UP, please SUBSCRIBE and please leave us a comment too as we'd love to know your thoughts and value your feedback (oh and also we’d LOVE to hear from you). R&H x
This may be my favorite Alaska cruise video on UA-cam! Beautiful photography of the sights and the ship, calm and clear commentary, and a great overview of what we might see when we take the same Holland America cruise in a month. Thank you Rich & Helen! P.S. Thank you for not trying to sell anything!
As a lifelong Alaskan living in Juneau (born in Kodiak, raised in Haines) I enjoy watching these kinds of videos, seeing Alaska through the eyes of tourists. Yours did not disappoint! Great job, very entertaining and informative! BTW, those bears were eating the eggs from the salmon before throwing them away…the richest, fattiest, parts!
I want to take the Alaskan cruise. My sister Patte and her husband Roger live in Juneau on Mendenhall Trail and this would be a great way to visit them!
My wife and I just started watching your vlogs and following you on the socials. This was a fantastic video, especially the whale watching excursion part. The music you chose was EPIC! Looking forward to watching more.
Just got back from our dream cruise to Alaska! Astonishing isn’t a big enough word to describe the beauty of Alaska. Should be on everyone’s bucket list.
Thank you so much. I will be on the HAL Eurodam in three weeks! SO EXCITED 1st time cruise for me ! im still so unsure about the weather lol. Seems like it’s pretty chilly still
making smore's around a campfire is undoubtedly one of the most core parts of American culture that you can experience in my opinion. Alaska was a prime setting but there are many more settings across the beautiful land that is America to do so in. I love watching your video because I can relive my experience on Holland America cruise lines but also the things I missed when I visited. So glad you had a wonderful experience!
I really enjoyed this vlog - My very first cruise in 2007 was to Alaska so this brought back lots of lovely memories. You were so lucky to see all the Whales and the rest of the Wildlife. Thanks very much.
We just watched your video and we loved it. Cant wait to watch more of your videos. My daughter was wondering where you got that gray (poncho) or sweater thing you wore on the balcony? She thought it was super cute. Thank you
Loved this video! Thank you! Your voice is so familiar. Do you narrate audiobooks? I could swear I’ve heard your voice before. I listen to a lot of audiobooks.
Thank you so much for your kind words. Although I’ve narrated a couple of (very niche) books it’s unlikely you’ve listened to them. Would love to have the time to do more of it but don’t really have the time amongst the UA-cam videos 😀 Thanks for watching and for your kind words 😊
Loved your video! We are planning on a HAL land/cruise next May! Wow! Loved your balcony footage, my daughter went on Disney this past summer and didn’t think we should spend the extra $$ on a balcony, so glad I didn’t listen to her! You do a great job filming and narrating!
A great video!!! We have done this cruise almost every year except the covids. The Tamarind is our favorite too and we dine twice every week...some cruises are 14 days.! Alaska cruises are never boring. Thanks much!
Wonderful video, very professionally shot and edited! As a photographer, I am very interested in what camera gear you employed, still and video, and which lenses? Thanks for a great job!
We use a variety of cameras from our iPhones, GoPros, DJI Osmo and a 360. But our main camera is a Sony DSLR which we have four different lenses for depending on what we’re shooting 👍
Nice video of our beautiful Alaska, my favorite cruise destination. Do not feel bad, I am 70 and born and raised in USA and I still have not had a smores. That is really embarrassing.
Speaking of a new vlog approach! Brilliant. Simply masterful. And, speaking of new, I’m surprised I’ve never considered Holland America for Alaska. Now, Alaska isn’t fifth on my list of dream destinations, but like Moana, it calls me. There is certainly much to learn about the rich (not to be confused with the narrator), dynamic history and natural lushness of Alaska and the bear rescue in Sitka was something very new for me to learn about. On another note, more ships need a Tamarind Bar. Reminiscent of the full circle Viking Crown Lounges on the older Royal Caribbean ships. Some old is good old.
I loved your video! Great job sharing the beauty of Alaska. We just got back from our Alaskan cruise and we were amazed by the beautiful scenery and wildlife!
There is so much to see I booked a 14 night from Vancouver which is a north/south trip with a different itinerary coming south on Princess for this August. Watching this I have no regrets booking a longer voyage.
I’m taking my mom on this exact trip at the end of august. I did see there is a 4 hrs port stop at Vancouver in the evening. Is it worth getting off the ship? 😅my mom is pushing to try but I am hesitant.
Once more, an incredible videography showcasing one of nicest part of the world. Your presentation, as always, denotes such good quality of images and sound.
