Are you going to be offering pre or post tours. The experience Music
Project in Seattle as well as an Organ recital imediately preceeds your
cruise in Seattle. Also are you aware of the following about the
Westerdam?
Commissioned in 2004, Westerdam is the third and most recent of Holland
America Line's Vista class of ships. She's one of the larger liners
on the ocean, with room for 1,848 passengers and 800 crew. The ship
dotes on her maritime roots, with classic and contemporary art
depicting the romance and tradition of the high seas, particularly the
Dutch influence on the U.S.'s sea-going past. Colors used throughout
reflect sea, shore, and sun, with crisp navy carpets and cherry-wood
railings in elevator areas, dark blue and sandy shades in cabins, and
eye-squinting sunset tones in lounges. Even the brass stools at the
Lido Bar reflect the briny deep -- they are scaly monster fish
reminiscent of the denizens of the seas, announcing "Terra
Incognita" on ancient maps.
Why Westerdam?
Tradition: Westerdam reflects the line's passenger-cruise history
going back to 1873, when iron steamers sailed the Transatlantic. Though
today's cruiser expects a more casual experience, some things
haven't changed. Expect opulent surroundings, classic early and late
seatings, formal nights, and more chocolate at the midnight dessert
extravaganza than anyone needs.
Art: This ship is a floating gallery, with millions spent on
museum-quality art and antiques. A major theme is Dutch exploration of
the Americas in the 17th century. On deck, whimsical watery asides take
over, while in the spa an ancient wine amphora graces a niche in one
wall while medieval-style dolphins frolic beside the water.
Bars and lounges: With a dozen nightly hotspots passengers can choose
from martinis in the forward-facing Crow's Nest atop the ship, cigars
and cognac in the clubby Oak Room, or poolside concoctions at the Sea
View.
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PORTS OF CALL
Seattle, Washington
Seattle has shopping, fine restaurants, attractions galore, good air
service, culture, and a wide range of accommodations-more, in fact,
than you'll be able to take in on just a short pre- or post-cruise
visit. It is very much a water-oriented city, set between Puget Sound
and Lake Washington, with Lake Union in the center. Practically
everywhere you look, the views are of sailboats, cargo ships, ferries,
windsurfers, and anglers.
Juneau, Alaska
Photo: John MacDonald
Juneau's a great town. Fronted by the busy Gastineau Channel and
backed by 3,819-foot Mount Juneau and 3,576-foot Mount Roberts, its
location is beyond picture perfect. But it's the city's quirks we
appreciate, like the fact that it's the capital of the state but is
completely surrounded by water, forest, and the massive Juneau
Icefield, and is therefore unreachable by land. Or the fact that the
whole town lies at the base of a landslide zone, and has numerous
treeless hillsides to prove it. Or that at one time a bull terrier
named Patsy Ann was the official town greeter, trotting down to the
docks whenever a ship came in. (Long dead now, there's a bronze
statue of her in Marine Park.)
Sitka, Alaska
Small ships can thread in through narrow Peril Strait, which separates
Baranof and Chichag of islands, but the big cruise ships have to sail
around Baranof into the open Pacific. This minor inconvenience-and
the fact that Sitka lacks docking facilities for megaships, requiring
that they send passengers ashore in tenders instead-means the town
sees a lot fewer cruise ship visits than Juneau, Ketchikan, and
Skagway. Because of this, it retains a more residential feel than
similar-sized towns in Southeast, and a combination of location,
multicultural heritage, an adaptive economy, and sheer local pride keep
it just plain beautiful to look at, and remarkably little changed since
the old days: Historic photographs bear a remarkable resemblance to
today's city.
Ketchikan, Alaska
Ketchikan sits just north of the Canadian border, and like many border
towns it wears its mercantile heart on its sleeve. They call it
"Alaska's first city" because it's the first port visited on
most northbound cruises, but the way people throng the port area's
gift shops, you'd think it was the last chance they had to use their
credit cards before Judgment Day. Here's our advice: Walk down the
gangway, take three deep breaths, and say to yourself, "I do not need
to shop." Instead, walk right past the shops and head for one of the
town's several totem-pole parks or take an excursion to Misty Fjords.
When you get back you can spend a little time poking around the
galleries and shops on Creek Street.
Victoria, Canada
Cruises that start in Seattle or San Francisco typically visit Victoria
on the way up to Alaska. Located on Vancouver Island, this lovely
little city is the capital of British Columbia, and appropriately so as
it's almost more British than Britain, with gorgeous Victorian
architecture and lovely gardens among its main attractions. Take a tour
around the island and you'll see gorgeous homes, stately government
buildings, and views that include the snowcapped mountains of
Washington State.
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