Beautiful ship, well appointed. All bars had awesome staff, especially Magnums and O’Shanahons . Specialty restaurants that we picked had wonderful food. We didn’t buy and shore excursions, (too $$$$) but, did do the port shopping experience. Disappointed in daytime entertainment options when we returned to ship. Appreciated the hand sanitizer stations throughout the ship. Best entertainment by far was Fire and Ice (Michael Jackson/ Tina Turner) done by Rosie. . The entire staff on the Jewel had the best attitudes, always with a smile and asking if we needed help. Dan the Man was fun and helpful with announcements. Loved the drink package and the Specialty Dining. We are already planning on returning soon. Maybe the 16 days thru the Panama Cancel, Florida to LA where we live. We took advantage of the CruiseNow package. I personally have cruised on Cardinal Cruise Line.......I will never go back. I’m in love with NCL! Thank you for a very enjoyable cruise Gail Ropp Traveling with Lance Lomax Read Less

We chose this cruise because it fit our time line. We were going from Alaska to Oregon. We spent 10 days exploring Alaska before we boarded the ship in Seward. We are in our 70s and felt like we were on a seven day date. We loved the shows and music. We danced every night. The ports and excursions were amazing. We wish everyone we met on the cruise had spent more time in Seward, the Alaska Sealife Center shouldn't be missed. Our cabin was beautiful and spotless. Everything from arrival to departure went smoothly. We were especially impressed with how smoothly getting on and off the ship in ports went. The ship had something for everyone. We did not participate in any of the daytime activities on the ship. We just explored and watched the beautiful scenery when we were at sea. We just ignored the sales pitches..art, jewelry, etc. We hope to do this again and highly recommend it to anyone. Read Less

We chose this as we had never done a B.I. cruise. The weather was pretty good overall as we only used an umbrella once. The ship was good but the crew was great! We ate in Blu and wee very surprised at the quality of the food and the outstanding service. We have eaten in other Blu restaurants that were not nearly as good. The cabins are dreadfully small but they are functional. The overall entertainment was average. When the DJ gets more people to show than the live acts there is a problem. One nice touch was a sign in every elevator showing the disembarkation deck at every port. I have been waiting for this change for 20 years. Finally! However, some of the ports had ridiculous 2 and 3 deck slopes to get off. This was a definite weak spot for this cruise especially for handicap folks. A real challenge. Read Less

Alaska is always a great destination, even when it was cold and rainy. But my concern is that the food on NCL seems to have gone downhill rapidly since our last cruise on the Jade last September. It was bland. Buffet looked like they had thrown together and mashed the food together from the night before on several occasions. Even the meals in the dining room sub par. My daughter had to remind the waiter on 3 occasions about missed things and one night a waiter got the orders wrong 4 different times. He just wasn't listening. Nodding his head and off he went. That happened more often then usual from our past cruises. We were Mid ship 5067 and 5069. Inside. But don't ever book anything in that area because the bars are above you and all you get until 2 in the morning is banging, sliding of equipment and noises I never knew existed. Sleep was challenging to say the least. If you have any mobility problems don't do the Thermal Spa. Trying to get in and out of the hot tubs was difficult. I wasted $186 and could only go there once. I was terrified I'd fall trying to get in and out. I was not the only one who felt that way. Others had the same concerns. Unfortunately when they refurbished by the Jewel and the Jade they left the seats in the Stardust theatre with no upgrades. When you sit down it is almost like falling onto the floor and the seats are slanted downward so it is uncomfortable. Unless there is a destination only NCL does at a decent price, I am not sure I would cruise with them again. The specialty restaurants were okay but found the ones on the Jade better. Read Less

