Tom and I just returned from Holland America cruise number 13, our 15th cruise, 4th time to Alaska and our 2nd time doing this itinerary on this same cruise on the Beautiful MS Noordam this year. With the Noordam being the newest Holland America Ship and she was spending the summer sailing in Alaska here on the West Coast we decided early last year that this would be the best chance to sail on her since her normal itinerary is Europe and Caribbean sailing out of New York City. So we booked a June 17th cruise which we so enjoyed, we actually enjoyed it so much and loved the crew that we decided to cancel a repositioning we had booked for October so we could return to the Noordam. On our prior June cruise we had flew into Seattle a day earlier but decided that we would risk it and fly in the day of our cruise. The 7 AM Alaska Air flight could not have been better, the flight itself took off 15 minutes early (this was a first for me) we arrived in Seattle at 9:10 which was 35 minutes early. The luggage arrived quickly, we grabbed a taxi and were at pier 30 by 10:20. The only thing that was a bit confusing was the luggage drop off. We had not encountered this prior because we had stay at the Fairmont with HAL transfers so our luggage was taken to the ship by HAL. This time we had to stand in line to take our own luggage into the terminal to the luggage screening area. Check In process was extremely easy with the new on-line check in process plus we had a Deluxe Verandah Suite. After checking in we did have to wait for about 35 minutes, like before this terminal does not appear to have a P.A. system so when they open the gates it is just a mad rush with everyone pushing their way to board the ship. Strangely there is no priority embarkation. Once on board we went directly to the Neptune to introduce ourselves but since our cabin 7059 was across the hall we quickly stepped in and placed our carry on luggage in the cabin. In the Neptune we met Janie and Cathi who were our Concierges who were friendly and very efficient. We then headed to the Lido for a great lunch. After lunch we did some walking around to some of the different bars to see if we could find any of our favorite Bar Staff. The first two we found was Bede and Romeo at the Lido Pool Bar. Bede was so excited she gave Tom and I big hugs and said "You told me you could not come back to the Noordam" We told her we came back because of her and she hugged us again. It was so touching, then all her fellow crew members were excited because a few others remembered us as well like Romeo. We then stopped by the Greenhouse Spa so I could make several spa appointments and then we headed to the Pinnacle to see if our other favorite Wine Steward Ronald was there. We last seen him there and fortunately that was where he was working for embarkation day. He too got very a big grin on his face and was very happy to see us. I cannot tell you how special this is, I think they are as happy to see us as we are to see them. After spending some time with Ronald and having a glass of champagne we headed up to our cabin to find that after only a few minute our luggage arrive shortly after 1. This was perfect timing and so we started to unpack. I guess because we have down this unpacking so frequently and know the HAL cabins we have learned to unpack very quickly so it gave us time to get into relax mode and so what Tom and I do a lot on a cruise.......Yes, we started in reading books that we brought with us. Soon it was time for the 3:15 Life Boat Drill and then the Sail Away Party that we hosted in our cabin for our Roll Call group. We had a great turn out and the Sail Away was great. The weather could not have been any better it was beautiful.

