Totem Bight State Park located outside of town is worth seeing. You can ride the city bus to for the trip. 
Food at Annabelle's ---halibut sandwich with coleslaw--- excellent! 
Lots of ships in port simultaneously overwhelms the town. 



Ketchikan

See the state capitol--free tours. 
Visit the wonderful state museum. 
Learn about the Indians of the area who own the Mt. Roberts Tram. 
We were rained-out of Mendenhall Glacier. 



Juneau

Cruise line developed port with zip line and old restored cannery facility. 
Enjoyed the nature walk around the Park Rangers' building. 




Icy Strait

See the museum downtown and/or the museum of native cultures. Lots of shopping opportunities. 
Rent a car and drive to Hatcher Pass (old gold mine) and/or go to Girdwood to Seven Glaciers Restaurant. Tram ride up to restaurant. Great scenery from the top. 



Anchorage


Sitka is a wonderful port call located in the coastal Rain Forest. It is a clean town and the one least effected by the influence of the cruise lines that we visited. There are beautiful trails and totems in the Sitka National Historical Park V.C. and Totem Park. See the salmon spawning in the Indian River while on your walk (late Aug. or Sept). Also observe local native craftsman in working demonstrations. Walk up Castle Hill for a beautiful view and to visit historical spot where transfer of Alaska from Russia to U.S. took place. In the middle of downtown on Lincoln St. see St. Michaels Russian Church ($5 donation required). There wasn't enough time for us to see the Sheldon Jackson Museum or the Raptor Rehabilitation Center.   

Sitka


We needed more than a half-day port call in Victoria, B.C. The B.C. Museum, legislative building, harbor and vendors, Totem Park, The Empress Hotel, and many shopping opportunities are located downtown. There is a visitor's center across the street from the Empress. Town is full of gorgeous flowers---hanging baskets and in gardens. We arranged our own bus tour to get out of town to the Butchard Gardens, which is a place nobody should miss!  

Victoria

Sitka is the port least effected by the cruise lines that we visited.  It is clean and beautiful, set in the Rain Forest.  Go to the Bishop's House, Castle Hill (great view, scene of transfer of AK from Russia to U.S.), St. Michael's Russian Orthodox Church ($5 donation required), Sitka National Historical Park and Totem Trail (native artisans demonstrate their work, beautiful walking trail and totems, bridge with spawning salmon in Sept.).  Many shopping opportunities downtown.

A town that requires more than one-half day in port!  B.C. Museum, Totem Park, Empress Hotel, harbor area with street sellers and performers, B.C. legislative building.  Lots of shopping opportunities.

Don't miss the Butchard Gardens.  We arranged our own bus trip from downtown and back.

Good location except for the noise from the Queen's Lounge upstairs.  Great access to the promenade.  Plenty of closets and drawers.  Window with obstructed view okay.  Could have used better lighting (higher wattage bulbs) at the dressing mirror.  Shower only NOT a shower/tub combo as advertised on HAL website for the HH staterooms.

The food was sometimes good, but vegetables nearly always were cold by the time they were served.The apple and cherry pies were good but again served cold.

Amsterdam Review

14 Day HAL Amsterdam Alaskan Cruise

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Cabin Review

Large Outside Stateroom (fully obstructed views)

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