As some of you know, I have headed north to Alaska aboard a tramp steamer (the Holland America Amsterdam) with a travel companion. I will post updates as I am able.
Today I am in Skagway Alaska and I am posting updates that I have written from the first three days of traveling and EATING. Unfortunaltely I am having trouble loading pictures so I there is a notew saying where the pics would go and what they are.
Here is day one:
Boarding process was smooth until they pulled my travel partner and I aside and said that someone form on the ship wanted to speak to us before we got on the ship.
I must have a guilty conscious because as soon as heard that I started to wonder what I had in my luggage that they did not like.
But then a very nice young lady appeared all she had to tell us what that the maintenance crew had replaced the grout in the bathroom in our room and we would not be able to use the bathroom for approximately an hour. Whew. That was it.
Once aboard we went straight to our room and dropped off our carry-on bags. I had carried on my new Bexar Goods Vagabond backpack with all my tech toys inside. (Full review of the Bexar Goods Vagabond to follow).
Then it was up to the Lido deck to check out the buffet and the pool.
As a first day aboard welcome there was a barbecue with strip loin steaks, chicken, and Coho salmon. The salmon was cooked perfectly. Deliciously moist.
After our barbecue it was time to go for a walk-about around the ship to get an idea of the place. The ship is very similar to the Celebrity Century that we were on last year.
Long before we set sail we chose a dinner time of 8pm. Not wanting to be rude, and seeing as we had the reservation, we felt obliged to show up to at least meet our table mates. The menu looked enticing so I ordered the cold asparagus and cheese appetizer. Although it looked tiny on the plate it was a lovely starter.
For a main course, once again I opted for the Coho salmon with a maple glaze. My hunch proved correct and it was cooked perfectly. Moist enough to please and yet cooked enough to reassure me I wasn’t eating a quasi-sushi piece of salmon.
On the plate with the salmon was a small scoop of wasabi-mashed potatoes with a few lonely pieces of broccoli, carrots and green peas in pods. Although there were very few veggies on my plate they were cooked just the way I like them – al dente.
Dessert was, how apropos, Baked Alaska. Nice, but I have to say, not as dramatic as the Baked Alaska my mother makes.
After dinner we went for another walkabout to get a better idea of where what is located.
Now, general observations about the people on the ship; there is no discernible difference between the people on this ship and the people we met on last year’s voyage aboard the Celebrity Century.
We were “warned” that the clientele of Holland America cruises are more of a staid, conservative set. Honestly, I have not found that to be the case. There are young children; I have been told that there are twenty 3-7 year olds and even more 8-12 year olds. Late last night there was a group of approximately 25 teens busting a move on the dance floor to classic tunes like YMCA. We have already chatted with a number of people for whom this is a first cruise experience and others who have cruised to Alaska and the Caribbean with other cruise lines.
First impressions on all aspects of this ship are very positive.