Holland America Maasdam Three Week Alaska/PNW May 2019
Jun 16th, 2019, 03:00 PM
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,406
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
janisj,
Being on the bow was great for photography. Last year we had access to the bow through the New Zealand sounds. I haven't sailed on any other HAL ship but I believe they all do this in scenic areas, weather permitting.
Kathie,
What's your itinerary?
Being on the bow was great for photography. Last year we had access to the bow through the New Zealand sounds. I haven't sailed on any other HAL ship but I believe they all do this in scenic areas, weather permitting.
Kathie,
What's your itinerary?
Jun 16th, 2019, 03:16 PM
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,406
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
May 21st Wrangell
Today was our final port in Alaska. We docked a little earlier than the scheduled time of 8am and our departure time was changed from 5pm to 4pm so that all aboard was now at 3:30pm. There was a sign by the gangway and crew members made sure to repeat it to each guest as we were being scanned off.
Sunny and 70 degrees was the forecast so we make a beeline for the Mt Dewey Trail https://www.wrangell.com/visitorservices/mt-dewey-trail as coming from the cool, damp part of CA that's hot to us. The short trail is mostly steps, another passenger counted 420, up to a viewing platform overlooking town. This place had the thickest mosquitoes so far so we stopped just long enough to take a quick photo at the top before hurrying back down.
Top of Mt Dewey
Next we walked to Petroglyph Beach https://www.wrangell.com/visitorserv...-historic-park We found a few petroglyphs but again didn't stay long as in addition to mosquitoes there were no-see-ums here.
We headed for Shakes Island https://www.wrangell.com/visitorserv...s-tribal-house where there's a replica tribal house. The island is connected by a pedestrian bridge and thankfully a breeze had picked up by this point. Everyone from the ship seems to be making the same route. This is the least touristy town on our itinerary and we've just increased their population by 50%.
Our final stop was the Wrangell Museum https://www.wrangell.com/visitorservices/about-museum which had a small but interesting collection related to the history of the area.
Back onboard we had lunch on the aft deck and then sunned ourselves by the pool.
Wrangell as we sailed away
Today was our final port in Alaska. We docked a little earlier than the scheduled time of 8am and our departure time was changed from 5pm to 4pm so that all aboard was now at 3:30pm. There was a sign by the gangway and crew members made sure to repeat it to each guest as we were being scanned off.
Sunny and 70 degrees was the forecast so we make a beeline for the Mt Dewey Trail https://www.wrangell.com/visitorservices/mt-dewey-trail as coming from the cool, damp part of CA that's hot to us. The short trail is mostly steps, another passenger counted 420, up to a viewing platform overlooking town. This place had the thickest mosquitoes so far so we stopped just long enough to take a quick photo at the top before hurrying back down.
Top of Mt Dewey
Next we walked to Petroglyph Beach https://www.wrangell.com/visitorserv...-historic-park We found a few petroglyphs but again didn't stay long as in addition to mosquitoes there were no-see-ums here.
We headed for Shakes Island https://www.wrangell.com/visitorserv...s-tribal-house where there's a replica tribal house. The island is connected by a pedestrian bridge and thankfully a breeze had picked up by this point. Everyone from the ship seems to be making the same route. This is the least touristy town on our itinerary and we've just increased their population by 50%.
Our final stop was the Wrangell Museum https://www.wrangell.com/visitorservices/about-museum which had a small but interesting collection related to the history of the area.
Back onboard we had lunch on the aft deck and then sunned ourselves by the pool.
Wrangell as we sailed away
Jun 16th, 2019, 03:41 PM
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,406
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
May 22nd Inside Passage
The day started out foggy but cleared by afternoon. A few people were grumbling but I actually think the fog is beautiful. We saw some more Dall's porpoises but their speed makes them nearly impossible to photograph. This was also a good ship watching day.
Volendam
Campbell River
Island Princess
The day started out foggy but cleared by afternoon. A few people were grumbling but I actually think the fog is beautiful. We saw some more Dall's porpoises but their speed makes them nearly impossible to photograph. This was also a good ship watching day.
Volendam
Campbell River
Island Princess
Jun 17th, 2019, 08:08 AM
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,406
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks, everyone!
May 23rd Vancouver
I tried to wake up early but missed our sail in. Vancouver is such a beautiful city. We docked at Canada Place at 8am which was quite the maze to find our way out of. We had no particular agenda today since we've been here a few times. High on our list was to find some food we couldn't get on the ship but first we walked along the waterfront to Stanley Park https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreatio...nley-park.aspx
After our stroll through the park, we headed back to the ship so I could change into something lighter. It's sunny and 70. I think it was a 20 minute walk just to get in and out of Canada Place again. For lunch we headed to Miku https://mikurestaurant.com/ located in an office building nearby. The place was packed but we didn't have to wait long for a seat at the bar. We shared their lunch bento with an extra order of aburi oshi salmon and a green tea opera for dessert. I still dream about the salmon.
