Why a Holland America Alaska cruise should top your list in the Last Frontier

Most major cruise lines send at least one ship to Alaska every summer, but that doesn't mean every line offers the same experience. Some cruise companies are Alaska experts with long histories of bringing travelers to the 49th state. You might not be able to tell at first glance that one itinerary to Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway is different from another to the same ports, but the differences in onboard and onshore offerings can have a huge impact on your Alaska cruise experience.

Having just sailed on a Holland America Alaska cruise, I can attest that the cruise line is one of the best in the region. The line has been sailing to Alaska for more than 75 years and, during that time, has formed partnerships with key ports and even invested in tourism infrastructure to the benefit of its guests. It also embraces all things Alaska with its onboard programming to give you as immersive an experience as possible.

Discover why a Holland America Alaska cruise should be on your list as you plan an epic trip to the Last Frontier.

Alaska-themed drinks and dining

One drawback of cruising is that you don't have many opportunities to experience local culinary culture because you're often on board for dinner or don't have the budget to pay for meals in port when food is included in your cruise fare. Holland America solves that problem in Alaska by bringing local food on board.

The company is the only cruise line with a Responsible Fisheries Management certification, and its ships serve exclusively fresh and sustainable local seafood on its Alaska cruises. On my recent Eurodam sailing in Alaska, a different Alaska salmon bowl was on the dining room menu nightly, and the fish was always moist and tasty. Plus, the dinner menu called out dishes featuring local ingredients.

Alaska-themed meals included a twice-per-cruise brunch with dishes featuring Alaskan fish, mushrooms, reindeer sausage and berries and an extra-charge seafood boil dinner in a corner of the buffet one evening. The seafood boil includes Ivar's Northwest-style clam chowder, Dungeness crab clusters, Alaska salmon, Penn Cove clams and mussels and a shrimp bucket.

On the drinks side, the Ocean Bar serves Alaska-inspired cocktails created by renowned mixologist Sam Ross; my favorite was the Klondiker, a liquid homage to the gold rush prospectors, made with Sazerac Rye whiskey, Laird's apple brandy, allspice dram, fresh lime, coconut and Angostura chocolate bitters and real glacial ice. (The bartender told me they have the ice shipped in, and it's not cheap!)

You can also order Alaskan Brewing Company beers on board, including the Alaskan Amber (my favorite) and Icy Bay IPA. The line also carries craft beer by Seattle's Pike Brewing Company, including the exclusive-to-the-line Killer Whale Pale Ale.

Related: Alaska cruise guide: Best itineraries, planning tips and things to do

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Priority in port

On a half-day in Ketchikan, Eurodam scored a primo berth just steps from the shops and within eyesight of the famous Creek Street. On the bus ride to a kayaking shore excursion, we passed a Norwegian Cruise Line ship, docked about 20 minutes out of town in the middle of nowhere. I can imagine those passengers' disappointment when they learned that much of their limited time in port would be spent shuttling back and forth to the ship (and waiting in long lines to board the buses).

"Holland America Line enjoys preferential docking locations in key Alaska ports like Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway, which are conveniently located closer to city centers," Dan Rough, vice president of revenue management for Holland America, told me via email, confirming my hunch. "This advantage stems from more than 75 years of sailing to Alaska and building strong relationships with our port partners. Our partial ownership of certain berths also allows us priority access, enabling our guests to disembark directly into the heart of the destination and start exploring immediately."

Rough also mentioned that Holland America's docking location in Skagway is "just steps away" from the boarding platform for the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad, a popular attraction for visitors to the port.

Related: The 6 best Alaska cruise shore excursions — from heli-hiking to whale watching

Elevated glacier-viewing experiences

All Alaska cruises across cruise lines will include some kind of scenic cruising experience, but the creme de la creme of glacier viewing is a visit to Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. The national park is only accessible by plane or boat, and its stunning glaciers are some of the best you can possibly see from a cruise ship.

If your heart is set on visiting Glacier Bay, you will have more opportunities to do so with Holland America.

"Holland America Line has been sailing to Glacier Bay since before it became a national park, giving us more permits to visit than any other cruise line," Rough said. "As a result, we offer more Alaska cruise departures featuring Glacier Bay than any other cruise line."

According to the national park's website, the only other big-ship cruise lines with Glacier Bay permits are Cunard, Norwegian, Princess Cruises, Seabourn and Viking.

