I just got off a 7-day Inside Passage Alaska cruise on Koningsdam. Overall, it was a great experience, though with one disappointment many may find surprising given Holland America's reputation. It was my first cruise on Holland America and my first cruise period in 13 years. This may be useful context when putting my review in perspective.

First, the itinerary. Alaska has been on my bucket list since I was a child, and it's clear why Holland America is at or near the top when it comes to this market. The itinerary went to the three most important Inside Passage ports and, most importantly, to Glacier Bay National Park. This was the highlight of the cruise, and Holland America did it right by bringing National Park Service rangers on board to provide excellent commentary and answer questions. My only quibble with the itinerary was the weird 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. time slot the ship had in Juneau - this essentially made for another half day at sea and meant the last few hours in port were essentially wasted, since people wanted to be back on board by 7 p.m. for dinner. I don't know how much say Holland America has over this, but I think a 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. or even 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. slot in port would've been more practical.

The service, from the restaurant wait staff to the cabin attendants to guest services to the bartenders, was excellent. As a bonus, I was pleased to see the old cruise tradition of "towel animals" is alive and well. Read more