I've written another review of our experience on the Volendam from Vancouver to Skagway Alaska. After that cruise we went on a nine-day land tour of the Yukon and Alaska, and at its completion we boarded the Westerdam for the trip back to Vancouver. To be fair, this seven-day cruise was better overall than three days on the Volendam. Our waiter in the main dining room was great, as was our room steward. We still have complaints about the way food is served in the Marketplace (the buffet restaurant), where people are funneled into a single line for all the main dishes. Not efficient at all, especially if someone simply wants a piece of sausage at breakfast. They are forced to wait for everyone else who are selecting their entire meal. Other cruise lines have numerous stations throughout the room so that lines are short or nonexistent. Beyond that, however things went pretty well. Most of the entertainment was fine. Our only real quarrel was with guest services. Without going into a lot of detail, I was trying to get a refund of several gift cards which we did not use on the Volendam. I was told it could be accomplished on this ship, and spent every one of the entire seven days checking in with them to see the status. Everyday they told me things were moving along well, until the last night. I was then told that, unfortunately, there was nothing they could do and that corporate guest services had been notified and would be taking over. I told them I wished they had simply stated that at the beginning so I didn't have to walk the entire length of the ship everyday to get a progress report. Debarking was a simple process, and we went home the next day. The day after arriving my wife mentioned that the amount of our final bill did not match the amount charged to our credit card (it was nearly $200 more!). I immediately phoned Holland America guest services, waited on hold for a half hour, finally gave up and sent them an email. A day later they had not responded to the email, so I phoned again. After waiting 42 minutes (I timed it this time), someone in the finance department answered the call. Upon hearing about the charging discrepancy, she looked at the account record and asked me if we had removed anything from the minibar. I said we had all the drinks removed when we first embarked. She said that apparently what had happened was the room steward had not restocked the refrigerator before the person checking it came through, and we were charged for everything in the minibar! She apologized, and said a credit would be issued for that, as well as our gift cards. However, refunds take 4-6 weeks to process! I was flabbergasted but apparently that's the way it works with Holland America. Left quite a bad taste in our mouths to say the least. Read Less

I heard very good things about biking and wanted a cruise ship that did not have children. Our cruise to Alaska surpassed anything that we envisioned. The staff was incredible, very attentive to needs. It was one of the best vacations we have ever been on. The food was amazing, everyone in the staff was fabulous, and if the staff had allowed us to win The bean bag toss, it would have been perfect.lol! We were celebrating our anniversary, and it was made it into a very special occasion. The entertainment had very talented people, However what I liked most was lectures that they provided. There was a resident astronomer and a resident historian ho gave lectures that were incredibly interesting. We even got to look at the stars and planets through the Telescope that was on board. The singers in the lounge were absolutely incredible. Excursions were handled very well , and they were all well-planned and well-executed. We are planning on many more Viking Cruises. The Viking Cruise Line is highly recommended. Read Less

