Day 7 boarding Holland America MS Koningsdam

Today, we said a fond farewell to Glen, our brilliant tour leader, who gave us so many laughs and great advice along the way. His final official duty was safely delivering us to Canada Place to board the MS Koningsdam for our very first cruise to Alaska! The sheer scale of the ship is mind-boggling—carrying up to 2,650 guests and a crew of 1,036, all spread across 12 massive decks.
This was a brand-new experience for the six of us, as none of us had ever cruised before. We booked outside staterooms with large ocean-view windows down on the Main Deck (Deck 1). Our first impressions were fantastic! After settling into our rooms and meeting our friendly stateroom stewards for the week, we headed up to the Lido Market for our first buffet meal.
What an absolute eye-opening experience! We have never seen such an incredible variety of delicious foods in one place. It is incredibly hygienic, as the ship's staff serve everything to you directly at each station. They have everything imaginable—from fresh sandwiches and comforting soups to full Indian curries and classic fish and chips! We knew right then and there that we were in serious trouble when it came to our clothes fitting by the end of the week!!!
The absolute highlight of the day came as we cast off and glided away from the Vancouver skyline: we were treated to our very first sighting of a whale dipping through the water. What a perfect, magical way to toast the start of our Alaskan adventure!Read more