Find out what stopped our Koningsdam Alaska Cruise from being the Perfect Cruise!

Episode 7 - In our last video of our Canada and Alaska series we go behind the scenes on a Galley tour, show you more of the outside space on Koningsdam, and enjoy the last nights entertainment. Sadly not everything goes to plan, and we have the biggest surprise when we sail into Vancouver!
We completed the Titan Travel Alaskan Deluxe Voyage which included a land tour of Canada from Calgary to Vancouver including the Rocky Mountaineer and a cruise on Holland America Konningsdam cruise ship to Alaska in July 2023.
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About Paul and Carole Love to Travel
We are a married middle aged couple from Gloucester, England who share our tips, advice and experience on how you can choose the right cruise line, cruise ship snd cabin. Cruising is expensive so we use all our experiences to give the best tips and advice so you can make the right choice too!
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#Koningsdam #alaskacruise #hollandamerica #Cruise #cruising #travel #paulandcarole #vloggers #bloggers

[@DenaInWyo]

I have heard people say they would never pay for a balcony because they're never in their cabin. Good for them. I am known to spend entire afternoons on my balcony. It's one of the few places in the entire world that I am untouchable. No phone calls, no worries, no mail with bills, no ...anything. It's all still there but when I'm on a cruise ship balcony there is exactly 0 I can do about any of it, and I can let it go. It's a place I can truly relax. Even just watching videos of it makes my shoulders drop a little bit. Thank you so much for this series, I've enjoyed every bit! Edited to add: OMG. You let CAROLE set the alarm????? Now I'm on the edge of my seat to see if you made it to the bus lol (I kid! A little bit..)

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Lol we made it to the bus! 🤣🤣 Totally agree a balcony is worth the money for your own personal space, we didn't want to leave!

[@susan.connelly9955]

Plus, if you have to isolate for COVID, you have some fresh air and sunlight 😊

[@pitcat1376]

As someone who has lived in Alberta and British Columbia, I've loved this series. Thanks for the information, entertainment, and the laughs! You two rock. Looking forward to your upcoming transatlantic series.

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Thanks really glad you enjoyed the series, it’s going to be a tough act to follow 😊

[@amandas1292]

We have this exact tour booked with Titan this month and want to thank you for these excellent videos, incredibly informative and fun. You’ve also put my mind at rest about a few things I’ve been worried about. Thanks again!

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

No problem, really glad you found it helpful 😊

[@cathieschmitgal5515]

I frankly can’t believe you only have 22k followers! You have the best adventures and I thank you for all your hard work sharing them with us🤗😁

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Thanks so much fir watching and supporting the channel, we really appreciate that!

[@janettesinclair6279]

What a wonderful trip this has been - have enjoyed watching every minute of the experience, the scenery, the ship, the amazing food, the train journey, all joined together by your great comments and banter! Thank you for all the great entertainment.

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

It has been one of our best, would love to do it all over again!

[@brianmccarthy1322]

3 things that help decide if you should book a balcony: 1) the type of cruise 2) your preferences 3) the weather. You have control over 2 of the 3.

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

yes agree with those!

[@jollyrob]

Everyone usually recommends or advises you to avoid restaurants based on food alone. But the overall experience can be so different based on service, table situation ambience/atmosphere etc. Thanks for highlighting these important aspects of the overall experience 👍 That band did look fantastic mind!

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Cheers Rob, I’ve been quite vocal about how good Tamarind was on Nieuw Amsterdam so that made this experience even more disappointing, the food was again exceptional but sadly the service and positioning of our table wasn’t.

[@ronbennie1028]

Wow…26:23 Carole on the balcony at sunset, cruising south on the inside passage. Looks like a blissful moment…10 out of 10.

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

It was! Definitely didn't want to leave that balcony!

[@juniperdog5523]

British Columbia has such incredible diversity of landscapes. I am glad you got to see many of them. That coastal footage you got was stunning. Thank you!

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Thanks it is a beautiful part of the world!

