Princess Mt McKinley to Whittier train trip-feed back?

[robert32asp]

I am going to take one of the Princess Tour/Cruise specials in late August.

 

My ship leaves Whittier (south of Anchorage) late in the evening. I have studied the Alaska Railroad time schedule to try to figure out when we might be arriving in Whittier. It looks like it will take a very long time by train to get to the ship.

 

The information I now have does not list the train departure or arrivale times from the Princess McKinley Wilderness Hotel to the dock in Whittier.

 

1. How many hours is the train trip?
   
2. How great the views might be?
   
3. Will it be stopping every 20 minutes to let regular rail passengers on and off?
   
4. Should I bring reading matter?
   
5. Should I bring any snacks or water bottles?
   
6. Will there be wireless internet on the train?
   
7. If I bring a cell phone or cell phone computer internet card is there good coverage (I would expect good coverage was we go through Anchorage and its suburbs, but parts of the route are very rural Alaska, so I am wondering as an internet option, in case it is foggy and I need to check email)
   

Finally how much free time is there before the ship leaves would be helpful. Is there much time for a little independent hiking in the area or shore tours?

 

Thanks

[DBMiller]

My itinerary for my August trip, also on Princess, shows the train trip from McKinley to Whittier running from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. so it looks like you'll have plenty of time to read a good book.

[ARRTrain]

The time posted sounds about right.

 

No internet, and your own cell - wireless internet will be spotty until after Wasilla.

 

Views will be nice.

 

Reading material would be nice to pass some time.

 

Should be some kind of snacks or meal on the train.

 

Very limited stops on the way. I think there's only 1 stop in Anchorage and that is for crew to get onboard.

 

You'll only have about 2 hours, if the train is on time until the ship leaves Whittier.