Alaska is such a fantastic place. You did a fabulous job of capturing it. I can spend days and days on the balcony on any cruise, which is why I love lots of sea days.
I'm glad you enjoyed Ketchikan. Did you get to see the harbor seals chasing the salmon in the creek? The few hours the cruise ships are in town is not enough time to appreciate Ketchikan (or the other towns). You need at least a few days.
No we didn’t see the harbour seals. As you rightly say we really weren’t there for very long at all. Hopefully we’ll get to go back to Alaska one day so we’ll keep an eye out for them next time we’re there 👍
Hi. Just found your vlog. What time of year did you go to Alaska? We are going with family in July 2025 to Alaska on the Eurodam to celebrate our 25th anniversary. I am so excited and can hardly wait!
How was that Alaskan branded beer? We have it stocked in a few stores where I live and I’m curious as to your take on it. GREAT video! Thank you as always! 😊
Having sailed the Inside Passage 4 times over 20 years it is interesting to see how the glaciers have shrunk back or even vanished from some hills in the fjords. Gets a bit much when 4 or 5 cruise ships pull into the same port and disgorge 15,000 people into one town. Our next trip is July, we will fly to Anchorage and do a drive inland for a week then sail 7 days Whittier to Vancouver and drive a 7 day trip around BS including Whistler. Might be our last trip to the area. Will have been our 5th.
Planning to book our Alaska cruise this week. Your video was breathtaking and so informative. Now I just have to go and I want to do same cruise you took! Might I ask what month you went? Hoping to see as many whales and wildlife as you did. I know it’s always iffy. Also what cabin were you in? It was beautiful. Thanks so much!
Very nice video as always. For once Helen and Richard we beat you there and went on Celebrity to Alaska before COVID. It’s a wonderful state and would love to return. We were there in August at the height of salmon season which meant wildlife was very abundant then too. I think you were lucky to see so much. I think we had better weather than you. We also went on a helicopter trip to a glacier and went husky sledge riding there. You can do that next time. We loved holding the husky puppies.
Rekindled memories for us. IMO Alaska requires a 14 day cruise. There is so much to see and Crystal did it well for us. Thanks Rich and Helen. A repeat is on the cards.........
We actually stayed in Alaska after this cruise and did a 10 day Windstar cruise from Seward to Vancouver, but that vlog is still to come 😁👍 Thanks for watching and commenting.
I went to Alaska on a Noordam Holland America ship at the beginning of May this year and it was an amazing trip. Would definitely go back again but on a different ship.
Great video, it brought back many happy memories of our trip to Alaska a few years ago, we visited many of the same places. Maybe it's time for us to revisit as it is certainly a bucket list destination but it's a long way to go for a 7 day cruise.
Excellent video, even with the camera shake. We are sure the whales were breathtaking in person! We are heading there this August on Holland America as well. Do you mind sharing what camera and lens you were using to get those great shots?
Thank you, it was a little rocky on the whale watching tour. We used our Sony DSLR with a long lens for the whale watching. Hope you have a great cruise 👍
The first scene of this video gave me real chills - I remember walking out onto the decks (the joys of being in an Inside cabin) of Discovery Princess, and spotting dolphins straight away - I was just so impressed and amazed!
Glad you enjoyed it, we were very lucky with the wildlife, and the weather tbf - even if it started out foggy it cleared up as the day went on 👍 Thank you for watching.
Lovely video. You certainly made the most of your time there and we will be looking to do some of the same trips. Eurodam looks a nice ship too - how many passengers does she take? Beautiful camera work as always and a delightful choice of music. Well done Rich.
Thanks Robin. All the action took place over 5 days with a sea day either end, so yeah, we were kept busy! The Eurodam has 2,100 guests which is slightly larger than her sisters like Noordam (1900 guests) but smaller than Pinnacle Class (2650 guests). We love all the HAL fleet. None are too big to feel overcrowded. 😊
First time in Alaska!?! What kept you? ☺ ...Seriously, Alaska is without question the most scenic cruise destination in the Americas! So glad you were able to visit our 49th state, and in such style!
Great video, Alaska is alway amazing. We have been there 4 times with one of them being a Princess Lodge and train combo with the Inside passage. Love Alaska.
We were starboard which was good for the sail into glacier bay but it doesn’t matter too much as the captain made sure that once you were at the glacier both sides of the ship had equal time looking at the glacier. Thanks for watching 👍
This was a superb video. We were in Alaska in the summer of 2023 with Holland America and this brought back so many great memories. We're headed back in 2025.
