Questions about visiting Anchorage - Voyage of the Glaciers (Southbound)

[bugnuker]

Hello all,

 

My wife and I are going on the 7 Day Voyage of the Glaciers (Southbound) From Anchorage, departing May 20th.

 

The ship leaves at 8:30 PM it says. It also says check-in is from 12:30 to 7:30. From the few cruises I've been on, this is the latest a ship has ever left, and has a huge windows for check in.

 

The ship seems to leave from Whittier, not Anchorage (clearly, I see no body of water for the to travel over, hehe). Due to this, it becomes clear for the need to travel from the airport to Whittier.

 

This is where my questions come in.

 

My wife and I will arrive in Anchorage bright and early at 4:15 AM local time. (we are taking a red-eye from LAX). Due to the early arrival, we would like to visit Anchorage a little bit. Clearly we'll probably have to wait for some things to open, etc.

 

However, "visiting anchorage" with all the luggage will not be practical, right?

 

How would one suggest we visit and see a little bit of Anchorage before getting to Whittier?

 

Next, we'd really like to take one of the day cruises in Whittier. They seem to run from about 12:00 - 5:00 PM, leaving plenty of time to check in it would seem.

 

I would LOVE to get one of these from Princess it self (I think it would be less hassle all around;I am not sure), but they don't allow me to get excursions for boarding day it seems.

 

 

Recommendations? Ideas? Comments?

 

Thanks!!

[mapleleaves]

you can book the Whittier day cruise WITH transportation by making arrangements thru the Alaska Railroad , or the vendors ( Major Marine, Phillip.)

 

https://www.alaskarailroad.com/

http://www.whittieralaskachamber.org/business_directory.htm

 

Or you can use one of the shuttle companies (with or without the day cruise).

 

I don't know of any luggage storage other than the airport.

[AKStafford]

Here's what I would do: Rent a car one-way from Avis. Throw your luggage in the back. Grab some breakfast and then start down the Turnagain Arm towards Whittier. Stop in Girdwood along the way and take the tram at the Alyeska Resort up onto the mountain. You can hike some here if you'd like. You should also have time to stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.

The one way rental won't be cheap, but it'll solve the luggage & transportation question.

[NancyIL]

Hello all,

 

My wife and I are going on the 7 Day Voyage of the Glaciers (Southbound) From Anchorage, departing May 20th.

 

The ship leaves at 8:30 PM it says. It also says check-in is from 12:30 to 7:30. From the few cruises I've been on, this is the latest a ship has ever left, and has a huge windows for check in.

 

The ship seems to leave from Whittier, not Anchorage (clearly, I see no body of water for the to travel over, hehe). Due to this, it becomes clear for the need to travel from the airport to Whittier.

 

This is where my questions come in.

 

My wife and I will arrive in Anchorage bright and early at 4:15 AM local time. (we are taking a red-eye from LAX). Due to the early arrival, we would like to visit Anchorage a little bit. Clearly we'll probably have to wait for some things to open, etc.

 

However, "visiting anchorage" with all the luggage will not be practical, right?

 

How would one suggest we visit and see a little bit of Anchorage before getting to Whittier?

 

Next, we'd really like to take one of the day cruises in Whittier. They seem to run from about 12:00 - 5:00 PM, leaving plenty of time to check in it would seem.

 

I would LOVE to get one of these from Princess it self (I think it would be less hassle all around;I am not sure), but they don't allow me to get excursions for boarding day it seems.

 

 

Recommendations? Ideas? Comments?

 

Thanks!!

 

Holland America has one ship that does dock in Anchorage for its port stop, but I'm not aware of any Alaska cruises that begin or end there (http://www.hollandamerica.com/details?webItineraryIdForAudit=A7L14Y&fromSearchVacation=true&guestsCount=2&voyageCode=A717&selectedMeta=Interior&shipId=AM).

 

I think it's a great idea to take a glacier cruise out of Whittier before you sail. As mapleleaves mentioned - on May 20th you can do the Prince William Sound Surprise Glacier Cruise from Major Marine (https://majormarine.com/tour/prince-william-sound-surprise-glacier-cruise/) or several from Phillips (https://www.phillipscruises.com/).

 

If you take the train from Anchorage to Whittier (9:45-12:05), you should be able to drop-off your luggage at the downtown train station and then walk around a bit. The train to Seward departs from Anchorage at 6:45 a.m., so the train station will be open fairly early. However, not much will be open in town that early. I was hoping the Saturday Market would open early, but they don't officially open until 10 (http://www.anchoragemarkets.com/anchorage_market.html).

Edited January 9, 2017 by NancyIL