[@brigidconroy2111]

Right then absolutely gutted that this incredible series is finished IT was incredible Alberta and British Columbia have the most stunning scenes in Canada 🇨🇦 Alaska definitely challenges my adoration of Banff but there is room in my heart for both ❤❤❤

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

It’s like admitting you’ve got a favourite child. 🤣🤣

[@stephwulff1352]

What a beautiful week you both had. Banff was spectacular. Thanks for sharing!

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

It was a fabulous trip!

[@leenoble796]

Love watching you. We always cruise Holland America Neptune suite. Hard to go back once you have been there. Take care

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

The Neptune Suite was amazing!

[@barbarap5278]

This was a fantastic cruise & land trip!!! Thanks for taking us along, it was beautiful...

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

It was our pleasure 😊😊

[@1sburdett1]

It was really great following along with you on your spectacular West Coast & Alaska adventure. I loved experiencing everything through such fresh eyes as somtimes I take our home for granted. I try not too...but sometimes it happens. I live in North Vancouver & when I saw your video my chest puffed out with such pride! Beauty in on our doorsteps. I have taken the inside passage up to Glacier Bay, Skagway, Juneau & Ketchikan & absolutely loved it! Thank you for making these interesting, entertaining & hilarious videos. I love watching Paul & Carol. Enjoy the Transatlantic cruise! Ooh, hope its not too rough!

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Oh thanks so much for your lovely comment! We loved our time in your country and look forward to coming back one day!

[@mikemurphy2112]

Great series, thank you for shining the light of your lives into the window of my heart. Kindest regards. Stay safe and take care of each other.

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Thanks for watching!

[@glengifford4803]

Wow, that balcony, it’s really something. I am trying to persuade Ant to say yes to a Neptune suite sometime in the future!

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

It’s amazing, and if you can afford we’d definitely recommend it, but for something like Alaska it’s so worth the extra money even without the perks.

[@user-ui1qi8iv1j]

Thank you so much for your video series of Canada and Alaskan cruise. We’re more or less doing the same trip (unfortunately not in the same type of cabin). Your trip has given me great tip and ideas of what to expect and look out for. It’s our first cruise so really excited about it. X

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

You are very welcome! Glad it was helpful, have a fabulous time!

[@wendycopcutt4891]

I've enjoyed every minute of this fantastic trip and it's wetted my appetite to do it myself. I stayed on Vancouver Island 4 years ago and used to watch these huge ships sailing past, so it was great to track their journey to Alaska.

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Thanks Wendy, it was fabulous, we would love to do it again too!

[@NancyCollins-bs6um]

Thank you for showing us this galley tour. So much more than I have seen on my galley tours.

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Your welcome!

[@travelswithlizzylou]

fantastic galley tour 😃

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

It was really good and the staff were amazing and work so hard.

[@cherylsemrau7100]

Thank you for taking us. Keep up the good work. Greetings from a Canadian.

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Thanks Cheryl will do! 😍

[@lornes2492]

As a Kamloops resident who cruises regularly out of Vancouver, I’ve loved seeing this area through your eyes. I’m glad you enjoyed your trip.

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Great to hear you enjoyed it!

[@sauspud]

Another amazing vlog which brings back memories. Lovely to have met you both and you are just as funny in real life as you are on the videos.

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Aw thanks, you are making us blush now!🤗

[@janedavies7768]

Great vlog again by you ❤ enjoy your next adventure from the 🇬🇧

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Cheers Jane we are on route to the Caribbean as we speak.

[@Mal_S]

I would have really enjoyed that entertainment. Unfortunately my wife refuses to go on a cruise, so I have to live vicariously through you. I would love to cruise.

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Oh that is a shame! It took me 7 years to persuade Paul to take a cruise, and after only a couple of days he said 'why haven't we done this before'! 🤣🤣

[@davidtavakoli5858]

I love you guys! You always make me smile! 😄

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Thanks David! ☺️

[@mauricefoster8648]

Fascinating galley tour😮

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Cheers Maurice it really was so interesting and the staff were all amazing.