Thank you John. We tried hard to capture the spirit and emotion of what we experienced. So much to see and do which brings tears to your eyes (in a good way). 😊
I know, crazy! The only ingredient readily available in the UK are the marshmallows, can’t really get Grahams crackers or Hershey’s here. Obviously we have similar substitutes for these but we tend to just toast marshmallows over open fires without the chocolate and biscuits. We loved them though 👍
This cruise was early August. I think every month is amazing for different reasons (and obviously there’s no knowing what the weather will do!). Hope you have a great cruise. Thanks for watching 👍
That is correct. An invitation rarely comes with an invoice. 🙂 Does it change the fact that it was a fab cruise? Did the bears come out especially? Was the weather deliberately good? Just wondering what difference it makes. 🙂
We cruised Alaska on Eurodam in June last year. Perfectly gorgeous, few crowds, and magical whale-watching at Icy Strait. Now I really want to go during the summer for the salmon run and a chance to see bears.
I've watched a bunch of Alaska cruise videos and this is, by far, my favorite. I live for fog so the morning mists would have enchanted me. FYI, I'm an American and have NEVER even encountered s'mores, though, of course, I know what they are. As for the pronunciation of "glacier," mates: Americans say "glaysher"!
Hi Helen and Rich. Does whale watching on this cruise beat whale watching in the Lemaire Channel in Antarctica !! well, I guess getting up THAT CLOSE is better, yes?? Did Ju No that we can see the ships in port there in Juneau ?? Were you at sea during the Great Eclipse ?? We were on the roof terrace of our building in Montreal during the 90 seconds of totality. Amazing !! Alaska might be a bucket list trip, but Going to Antarctica is at the TOP of the bucket list adventures. I was thinking, seeing a glacier from a ship, pales in comparison to actually walking on land IN Antarctica, YES ???
I think every month has their merit but this cruise was the behind g of August last year so hopefully it will give you a good indicator of what your cruise will be like (though obviously the weather is never assured). Thanks for watching 👍
When exactly did you sail? I had heard that the BB King venue no longer exists on HAL ships. It has been replaced with a Rolling Stone venue. I hope I heard wrong. I’m cruising in Dec this year and would like to hear some e nice jazz music in the BBKing lounge
We sailed last August during the Alaskan summer. We LOVE BB Kings and we getmixed reports about this. I think on the larger ships, BB King's will remain. These things unfortunately chop and change though. :)
Wonderful episode! You even got a shot of the Celebrity Eclipse which we sailed on in June 2022. You saw a lot more bears and whales, but we had warm, sunny weather all week. But you are right, a balcony is a must and I recommend aft cabin so you get both sides because you’re never far from the beautiful scenery. You also captured life on the ship so well, I’m going to give HAL a try next time!
Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm glad you enjoyed the episode and found it relatable to your own cruise experience. We definitely recommend HAL for this trip. :D
I just loved my Holland America, Alaska cruise! We sailed on Oosterdam over Fourth of July holiday a few years ago. That was one of seven Alaska cruises. We’ve taken all on different cruise lines. I have to say Norwegian encore was my absolute favorite.
We had the WORST Alaskan trip on the Discovery Princess. A passenger got ill and ship needed to turn around. We MISSED Juneau, had only 4 hours in Ketchikan and 8 hours in Skagway. I saw NO wildlife at all. It was just a sad experience.
Did you also stop in Victoria? I’ve been to Alaska 4 times now and I’ve found early to mid August to be the foggiest, but I’m glad you got decent weather and fantastic wildlife sightings.😊
![My First Alaska Cruise Was Not What I Expected. Here's Why [Holland America Koningsdam Review]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/c0ndUrKjnnQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Thank you so much for watching! It really does mean the world to us! Please give this video a THUMBS UP, please SUBSCRIBE and please leave us a comment too as we'd love to know your thoughts and value your feedback (oh and also we’d LOVE to hear from you). R&H x
Left me again Mom and Dad. Kidding aside This vs Antartica. Just choose one.
We may have missed it, but when did you go? We are going next June on HAL
This may be my favorite Alaska cruise video on UA-cam! Beautiful photography of the sights and the ship, calm and clear commentary, and a great overview of what we might see when we take the same Holland America cruise in a month. Thank you Rich & Helen!
P.S. Thank you for not trying to sell anything!
Thank you for the watching and for your kind comments. We’re so glad you enjoyed it. Have a great cruise 👍
As a lifelong Alaskan living in Juneau (born in Kodiak, raised in Haines) I enjoy watching these kinds of videos, seeing Alaska through the eyes of tourists. Yours did not disappoint! Great job, very entertaining and informative! BTW, those bears were eating the eggs from the salmon before throwing them away…the richest, fattiest, parts!
