Alaska Revisited with a Fresh View - Day 3

Day 3

Day 3 on the Konigsdam started with a lovely room service continental breakfast served with fresh coffee on beautiful Delft china. The Dutch overtones with HAL are one of my favorite elements of this cruise line and it appears in all aspects of the service onboard including something as simple as room service.

It was overcast and very crisp when I got up around 0630 and we were surrounded by mist covered mountains. The journey thus far was very calm with little sea induced motion. I’m not one to suffer from seasickness and actually enjoy the sway of the ship immensely – sleep like a baby when it’s rocking – so was ready for a change in the movement to come at any time. The captain announced about mid-day that we would feel a change in the seas overnight as we caught up time from our late departure from Vancouver. He was completely correct in that prediction as it was pretty choppy from about 10:30 pm to about 3:30 am. It’s definitely something to note if you have a tendency to motion sickness – put a patch on maybe the morning of the 2^nd to prevent seasickness.

After a nice hot shower in the very spacious shower, I headed to our FAM (familiarization) training with our Holland America (HAL) Business Development Manager/Hostess, Ann Hall. We spent the morning learning more about the Alaska products that HAL offers particularly the land/cruise options for a fully immersive experience of Alaska. Did you know that HAL has it’s own lodge in Denali? She also covered the other itineraries that HAL offers all across the globe, the Collectors Voyages, and the Grand Voyages which offer lifetime experiences of all lengths for clients.

Once we wrapped up the training, I headed to an EXC (Explorations Central) talk on Pacific Giants – The Whales of Alaska where I learned a significant amount about humpback and killer whales from Naturalist John who is onboard all week presenting nature presentations and wildlife sighting times. One of the unique elements of HAL is their commitment to making the Alaska experience as immersive and comprehensive as possible for guests of all ages. They have sailed Alaska for 75 years – longer than Alaska has been a state! – so are truly subject matter experts for sailing the Alaska itineraries which is one of the main reasons I chose to do this trip with HAL.

I opted for a quick lunch in the Lido Market and tried a couple things outside my normal lunchtime purview. Instead of the sandwich, fruit, and salad option, I had fresh sushi, an Asian salad with seared tuna, and Chicken Masala. All delicious and definitely a great choice to fuel the afternoon. Service was quick, my lemonade was fresh, and I beat the crowds which trickled in around 12:30 and there really are food options for even the most discerning palate to enjoy.

After lunch, I headed to watch another EXC presentation with naturalist John called Wild Alaska. This presentation was a thorough overview of the different wildlife we could expect to see on our Alaska journey including Black & brown bears, moose, whales, bald eagles, and other types of birds. John’s knowledge of the wildlife indigenous to this area was impressive and his passion with sharing that knowledge with the passengers on board was very keen. For a person who may not be very familiar with Alaska and the wildlife, these EXC presentations are truly a great way to not only increase your knowledge but also to build excitement of what is to come as you travel through the Passage and dock at your first port.

Since all work and no play can make a voyage dull, I signed up for a Mixology class that was held in my favorite location on the ship – the Crow’s Nest. About ten passengers gathered around the Crow’s Nest Bar and we were led by Archie, the head bartender/mixologist, through the intricacies of making a true cocktail. We made a Cosmopolitan, a Metropolitan, and two variations of a Manhattan which we enjoyed during the class. Other classes offered were a wine blending, wine pairing, and a bourbon tasting at different location around the ship.

It was formal night so after the Mixology class, it was time to get ready for the evening. I packed for comfort so no high heels for me but I did put on a maxi dress with a coverlet. The attire for formal night was recommended to be dress for women and slacks, jacket, and tie for gentleman. However, I saw a wide variety of dress in the main dining room and around the ship from true gala evening attire to very casual outfits. I did not feel under or over dressed and enjoyed a lovely diner in Main Dining with some new table mates who were great conversationalists which made for a pleasant meal and evening.

After dinner, I made my way to the cabin and retired for the evening. Nothing sleeps quite like the gentle rocking of the ship and a nice fluffy down pillow. The cabins are definitely very comfortable and my cabin steward has been terrific – stealth and thorough in his servicing the cabin. Impeccable service all over the ship has made the first two days of this trip amazing. HAL is quickly becoming my favorite cruise line.

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