We were a group of 3 couples & a travel agent recommended this cruise & itinerary. In addition to the cruise we also booked a 3 day land tour. Our trip didn’t start very well, as we all flew out of Chicago O’hare Airport for the land portion to Anchorage. Our initial departure of 9:35am turned out to be 10:20pm, due to a brief storm early that morning. The delay was awful. We finally arrived at our hotel in Anchorage about 3:30-4am. We had to have our luggage out at 6am with a full day Glass Dome Train Ride to Denali. We were obviously exhausted. The train ride was really nice with dining facilities on the 1st level of each car & reserved seating on the 2nd floor with all Glass Dome to view the beautiful landscape. Unfortunately there was a family of 21 people in our car with about 6 of them children 6-12 years old. They were understandably noisy as kids would be, but it made for a very disturbing ride, especially with how tired we all were. We had breakfast in the dining level which was very good & peaceful. Our waiter suggested taking a walk to the last car where we could be outside looking at the scenery. It was a great suggestion, although we were in the first car & there were 9 cars. We had to traverse up and down two sets of stairways in each car to get back to the 9th car caboose. The reason was each car had their own kitchen so we couldn’t walk straight through. It was interesting to see how peaceful all of the other cars were without the young kids. In hindsight we should have asked if there were 6 seats available in a different car. We finally arrived in Denali where we checked into our room at the Chalet Lodge, which is owned by Holland America. Our luggage was already in our room. I will say Holland America is unbelievably well organized & ALL of their staff on land & sea were outstanding. Always had a welcoming smile even when just passing by. The next day we did the included Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour through Denali National Park in a somewhat modified school bus. Not real comfortable. The tour was about 8 hours. Our driver & tour guide, Steve, was a great driver, especially when going along the edge of the narrow roads way up high. He was very knowledgeable but unfortunately he had no personality. His narrations throughout the tour came across monotonous which made for a very boring day. Others on the bus had the same sentiment. We did stop along the way several times & saw some bears, moose & bald eagles that made the trip somewhat interesting. But it didn’t make up for Steve’s demeanor. He seems like a really nice guy, but he doesn’t have the ability to make a tour like this interesting. It made for a very long day. That night we went to The Music of Denali, combination dinner & show. The all you can eat food was very good but we were rushed & it felt like the food was being thrown at us. The waitstaff also were the actors in the sophomoric music show that followed. It was a fun time & was at extra cost, not included in the land package. In the Denali Chalet Resort there is a small square area that had a restaurant & some shops. There also was outside seating with a guy playing guitar & singing popular songs. It was very relaxing & entertaining to sit outside & listen to his music each night while in Denali.The next day was a full day motor coach ride to Seward where we started the cruise. Our driver/narrator, Mike, was just the opposite of Steve. He kept us engaged with his enthusiasm, knowledge & humor. He made the drive very interesting with several stops along the way. We were fortunate to be in the 30% that were able to see Mt. Denali/McKinley. When we arrived in Seward at the port our embarkation was amazingly smooth & fast. We soon were in our cabin. Our luggage was in our cabin too. We didn’t have to wait for it which was very nice. We soon met our two cabin stewards who were very nice & did a great job always keeping our cabin fresh. We opted for a cabin with a balcony & the other two couples did an ocean view without a balcony We were very glad we did the balcony. It gave us a little extra room to chill out with beautiful views. Unfortunately for our friends their cabins were just below the dining room kitchen which every morning had loud noises of carts rolling above them & often could hear loud banging noise starting at 5-6 every morning. When they complained to Guest Services they were each provided a bottle of wine, hardly reasonable compensation. The next two days we were at Sea, one of which was cruising around Glacier Bay. It was beautiful & relaxing. It was nice having a vantage point from the bow of the ship, which is normally closed to the public. They served pea soup & hot chocolate was also available. We had open seating for the evening dining which did work out & gave us lots of flexibility for our evening dinners. The cuisine overall on the ship I would rate a strong 7, it was very good. One night we ate in the Pinnacle Grill, one of the specialty restaurants. It was excellent. I had a huge order of king crab legs & my wife had a steak. The service & staff on the entire cruise were extremely friendly & welcoming, always with a smile! The entertainment was excellent as well. The band in the BB King Lounge were fantastic as well as the piano players/singers playing dueling pianos. The Lincoln Center had a nice orchestra too. Also every night there was a show in the Main Showroom with a nice variety of talent, singers, comedian, illusionist & more. Very entertaining. We took some excursions, in Haines we went on a Jet-boat Tour. The driver/narrator was egotistical & there wasn’t much wildlife that we saw. Not a great tour. In Juneau we went on a Whale Watching Cruise on a smaller not crowded boat that was excellent. We saw Killer Whales & lots of Pods of Orcas. Great excursion. Afterwards we did a Helicopter to Mendenhall Glacier with Dog Sledding. That was the highlight of the trip. Worth every penny & an amazing experience. Next stop was Ketchikan where we did The Misty Fjords Wilderness Cruise. It was 4.5 hours & unfortunately very boring. The staff was excellent & very safety conscious although the naturist speaking throughout the tour, very nice, was too monotonous sounding & not very interesting to listen to. She had no enthusiasm or engagement with us passengers. Half way out we did see quite a few beautiful waterfalls that were running due to the recent rain. Other than that the tour was really boring. Our last day on the ship was at sea. Our wives all had massages that they seemed to enjoy. Although they were all over pitched on buying their products. Which they didn’t! The next day we arrived in Vancouver & the disembarkation was extremely well organized as was the entire HAL experience, with a very quick exit from the ship as well as through customs. My brother & his wife live in Seattle. They drove up to Vancouver & we spent one night there & then drove back to Seattle with them for two days followed by our flight back to Milwaukee. We had a very memorable trip with lots of laughs, good cuisine & unforgettable excursions. Read Less

Love Viking. Always wanted to go to Alaska. Room is a little small. A/C is so so. Love the drink package, speciality restaurants, shore excursions. Internet a little slow. Crew is very nice. Food is great. Boat is beautiful and so clean. Already booked another cruise. Can fit luggage under bed. Has more drawer space. Loved our balcony. Do the helicopter ride to Mendenhall Glacier and dog sledding. Loved the train ride and the excursion on the Deadliest sea boat. Manifred I had excellent steaks. Loved not always having announcements, no children, and older crowd. This was our 2nd cruise with Viking. The spa is wonderful. The pools excellent. Bar service is above all other. Entertainment could be a little better. Love having wine, beer, soft drinks included. And being able to stay pre or post at beginning and end ports. Airfare is great. Top of the line in cruises as far as I am concerned. Read Less