Wow, thank you for your kind words and for watching 👍
I want to take the Alaskan cruise. My sister Patte and her husband Roger live in Juneau on Mendenhall Trail and this would be a great way to visit them!
Best video I have seen so far of Holland American 7 day Alaska explorer. You got us excited for our trip coming up summer 2025!
Thank you so much, what a lovely comment 😊
Hope you have a fabulous cruise ❤️
We are going late July on Holland America... so excited!
Such a lovely choice of music, thank you for bringing me so much insight to our upcoming HAL cruise to alaska.
Thank you ☺️
Hope you have a wonderful cruise.
My wife and I just started watching your vlogs and following you on the socials. This was a fantastic video, especially the whale watching excursion part. The music you chose was EPIC! Looking forward to watching more.
Thank you for watching and following our journeys 😊
Beautiful video.
Thank you very much 😊
Wonderful absolutely beautiful video I thought it felt like I was watching a nature show. I enjoyed the narration. Awesome job.❤
Thank you for watching and for your kind comment. Were so glad you enjoyed it 😊
Just got back from our dream cruise to Alaska! Astonishing isn’t a big enough word to describe the beauty of Alaska. Should be on everyone’s bucket list.
You are of course right ❤️
Thank you for watching 😊
This was wonderful! We're sailing on the same ship in August 2025 and it was great to see what the ship will be like.
So glad you found it helpful. Hope you have a wonderful cruise.
Thanks for watching 👍
Great video! We are on this cruise in two days. Can’t wait.
Have a great cruise.
Thank you for watching ☺️
I have seen many videos about Alaska cruises, but your video gives me life. Thanks for sharing.
@@prodigy26cap Thank you. We do try and convey the experience as realistically as we can. Glad you liked it. More to come. 😊
Thank you so much. I will be on the HAL Eurodam in three weeks! SO EXCITED 1st time cruise for me !
im still so unsure about the weather lol. Seems like it’s pretty chilly still
One word - layers. Oh and waterproofs 😆
Thanks for watching. Hope you have a great cruise 😊
I took this cruise on the Eurodam last October. Loved the ship, the food and the shore excusions.
❤️❤️❤️
Thanks for watching.
Thank you for your great videos Rich and Helen! Today we will board Silver Muse for 14 days Alaska intensive cruise 🥂
Thank you for watching. Hope you’re having a great cruise ❤️
making smore's around a campfire is undoubtedly one of the most core parts of American culture that you can experience in my opinion. Alaska was a prime setting but there are many more settings across the beautiful land that is America to do so in. I love watching your video because I can relive my experience on Holland America cruise lines but also the things I missed when I visited. So glad you had a wonderful experience!
Maybe we should plan a US s’mores road trip 😆
Thanks for watching and your lovely comment 😊
I really enjoyed this vlog - My very first cruise in 2007 was to Alaska so this brought back lots of lovely memories. You were so lucky to see all the Whales and the rest of the Wildlife. Thanks very much.
Thank you Christine ☺️
Yes we were very lucky and had so many lovely experiences. Glad you enjoyed it 😍
Beautiful video,,,great job. Thank u for the information shore excursions tips,,, I ll be there in 10 days
Glad it was helpful!
Hope you have a great time 👍
We just watched your video and we loved it. Cant wait to watch more of your videos. My daughter was wondering where you got that gray (poncho) or sweater thing you wore on the balcony? She thought it was super cute. Thank you
Thank you for watching and for your kind comments ☺️
The poncho was from Accessorise but it’s a couple of years old now 🤔
A lovely video, really enjoyed watching it.
Thank you, we’re so glad you enjoyed it ☺️
Loved this video! Thank you! Your voice is so familiar. Do you narrate audiobooks? I could swear I’ve heard your voice before. I listen to a lot of audiobooks.
Thank you so much for your kind words. Although I’ve narrated a couple of (very niche) books it’s unlikely you’ve listened to them. Would love to have the time to do more of it but don’t really have the time amongst the UA-cam videos 😀
Thanks for watching and for your kind words 😊
Great video !
Thank you ☺️
Loved your video! We are planning on a HAL land/cruise next May! Wow! Loved your balcony footage, my daughter went on Disney this past summer and didn’t think we should spend the extra $$ on a balcony, so glad I didn’t listen to her! You do a great job filming and narrating!
Thank you for watching and for your kind comment 😊
Whilst we aren’t always bothered with having a balcony, it’s a must in Alaska!
Stunning video Rich and Helen. Stunning!!!
thank you so much sir! :D
Great video! Thank you - it brought back a lot of memories of our cruise in Alaska.
