We chose this cruise for a different experience. Much of Alaska is "untamed" so much there is much natural beauty.. Our cruise actually started in Sydney. We sailed around New Zealand and up to Vancouver where our cruise continued to Alaska.

We have sailed on the Noordam before, two years ago. Compared to that trip, the ship has deteriorated. There was a mechanical problem when we reached the port of Napier. We spent an extra day there for repairs so we missed the ports of Aukland and Bay of Islands. Crossing the ocean, the ship leaked in many areas during a rain. There were soggy floors. They laid out towels (crow's nest and deck 6 hall) to sop some of it up. Our cabin was dry but we spoke with people that had towels on their cabin floor because of the leaks.

Service in the dining room was incredibly slow. Read more