don't-use-real-name

All trains leaving Anchorage to either Whittier or Seward use the same common track from Anchorage city limits to the Portage Junction where the two ports service diverge. Google Map for reference: Zoooom it IN or OUT for more less detail and follow the tracks where they go: Google Maps A Map is like a picture with a thousand word explanation Basically Carnival Corp ships (Carnival Princess Holland-America) use Whittier and the others Seward - - - GTJ has a real good handle on the Alaska RR and cruise line operation in Alaska. The railroad stop origin at the Anchorage AIRPORT was only a recent development in the pass few years and creates a unique option alternative to transportation to and from the ports in conjunction with cruise travel and airline connections. Just remember to book as early as possible to take advantage of these arrangements !

POINTS - everyone gets 1 point for each night on board - - - Booked in a Suite (or Haven) add 1 additional point Take advantage of PAST GUEST (also known as Insider Offer) add another point There are from time to time other promotional offers adding points single and double Do take advantage of the Rewards Latitudes points to get more perks bennies - This sort of levels out at the Platinum level with dinners and free laundry GAME THE SYSTEM

Check this over carefully to catch the right train - - - Alaska RR operates the Coastal Classic leaving at 6:30 from the Anchorage Depot and arriving at the Seward Depot about 11:15am - Cruise line passengers have their baggage checked and transported separately to the ship - Passengers destined for Seward have their luggage checked by AK RR for claiming at Seward. The cruise lines on the day of sailing operate a charter train leaving the Anchorage AIRPORT at about noon arriving dock side to board the ship at about 5pm. Alaska RR operates the Coastal Classic train returning to Anchorage leaving about 6pm and arriving at the Anchorage Depot about 10pm - Luggage checked is claimed at the Depot unless other arrangements are made The cruise lines on the day of arrival may offer a charter train leaving in the am hours and arriving at the Anchorage AIRPORT - check with the cruise line for exact details. The Alaska RR Coastal Classic train has two classes of service the Gold Star (Dome Class) with beverages and meals included these cars have the open air observation platform. This class of service sells out very quickly - book early for best results ! The other less expensive class is the Adventure class with spacious coach cars and include a cafe/snack car for items to purchase. The Chartered cruise train is made up (consist) of Alaska RR cars determined by cruise line. Check with the Cruise Line for pricing deals availability. Make every effort to ride the train between Anchorage-Seward-Anchorage - it affords spectacle views.

The 3-4-5 block walk (up-hill) to most of the close hotels is all in open area no dark alleys mangrove of shrubbery to lurk and hide in ambush. More in likely in your hotel trek you will be with others doing the same. This area is not noted for crime. If walking more than 8 blocks (a mile + or -) perhaps consider a taxi - - - You will do fine !

You want something Noregian from the Galley - I'll give you - LUTEFISK !

Just to point out those aren't railway cars - all 7 units are LOCOMOTIVES and they weight considerably more than the passenger coach rolling stock.

eetonaee from that photo Skagway town is to the left and the one useable railroad dock (pier) would be to the right - puzzling why the WPYRR has seven locomotives out passed the rock slide ? Passed the dock where pedestrian and vehicle traffic is not ?

It is early September - - - I am in Minnesota and already we are having tremendous displays of the Aurora Borealis. This best in the northern lake country - no city lights ! The cities is not the place to view - way too much metro and street lighting - hard to find a dark place to amplify the contrast. Viewing in Alaska from the inland (interior) would be even better - Cruise ships have to be away from the ambient coastal twilight (out to sea) and squelch the deck lighting for best results.

Ambient twilight lighting will compromise the viewing in the peak summer cruise season - the possibility of seeing the lights diminishes. Late shoulder season would be the best time. There is of course no Alaska winter time cruises with the major big cruise lines.

YES - Family Suites can have Breakfast and Lunch at Moderno (next to Cagney's deck 13)

As with any tendering process - if you have status - In a Suite or high class cabin - Frequent guest of the cruise line - have Concierge services or other qualifying elements - Do take advantage of it taking the tender at first opportunity to make the most of your time. If mobility impaired let the cruise line know adequately in advance to allow quality time for the tender that suits you best.

Smart tendering operation there is no need to PACK to capacity the number of guests going a shore. As Cruiser Bruce noted just filling each tender to effect the rapid movement of guests to their tour or simply off the ship. This would also effect the off/on loading at the marina - fewer guests make the turn around time more efficient. There is a concern about getting to ones tour but the tour operators no doubt are seasoned enough to work things out - ah er weather permitting of course !

Once tied up to the rear dock - the tender life boats are used on the other side of the ship. Each cruise line is perhaps different but generally all immediate shore excursions sponsored by the cruise line are given priority to get off the ship and to get to their tours. It is a hassle but with 6-8 life boats available 150+ folks can be handled at a time. The short putt-putt distance to the marina harbor takes about 5-10 minutes and then returns back to the ship for a second trip while other life boats are being loaded. In a span of about a half hour 500 or more guests can be handled. 500 is 1/8th the capacity of the huge ships Should be no problem getting all shore excursion guests accommodated within the hour There could be a problem at the tender point - the harbor marina being overtaxed with the volume of tender lifeboat traffic. I am sure that the shore excursions are definitely going to wait to accommodate their paid numbers The return to the ship later in the day is less hectic as guests trickle back to board the tenders.