We chose this cruise because we had loved our river cruise with Viking and wanted to try our first ocean cruise with them. We liked the idea of a smaller ship and no kids. The itinerary sounded good and we were interested in the pre and post extensions. My husband and I selected the 5-day Denali extension. The train was a wonderful experience as we relaxed in the glass domed car and watched the gorgeous scenery go by! The food on the train was really good as well. Our guide was very knowledgeable and fun. We went into the park on a park bus with a naturalist learned a lot. We wished we could have gone further into the park. The included dinner buffet was just acceptable. The hotels were nice and scenery was amazing! Talkeetna was a great town with arts and crafts along with good food. We boarded our ship in Seward and took the Kenai Fjords optional excursion. Great views of puffins, Stellar sea lions, humpback whales and sea otters. Holgate glacier was wonderful and we were very near! In Valdez we took the optional Wrangell-St Elias excursion and were surrounded by stunning mountain views and waterfalls. We took the optional small boat whale watching excursion at Icy Straight Point and couldn’t have been more thrilled with the Orcas! There was a pod by our boat that was no more than 5 feet away! We enjoyed Skagway with the Gold Rush Cemetary and the Red Onion Saloon. The trip through the White Pass was a disappointment as it was all fogged in as usual. We took the included excursion in Juneau to Mendenhall glacier and the salmon hatchery. The scenery at the glacier and Brotherhood Bridge couldn’t have been more beautiful with the fireweed blooming! I recommend taking the tram up the Mt Roberts -great views and interesting exhibits! The raptor center and bear sanctuary in Sitka were interesting. We opted for the 2 day extension in Vancouver. Unfortunately, the transfer to the bus was poorly managed and we all stood on concrete for the better part of an hour before we were able to board the bus. The city tour was great and very inclusive of all the city sights. We loved Vancouver! Friendly people, great seafood and gorgeous! The only disappointment was that Viking had scheduled our flight out at 6:20 AM which meant our time in Vancouver was cut short and we had to get up at 2AM. We tried for at least 6 months to change the flight and were never able to change it. We even paid the extra charge to try to do so. The airport did not function well at that time of the morning. We stood in long lines for almost 2 hours and had to load our own luggage on to the conveyor belt. Poor ending for a magnificent trip. Our cabin on the ship was great! Roomy with great amenities. It was a Penthouse Veranda. The food on the ship was great. We liked the general buffet and Manfreddi’s best. The ship size was perfect! The guest lecturers were very informative and if we missed a lecture they were recorded to watch in our cabin at leisure. Read Less

Alaska has been on our bucket list for years, and when Viking announced they would be sailing to Alaska we jumped at the opportunity, having experienced a Viking River Cruise in 2014, the Romantic Danube. The Viking Orion had not yet been completed when we made our reservations, so watching her development was exciting. Viking truly has transported the finest of their river cruise ships into their ocean cruise ships, and it felt like coming home when we boarded at Seward. One aspect of the cruise that was attractive to us was the specific itinerary that included more of Alaska than just the fabled Inside Passage. We did the pre-cruise extension in Anchorage, where Viking picked us up at the Anchorage airport and transported us to the Anchorage Hilton for 2 nights, then onward from Anchorage to Seward to join the ship. The weather was not always cooperative and in Seward it was raining and chilly outside, but warm and welcoming onboard. Embarkation was smooth and fast, and the primary downside was the distance we had to walk from the point where we cleared security to the ship itself mostly in the rain. From then on the weather was either cloudy and cool or clouds and sun. Valdez was beautiful, sunny and clear; overcast at Hubbard Glacier and Icy Strait Point and Skagway, sunny and warm at Juneau, mostly sunny at Sitka, cloudy at Ketchikan, and gloriously sunny on arrival at Vancouver. Of the many attributes offered by Viking, having all outside cabins with balconies was a definite plus, the small size was wonderful with just 930 passengers, and perhaps the one consistent comment we heard was how thankful our shipmates were that there were no children (us included). Folks, this is not a party ship, yet it packs in more entertainment options than are possible to sample in the 11 days we had available. We would definitely cruise again with Viking Ocean and River Cruises. Read Less