[@akajasonbourne]

Really enjoyed this vlog series, wetted out appetite to do something similar. Did you pay extra for the galley tour? we've never done one but makes you appreciate how hard everyone works for our cruise enjoyment.

[@marjielalonde3875]

Sorry your last night wasn`t great; but what a wonderful trip you had; a most memorable birthday! It was lovely to see you enjoying British Columbia too. Love from Vancouver Island

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

It was one of our best trips ever!

[@veronicamyrel9090]

Interesting video! Greetings from Canada!🍁🇨🇦🍁

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Thanks for watching!

[@StephenOshea]

great video i think it was so much fun to watch this video

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Thanks Stephen!

[@Listen2theTide]

Truly enjoyed your video and plan to view more, as we'll be experiencing our first cruise in February on Holland America's Nieuw Statendam. Glad to know that you liked the music because that was one of the reasons for us chosing Holland America. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and tips in such a delightful way!

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

You are very welcome, as you can probably tell we are massive music fans, Holland America isn’t a party ship but they are probably the best cruise line when it comes to music!

[@kathyslocombe1182]

Loved this video and the series was fantastic. Happy that you loved our beautiful provinces, Alberta and BC on your Rocky Mountaineer journey. Very disappointed to hear about your Tamarind experience. I hope ours is different on our Koningsdam cruise in February. Great as always Paul and Carole. Thank you for taking us along on this wonderful adventure. Come back to Vancouver soon.

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Thanks Kathy, it was such an amazing trip and so good to have a brief hello at the port too!

[@carolynalexander314]

Really enjoyed this trip. It's been on my Wishlist for a long time. Also on my bucket list is transatlantic QM2 so really looking forward to your report of that. Have a wonderful time.

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Thanks so much, that's great to hear!

[@richardg8651]

Great tour . Free Cruising Canucks . 😉 Huge HAL suit and now an Azamara Onward cruise . Ooh La La !

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Thanks Richard 😊😊

[@lorenzomag100]

This was an awesome series Paul and Carole.I loved your behind the scenes tour,as I did ours back on the Discovery..4 years ago.Such a shame your last meal was spoilt with a certain staff member.she needs to show more respect to passengers who have spent a lot of money to go on the cruises

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Great to hear you enjoyed the series, we loved making it! 😍

[@brigidconroy2111]

Ooh la la that was a heck of a halibut Great gallley tour ❤

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

It was immense, we had no clue they were that big.

[@timothysaul4478]

Great videos peeps, I enjoyed every one of them.

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Thanks so much! 😍

[@live2skide1]

I loved this series and seeing Alaska from a "fresh" pair of eyes! So sorry you had a poor quality waitress on what should have been a 5 star experience. Good for Paul for making the concierge (Kevin) aware. Oh, the suite life. I am so looking forward to seeing your Queen Mary2 videos. We said next May & June from New York to Southampton, and back.

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

It was a shame but still a fabulous cruise! Our New York QM2 series starts this month! 😍

[@catherinehawkins1314]

Another enjoyable video, feel like I've done my cruise again just a different ship 😊❤

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Thanks Catherine! ☺️

[@yvonnemulvihill4456]

Loved it thank you. ❤

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Thanks for watching!

[@wbrown2481]

Love you guys ❤

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Thanks Wanda!

[@norfolkboy6935]

Having your plates cleared whilst still eating is a big no no! Really enjoyed following your series 🙏👍

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Thanks for watching!

[@chriswilliams6568]

There is a difference between the UK and North America about clearing plates from your table. It is common in NA to clear plates as you finish them. In most all restaurants. Thx for video.

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Ah ok thanks for that!

[@anniepowell7559]

Wonderful video.👍🍁🍁🇨🇦🇨🇦🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Glad you enjoyed it! 😀

[@lindajones6176]

This series has been brilliant, well done you two. Funny bit though, 2 minutes in and Paul walking down the stairs- it looks like he had no shorts on, had to go back and check😂

[@barbaragulliver5764]

0

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

I’m assuming when you checked I did have something on 🤣🤣 I do sometimes get forgetful but I do usually remember my clothes 🤣🤣

[@lindajones6176]

@@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel yes, shorts on😂

[@ChrisFrameOfficial]

The stores are amazing aren’t they!