We had requested our favorite aft table but there was a large group that took 6 tables at the aft so we were not able to be there. I certainly did not have a problem with that because our March cruise we were also a large group in the aft that took up several tables as well as I know we will be requesting the same for our upcoming Feb. cruise. They did place us at a table for 8 next to a starboard side window table # 17. Our dining companions were a group of 4 ladies that were all widowed and had planned this cruise together. When we cruised in June we had noticed a difference in what was offered on the menu in the Main Dining Room, not drastic but several differences from when we had been on the Oosterdam in March. Now since we were still doing the same itinerary and it was only 12 weeks later I expected the menus to be the same. They have changed yet again. The menu is now 2 pages and is placed in a new folder that is leather bound. The first page lists Starters first with 6 listed that were salads, soups and pasta dish. Then at the bottom of the 1st page is Entrees with 5 being listed of which one is a Salad. The 2nd page has Master Chef Rudi Sodamin's Recommendations. Then was listed a an Appetizer, a soup, an Entree from the Green House Spa Cuisine then an additional Entree. Next were listed the Available Daily items. Then the recommended Wine & Champagne for the evening with prices listed. Then of course there was a separate list for the Dessert Menu. Dinner was quite good and for the first time ever we had an Assistant Server that was far better than our actual Dining Room Steward. Our Assistant was Rudy who we remembered seeing in the Indonesian Crew show from June. He really was one of the highlights of going to the Dining Room. Of course we also had a great Wine Steward Arthur who kept our glasses full. Sunday had started out very early with getting up at 3:30 AM but we were amazingly not as tired as we thought so we decided to skip the show and go up to the Crow's Nest where our friend Bede was working for an evening drink before retiring for the evening. Monday brought us a relaxing sea day of which I spent several hours in the Spa. I started out with a 75 minute massage then spend several hours between the Thermal Suite and the Hydro Pool. Of course Monday is the first Formal night and the Captain's Toast. Dinner was very nice but shocking how many were not dressed up on Formal night in the Dining Room. Several came in wearing jeans and t-shirts. Also this was the first night that we noticed numerous tables that were totally empty for Early Dining. Yet half way between the dinner there would be some seated, most were not dressed formal. Going to the Captains Toast was shocking, last time we had to wait for a very long time for them to open the doors to the Vista Showroom. This time the wait was not quite so long and we sat down front. To my amazement I would venture to say that more than 50% of the room was in extremely casual clothes, now I am not putting down not dressing up but flip flops, cut off jeans and a t-shirt just looked out of place when the Captain is up on stage in his Dress Whites toasting to a great week with champagne. I will also note those that were not dressed formal were definitely not teenagers. Since we were already seated for the brief 8 minute long Captain's Toast we decided to stay for the show. It was actually very good, If Walls Could Talk performed by the Cast of the Noordam. Tuesday morning we woke up to FOG and lots of it. Looking down from our verandah we could not even see the water. Sadly we were entering the beginning of Glacier Bay National Park that is so very scenic and could not see a thing. We lounged the morning away by reading, we had made reservations for lunch in the Pinnacle for Noon which by that time the fog had started to clear and the green hills and mountains were vivid and the skies were very blue. We enjoyed a great lunch with very good service and by that time we were approaching John Hopkins Glacier. This was a first for us since we had never travel to Alaska after September 1st and this area is closed off till that time. This Glacier was massive and appeared much larger than Marjorie Glacier. The Bow was packed with many anxious to see some calving. Unfortunately it seemed this glacier was a bit quiet. There was some calving but not near as much as I have heard and seen in the past at Marjorie. We spent about 90 minutes total when we turned around and headed out to go up to Marjorie Glacier. We spent another hour up at Marjorie where there was a lot more calving and some large chunks but not near as active as it had been in June but active enough to thrill many of the passengers. One thing that I finally got to see for the first time in 4 cruises to Alaska..... BEAR and a Grisly. Now he was on shore and with the naked eye very hard to see but with my zoom lens on my camera I was able to capture a picture of him catching a fish. Speaking of finally seeing Bear, one animal we did not see this cruise was Bald Eagles. Usually we have seen many but this cruise they were no where around. Tuesday evening brought us the show we had been waiting for years to see, Joel Mason who impersonates Elton John. He was every bit as good as we expected his show to be and then some. We enjoyed it so much that after attending his early show we also attended 2nd show of the evening. Not only does he sing like Elton but his musical talent is great and his humor was hilarious. Wednesday we awoke in Juneau and the ship was cleared quite early. This was going to be a full day with lots of plans. The first was to meet up with our friend Julie who works on several of the HAL ships in the Shops. She met us at the pier and we walked around town for a bit stopping in the local Internet place to check emails. I had wanted to go to a Salmon bake but had not been that impressed with the Gold Rush Salmon Bake offered thru