We chose Alaska because my parents lived in Alaska before I was born and I have always wanted to go. We chose Viking because we had taken the Viking River Cruise from Nuremberg to Budapest -- and LOVED it! We loved the smallness, the service, the food, the sightseeing! Everything about it made us want to take an Ocean Cruise with Viking. And we found the same positives on the Orion. It was much larger--but small for an ocean liner. No negatives --all positive experiences. We have talked to people who have taken other cruises and find that Viking is the premier way to go. The cabins were large and well equipped. So many things that cost extra on other lines are standard on Viking. Once you are onboard nothing is extra unless you want to take one of the additional excursions. I loved not having to worry about paying for extras, because they were all included--including the gratuities! Now we have to save up for the next cruise. I have my eye on the "Tulips and Windmills" River Cruise, but there are many river and ocean cruises that I would be thrilled to take. I love visiting the food and culture of the countries we see. One thing I wish had been arranged was transportation (like golf carts) from the gangplank to the tour busses or trains. With limited mobility I chose not to attempt some of the included excursions. I now have an electric mobility cart that I hope will be allowed on my next cruise. Fortunately, there were places to sit along the way from our cabin to the dining room and theater. Read Less

We are not travelers. This trip was perfection. The ship, its design and appointments, crew...all perfection. Every detail, every comfort. I think I could be talked into living aboard! The hotel in Vancouver for extended stay was lovely, with a spectacular view. The brunch one of the best ever. On the cruise, the food and service were superb. I had the pool to myself most mornings. The lectures and TED talks were highlights, as was the planetarium 3D film on the Sami reindeer culture. Icy Straight Point and the town of were highlights. Sitka was a disappointment. We visited museums and galleries wherever we went, and they were a joy. I do wish there was still a formal or dressy night option. The musicians throughout the ship were fabulous. Would have enjoyed a tour of the mechanical levels of the ship. The concierge services were repeatedly helpful and informative. The daily newsletter, and the onscreen itinerary maps onscreen in the rooms were much appreciated. Best cruise ever! Read Less

We chose the Jewel to Alaska for several reasons. Entertainment, good food, Alaskan ports to visit, and the NCL family. Entertainment on the ship is always available. Our favorite venue is the Stardust evening shows. The cruise performers put on three outstanding shows. The first was Velvet, a music and dance production with many costume changes and a fantastic light show set to the music. The second was a collection of songs and dances. It also had the wonderful voices, lights, dancing, along with the stage band. The last performance showcased the acrobatic abilities of the cast. Amazing!!! Other nightly shows included a very funny comedian with a late night bonus. He could really work the crowd. There was a Russian couple that performed feats of strength and balance, as well as aerials. Good food was found everywhere. Our favorite was the Garden Cafe. Rowen Luna, an assistant chef, was at a carving station. His salmon was the best on the ship, and I tried a couple different salmon dishes. He always greeted us and wished us an enjoyable cruise. He also took the time to explain how the meats were prepared in the big ovens. His roast suckling pig was a work of art and flavor. Of course, NCL strives to make everyone feel welcome and part of their family. That is the main reason we prefer NCL over the other cruise lines. Read Less

This was our 3rd Viking Cruise, but our first Ocean Cruise. We wanted to experience Alaska, but in "Viking style", without gambling, large crowds, and with a focus on history and culture, gourmet dining, excellent wine, and without children aboard. Viking once again exceeded our expectations, from the moment we stepped aboard, through departure. The staff was very proactive, accommodating, and attentive. The excursions were well planned and interesting, and the food and wine were outstanding at all of the restaurants aboard. Toward the end of our cruise, we decided to attempt to upgrade our overnight cross country flight home to First Class, due to the length of the flight and the time difference, and the concierge service took care of our request within a day (obviously, with the additional expense as expected). There were lectures and discussions offered prior to each excursion, and even a Planetarium, with 3 separate shows (you need to make a reservation for these, as seating is limited, but we didn't have any problem doing so.) There is a health club and spa aboard, a small pool, and many places to sit and relax while you watch the scenery go by. We would highly recommend Viking for any adult(s) who are interested in experiencing Alaska in a relaxed setting while providing luxurious accommodations and excellent dining. The highlight of the trip for us was observing the Hubbard Glacier. The weather was ideal, and to see the massive wall of ice, and hear it as it moved, and to see pieces of it occasionally fall into the sea was very memorable. I also very much enjoyed the zip line excursion. Read Less

my friend had not been to Alaska before plus the size of the ship was more to our liking the cabins were excellent, the dinning was great and the food was well prepared, the entertainment and activities were more than I expected and were great and informative. the service was great and the people were a great help with all things and were always ready to help even if they had to go out of their way to help. the ports were interesting and the excursions were great. we liked the fact that we were with older people and not having worry about activities for kids. the security of getting off and back on the ship made us feel secure and safe. we would make another trip with Viking at another time. the number of people on board gave us a chance to get to know some of the other passengers. Read Less