Thank you for watching, we’re so glad you enjoyed it 😊
A great video!!! We have done this cruise almost every year except the covids. The Tamarind is our favorite too and we dine twice every week...some cruises are 14 days.! Alaska cruises are never boring. Thanks much!
Sounds great! Thanks for watching and for your kind comment ☺️
Wonderful video, very professionally shot and edited! As a photographer, I am very interested in what camera gear you employed, still and video, and which lenses? Thanks for a great job!
We use a variety of cameras from our iPhones, GoPros, DJI Osmo and a 360. But our main camera is a Sony DSLR which we have four different lenses for depending on what we’re shooting 👍
Nice video of our beautiful Alaska, my favorite cruise destination. Do not feel bad, I am 70 and born and raised in USA and I still have not had a smores. That is really embarrassing.
Haha, thank you for the reassurance. We very much enjoyed making s’mores and would recommend it 😂
Thanks for for watching and for your kind comments 😊
fantastic video thanks for sharing. What month did you travel?
Thank you for watching and for your kind comment.
We sailed at the end of July/beginning of August.
Fantastic video . Fab content & so well put together. Looking forward to your live show with Lord Bembridge.
Thank you so much! We can’t wait either. 😆
@visitwithus Will you be in the same location as Gary, or will it be virtual?
@@marcwood5895 It will be virtual I’m afraid. We’ll have our own live a couple of hours later. 🙂
Beautiful informative video. Did you use a rain cover for your camera?
Well if you call my raincoat a cover 😂😂😂
Thanks for watching and commenting 👍
Very nice video! I'll be on their Alaska run from July 6th to 13th.
Have a great cruise. Thanks for watching 😊
Speaking of a new vlog approach! Brilliant. Simply masterful. And, speaking of new, I’m surprised I’ve never considered Holland America for Alaska. Now, Alaska isn’t fifth on my list of dream destinations, but like Moana, it calls me. There is certainly much to learn about the rich (not to be confused with the narrator), dynamic history and natural lushness of Alaska and the bear rescue in Sitka was something very new for me to learn about. On another note, more ships need a Tamarind Bar. Reminiscent of the full circle Viking Crown Lounges on the older Royal Caribbean ships. Some old is good old.
Thank you 😍😍😍
Nicely done!
Thank you ☺️
Love the videos love you guys. You’re so relaxed and easy-going of course love the British accents. Thank you for these videos they are great.
Thank you for watching and for your very kind comments ☺️
Beautiful video! What time of year did you go? We are booked Sept. 2025. Thank you for sharing this!
Thank you for watching and for your kind comment. We sailed at the end of July/beginning of August 👍
I loved your video! Great job sharing the beauty of Alaska. We just got back from our Alaskan cruise and we were amazed by the beautiful scenery and wildlife!
Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm glad you enjoyed the video and that it brought back memories of your recent Alaskan cruise.
Another fantastic Vlog, very polished and the background music is perfect.We did this trip 2 years ago with celebrity , and it was stunning.
Thank you so much 😊
There is so much to see I booked a 14 night from Vancouver which is a north/south trip with a different itinerary coming south on Princess for this August. Watching this I have no regrets booking a longer voyage.
You definitely won’t regret that decision 😁👍
Thanks for watching 😊
Excellent video. We are thinking of taking the same cruise. Can you tell me which cabin you stayed in? Thanks!
Thank you. We were in a balcony room, 4135. We loved it and would definitely recommend a balcony on an Alaskan cruise.
Thanks for watching 👍
Enjoyed this very much. Your stuff is definitely a cut above!
Thank you for your kind words. Much appreciated! :D
I’m taking my mom on this exact trip at the end of august. I did see there is a 4 hrs port stop at Vancouver in the evening. Is it worth getting off the ship? 😅my mom is pushing to try but I am hesitant.
We didn’t bother in all honesty. It was quite late on the last day and it’s quite a trek to get into the town so we decided to just stay on board.
Once more, an incredible videography showcasing one of nicest part of the world. Your presentation, as always, denotes such good quality of images and sound.
Wow, thank you so much for your lovely kind words! :)
Hoping to book this same cruise on standby at some point this summer!
you’ll not regret it. Thanks for watching. 😊
Loved your video, thank you. I’m going on that cruise in Sep 2025.
Thank you 😊
Hope you have a fabulous cruise 😍
Alaska is such a fantastic place. You did a fabulous job of capturing it. I can spend days and days on the balcony on any cruise, which is why I love lots of sea days.
Thank you for watching and your kind comments 😊
Thank you for these details, inviting and calm explanations. We enjoyed watching your video. Gave us more ideas for our up coming cruise to Alaska.
