INSIDE PASSAGE, ALASKA – I was born wearing a Hawaiian shirt. I delight in swimming in warm, crystal clear waters in the Caribbean. One of my major goals in life is to spend an entire year in flip flops.
With that in mind, and knowing how much I like to squeeze every ounce out of summer, I was slightly hesitant about taking a cruise to Alaska on Holland America’s Eurodam. I knew I’d enjoy the scenery, but, with autumn closing in, I had visions of missing warm evenings in my little backyard in Toronto.
Well, you can forget about that. I’m a little over halfway into my seven-day Alaska cruise, and my mind is almost entirely fixated on glaciers, glistening spruce trees, towering mountains, not to mention the tremendous rock and roll/rhythm and blues band that’s playing most nights in the Eurodam’s Rolling Stone Lounge.
The trip has been an utter delight. My wife and I are enjoying very good food and drinks, including Pacific Northwest wines. We have a nice room with a large verandah offering tremendous Alaska and British Columbia views and a shockingly powerful shower. The on-board service is impeccable, and I had a relaxing afternoon in the steam rooms and thermal suite earlier in the week.
That’s all fine and good, but it’s the wondrous nature all around me that’s making me forget about the dwindling days of summer on the 2024 calendar.
We couldn’t see Mendenhall Glacier on our visit to Juneau the other day due to a steady, light rain and fog. But a buddy and I managed to get an up-close view of the tremendous power of Nugget Falls. Later that day we spotted dozens of humpback whales in the calm waters outside Juneau.
The next day was Glacier Bay. Only two large cruise ships per day are allowed to visit Margerie Glacier, and the Eurodam was one of them. To say I was gobsmacked by its icy blue beauty is an understatement of epic proportions.
A large part of my final report will focus on the Holland America Fresh Fish program, but I’ll be sure to include lots of nature and Alaskan beauty, and much more about the ship. And the music.
Stay tuned!