With any cruise ship visit to Glacier Bay, park rangers will come on board, narrate the journey through the fjords to the glaciers, run kids' activities, set up displays and a bookstore and answer questions. Holland America takes its "Glacier Day" holiday a step further, offering pea soup to chilled guests on the ship's outer decks and selling spiked coffee and hot chocolate in souvenir travel mugs.

Related: Hubbard Glacier vs Glacier Bay: Which is the better scenic cruising spot in Alaska

Right-size ships

Holland America's ships are what the cruise industry dubs midsized. Eurodam carries 2,104 passengers, and many of the line's other Alaska ships are similarly sized. The ships in port with us were much bigger, including the 3,660-passenger Discovery Princess, 4,004-passenger Norwegian Bliss and 4,180-passenger Quantum of the Seas.

When you have nearly half as many guests on board and a smaller ship size-wise, you get a more relaxed onboard vibe. It never took me long to disembark the ship, and the open decks had plenty of space for everyone during scenic cruising times. The Crow's Nest observation lounge did fill up, and the most popular tours did sell out, but in general, I think a smaller ship provides a better experience in Alaska.

Related: The best Alaska cruises for every type of traveler

Wildlife spotting guide

On small expedition ships, I expect to find a team of naturalists and scientists on board who will teach passengers about the cruise region's wildlife and natural environment and roam the outer decks, pointing out whales and identifying seabirds. On big ships, I figure I'm on my own.

Not so on Holland America. The line brings aboard a wildlife spotting guide on each of its ships sailing in Alaska. On the first sea day, he gave a presentation on what types of animals and birds we could expect to see and offered tips about which sailing areas were better for seeing the different species. During those scenic cruise times, he would set up a post, usually by Eurodam's aft pool, and point out whales, porpoises and other creatures.

He also answered questions and even gave my travel companion and me some hiking advice.

Related: Best time to cruise Alaska

Alaska-themed charitable walkathon

Holland America is known for its "On Deck for a Cause" charitable event on every sailing. Passengers donate money to the cruise line's favorite charities and participate in a 5K walkathon around their ship's promenade or outer decks.

In Alaska, donations raised go to Alaska Geographic, a nonprofit organization that supports Alaska's parks, forests and conservation lands. The money will fund education and scientific research in Alaska's parks. It's a nice way for cruisers to give back to the land that has provided them with such an incredible vacation.

Company-owned Alaska lodges and rail cars

Holland America has a robust lineup of pre- and post-cruise land tours that connect seamlessly with your cruise experience. You can have your pick of options ranging from nine to 18 days and including one, two or three days at Denali National Park.

It also offers some unique cruisetour itineraries.

"We are the only cruise line to offer a cruisetour that combines an unforgettable Alaska cruise with a journey through the Yukon and Denali National Park and Preserve," Rough said. "As part of the Yukon Cruisetours, our guests are the only ones who can stay overnight in Skagway."

My cruise sailed round-trip from Seattle, so I did not have the opportunity to try out a Holland America cruisetour. However, I've previously explored Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali and Fairbanks postcruise, and I recommend the experience to anyone with extra vacation time who will book a one-way Alaska cruise that begins or ends in Seward or Whittier, Alaska.

Holland America owns its Alaska Railroad rail cars, which transport guests from Anchorage to Denali or Fairbanks. With this rail relationship, the cruise line can lock in the best train schedules for its guests and also ensure food on board meets its culinary standards.

The cruise line also owns a lodge in Denali.

"Our Denali Suites, featuring private balconies with views of Denali National Park, along with complimentary shuttles, make the lodge an ideal basecamp for guests," Rough told TPG. "This ownership of transportation, lodging, and service allows us to fully control and elevate the guest experience in Denali National Park to make sure it is up to our standards and synched with the time of the cruise portion of a guest's vacation."

Related: One-way Alaska cruises vs. round-trip: Which is best?

Bottom line

Holland America positions itself as a leader in Alaska, but it wasn't until I sailed north with the line that I truly understood all the ways it excels in this region.

The cruise line is not for everyone. Its kids' facilities are smaller than you'd find on Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line megaships in Alaska, and it's not as luxurious as a Seabourn or Regent Seven Seas cruise. But if you're looking for a big ship that's not too big and want as much Alaska immersion as you can get on a cruise, a Holland America Alaska cruise just might check all the boxes.

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