the ship. While it is nice the first time you go to Juneau I wanted to try something a bit better. I was recommended on the Alaska Board to try the Thane Ore House Salmon Bake. I had called them in advance to have them pick us up at the pier. When I made the reservations I told them that we had a 2 PM Whale Excursion so we would need to be back on time. The place opened at 11 AM but he said they mostly serve the Salmon Bake in the afternoon. He was able to pick us up right at 10:45 and took us out to this park like setting that was beautiful. We were the only ones there but the food was fantastic. They served fresh grilled King Salmon that was very good and fresh Battered Halibut that was the best I ever had. The sides were very tasty as well. When we finished we spent some time walking around outside and enjoying the beautiful day next to the waterway where the ships come into Juneau. We returned to Juneau and then were on our way to our Whale Excursion thru HAL with Allen Marine Tours. This was our 4th Whale excursion in Juneau and our 3rd with Allen. At that time we had no idea that this was going to be the best viewing of whales we had ever seen. It was not but a few minutes that we left the pier at Auke Bay that we started to see Hump Back Whales. We realized quickly that we had whales all over the place. Then the playing of the whales and breaching started. They were jumping out of the water all over the place. The excitement on the boat was thrilling and everyone was so nice allowing for everyone to see thru the windows for viewing. One of the great things with Allen Marine is their boats and the huge clear clean windows that are great for viewing and taking pictures. One does not even have to go outside to capture amazing photos. We had been so very fortunate because Auke Bay had been socked in with fog the whole day and it had just magically lifted when we took our tour. Despite having so much whale activity the tour did have to end so we headed back in after an amazing afternoon. Once back in Juneau we said our good byes to Julie but making plans to see her again in November when she thinks she can come back to Las Vegas. We then headed back on the ship to get dressed up for a great evening of dining in the Pinnacle which we so much enjoyed. The Noordam Pinnacle is definitely a good one with the steaks being perfect and the creme brulee' being the best ever. We ended the evening in our now usual manner of having a drink in the Crow's Nest being served by our good friends Bede and Romeo. Thursday brought us into Sitka, it was our 3rd time to Sitka and had planned it to be a relaxing day. We did take the tender into town in the morning so I could capture some pictures but I had yet another spa appointment at 11 AM so I headed back in while Tom stayed in town a bit longer. This day was spent doing a lot of relaxing and reading and treated much like a sea day. Friday was our last Alaska port and a short one at that in Ketchikan but was also a bit different for us. I had found out just a few days before leaving that some long time friends of ours was going to be on the NCL Pearl the same week and we were both in Ketchikan and Victoria together so we made plans to get together. We spend the morning walking around town and actually went up to the Cape Fox Lodge taking the funicular up the hill off Creek Street to the Lodge. We then took the trail down. In our previous trips to Ketchikan we would usually spend them in and out of the jewelry stores. This time we managed not to and I saved a few dollars. The time passed quickly and we had to say our goodbyes to our friends because All Aboard was at 12:30 but we would see them again the next evening in Victoria. Friday night was our last Formal night and we found again that the Dining Room was practically empty. We discovered that our week the demand for Dine As You Wish was extremely high so to accommodate this they had left several empty tables in the Upper level fixed area to place those in Dine As You Wish, which answered why we saw several come in halfway thru dinner. Saturday brings us to our last day which is always so sad and we kept asking ourselves where the week went. At 11:30 we attended the Mariners/Suite Luncheon. Interesting earlier in the week Janie our Concierge had called us to confirm that we would be attending and the number of days we had with HAL, when we received our invitation it actually listed a table number. When we arrived at the Vista Dining Room we found only a small number of people had table number they were assigned to. Each reserved table had an extra seat open for a HAL officer to sit with us. Our guest was the Future Cruise Consultant David Opperman. Everyone at our table were seasoned HAL cruisers with all of us having 90 some days and one lady receiving her 100 day medallion. I did notice that the other medallion holders were also seated together. This luncheon I think is very nice and just like the way the Mariner's Reception use to be they still recognize the different levels. Since we were to be in Victoria for the evening they had a special afternoon show in the Vista Lounge which was Joel Mason and Friends. Friends being the Cast of the Noordam. This show was so entertaining and filled with so many laughs. We arrived in Victoria early like always but since we needed to wait till our friends ship got in we enjoyed some time on the verandah taking pictures. We met them about 6:40 and grabbed a taxi and headed to Chandlers a British Pub style Sea Food and Steak House. We had a great evening and was a great place to meet with our friends. In closing I will state this was another wonderful week with Holland America and with their great crew. While it is sad to have to disembark from this great week I am thankful that we were given this relaxing week with amazing sights. In looking back thru my pictures I myself am in awe of the beauty of Alaska and the things we saw.