We just returned from a 7-day Alaskan round trip cruise out of Vancouver. The cruise took us (in this order) to Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay State Park and Ketchikan, taking the Inside Passage on the way up and back. We had fair weather the entire way, with sunny skies everywhere except Ketchikan (cloudy but warm, with no rain until evening). There was a little rocking, but the ocean was generally smooth. Through the Inside Passage we saw a few humpbacks on the way up, and on the way back we were escorted for a short distance by what must have been nearly 100 porpoises. What a sight! Did not see any orcas on this particular cruise. Here's what I thought of the Noordam:

Overall Condition: The ship appeared to be in generally good shape. You could see some wear and tear, but the overall condition of the ship was good. We experienced no unpleasant smells, and everything seemed to be functioning properly. There was plenty of ongoing maintenance (painting and continuous housekeeping), but nothing obtrusive.

Room: We had an ocean view room on the main deck. The service was friendly and responsive, and kept the room in great shape. The TV was not working when we arrived. We called it in and the problem was resolved within minutes. We had no problems with the plumbing or the HVAC. Read more