We sailed on the ms Volendam from June 1 - 15, 2008. I generally prefer to write (and read) a detailed-filled travelogue, day-by-day style review, but for this particular trip I'm going to break it into sections for various aspects of our trip, so that I can easily re-post separate parts on the relevant message boards here at CC, which were so helpful to me as I planned our Alaskan adventure. If you are reading this complete version of my review and considering an Alaskan cruise, I advise you to read not only the "member reviews," but also to check out the message boards for the particular cruise line(s) you are considering, the Ports of Call boards for Alaska and Canada, and the West Coast Departures board. They all offer an unbelievable amount of helpful information from those who have "been there, done that."
Background information: We are a couple in our 40's. This was our first trip to Alaska, and the first cruise on Holland America for each of us. We are experienced cruisers, and between the two of us, generally my SO leaves the planning to me after voicing a few preferences for activities and budget - and I'm the avid planner and researcher for our trips. I'm also the Cruise Critic addict. In January of this year I was researching a land-based visit to Alaska for the summer of '09 when I spotted the 14-day itineraries offered by HAL this summer. Much to my delight, my SO agreed with me that HAL was offering an excellent deal, so we booked and sailed on the Volendam from June 1 - 15, departing from Vancouver, turning around at Seward, and returning to Vancouver.
Overall conclusion: Alaska is an unforgettable place, and unlike any other place we have visited. So many aspects of the state come to mind as I write - the glaciers, the wildlife, the wide variety of scenery, the friendly people, the long (LONG) days, the many colors of the water, the sounds - all I can say is that we look forward to returning again! We were quite pleased with our excursion choices. The Alaska Ports of Call board here at CC was indispensable in helping us make the most of our shore visits. We also enjoyed our experience onboard the Volendam very much, and will absolutely sail HAL again if the itinerary and price meet our needs. This cruise didn't change our overall opinion that, for our purposes, the mainstream cruise lines are more alike than different. That said, we did see and appreciate very real differences in service, onboard activities, overall "feel," and several other areas between HAL and other lines we've sailed, separately or together (Carnival, Royal Caribbean, NCL, NCLA, and a couple of lines no longer in business).
Great aft location. Priced as an inside because it lacks a bathtub, but contains a window. Unusual shape limits floor space, but adequate for 2. Ample storage space in closets, drawers, under the bed, and on the headboard.