There is always the method of letting the cab/uber driver who took you to Mendenhall to return and pick you up. OR alerting other cab drivers of your return time. While you are visiting that taxi/uber driver could in effect make 2-3 trips with other guests instead of unproductive waiting for just one guest trip.

And if you suffer a case of fumble-itis highly recommend a lanyard or device to prevent the errant giving of Davy Jones another set of optics. You are watching that fantastic moment and oops you get bumped or set them down on a balcony - deck railing and one second the binoculars are there and the next - there is only one conclusion to where they went - same applies with your cell phone camera or anything else be careful out there - bring you memories back don't leave them there !

Westward flights lead to rested time to recover - Eastward flights (red-eyes) lead to restless hectic slumber - Heartily recommend that 49th State Brewing place - disregard the waiting times lines - you are not dining at prime time and beer is always available - eat at a table or at the bar In the rushed morning - fortunately you are real close to the Depot right across the tracks before boarding you can grab a quick snack a cup of coffee and then have that full Gold Star breakfast on board - recommend the first earliest seating - you will want to see the impressive scenery but not while eating. You should have no trouble finding the taxis from the airport to Comfort Inn - Ships Creek - It maybe a walk (about a block) from the baggage claim to the taxi stand - best have wheels on your luggage to easily tote about. You have this well planned - relax and enjoy Google Map for reference - zooom in for more or less detail Comfort Inn Ships Creek centered in image to the left is the Anchorage Depot and bottom left is the 49th State Brew place Google Maps

Google Map of Seward for reference: Google Maps Zooom In or Out for more less detail Cruise Terminal is the rectangular white roof building in the center of the image size about 2 basketball auditoriums.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) Norwegian Cruise Line Corporation Ltd. (Norwegian), a wholly owned subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., is an American company operating cruise line, headquartered in Miami, FL. The company is best known for its Freestyle Cruising concept, which means that there are no set times or seating arrangements for meals, nor is formal attire required. 7665 Corporate Center Dr. Miami, FL 33126 https://www.ncl.com/ Phone Contacts Main: (305) 436-4000 Customer Service: (866) 234-7350 Toll Free: (866) 625-1164 International: (305) 436-4000 Before your cruise: 800-327-7030 Hours of Operation Mon-Fri: 8am – Midnight ET, Sat-Sun: 9am – 9pm ET After your cruise: https://www.ncl.com/case-submission Email Contacts NCL has a reputation for protecting its customer loyalty base if the resolution request is reasonable but does not react positively to threats or over-reaching. Remember to state your proposed solution with specificity and keep it reasonable. Social Media Contacts Facebook Twitter Executive Contacts Primary Contact Katty Byrd Vice President, Guest Services 7665 Corporate Center Dr. Miami, FL 33126 kbyrd@ncl.com Secondary Contact Chad Berkshire Senior Vice President, Revenue Management 7665 Corporate Center Dr. Miami, FL 33126 cberkshire@ncl.com David J. Herrera Senior Vice President, Brand Finance & Strategy 7665 Corporate Center Dr. Miami, FL 33126 dherrera@ncl.com Chief Executive Harry Sommer President and Chief Executive Officer 7665 Corporate Center Dr. Miami, FL 33126 (305) 436-4000 hsommer@ncl.com Frank Del Rio: frankdelrio@oceaniacruises.com Last updated: July 4, 2022.

If you are multi-tasking using a cell phone - video - still camera - AND BINOCULARS - you will just have to adjust your visual priorities With binocular viewing it is a one time one instant no replay no redo while the other modes offer the opportunity to take that one time with you for later viewing. Never the less having the binoculars can be a great addition to your travel gear - while one in your party is taking video/photos the other can direct where to look and perhaps zoom in for the saving detail. Telephoto lens excepted - binoculars can be great for zeroing in on something in the distance that would not be captured on a memory card device One certainly would not bring one of those pedestal mounted optics or opera glass models but size can be an issue as well as quality power and viewing area.

The schedule of the Alaska RR has not changed much over the years - only the fares Call Alaska RR to verify this and to find out the earliest opportunity to purchase tickets Cruise line tours will book their own cars on scheduled Alaska RR trips The Gold Star class accommodations usually sell out fast - especially the Coastal Classic

There really isn't any entry stamps on Passports unless you go to the trouble of asking the Canadian officials for one. The agents do however monitor (check to see your passport) upon your arrival into Canada. It is not some big foreign espionage deal. The WPYRR train to Fraser is one of the excursions often used with the combo bus up train back or v-v. Other excursions Fraser is the launch point - The trips to Carcross and Lake Bennett are other extensions. Read up on what is offered by the WPYRR and your cruise line tour operators.

This cruise you are looking at is a sort of introductory cruise or a filler between the regular 7 day cruises - these happen at the beginning and end of the Alaska cruise season. Unless the deal is a tremendous offer consider taking one of the regular 7 day cruises – which will almost guarantee a glacier visit – you have to get north of Ketchikan to get into glacier country

You are correct - that 7th bed is in the middle cabin and IMO is only suitable for a child as it is about half the size of the convertible sofas in balcony cabins - image/photo from DAWN Muster station capacity may also come into play as to the number of cabin occupants.

King beds can not be separated - Queen (mated twins) can be however it diminishes the usable space. It is about the same as taking the Queen bed in a non suite and making a narrow walk space between the two beds. The Garden Villas are rated for occupancy of 6.

Google Map for reference - note the distance from the aft railroad dock to the marina - Zoooom the map in and out for more or less detail - Google Maps