The cruise ship was up to Viking normal high standards. The cabin was well prepared and continually tidied and readied..the cabin service usually forgot we didn`t wanted our beds turned back etc but minor point. We were very fortunate with some excellent weather throughout the voyage. The atmosphere on board was very relaxed throughout. The food was excellent and we much prefer the more relaxed format in the self service area as standards are not compromised at all. Mrs Wood`s hair appointment was average. Some of the included excursions were disappointing and the game needs to be upped here as we felt this was part of pushing you to pay for the far better extras ones.One of them just dropped us off in town to do our own thing.Juneau excursion was unnecessarily rushed and we had little time to enjoy the glacier facilities etc.Our extra whale watching at Icy strait Point was very good indeed. The lectures and talks were generally very good and the delivery was interesting and relaxed with most but not all of them.Kathy Slamp we found the best of them. Read Less

We have cruised with Azamara several times. After a very disappointing cruise in March, we decided to give it one more try. Azamara is no longer a luxury cruise line. The food was very disappointing and mediocre. The only decent meal we had in the main dining room was the sea-day buffet. The dinner buffets in Windows cafe ranged from outstanding to terrible. Although this was an Alaska cruise, we were never served crab and were offered Alaskan salmon only once. The food is better on Celebrity, and in a different class altogether on Oceania. Our cruise was originally scheduled to dock in Haines, but the port was eliminated. We did not get a price adjustment from Azamara or an alternate port, just another sea day. We had less than optimal dock sites in Icy Strait Point (tendered), Juneau and Ketchikan. Juneau had a free shuttle. The internet was incredibly slow. Also, due to their “upgraded” system, there was no way to tell how many minutes you used each time you logged on and off. Your minutes disappeared with no documentation of where they went. The White Night was a joke. No more grilled lobster tails. Instead, lukewarm seafood kebabs with a small piece of lobster, a shrimp, a scallop, and large chunks of fish. It was very windy, and many folks opted to eat inside. We were in Victoria on Canada Day, and the fireworks were supposed to be an added attraction to the White Night festivities. However, they were difficult to see from the ship. The liquor brands included in the complimentary package are low end. You get better choices with the Classic package on Celebrity. The cruise director, Ernest, was excellent. All of the ship’s singers and dancers were very talented. The entertainment was very good. The ship excursions we took ranged from average to excellent. We especially enjoyed the Sitka raptor center and Sitka tour and the Mendenhall Glacier and Salmon Bake. The salmon was grilled over coals with a maple glaze. Best food we had on the cruise. Our room was a standard balcony cabin. The bedding was great. Our shower had mold on the floor when we first got to our cabin. It was not removed until we complained to Guest Relations. Other than that, the cabin was very good. The service in the main restaurant was very poor. I always had to ask to get my water refilled. The menu was uninteresting. The daily chef’s specials were the same as the entrees served at the dinner buffet in Windows. Azamara used to be our favorite cruise line. It no longer is. The brand has been cheapened and it’s no longer a luxury cruise line. Read Less

We did the 7 day Land tour before our cruise. With the exception of Denali Village which we found our room not cleaned they moved us to a new room only to open door and find it already occupied. Rooms small had no hot water just a bad experience! Our tour guide Kacie was amazing and tried to resolve everything! She took time and care with each of us and made sure we had the best time! On board the balcony cabin we had was spacious and perfect for to people. The staff from our steward to the bartenders were the best. The food not so much main dining room food was ok but nothing special! We ate at the Chophouse it was terrible both steaks were full of fat and gristle and was unedible! Thankfully the appetizers and salads were filling! The windjammer is same old same old but good for breakfast and lunch! The day of disembarking was a nightmare going into Vancouver airport is an experience let alone with the ship getting you off late shuttle bus lanes are ridiculous we got to the airport 1 hour before our flight and made it to our gate 10 minutes before boarding. My advice do not take shuttle take a taxi! Read Less

My husband and daughter always wanted to go to Alaska. Chose Viking because we had a previous trip with them from Amsterdam to Budapest which was awesome. Small ship, great service and beautiful sites. Already booked this May 2020 for Homelands Trip. Customer service was excellent and provided us with updates on our luggage which was lost on airlines. Meals were excellent with a variety to choose from and coffee bar available throughout the day. Explorers lounge had a wonderful view and service was outstanding Cabins were cleaned twice a day and Daily bulletin was delivered every night. Morning Room Service was delivered on time each morning with a hot cup of coffee and whatever we ordered the previous night. Highly recommend Viking Cruises and would not travel anyt other way. Beautiful ship, clean with excellent staff of people. Great rooms with excellent views from balcony and easy access on board ship. Read Less

