A week in Alaska

By Zarina Patel, University of Toronto, Canada

With signs of summer starting to emerge in Toronto after the Canadian winter, what better way to round-off an amazing exchange year than to dust off our SuperPuffs and layer up again for Alaska!

Going to the Last Frontier has been a lifelong dream of mine. I can confirm it did not disappoint. I went with my fellow UoM exchange student, Toronto flatmate and travel buddy. We opted for an adult-only 7-day Holland America cruise, and couldn’t recommend it enough. Here is a quick recap of how our week went, creating memories cruising around Alaska on Ms. Zaandam.

Day 1: Departure from Vancouver

We went through US Customs and departed from Vancouver Place at around 4pm. After attending the relevant health and safety briefings on the ship, we explored and got ready for dinner. The cruise ran a ‘Young Adult’ meet up, so we met others aged 18-30 on the ship!

Day 2: Scenic Cruising The Inside Passage

Day at sea, making the most of the inclusive buffets and luxury restaurants onboard. We even experienced a Dutch afternoon tea! There were lots of activities to choose from; we opted for a modern brush lettering class which was great fun. Then, it was formal night on the ship. After enjoying a delicious Alaskan salmon dinner dish, it was a great evening spent at Deck 5’s Ocean Bar having a boogie with the live Jazz band.

Day 3: Juneau

After a morning talk on the ship’s World Stage from Glacier Bay experts, we excitedly headed off the ship and took a local bus to Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls. It was absolutely breathtaking! We then had a lovely wander around Juneau, finding the Alaska State Capitol building and the infamous bear statue (not the one pictured). Browsing in souvenir shops was such fun. To accompany the many free charms we had collected from the millions of jewellers, we of course had to buy matching t-shirts. Lastly, we couldn’t leave Juneau without visiting Tracy’s King Crab Shack – 10/10 experience. The crab and unlimited buttery bread rolls were incredible; WOW!

We watched the gorgeous sunset from the top deck. Then an announcement was made on the tannoy confirming that the Northern Lights would be soon visible. Despite the below-freezing temperatures, most of the ship congregated on the upper decks to share this special moment. I never in a million years could have predicted that my first time seeing the Northern Lights would be over the idyllic Alaska – core memory created!

Day 4: Skagway

First, we had a nice wander around Skagway, popping into souvenir shops and the free Corrington Museum of Alaskan History. Skagway is known for its role during the Klondike Gold Rush.

We booked a round-trip journey on the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad, on a replica vintage rail car to the summit of the White Pass. No words could describe how breathtaking these views were! The guide announced all the points of interest whilst telling the story of the Klondike Gold Rush. You could stand outside on platforms at the end of each carriage. We were even lucky enough to see a bear! After the railway experience, we queued for the infamous Klondike Doughboy, an Alaskan fried bread (i.e. flat doughnut). We then headed back to the ship and watched the evening entertainment of a dance production.

Day 5: Cruising through Glacier Bay

We cruised through Glacier Bay National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), pausing at the mile-wide radiant-blue Margerie Glacier to witness the dramatic ice calving of the glacier. Park rangers and a local Huna Tlingit guide gave a talk giving expert insight into this diverse ecosystem and millennia-old culture. It was such an educational and culturally-enriching presentation, teaching us so much about Alaskan culture. The views all day were awe-inspiring. Later on, it was the second and final dressy night on the ship, so we made fun TikToks and got some great pictures up on the deck. Also, we had a great laugh with the official cruise photographer in our formal outfit photoshoot!

Day 6: Ketchikan

Having docked with our window right in front of the “Welcome to Ketchikan” sign, we headed off the ship to the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show, which was hilariously American and strangely entertaining. Not letting the rain dampen our spirits, we wandered around the town and along Creek Street. After dinner, we reunited with the other young people on the ship and danced the night away at Holland America Orange Party.

Day 7: Scenic Cruising

Day at sea!

Day 8: Arrival back at Vancouver