Noordam Alaska Cruise, Glacier Bay
Noordam Alaska Cruise – Vancouver
Getting to your Noordam Holland America Alaska Cruise in Vancouver BC is easy. The Noordam docks at Canada Place right at the Waterfront Canada Line Metro Station in the heart of downtown. The Canada Line runs directly from the Vancouver International Airport to the Waterfront Terminal and costs only a few dollars. You can tap a charge card to ride. The Canada Line is easy to use and inexpensive, so you don’t have to purchase a transfer from your cruise ship company.
False Creek Pathway, Vancouver
We started our Noordam Alaska Cruise with a layover the night before at the River Rock Casino Resort. The River Rock is conveniently located on the Canada Line sky train between the airport and cruise terminal. The hotel is located right beside the Richmond Night Market, which is a great place to enjoy numerous Asian street foods. Bring cash as credit cards are rarely accepted.
Flying Noodles, Richmond Night Market
The next morning for breakfast, we rode the Canada line to the Waterfront Station and walked two blocks to Breka Bakery & Cafe. The bakery has a multitude of impressive options and they were very popular, but also very efficient at serving everyone. After breakfast we rode the Canada Line back to our hotel to check out and then returned again to Waterfront Station to board the Holland America Noordam.
Breka Bakery and Cafe, Vancouver
Vancouver Slide Show
Noordam Stateroom
Our last minute guarantee ocean view cabin was surprisingly pleasant. Stateroom 1008 had a large pull out bed sofa, which made the room quite spacious. Although we were very close to the stage and to the casino, our room was quiet and the ride was very smooth.
Noordam Stern Pool Deck, Vancouver
The staff on the Noordam turned out to be the friendliest I’ve ever experienced in cruising. All cruise ship staff are expected to be friendly to passengers, but the crew on the Noordam were genuine. Saying hello to everyone was fun.
Noordam, Alaska at 1 am
Noordam Dining
The Lido buffet had excellent options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You could also sit at the pool or on the back open deck. The pool area has a hamburger station and a taco station. Inside seating at the Lido was somewhat awkward for couples because of the large number of tables arranged for six.
The formal dining room was a great option too. Service was fast and friendly. You can check your TV screen to see the daily menu.
Noordam Alaska Cruise – Ketchikan
Viki, Saxman Village, Ketchikan
Saxman Village
We had visited Ketchikan twice before, on the Star Princess in 2018 and the HAL Ryndam in 2009. So, this time we didn’t book any tours. I had heard there was a trail along the water from Ketchikan out to the village of Saxman. The trail was easy to find, but unfortunately it ran quite close to the highway where traffic was travelling 45 mph. The highlight was the drive-through coffee shop at the edge of Ketchikan, which we walked through. I don’t recommend hiking out to Saxman Village from Ketchikan, but I do recommend the coffee stop.
Creek Street, Ketchikan
Creek Street
After lunch on board the ship, I returned to Ketchikan to visit Creek Street. The funicular up to Cape Fox Lodge is no longer operating, so I hiked up along the fish ladders and then followed the lovely Ketchikan river to the fish hatchery. The fish hatchery is no longer open to the public, but you can sneak between it and the river to reach the city park, which is a very nice spot. Then I crossed the bridge over the river to the Totem Museum. From there I completed a circle tour back to town. What a pleasant walk.
Ketchikan Slide Show
Saint Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, Juneau
Noordam Alaska Cruise – Juneau
With 12 hours to spend in Juneau, we started off with our own self guided tour. The State Museum was an unexpected gem. The collection included wood carvings, artifacts and a famous Chilkat Blanket. Historic Russian items, early logging industry machinery and even a Japanese World War II canon were on display too.
Chilkat Blanket, Alaska State Museum
Next we hiked up hill to the tiny Russian Orthodox Church. The church wasn’t open, but we were able to peek in the windows. The highlight would have been to see the Lord’s Prayer translated into the Tlingit language.
Juneau Whale Watching, Humpbacks Bubble Net Feeding
Humpback Whale Watching – Juneau
In the afternoon, I decided to repeat a previous excursion with Juneau Tours by going whale watching in Auke Bay again. On my previous visit in 2018 a large pod of killer whales was the unexpected attraction. This time I was hoping to see more humpback whales instead and I wasn’t disappointed.