We have had four Viking cruises so far, with a fifth on the horizon. It’s an adult-level cruise and they treat their guests accordingly. The operation of the vessel was seamless - the passengers never had to worry about any of the details, they just showed up. Meals were perfectly handled. Some cruise lines like to make people sit around big tables so you “can enjoy the company of others”, whereas Viking has tables-for-two where it’s your choice to engage with people at the next table or not. Funnily enough, our favorite food item was the European-style bread - vastly superior to North American bread. There was no nickel-and-diming on Viking cruises. The included self-serve laundry, the wine/beer, Internet, each not expensive but it raises a tiny bit of guilt on other cruise lines - on Viking we just get to enjoy the cruise. We traveled with a group of 20, mostly relatives, and saw them only when we wanted to, our choice. Shore trips were well-vetted before Viking guests landed. All were well done. I’m still working through the hundreds of photographs I was able to take on shore excursions and each one brings back happy memories. Cabins were perfectly done. Clean, modern, very functional. There was no need for a fancy suite for our purposes because we primarily just used them to sleep - we were out and about most of the time. (Not for this cruise, but the Viking Sky cruised by Mt. Stromboli, an active volcano north of Sicily, just in time to see a major eruption in the dark of the evening. Well planned, Viking!) Read Less

I lived in Alaska as a child so I was super excited to go back and see it as an adult. I have sailed with Viking 7 times before the Alaskan cruise and absolutely love what Viking has to offer. After we arrived in Anchorage, we had a two hour bus trip to Seward. The views were amazing! My luggage was already in the room waiting for me as I used the Luggage Forward company. As always the food was delicious and since we were in Alaska, we had crabs and lobster and fish available frequently. My friend and I met two other couples at the bar and therefore ended eating a lot in the pool cafe and the casual restaurants. We had chosen great excursions such as whale watching, riding in various zodiacs, taking the train up the mountains and several catamarans to see the glaciers and whales, seals, and birds. I found the towns at the various ports quite delightful with plenty of shopping after our excursions. One night it was so foggy, you couldn't see out of the front window at the main bar. All night long you could hear the Orion's foghorn to ensure safe passage. The entertainment consisted of young performers singing and dancing but they were fun to watch. I hated for the cruise to end because we had made such good friends onboard and I wanted to see more. The disembarkation was not much fun since there were at least 5 cruise ships also there. The airport was packed. It took 2 hours to get through United etc. but when we finally got through I saw the sign that said "Welcome to the United States" and I pulled out my Global Entry card and was through in 2 minutes. I am seriously thinking about taking the cruise again with different excursions. The ambiance of the Orion is special. The spa with the pool, cold bucket of water dump, the snow room were so much fun. To sit in a room where it snows on you and then to hop in a warm pool was exhilarating. Around the spa are several shops where I bought a beautiful rain jacket and travel backpack. Also on this floor is a baby grand piano where a young man would play at different times during the day. We would get a tasty drink at the bar there and sit and listen to him almost every evening. The tearoom was packed during "high tea" every day at 4. They served delicious teas and sandwiches with many sweet macaroons and cakes while we sit and meet so many new people. Service on the Orion was fantastic. They always have a smile on their face and are so willing to help you. The bartenders can make any drink you want and love to talk with you. I love sitting at the main bar at the front of the ship as you sail towards the next destination. But all of us who ended up hanging around together felt the Bloody Marys at the bar on the first floor were the best!! Read Less