Awesome! Thank you for your kind words! Hope you have a great time. :D
@@visitwithus thank you. 😊
I'm glad you enjoyed Ketchikan. Did you get to see the harbor seals chasing the salmon in the creek? The few hours the cruise ships are in town is not enough time to appreciate Ketchikan (or the other towns). You need at least a few days.
No we didn’t see the harbour seals. As you rightly say we really weren’t there for very long at all. Hopefully we’ll get to go back to Alaska one day so we’ll keep an eye out for them next time we’re there 👍
HI. Love the video. just curious - what time of the year did you travel to Alaska?
Thank you. We were there at the end of July/beginning of August and were blessed with amazing weather ☀️
Thank you very much. I so need to go again !!
Thank you for watching 😊
We hope you get to enjoy this stunning part of the world again soon 🤞
Hi. Just found your vlog. What time of year did you go to Alaska? We are going with family in July 2025 to Alaska on the Eurodam to celebrate our 25th anniversary. I am so excited and can hardly wait!
We were there at the end of July/beginning of August last year.
Hope you have as good a time as we had 👍
Thanks for watching.
How was that Alaskan branded beer? We have it stocked in a few stores where I live and I’m curious as to your take on it. GREAT video! Thank you as always! 😊
The beer was very good, especially with the delicious fish tacos 👍
Thanks for watching and for your kind words.
@@visitwithus Did you stop by the Bawden Street Brewery or Uncharted Alaska Distillery while you were in Ketchikan?
I'm going on this cruise Sept 2025 so this gave me some good info on land excursions I think I want to do. Thanks!!!
Glad it was helpful! We hope you have a great cruise and enjoy Alaska as much as we did.
Thanks for watching.
Having sailed the Inside Passage 4 times over 20 years it is interesting to see how the glaciers have shrunk back or even vanished from some hills in the fjords. Gets a bit much when 4 or 5 cruise ships pull into the same port and disgorge 15,000 people into one town. Our next trip is July, we will fly to Anchorage and do a drive inland for a week then sail 7 days Whittier to Vancouver and drive a 7 day trip around BS including Whistler. Might be our last trip to the area. Will have been our 5th.
Wow, that sounds like an incredible trip. Hope you have a great time. Thanks for watching 👍
Sounds like an awesome itinerary!
Planning to book our Alaska cruise this week. Your video was breathtaking and so informative. Now I just have to go and I want to do same cruise you took! Might I ask what month you went? Hoping to see as many whales and wildlife as you did. I know it’s always iffy. Also what cabin were you in? It was beautiful. Thanks so much!
Wonderful, hope you love it as much as we did. We were in a veranda cabin, 4135.
Thanks for watching 👍
Very nice video as always. For once Helen and Richard we beat you there and went on Celebrity to Alaska before COVID. It’s a wonderful state and would love to return. We were there in August at the height of salmon season which meant wildlife was very abundant then too. I think you were lucky to see so much. I think we had better weather than you. We also went on a helicopter trip to a glacier and went husky sledge riding there. You can do that next time. We loved holding the husky puppies.
Thank you for watching and commenting. We really hope there is a next time, it’s such a beautiful place to cruise 💙
What dates were you sailing? I have this cruise booked for May ‘25 ❤
We sailed at the very end of July and into the beginning of August 👍
Hope you have a fabulous cruise and thank you for watching.
Rekindled memories for us. IMO Alaska requires a 14 day cruise. There is so much to see and Crystal did it well for us. Thanks Rich and Helen. A repeat is on the cards.........
We actually stayed in Alaska after this cruise and did a 10 day Windstar cruise from Seward to Vancouver, but that vlog is still to come 😁👍
Thanks for watching and commenting.
I went to Alaska on a Noordam Holland America ship at the beginning of May this year and it was an amazing trip. Would definitely go back again but on a different ship.
Thank you for watching 😊
Did you not like the Noordam ship?
@@heatherzettel4954 no I did but I would like to try out another ship to compare and try out the other restaurants
Love it!😍
Thank you for watching! 😊
Great video, it brought back many happy memories of our trip to Alaska a few years ago, we visited many of the same places. Maybe it's time for us to revisit as it is certainly a bucket list destination but it's a long way to go for a 7 day cruise.
Glad you enjoyed it! It's such a beautiful place isn't it? :)
I really enjoyed this video!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for watching. :D
Do you have any recommendations on a pre cruise hotel?
Excellent video, even with the camera shake. We are sure the whales were breathtaking in person! We are heading there this August on Holland America as well. Do you mind sharing what camera and lens you were using to get those great shots?
