Back in December, we were trying to figure out our summer travel plans and knew we wanted to include a cruise. Neither Ricky nor I had ever really been interested in cruises—probably because I enjoy planning our itineraries, and a cruise takes some of that freedom away. However, we had agreed that if we ever did take a cruise, it would be to Alaska.
We booked the trip while in Costa Rica, and I was pretty certain we got a good deal. After researching average Alaska cruise prices, I can confidently say that it was a great deal. We had researched different cruise lines and debated between Princess, Celebrity, and Holland America. We were warned that Holland America had an older demographic, but there were a few things that drew us to them. The ship sizes were considerably smaller than other cruise lines—our boat, the Zaandam, held only 1,400 passengers. When booking, we chose to depart from Vancouver instead of Seattle. First, because we had just been to Seattle a few months earlier, and second, because this itinerary gave us more time in Alaska than Seattle departures. Thanks to our American Airlines miles, we flew to Vancouver for free from Dallas, a five-hour drive from home. Shout out to our friend Teresa, who let us crash at her place on our way out of Dallas, and let us park our car at her apartment building. Couldn’t do this much traveling without the amazing friends who help us all the time.
The average cost of an Alaskan cruise ranges from $2,500 to $6,000 per person, but we scored a deal for $2,400 total. Our package included $400 in tour credits, $200 in spa credit, a premium meal and drink package, specialty dining, and free Wi-Fi for both of us, along with all ports, taxes, and fees.
We arrived in Vancouver and booked an Airbnb in Surrey, just outside the city. It was the perfect precursor to our relaxing cruise week—an oasis with an indoor jacuzzi and a beautiful backyard. We loved it. The highlight of our time in Vancouver was meeting up with a few of our college friends who live there. We love catching up with old friends all over the world! We shared dinner with them and explored a bit of downtown Vancouver. The next morning, we walked around the pier before departure and saw a few of Vancouver’s landmark buildings. Our time there was too short, but we’re hopeful to return soon.
Since this was our first cruise, we weren’t sure what to expect from the boarding process, but I’m happy to report that it was smooth and fast. Everyone was incredibly nice and made it seamless. Our room was ready when we arrived, and our luggage was delivered shortly after. Ricky and I went up to the deck to take in the stunning Vancouver city views before departure and stayed there until the skyline disappeared on the horizon.
One of our main priorities for this trip was rest. After an adventure-filled summer, we wanted to be intentional about how we spent our time. I struggle with feeling guilty when I’m not being productive, so I was really excited to embrace the R&R mentality. The first day or so was “at sea” time, and we spent it eating delicious food and watching movies on our list. On the first day, we tried the Lido Deck buffet but weren’t fans. Then we discovered the “Dining Room,” which served three-course meals for lunch and dinner—exactly what we wanted. We also finished the Before Sunrise trilogy, one of my favorites that I wanted Ricky to watch. Most of our mornings consisted of breakfast in bed and TV time.
Our first scenic cruising day took us through the Tracy Arm Fjord, offering majestic views—especially as we spotted whales and dolphins. We spent the day at the piano bar, looking out through the expansive windows, enjoying a chai latte and a book. Our most frequented spot on the ship was the coffee shop in the library. We spent most of our downtime reading and sipping on delicious drinks in the cozy lounge areas of the boat. It was “cozy o’clock” all day long.
Our first stop was Juneau, which was my favorite of all the places we visited in Alaska. We stopped by a couple of local bookstores and visited museums showcasing Native American art. We strolled the downtown area, took in the views, and scored some cool Native American art for our house. In the afternoon, we returned to the ship for a delicious dinner while watching the sunset, followed by cozy time in the piano bar, listening to live music and reading our books.
Our second stop was Skagway, where Ricky and I had booked a tour at the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park. It included a scenic train ride through the White Pass, which was incredibly informative. Our small train car had only a handful of people, and the views were unmatched—windy green landscapes occasionally broken up by waterfalls, rivers, and old-timey bridges. It really made us reflect on the pioneers who first crossed these mountains. The tour ended with a local performance and a gold panning experience, which was a fun addition. Overall, it was a great experience and reasonably priced for a cruise excursion.
After Skagway, we had a day dedicated to cruising through Glacier Bay National Park. We woke up early to secure a prime spot in the top lounge with an unobstructed view of the park. Seeing and hearing the glaciers calving in front of us was an unforgettable experience. Rangers from the national park came aboard to give informative sessions. One of the main reasons we chose this itinerary was to check Glacier Bay off our bucket list, and I’m happy to say it was absolutely worth it.
Our last stop was Ketchikan, my second favorite town. The pier, surrounded by colorful shops, looked like something out of a postcard. We saw seals and sea lions playing near the shops and walked along the man-made structure that allows salmon to swim upstream. Unfortunately, we were about a week too early for the salmon run, which was disappointing, but the area was still beautiful. Lots of greenery and wildlife to admire. While in Ketchikan, we tried reindeer and moose jerky—both were delicious, so we brought some home.
For our final days at sea, we treated ourselves to a massage in the ship’s spa. Thanks to our package deal and spa credit, we ended up paying only a fraction of the total cost. It included a one-hour massage, facial treatments, and dry brushing—we thoroughly enjoyed it. That night, we closed our trip with a special dinner at the steakhouse. The highlight? Candied bacon served on a mini drying rack—both in presentation and flavor!
We left the cruise feeling completely refreshed. Back in Vancouver, we had a few hours before our Airbnb check-in, so we met up with our friend Margie at the Vancouver Public Library, a stunning modern structure with gorgeous city views and a rooftop patio. While there, we got a notification that our flight had been canceled due to the Microsoft software outage that disrupted thousands of flights this summer. Fortunately, we were able to rebook our Vancouver-Dallas flight (with miles) for the same day and decided to forego our Airbnb, heading straight to the airport. We managed to get home a day earlier than planned.
All in all, this was an amazing trip—full of rest and relaxation, the perfect way to close out a busy summer. It was the ideal introduction to the cruise world for us. The smaller cruise size was a huge plus for me—I’ll take fewer amenities if it means not having to share the boat with 8,000+ people. Holland America is definitely geared toward older adults, but Ricky and I thoroughly enjoyed our afternoons playing chess and reading by the cozy fireplaces. On our last day at sea, we even spotted four orcas—the first ones we’ve ever seen! We’ve decided we’ll only cruise to destinations where traveling by boat makes more sense than by plane, and Alaska was the perfect choice for this.