Our afternoon was spent by the pool again. We're docked until 11pm and debated going out for dinner but found ourselves enjoying the nearly empty ship instead. Our favorite quartet https://www.facebook.com/pg/jeremywongvocals/ was playing in the Ocean Bar. They were all students from Capilano University so had their families onboard for the evening. It was very cute.
May 23rd Vancouver
I tried to wake up early but missed our sail in. Vancouver is such a beautiful city. We docked at Canada Place at 8am which was quite the maze to find our way out of. We had no particular agenda today since we've been here a few times. High on our list was to find some food we couldn't get on the ship but first we walked along the waterfront to Stanley Park https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreatio...nley-park.aspx
After our stroll through the park, we headed back to the ship so I could change into something lighter. It's sunny and 70. I think it was a 20 minute walk just to get in and out of Canada Place again. For lunch we headed to Miku https://mikurestaurant.com/ located in an office building nearby. The place was packed but we didn't have to wait long for a seat at the bar. We shared their lunch bento with an extra order of aburi oshi salmon and a green tea opera for dessert. I still dream about the salmon.
Our afternoon was spent by the pool again. We're docked until 11pm and debated going out for dinner but found ourselves enjoying the nearly empty ship instead. Our favorite quartet https://www.facebook.com/pg/jeremywongvocals/ was playing in the Ocean Bar. They were all students from Capilano University so had their families onboard for the evening. It was very cute.
Last edited by Patty; Jun 17th, 2019 at 08:14 AM.
Jun 17th, 2019, 10:33 AM
#28
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,406
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
May 24th Victoria
At 8am we docked next to Grand Princess at Ogden Point about a mile from the Inner Harbour. Victoria was another place we'd been to previously so guess what our goal is?
We walked along the waterfront via Fisherman's Wharf and the float home community. It's cool and overcast and looked like it might rain but never did. We wandered around downtown and shopped at MEC, the equivalent of REI, where we're now members for life.
In case you missed the huge ships
Hunger brought us to Chinatown where we had a delicious spot prawn & pork belly ramen and trio of baos at the aptly named Bao https://baovictoria.webs.com/ That was followed up with ice cream cones from Kid Sister Kid Sister Ice Cream We then wandered through Victoria Public Market but were too full to eat anything else.
Fan Tan Alley
Back onboard we watched the sailaway and then spent a good amount of time on deck as we discovered that we could pick up an AT&T signal from the port side as we sailed toward Port Alberni!
At 8am we docked next to Grand Princess at Ogden Point about a mile from the Inner Harbour. Victoria was another place we'd been to previously so guess what our goal is?
We walked along the waterfront via Fisherman's Wharf and the float home community. It's cool and overcast and looked like it might rain but never did. We wandered around downtown and shopped at MEC, the equivalent of REI, where we're now members for life.
In case you missed the huge ships
Hunger brought us to Chinatown where we had a delicious spot prawn & pork belly ramen and trio of baos at the aptly named Bao https://baovictoria.webs.com/ That was followed up with ice cream cones from Kid Sister Kid Sister Ice Cream We then wandered through Victoria Public Market but were too full to eat anything else.
Fan Tan Alley
Back onboard we watched the sailaway and then spent a good amount of time on deck as we discovered that we could pick up an AT&T signal from the port side as we sailed toward Port Alberni!
Jun 17th, 2019, 12:13 PM
#29
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,406
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
May 25th Port Alberni
Port Alberni was our only other tender port and we were anchoring at 8am. We decided to queue for tickets at 7:30am before any announcements were made. Chairs were placed outside of the Ocean Bar specifically for this purpose. We ended up with #3 tickets and were ashore before 8:30am. The last time a cruise ship was in Port Alberni was in 2013 so the town is having a festival today including a dock side market with live music and food vendors. We had a car reserved with Budget and were planning to walk to their office but found their shuttle waiting at the dock. Our first stop was Cathedral Grove MacMillan Provincial Park - BC Parks where we hiked the short loops on both sides of the highway. There were towering firs and cedars as well as many downed trees and trail damage. It reminded me of Point Lobos after winter.
We were headed to another provincial park when it started raining so made a stop at the Old Country Market in Coombs https://oldcountrymarket.com/ This place had quite a collection of items. We had a snack at the bakery, got the obligatory goat t-shirt and waited out the rain.
Market goats
Once the rain stopped, we headed to Englishman River Falls Englishman River Falls Provincial Park - BC Parks This park was quite stunning as well, had fewer people and lots of cool slugs.
We returned our car in the afternoon, got a shuttle ride back to the dock, perused the market and listened to music before boarding a tender back to the ship.
Alberni Inlet
Port Alberni was our only other tender port and we were anchoring at 8am. We decided to queue for tickets at 7:30am before any announcements were made. Chairs were placed outside of the Ocean Bar specifically for this purpose. We ended up with #3 tickets and were ashore before 8:30am. The last time a cruise ship was in Port Alberni was in 2013 so the town is having a festival today including a dock side market with live music and food vendors. We had a car reserved with Budget and were planning to walk to their office but found their shuttle waiting at the dock. Our first stop was Cathedral Grove MacMillan Provincial Park - BC Parks where we hiked the short loops on both sides of the highway. There were towering firs and cedars as well as many downed trees and trail damage. It reminded me of Point Lobos after winter.