Thank you, it was a little rocky on the whale watching tour. We used our Sony DSLR with a long lens for the whale watching.
Hope you have a great cruise 👍
The first scene of this video gave me real chills - I remember walking out onto the decks (the joys of being in an Inside cabin) of Discovery Princess, and spotting dolphins straight away - I was just so impressed and amazed!
It’s a very underplayed part of cruising, just watching the sea (whether there’s sea life in it or not!) - one of our favourite pastimes 😄💙
Great video, the Whales !! WOW
Thanks for watching! The whales were utterly spectacular! We never thought we'd see so many! :D
WOW! The whale watching, the otters, the bears, just all the wildlife, the views, even the fog looked atmospheric, it truly looks amazing.
Glad you enjoyed it, we were very lucky with the wildlife, and the weather tbf - even if it started out foggy it cleared up as the day went on 👍
Thank you for watching.
Lovely video. You certainly made the most of your time there and we will be looking to do some of the same trips. Eurodam looks a nice ship too - how many passengers does she take? Beautiful camera work as always and a delightful choice of music. Well done Rich.
Thanks Robin. All the action took place over 5 days with a sea day either end, so yeah, we were kept busy! The Eurodam has 2,100 guests which is slightly larger than her sisters like Noordam (1900 guests) but smaller than Pinnacle Class (2650 guests). We love all the HAL fleet. None are too big to feel overcrowded. 😊
What time of the year did you go on this Alaska cruise? I'm thinking on going on Holland America too.
We were there last year at the end of July/beginning of August 👍
Thanks for watching.
July and August have the best weather, everything is open and operating. Even though it's the best weather, don't forget to bring some rain gear.
First time in Alaska!?! What kept you? ☺ ...Seriously, Alaska is without question the most scenic cruise destination in the Americas! So glad you were able to visit our 49th state, and in such style!
I know, right? Why did it take us over 60 cruises to get to Alaska?
But glad we managed to get there eventually ☺️
Thanks for watching 👍
Can you please let me know when this cruise was taken?
We went at the very end of July into the beginning of August.
Thanks for watching 👍
Great video, Alaska is alway amazing. We have been there 4 times with one of them being a Princess Lodge and train combo with the Inside passage. Love Alaska.
Thanks Lou. Would love to return to do the Princess Lodge and train. Such a fascinating wilderness. 🥰
@@visitwithus It is really fun, we did 4 lodge s and the bubble train; fantastic.
Beauteous perfection.
Your finest video ever.
Big HAL fan who hasn’t made it to Alaska yet.
Thank you so much! You NEED to do a HAL Alaska trip - they are the originals and best! :D
Were you on port or starboard side, and did it matter?
We were starboard which was good for the sail into glacier bay but it doesn’t matter too much as the captain made sure that once you were at the glacier both sides of the ship had equal time looking at the glacier.
Thanks for watching 👍
What month of the year did you take this cruise?
We went at the end of July/beginning of August 👍
Thanks for watching.
Great video both of you.
Thank you Liz. ❤️
This was a superb video. We were in Alaska in the summer of 2023 with Holland America and this brought back so many great memories. We're headed back in 2025.
Thank you John. We tried hard to capture the spirit and emotion of what we experienced. So much to see and do which brings tears to your eyes (in a good way). 😊
They don’t do S’mores in England???
I know, crazy! The only ingredient readily available in the UK are the marshmallows, can’t really get Grahams crackers or Hershey’s here. Obviously we have similar substitutes for these but we tend to just toast marshmallows over open fires without the chocolate and biscuits.
We loved them though 👍
Thank you so much ..great video..we are going with Viking in September through to Tokyo ..what time of year did you sail ??
This cruise was early August. I think every month is amazing for different reasons (and obviously there’s no knowing what the weather will do!).
Hope you have a great cruise.
Thanks for watching 👍
Invited to sail on this Alaska cruise by Holland Amercia Line. Hmm..is that another way of saying you got a "free" cruise?
That is correct. An invitation rarely comes with an invoice. 🙂 Does it change the fact that it was a fab cruise? Did the bears come out especially? Was the weather deliberately good? Just wondering what difference it makes. 🙂
We cruised Alaska on Eurodam in June last year. Perfectly gorgeous, few crowds, and magical whale-watching at Icy Strait. Now I really want to go during the summer for the salmon run and a chance to see bears.