Humpback Bubble Net Feeding
We found a group of eight humpbacks who were bubble net feeding, which was a unique experience since most humpback whales in Juneau do not bubble net feed. Two whales dive deep and create rings of bubbles underneath a school of herring. The entire group of whales then chase the bubble encircled herring to the surface. When they reach the surface, the whales open their mouths and consume the herring school. What a lucky sight to see.
Juneau Humpbacks Bubble Net Feeding
Juneau Slide Show
Lynn Canal, Skagway
Skagway Main Street 2023
Noordam Alaska Cruise – Skagway
Our next stop in Skagway provided us with another 12 hour day in port. The weather was sunny and warm, which is a rarity in Skagway. We started out on a self guided tour along Main Street, passing the Red Onion Saloon and the historic buildings preserved from the 1899 gold rush.
White Pass and Yukon Route Railway
In the afternoon we booked a White Pass and Yukon Trail Railway excursion to the border crossing at Fraser in the Yukon. Since there were only 3 cruise ships in port that day instead of 6, all the rail cars were half empty. You could easily step outside the carriages onto small platforms between the rail cars to enjoy the ride.
Skagway River from White Pass Train
The rail car platform views are incredible as you look down past your own feet to valleys and creeks flowing right underneath the train. I spent almost the entire trip standing outside the rail car on the platform. You can even stand outside through two tunnels, which leave you clutching the rail in total darkness as you wonder when you’ll ever see anything again.
White Pass Abandoned Trestle
At the top of the pass, the vegetation turns to meadows and blue lakes set against snowfields on mountains. The Yukon was mesmerizing. All too soon it was time to return to Alaska on a bus waiting to take us back down to our ship in Skagway. Such a wonderful day.
Skagway Slide Show
Noordam Alaska Cruise – Glacier Bay
Margerie Glacier, Alaska
Our day cruising through Glacier Bay was delayed a couple of hours due to the medical evacuation of a passenger. Eventually a life boat was used to transport the passenger to the Glacier Bay ranger station and then our journey continued.
Wildlife isn’t as common as you might expect in Glacier Bay. A few sea otters, a couple of mountain goats and lots of Black Legged Kittywakes in the wake of our ship rounded out the wildlife experience.
Glacier Bay Mountain Range View
The most impressive part for me are the high towering, glacier filled peaks forming the western edge of the bay. The Marjorie Glacier was beautiful in the bright sunshine. The glacier decided not to do any calving this day, but we did enjoy the “white thunder” sounds of the ice moving a couple of times.
I’m always surprised when I’m reminded that when Captain Vancouver sailed past in 1794, Glacier Bay didn’t exist. At that time, ice completely filled the bay. By the time that John Muir visited in 1879, he noted the ice had retreated 48 miles and created Glacier Bay. By 1916 the Grand Pacific Glacier had retreated 65 miles.
Glacier Bay Slide Show
College Fjord – Smith, Bryn Mawr, Harvard Glaciers
College Fjord, Bryn Mawr Glacier
Noordam Alaska Cruise – College Fjord
Our late evening journey down the College Fjord was obscured in rain and mist. Even so, you get so close to the glaciers in College Fjord that the experience is impressive. First we passed two hanging glaciers. Then we saw the undulating layers of the Bryn Mawr Glacier and the ribbon of spires of the Smith Glacier. The Harvard Glacier is impressive as it fills the entire end of College Fjord. The Harvard Glacier is three times as wide as the Margerie Glacier in Glacier Bay. We got the chance to view the Harvard Glacier up close and personal for a half hour. The ice made lots of noise and we enjoyed the glacier calving several times. The onboard guide explained that glacier calving is more common when it’s raining because the rain water creates a wedge into the ice that causes more calving.
Viki, Tim, College Fjord, Harvard Glacier
Whittier
In the morning we finished our Noordam Alaska Cruise with a bus ride through a 2.5 mile one way tunnel. The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel was built by the military during World War II and the single lane is now shared by cars and trains. Our bus then followed the Seward Highway along Cook Inlet to reach the airport in Anchorage.
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