We were headed to another provincial park when it started raining so made a stop at the Old Country Market in Coombs https://oldcountrymarket.com/ This place had quite a collection of items. We had a snack at the bakery, got the obligatory goat t-shirt and waited out the rain.
Market goats
Once the rain stopped, we headed to Englishman River Falls Englishman River Falls Provincial Park - BC Parks This park was quite stunning as well, had fewer people and lots of cool slugs.
We returned our car in the afternoon, got a shuttle ride back to the dock, perused the market and listened to music before boarding a tender back to the ship.
Alberni Inlet
Jun 17th, 2019, 02:18 PM
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,406
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
May 26th Astoria
I was hoping to catch us entering the Columbia River but again didn't wake up in time. We docked at the pier on the west end of Astoria at 8am. All passengers had to clear US immigration onboard before leaving the ship. Passengers were supposed to appear by deck number but since the start time was delayed it became more of a free for all. We were cleared and off of the ship by 9:30am. We walked along the waterfront as far as the maritime museum and then browsed and wine tasted at the Sunday market https://www.astoriasundaymarket.com/ Had the weather been cooler we would've climbed the Astoria Column but the temperature felt more suitable for sipping rose
We had a progressive lunch consisting of Willapa Bay osyters at South Bay Wild Fish South Bay Wild pork belly okonomiyaki at Busu https://www.facebook.com/BusuAstoria/ which was just a counter on the sidewalk with 4 seats followed by ice cream cones at Frite & Scoop https://www.friteandscoop.com/ We didn't think Astoria was very busy considering it was a holiday weekend but local kids said it was the longest ice cream line they'd seen.
We spent some time on deck hoping to see gray whales and to our surprise spotted a pod of 5 orcas instead. They were moving pretty quickly and we were moving quickly in the other direction but one of them breached and we got a tail fluke as well. No one else was on deck to share the excitement with but what a way to cap off the trip!
I was hoping to catch us entering the Columbia River but again didn't wake up in time. We docked at the pier on the west end of Astoria at 8am. All passengers had to clear US immigration onboard before leaving the ship. Passengers were supposed to appear by deck number but since the start time was delayed it became more of a free for all. We were cleared and off of the ship by 9:30am. We walked along the waterfront as far as the maritime museum and then browsed and wine tasted at the Sunday market https://www.astoriasundaymarket.com/ Had the weather been cooler we would've climbed the Astoria Column but the temperature felt more suitable for sipping rose
We had a progressive lunch consisting of Willapa Bay osyters at South Bay Wild Fish South Bay Wild pork belly okonomiyaki at Busu https://www.facebook.com/BusuAstoria/ which was just a counter on the sidewalk with 4 seats followed by ice cream cones at Frite & Scoop https://www.friteandscoop.com/ We didn't think Astoria was very busy considering it was a holiday weekend but local kids said it was the longest ice cream line they'd seen.
We spent some time on deck hoping to see gray whales and to our surprise spotted a pod of 5 orcas instead. They were moving pretty quickly and we were moving quickly in the other direction but one of them breached and we got a tail fluke as well. No one else was on deck to share the excitement with but what a way to cap off the trip!
Jun 17th, 2019, 02:35 PM
#31
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,406
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
May 27th At Sea
Today was gray and drizzling though no one cared at this point. We went to a presentation on evolution and just relaxed around the ship.
May 28th San Francisco Pier 27
I managed to get up before sunrise and watch our sail in under the Golden Gate Bridge. We docked at Pier 27 which is the main cruise terminal at 7am but we were in no hurry so went to breakfast and then packed. Since we only had carry ons we could disembark any time so we walked off just before 9am, headed to the Ferry Building for a ferry back to Jack London, picked up our car and were home before 1pm. Couldn't have been easier!
Thanks for following along!
Today was gray and drizzling though no one cared at this point. We went to a presentation on evolution and just relaxed around the ship.
May 28th San Francisco Pier 27
I managed to get up before sunrise and watch our sail in under the Golden Gate Bridge. We docked at Pier 27 which is the main cruise terminal at 7am but we were in no hurry so went to breakfast and then packed. Since we only had carry ons we could disembark any time so we walked off just before 9am, headed to the Ferry Building for a ferry back to Jack London, picked up our car and were home before 1pm. Couldn't have been easier!
Thanks for following along!
Last edited by Patty; Jun 17th, 2019 at 02:41 PM.
Jun 17th, 2019, 06:32 PM
#32
Great trip report! And photos! As a whole, it looks like you had good weather.
Homer is the only place you went that I have been to and the rental car was pretty comical.
But the food in Homer is great. And your food pics (oysters!) look delicious.
Thanks for sharing with us! Love the porcupine. And the wolverine. Which is ridiculous, btw.
Homer is the only place you went that I have been to and the rental car was pretty comical.
But the food in Homer is great. And your food pics (oysters!) look delicious.Thanks for sharing with us! Love the porcupine. And the wolverine. Which is ridiculous, btw.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
nyc2616
Cruises
3
Aug 29th, 2016 04:01 AM
