To-dos on a cruise to Alaska aboard Holland America’s Eurodam

Holland America Line continues to build an immersive program that showcases Alaska in all its splendor and majesty. Six of their ships explore Alaska, each offering different voyages and onboard amenities. All their ships are created uniquely! Research is required to pick the best ship and itinerary for your timeframe and wallet. But you can’t go wrong! They all bring Alaska to your balcony.

I boarded the Eurodam in September, toward the end of the season. It was a seven-day Alaska Explorer cruise that docked from and returned to Seattle, Washington. Highlights included Stephens Passage and Glacier Bay National Park—spectacular! 

Here is my to-do list onboard the Eurodam. Take note–there are so many ways to craft your experience that your list could be entirely different. That makes HAL (Holland America) an excellent cruise line: you can make your cruise… your own. 

Do meet up at the Rolling Stone Lounge

HAL is known for its outstanding live music. Its Pinnacle Class ships feature the “Music Walk,” which includes B.B. King’s Blues Club, among others. The Eurodam had favorites like the Rolling Stone Lounge and Billboard Onboard.  

I met my husband in the Rolling Stone Lounge on the first night, and we went every night after that. The band had a great range. They could play everything from Gladis Night and the Pips to Jimmy Hendrix (my hubby’s favorite) to Hall and Oats (my favorite) to Jimmy Buffet.

What cruisers lacked in rhythm, they made up for in enthusiasm! Nightly, the Rolling Stone Lounge rocked the ship. The dance floor was a judgment-free zone where everyone was all in to have a good time. 

Don’t miss the Alaska Port Profiles

Go to the Alaska Port Profiles on the first day at the World Stage. If you miss that, watch them on TV in your room. We watched the Port Profiles for each port as we approached the port. Seeing them at once on the big screen the first day is a better approach. 

Do or don’t? The unlimited class pass

The unlimited class pass gives you access to all the exercise classes at the gym. The value of this depends on the fitness staff on each boat. On this cruise, I found the classes to be basic and boring. However, I’ve done this on other Holland cruises and found it was quite the opposite. I recommend trying a few free classes before opting in for the pass. 

Additionally, if you prefer doing your own thing with weights and machines, the gym is fabulous—the view is even better! 

Do take advantage of learning opportunities

My husband dipped into the Thai Chi class several times during the trip. While he isn’t a beginner, a few cruisers were, and the instructor did a great job of catering to a class with mixed abilities. 

Holland has an official partnership with the Pickle Ball Association. I learned how to serve, score, and generally play while on board. It’s a great way to meet other cruisers and enjoy a game while you float past jaw-dropping scenery. 

The offerings are almost endless. Take a Modern Brush Lettering class in the Art Studio, meet up for a Mah Jongg game in the Crows Nest, see how to make a Barbeque Salmon Bowl from the ship’s chef, learn about artists Peter Max or Thomas Kinkade, get your groove on in a line dancing class.

Do: It’s a must! Go to “We Love Alaska” spotlights

Each day aboard the Eurodam, there was a We Love (in the shape of a heart) Alaska offering. These generally took place on the World Stage, and in under an hour, you learned something about Alaska, its heritage, history, food, wildlife, ports, and native people. Taking advantage of “We Love Alaska” experiences breathes depth into your trip and gives you a sense of place that is beyond the ship.

Do sign up for specialty dining that speaks to your palette

We love creative Asian food, so we made sure to eat at Tamarind, known for its Pan-Asian Cuisine. The meal was a mix of artisanally plated dishes, colorful and vibrant. Fancy cocktails from Master Mixologist Dale Degroff kicked off an extraordinary dining experience.  

The value of the onboard restaurants is exceptional. For a reasonable upcharge, you get a dining experience outside of the main dining room, which often features more interesting food and bespoke service. It’s worth it! 

Room service? Yes, please!

At the beginning of your cruise, let your steward know that you’d like turn down service. Having a nightly turndown is a five-star luxury experience, and it can be yours at no extra charge, so why not?! 

The same goes for room service. Fill out your preferences card for breakfast, and a lovely tray will be brought to you the next morning. Sip your coffee while Alaska’s beauty passes by. 

Song, dance, comedy: Do see a show on the World Stage

Hyperion Knight (yes, his real name) was onthe World Stage a few nights during our cruise. His acerbic delivery was amusing, and his show was educational and entertaining. Hyperion explained how different musical genres connect and overlap. I didn’t know that Rachmaninoff was considered the most difficult composer to play or that he had fled Russia to Hollywood. With sometimes disjointed and amusing background slides of far-off places accompanying his world-class piano playing (think Liberace), I was educated, tickled, and charmed. And that is just mentioning one performer. The World Stage had song, dance, and comedy shows nightly. 

Need more time for your to-do list? Holland America offers 14-day and 28-day cruises as well

This is just a smattering of what a Holland America Alaskan cruise has to offer. If you’re a foodie, there are so many dining experiences to dig into–Dutch Tea to Nami Sushi to Alaska Sea Boil. If you dream of winning a ping pong tournament, get to the Lido deck and have some fun while seeing whales spout alongside the boat.

For the purposes of this article, I focused on the Eurodam ship. But extraordinary excursions from all the HAL ships abound, and taking advantage of those lets you live your Alaska explorers’ fantasy. 

“We continue to build an Alaska program that is unlike any other in the industry, that is deeply immersive, putting a spotlight on all the splendor that brings cruisers to Alaska,” said Dan Rough, vice president of revenue management for Holland America Line. “Whether it’s talking to a park ranger while observing a glacier calve in Glacier Bay, joining a whale-watching tour or enjoying the freshest local fish that was just brought on board, we want our guests to return home from vacation feeling inspired.”  

We returned from our Alaska Explorer cruise with thousands of photos. No matter what we were doing on the ship, there was always the view beyond–the sunrise through the islands, the moon on the water, the massive wake of the boat as we left glaciers in the distance, the glaciers, whales, sea otters, bald eagles. Yes, we felt inspired… and humbled by Alaska’s beauty and Mother Nature. 

Cathie Arquilla

Cathie Arquilla is a travel writer from New York City. When she’s not traveling, she helps women look their best as a NYC fashion stylist.