I visited Denali Lodge on the Netherlands-US line and loved it

Recently, I had the opportunity to stay in Denali Lodge on the Dutch American Line for a few nights. Located outside Denali National Park, the hotel is part of their Cruisetours in the 49th state.

I've been to Alaska several times before, but never stayed in a cruise hotel. When Holland America Line invites me to visit their Denali Lodge, I’m so happy to see and experience the meaning of their Cruisetours.

For those unfamiliar with Dutch American Rangers, this is an extra day on the land that can be added to the Alaska cruise. You can add two to 10 days to their 7-day glacier discovery cruise. These are one-way cruises between Vancouver and Whittier.

Cruising can be done before or after a week of cruising, but I personally would prefer to do it after cruising.

Cruisetours include train rides to Denali, Tundra Wilderness Tour, and Denali Lodge accommodations a mile from the entrance to Denali National Park.

This is my experience staying in a hotel (after the iceberg), something I love, and why you should consider cruising for Alaska.

train

Cruisetour started on a 10-hour train ride from McKinney Explorer in Whittier, Alaska, to the cruise and Denali.

It's a two-story train with an assigned seating on the ground deck, dining room and small seating area. In some areas, you can take some great photos outside or just some fresh air.

In the photo below you can see the small seating area and part of the railway car that you can go outside.

cabin

The Denali Lodge on the Dutch America Line is located next to the Nenana River, next to the Cruises Cruises wilderness hut. My first thought upon arriving at the cabin was “I can stay here for a week.”

I live in a poplar building facing the river and I absolutely love it. On the first morning I was there, I walked outside and saw moose and her baby grazing by the river. You never know what wildlife you will see here.

The buildings are scattered on 60 acres, but their shuttle will take you around the hotel so you don't have to walk. You can live in 28 different buildings, covering 11 floors on the main hut and 17 under the river. I was told that the 11 buildings above are being demolished and replaced.

My favorite whole hotel is Denali Square, which is the main social hub for hotels. There are two dining options here, with several shops including inhabited artists, fire and live music.

Two dining options at Denali Square are the public venues in Karsten and Denali Music. Denali's music is a family-style dinner show with an interesting musical that tells the history of Denali. I really like both of them eating.

I also have a walking trail along the river every morning while I drink coffee. This is a great way to start there every day.

Denali National Park

One of the best features of the Denali Lodge in the Netherlands United States is that it is just a mile from the Denali National Park. You can walk to it or take a free shuttle that runs every 30 minutes. I left for the first day and took the next day.

I spent a few days in the park, hiking trails, and just enjoying the beauty of Alaska.

Horsehead Lake Trail is one of the most popular trails for hiking and it is beautiful. This is a trail of hiking again when I will definitely visit next time.

tour

Holland America Line includes free tours for everyone who stays in the hotel for three or more days. Tundra Wilderness Tour is a bus that explores the beauty of national parks and the wildlife that live there.

You can also book a variety of excursions while staying at the hotel so you can experience more of Alaska. I booked a Denali Glacier Landing through a helicopter tour, one of the most incredible tours I've ever done on a cruise/land trip.

The journey to the glaciers gives us a stunning view of the mountains and wildlife. We saw 150 reindeer on our ride to glaciers and waterfalls.

We landed on the Yanert Glacier and took 20-25 minutes to get to it before going back.

This trip is a bit expensive, but I highly recommend you to do it. This is the experience you’ve talked about over the years.

Why stay in the cabin?

My favorite part of living in Denali Lodge is that you are not confined to the short few days of the port as you are in the cruising part of your trip. You have more time to explore Alaska and I also find it easier.

You don't have to worry about rushing back to the time you left the boat. If you're out hiking in Denali and want to stop for the time you want to enjoy the beautiful view, you can. The sun doesn't set until after midnight when I was there, so you can really make the most of it every day.

I also love sitting among the numerous fireplaces at night, having a drink, and talking to other travelers.

The Dutch America Line offers Cruisetours ranging from 9 to 18 days and include cruise ships. This gives you the flexibility to book the right time you want to stay in Alaska.

After this trip, I honestly meant that this is the best way to watch Alaska. You can visit glaciers and harbors on your cruise and then take more in-depth observations in the land portion of the journey. You have the best of both worlds.