Alaska was on our "bucket list" so we started out with a 6 day NCL Land Tour from Fairbanks, ending in Seward. That trip alone was well worth it...but on to the cruise! Embarkation from Seward was a piece of cake. The first meal in Azura was bit slow and clunky but the food was good and we weren't in any big hurry! Overall the meals were fine, particularly the specialty restaurants. The food in the main dining rooms was "good", and the service was more than adequate. Specialty restaurants were SUPERB, especially Le Bistro and La Cucina! Our mini-suite was perfect and our Room Steward, Rolando did an excellent job keeping it clean and tending to any of our requests...kudos to Rolando! The extra USB ports were a nice add. Overall the refurbished ship was clean and redecorated nicely. I was a bit disappointed that the seats in the Stardust Theater were not replaced during the refurb. They were low and uncomfortable two years ago and they are the same now. We were so busy, we managed only one show..."Rock You Tonight". It was GREAT...wonderful singers, dancers and band. An awesome production! I do like the smaller ships like the Jewel where you do not need to make reservations to get into every event. The ship entertainment was good...some very talented folks. Lots of pop music & jazz. I do wish there was some "Classical" music on board, maybe in the main lobby. It might give the ship kind of a "high class" feel. (There is a grand piano there which I have never seen used.) The gym was clean and all the machines seem to be working. The bar service was spot on. I will say the wine in the wine tasting event was a step lower that those I've been to in the past...and believe me I am not a wine snob. But I did pay extra for some GREAT wine in the specialty restaurants. Of course you go to Alaska for the spectacular views and scenery. The glacier viewing was excellent. I did spot humpbacks on three occasions from our balcony. Lots of good "Kodak Moments". Just staring out the balcony at the snow capped peaks was awe inspiring (especially for a couple from "flat" Florida!) The best part of the cruise were the ports and excursions. We did the Zip Rider/Wale watching tour...WOO HOO, what an adrenaline rush! We did the Helicopter Ride to the Glacier and Dog Sled Mushing, which was probably the best shore excursion we've ever been on! We also did the Wilderness Glacier trip where we canoed up to a glacier...also an outstanding trip! Between my camera and my Go-Pro I took over 2100 pics...many great memories. Overall the ship, crew and cruise met all of our expectations. Kudos to General Manager Steve for running a tight ship. Kudos to Jenny, Group services Coordinator for coordinating the Meet & Mingle and kudos to Dilip our Concierge who was always ready to assist us! Now that Alaska is crossed off the bucket list, it's time for French Polynesia/Hawaii in 2020. THANKS NCL! Read Less

Loved the Westerdam. Great cabin 10018 with excellent location. Good viewing when on a southbound cruise. Entertainment great and went late into the night. BB Kings good. The 2 piano players in the Billboard Bar were also great. Food good. Only disappointment was lunch in the Pinnacle Restaurant. Not worth the extra $. Not sure why a Coconut Trifle would gave 2 layers of rich chocolate that overpowered the taste of anything else...inedible. Strawberry pavlova...better pavlova in the Lido. Crab cakes for appetizer were excellent. Entrees (mains) pretty ordinary. Dinner may have been better. Santos and Otto did a great job in looking after us in our stateroom on Deck 10. Recommend this Stateroom, in particular location. Great service with a smile everywhere. Plenty of updates from the Captain. Smooth sailing. Embarkation was easy and we were able to board earlier than designated. Disembarkation needed more signs for lines of group colours. Easy to look up everything on TV in cabin, e.g. account and dining menus for the day. Good movies too. Read Less

The Holland American Alaska Land & Sea Cruise was a marvel in it's organization from Fairbanks to Seward on land and Seward to Vancouver at sea. The hotels, ground transport, buses and train moved us with without any problems. The weather was exceptional for May. The Panning for Gold, Steamboat Cruise, The Denali Outback was 102 miles filled with moose, brown bear, caribou, sheep was great. The sea excursions the White Pass Train and Salmon Fishing was outstanding. The transfers from airport and to ship were again very On the ship the Neptune Lounge, staff, the stewards, our waiters, wine steward, and the entire crew were helpful and friendly. They tried their hardest to improve the food that was being served and it did improve a little. The quality of menu was terrible. The managing chef his menu lacked any inspiration. His plate pairings were off the wall. His line chefs plaited the food poorly and no one was tasting the food or were uneducated with what good food should taste like. The quality of the food has been reduced to the level of it's parent company Carnival. It was not like this on my previous sailings with Holland American. Even the cafe was dull and tasteless and the specialty restaurants were only slightly better, just OK that's all we can say about the food. Read Less

We chose this cruise a we wanted to go back to Alaska and wanted to go on the Azamara Quest for the second time. It didn't disappoint. The food was excellent and the itinerary was good although we missed Victoria because on high wind. We were able to get closer than the larger ships and only had to tender one time. The smaller lounges on board were very nice to meet and converse with other cruisers. The elimination of the Casino was disheartning, however probably saved me some money. The Captain was one of the most outstanding officers I have seen on a cruise ship, very personable and visible to keep us informed on every phase of the cruise. Hope I get another chance to go on the Quest and cruise with him. Embarkation was the quickest and easiest I had ever been through in nearly 20 cruises. Disembarkation was also easy with our luggage removed from the ship the night before and were close to our transportation. Canada and US Customs were very professional and smooth. Read Less