Ooh, you MUSt go during the summer spawning months. It's incredible! :D
Darn it, now I have to go back during the salmon run and book your excursions. 😂
You simply MUST! :D Thank you for watching! :D
Nice its like Norway..wet and cold and beautiful
It really is! More wildlife than Norway in our experience though! :D
@@visitwithus yes inn moste case yes
I've watched a bunch of Alaska cruise videos and this is, by far, my favorite. I live for fog so the morning mists would have enchanted me. FYI, I'm an American and have NEVER even encountered s'mores, though, of course, I know what they are. As for the pronunciation of "glacier," mates: Americans say "glaysher"!
Thank you so much for your kind words. I thought s'mores was known to every American lol! And you're right - glaysher! :D
Hi Helen and Rich. Does whale watching on this cruise beat whale watching in the Lemaire Channel in Antarctica !! well, I guess getting up THAT CLOSE is better, yes??
Did Ju No that we can see the ships in port there in Juneau ?? Were you at sea during the Great Eclipse ?? We were on the roof terrace of our building in Montreal during the 90 seconds of totality. Amazing !!
Alaska might be a bucket list trip, but Going to Antarctica is at the TOP of the bucket list adventures. I was thinking, seeing a glacier from a ship, pales in comparison to actually walking on land IN Antarctica, YES ???
Thanks for watching 👍
We’ve definitely not see so many whales in one go as we did on this trip 👍
ANTASTIC. !! Howdy. From San Antonio Texas
Howdy Warren! We Anne-ticipate that you will be in the prize draw! 😆
@@visitwithus 😀
Oh, HEY every middle-aged British couple taking their strong pound out for a tourist spin.
Seriously though, nice video.
Thanks for watching and erm, er the thinly veiled compliment. I think. 😆
Hi, we really enjoyed watching your video. We'll be going to Alaska beginning of August on board the Westerdam. August is good month for Alaska?
I think every month has their merit but this cruise was the behind g of August last year so hopefully it will give you a good indicator of what your cruise will be like (though obviously the weather is never assured).
Thanks for watching 👍
When exactly did you sail? I had heard that the BB King venue no longer exists on HAL ships. It has been replaced with a Rolling Stone venue. I hope I heard wrong. I’m cruising in Dec this year and would like to hear some e nice jazz music in the BBKing lounge
We sailed last August during the Alaskan summer. We LOVE BB Kings and we getmixed reports about this. I think on the larger ships, BB King's will remain. These things unfortunately chop and change though. :)
Wonderful episode! You even got a shot of the Celebrity Eclipse which we sailed on in June 2022. You saw a lot more bears and whales, but we had warm, sunny weather all week. But you are right, a balcony is a must and I recommend aft cabin so you get both sides because you’re never far from the beautiful scenery.
You also captured life on the ship so well, I’m going to give HAL a try next time!
Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm glad you enjoyed the episode and found it relatable to your own cruise experience. We definitely recommend HAL for this trip. :D
I just loved my Holland America, Alaska cruise! We sailed on Oosterdam over Fourth of July holiday a few years ago. That was one of seven Alaska cruises. We’ve taken all on different cruise lines. I have to say Norwegian encore was my absolute favorite.
Isn't it a wonderful place? Thank you for watching. :D
I'm sure I missed it but what time of year did you go?
We went in August - the Alaskan summer and Salmon spawning season. The best time to go! :D
Darn it, now I have to go back during the salmon run and book your excursions.
You simply MUST (again)! :D Thank you for watching! :D
We had the WORST Alaskan trip on the Discovery Princess. A passenger got ill and ship needed to turn around. We MISSED Juneau, had only 4 hours in Ketchikan and 8 hours in Skagway. I saw NO wildlife at all. It was just a sad experience.
Oh dear, sorry to hear this.
Thanks for watching
Did you also stop in Victoria? I’ve been to Alaska 4 times now and I’ve found early to mid August to be the foggiest, but I’m glad you got decent weather and fantastic wildlife sightings.😊
We DID stop in Victoria at the end of the cruise but only for a few hours and we didn't get off so it's not in the vlog. Next time though... :D
When did you sail?
August 2023. We've only just caught up on the videos lol! :D
If anyone watching this video was thinking of booking an Alaskan cruise, this would sell it! Very tasteful, thank you 🙏 OTBC!
It's actually "Glasher"
Thanks!
I got sea sick watching your whale watching excursion sitting in my living room!
😂 Yeah, that was even choppier in real life. Trying to keep it steady while looking through a tiny viewfinder was not pleasant. 😂
I’ve lived in the Pacific Northwest and we used to always tell visitors- “if you don’t like the weather- wait a minute - it’ll change.”
@@MichaelMechsner 😂
Awful! Just Awful.
Oh dear!
Nice review. Your commentary voice is annoying.( your normal speaking voice is much better….).
I make no apology that my commentary voice IS my speaking voice. Thanks for watching. 🙂