At Sea - September 28, 2025

Reflections on a Memorable 5-Day Coastal Cruise

As we wrap up the final full day of this 5-day Coastal Cruise from Vancouver to San Diego, I can’t help but reflect on how well Holland America Line (HAL) managed to pack the full cruise experience into such a short itinerary.

With around 720 passengers on board, the ship had a relaxed, uncrowded feel—a refreshing contrast to the mega-ship vibe. About half will be disembarking in San Diego tomorrow, while the rest of us continue onward. Yet, despite the shorter length and smaller group, HAL didn’t cut corners when it came to programming.

From the moment we embarked, it was clear HAL intended to deliver the full cruise experience, regardless of duration. Here’s what impressed me most:

• Captain’s Welcome Toast: Just like on a longer sailing, we had the traditional welcome toast, complete with sparkling wine and introductions to the ship’s senior officers.
• Enrichment Seminars: Engaging talks and presentations offered a great mix of education and entertainment—ideal for sea days.
• Bar Hop & Orange Party: HAL brought the fun with themed nightlife events. The bar hop was lively and social, while the Orange Party brought a splash of signature Dutch flair.
• Dressy Night: One elegant evening gave passengers the chance to dress up and enjoy a more formal dining experience. A nice touch for a five-day cruise.
• Cake Me Away: An event of a variety of cakes to select from.
• Farewell Celebrations: As with longer itineraries, HAL held a crew farewell parade and song—always a heartfelt moment and a reminder of the incredible service that defines the HAL experience.

All in all, I was very impressed. It’s clear that HAL doesn’t scale back just because it’s a shorter itinerary. Instead, they manage to create a cruise that feels complete—full of charm, class, and just the right amount of celebration.

If you’re considering a shorter cruise but worried it won’t offer the same experience as a week-long voyage, rest assured—this one checked all the boxes.

Cake Me Away. Mika, our dining room head waiter serving up some cake.

A good sampling.

A Space X rocket launch.

Pictured here with Annie on her last performance of her contract. She is a gifted Cellist playing as part of the classical trio. We sailed with her an our last Legendary Voyage last year. We are sorry to see her leave us but happy did see a few performances in this leg of our journey.