Full review and photos coming shortly, but overall we had a great time. It had been several years since we had been on HAL but food and service were great. Everyone had a good time and the first time cruisers in the group were really impressed with HAL.

Here are some phottos from the trip. Post any questions and I will try to answer. I will post again when full review is online.

Swiss Alaska Inn in Talkeetna where we stayed prior to cruise:

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Climber's memorial in Talkeetna for climbers that have died on Denali/Mt. McKinley

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Giant Baroque-style Dutch pipe organ in Atrium of Zaandam. Hard to get a good photo of whole thing.

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Zaandam in Haines, Alaska on July 4th, 2012. Great port, we stayed until fireworks at 11pm, sponsored by HAL.

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Part of group - the cousins - participated in the annual mud volleyball tournament and ended up winning the whole thing. What an honor.

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When in Haines do not miss the Hammer Museum with over 1000 different types of hammers on display.

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Glacier Bay. Day started out cloudy and rainy but cleared up and we had great views of glaciers.

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More below...

[ 07-10-2012: Message edited by: joe at travelpage ]

Amazing view from whale watching trip where we not only saw humpback whales bubble fishing as a group but we also saw a group of 3 killer whales take down a dall porpose, one of the fastest creatures in the sea.

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Old town Ketchikan

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Joe at TravelPage.com

[ 07-10-2012: Message edited by: joe at travelpage ]

My brother and his wife just got back from the Ryndam doing a Baltic cruise. The rate was a bargain. It was 50% American passengers. He noted the ship was a little rough around the edges; food was not as good as the Royal Caribbean Navigator a year earlier.

I took the Norwegian Coastal ship the Harald Jarl in 1982, cannot believe it is 30 years this week. I think you get more of a feel for the locals by taking the ferry than sequestered on a large cruiseship. The smaller ships get deeper into the Fjiords.

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Originally posted by NAL:
I think most of us remember our friend Ben who recently passed. He had won a trip to Alaska on the Zaandam and was very pleased with his cruise. May he rest in painless peace.

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This also came to my mind.

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Originally posted by desirod7:
[...]The smaller ships get deeper into the Fjiords.

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Originally posted by desirod7:
The smaller ships get deeper into the Fjiords.

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Originally posted by dmwnc1:

This was also my experience in Alaska when I cruised on the Spirit of Oceanus which belonged to the now defunct Cruise West. We went much, much deeper into dead end inlets, transited very narrow island passages, and anchored overnight in intimate sheltered coves, something the bigger cruise ships could never do.

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Absolutely - small ships are in general more flexible. However it's just not at all what Hurtigruten is offering. There are many reasons to book a Hurtigruten trip but don't do it if you want to get what you described in your posting.

Independent of that I would say, that being on a really small ship does not make as much of a difference in Norway as in does for other destinations - e.g. also rather larger ships can access Trollfjord:

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Originally posted by Ernst:

Absolutely - small ships are in general more flexible. However it's just not at all what Hurtigruten is offering.

ms Europa in Trollfjord

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I took the Harald Jarl, which was tiny, and got pretty close, far closer in than any modern cruiseship would. The HJ is no longer in service.

I have not looked into the modern Bergen Line since Norway is not on my radar for travel.

I have to dig out my slides. It was 30 years ago this week that I sailed her

Her history

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=no&u=http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_%25C2%25ABHarald_Jarl%25C2%25BB&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dharald-jarl%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1280%26bih %3D685%26prmd%3Dimvns&sa=X&ei=jasBUK3hPOen6AH6hOSMBw&ved=0CFQQ7gEwBA

[ 07-14-2012: Message edited by: desirod7 ]

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Originally posted by desirod7:
[...]
I have to dig out my slides. It was 30 years ago this week that I sailed her

[...]

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Yes, you have to do that.
I am looking forward to see them.

There is still one similar vessel serving on the Hurtigruten: Lofoten.

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Originally posted by dmwnc1:
HI Joe! Still waiting on that review and pictures you promised...

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Our Cabin

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Bow as we approach Glacier Bay

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Obligatory Funnel Shot

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Look who we saw

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View from downtown Haines

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Obligatory Night Shot

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Lido Restaurant set up for dinner

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Explorer's Lounge

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Racing NCL Norwegian Pearl in Kechikan

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Aft Pool

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Nestor at Ocean Bar - he was also the bartender on our '92 and '97 cruises on the old Rotterdam

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Originally posted by dmwnc1:
GREAT review! THANKS for taking the time to detail your trip for us. I actually considered the ZAANDAM as one of my choices for an early December cruise but couldn't get past the number of indoor venues the smoking is apparently still allowed. How was your experience in this regard while in AK?

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