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

They are!

[@jeffwalker4463]

Did you do the transatlantic on the Queen Mary 2 already?

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Yes we did it in August.

[@jeffwalker4463]

When will the video be uploaded?

[@debbiegibbs6317]

Brilliant last day review, bummer about Tamarind though 😟

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Thanks yes it was a shame Though still one of our best cruises ever!

[@leannabrown8107]

Hello! I have just booked my first ever cruise with Marella. Just wondered if you could advise me on a good cruise insurance you have used. Do you book your insurance with TUI?

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Hello! We have our insurance with our bank, but have used staysure in the past which covered all at a reasonable price!

[@teresajarkowska5792]

Shame that the last night should bring the one sour note for you. However, you had a wonderful time and have a lifetime of good memories.

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

We did have an amazing time! So many wonderful memories!

[@colleendemoissac7403]

We did Tamarand on the Nieuw Statendam in October. Food delicious but the restaurant was very noisy with several really large groups so not a very relaxing meal.

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

The food is amazing it’s a shame your overall experience mirrored ours.

[@amandareiche9083]

I see a Canuck!

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Lol you do! 🤣

[@SoloonaCruise]

The seating near a noisy or the clearing station point is almost a given for a solo traveller.

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Oh that is a shame!

[@melhinchliffe5180]

Very good and lots of good info but there are times when you can’t hear Carole

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Ok thanks for the feedback!

[@ericammons9804]

Special dining at an extra price has always bugged me. I’m sorry you had a terrible experience. They need to fire that server.!

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

It was a shame!

[@raydesborough7333]

How much did all this cost.

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

The complete Canada tour, Rocky Mountaineer, Alaska cruise and upgrade to Neptune Suite cost £7k each. Could have done it all for about 5k pp if in a lower grade cabin.

[@zogharms4524]

Not every specialty restaurant is included in HIA package. Rudy's is one, tamerand might be another

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Tamarind and Pinnicle Grill are included 😀

[@sharononeill2415]

Do you find the cruise you do are posh

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

No not at all, lines like Silverseas or Oceania are far more posh and expensive

[@andyandkirstie]

We loved our Alaska cruise on Koningsdam but didn't rate Holland America as a cruise line based on this one experience at all. They weren't bad, just very average.

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Oh wow, sorry to hear that. With the money cruising is now costing average is definitely not what you’re after.

[@andyandkirstie]

@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel It was a lovely ship and the entertainment venues were awesome, we just expected a bit more from the dining experience. Think that's what let them down.

[@TomandDomTravel]

That fish was Huge! Entertainment looked good but disappointing news about service.

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

It was so big! Yes shame about that, the only blip in what was a fabulous cruise!

[@mikemurphy2112]

Where are you now?

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

We are currently on Azamara Onward in the Caribbean+

[@johnallan4826]

Lol

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

😀

[@keithdavis2580]

Just a quick comment about your unfortunate experience at the restaurant. Whilst I understand your discomfort of having plates cleared whilst someone is still eating (I dislike this myself). I believe it to be a cultural thing as in NZ (somewhere on your bucket list). This is a common thing, and nobody queries it, so beware. Also, I never query it when it happens at the buffet on a ship, where it happens all the time. So, at that point, I have to ask myself why does it only make me feel uncomfortable sometimes? Not sure what I am saying here other than asking myself why am I/we inconsistent about this service.

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

Yes understand that, though at a specialty restaurant it is what we would expect ☺️

[@keithdavis2580]

I don’t disagree.

[@marisayoung8670]

This whole experience on cruises sounds just awful to me. I have watched a few videos hoping to have my mind changed but my opinion just gets worse. Good bye for now.

[@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel]

It would be a boring old world if we all liked the same things, thanks for your comment 😀😀