When people think of multigenerational cruising, they usually picture an experience passed down from parents to children, or grandparents to grandchildren. But what if it’s the parents who have not yet experienced a product or a destination? That was the case with my in-laws, providing a prime opportunity for my wife and I to share with them our favorite form of travel: a cruise.
For my 192nd, and my wife’s 32nd — and Alex and Dan’s first-ever — cruise, we chose to sail on Holland America Line’s Koningsdam. The line was fresh off its historic 150th anniversary, and is a mainstay in the wondrous wilds of Alaska, our destination.
The author (second from right) and his family.
Credit: 2023 Heidi Leppert
It just so happens that my mother-in-law is a second cousin of Wayne Short, the author of “The Cheechakoes,” a memoir of his family’s homesteading in Alaska in the 1940s. So, The Last Frontier had already piqued her interest, and she always felt destined to visit herself.
Onboard Koningsdam
Taking up residence for the weeklong voyage, which sailed roundtrip from Vancouver, British Columbia, both couples enjoyed adjacent Vista Suites. Although not in connecting cabins, per se, we were able to open the divider between our balconies for what we playfully dubbed “MegaDeck” — a double-wide veranda that we frequented for taking in the passing scenery.
With adjoining Vista Suites, guests can double their balcony space.
Credit: 2023 Holland America LineHaving prepared by seeing their fair share of YouTube videos covering Koningsdam, Alex and Dan did not need much of a tour to familiarize themselves with the ship. But once onboard, I was reminded of how daunting a cruise can be to the uninitiated — the in-laws were impressed, but also overwhelmed. Travel advisors should be aware that an abundance of choice, although amazing, can be a lot for newcomers to navigate. Still, it was not long before they had their sea legs.
As we dined at Pinnacle Grill on the first evening to celebrate my in-laws’ wedding anniversary, they were immediately wowed by the culinary experience, as the steakhouse meal was one of the fanciest of their lives. And the Grand Dutch Cafe quickly became a favorite casual spot during the day. Dan was tickled by the simple pleasure of having free cookies at his disposal, and the Bossche bol, (essentially, a giant eclair), was the preferred treat for my mother-in-law, as well as my wife. Later on, the couple was blown away by the French seafood specialties at Rudi’s Sel de Mer.
More often than not, though, Dan is a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy — somewhat intimidated by ordering gourmet food — so the Lido Market buffet was perfect for him, as was the Dive In poolside outlet for burgers and hot dogs. In fact, on the last evening, we gathered dishes from the buffet, the burger joint and New York Deli & Pizza to bring back to our MegaDeck for a lovely alfresco send-off.
Onshore Options in Alaska
Alaska itself was a huge highlight, of course, and my wife and I made a point of picking out classic shore excursions for an overview of the region. Since Dan is a Jeep aficionado, we rented one in Juneau for half the day to visit the magnificent Mendenhall Glacier, the serene National Shrine of St. Therese chapel and Douglas Island. On a whale-watching boat ride, we witnessed the greatest humpback bubble-net feeding display I have ever seen.
The next day, Glacier Bay was incredible to view from our MegaDeck, and the wives later caught a glimpse of Margerie Glacier calving from Koningsdam’s wraparound promenade deck. Alex also loved getting her “Passport to Your Natural Parks” book filled with stamps from a national park ranger right on the ship — one of the rewards of Holland America’s “Alaska Up Close” programming.
The White Pass & Yukon Route Railway was a highlight in Skagway. In Ketchikan, after Alex and Dan took a totem pole park and city bus tour, they met up with us to see the town’s signature Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show, which is still a hoot to this day.
Grand Dutch Cafe is popular for grabbing a snack throughout the day.
Credit: 2023 Holland America LineBack onboard, Holland America’s exceptional regional programming further extended to a delicious “Taste Alaska” brunch in the main restaurant, featuring everything from salmon and potato chowder in a bread bowl to biscuits and gravy with reindeer sausage. We also enjoyed cool cocktails chilled by genuine glacial ice in the Ocean Bar.
The live Music Walk is a must-see for all guests, and Alex and Dan especially enjoyed the talented B.B. King’s Blues Club band. But we were all a bit disappointed to see that the Lincoln Center Stage was not offered on our sailing, as I know my mother-in-law would have loved its chamber music, as well.
Nonetheless, “I’m having the time of my life” was a common refrain throughout the voyage. Alex and Dan are now contemplating their next sailing, which just goes to show that it’s never too late to take one’s first cruise — and be wowed by it.
