Alaska Tip: Even if buying a “land tour” prior to your cruise … Consider flying in a day early.

Why ?

Most arrival flights into Fairbanks or even Anchorage will not be till 3pm or after.  The later the flight, if there are airline delays, it could either cause you to arrive much later than expected, or not get you there that day at all !  Cause you to miss part of the package, you paid for, that begins early the next morning.

And the other reason … After this long day, who doesn’t need a day of rest, before you adventure begins ????

Truly consider going a day prior, for less stress !

 

My customer have come back from Alaska thanking me for this added TIP !

Viv's Alaska Travel Tip - Sitka or Skagway Alaska for your cruise ?

 

 

Do you want your cruise to sail to Sitka or Skagway ?

 

 

I would choose to investigate this option before deciding which cruise !

 

Look at the cruise line website for tour options.  What appeals to you ?

And do a search on Yahoo for pictures of these towns and tours !

 

Would you like to enjoy a train ride into history and the mountains ?  Like an opportunity to travel further and see sites of the Yukon ?

Would you love to see an "Eagle Rapture Center" ?

There's lots more Excursions Ashore to choose from !

 

How do you feel about tendering into port ?

Several choices in traveling to/from Anchorage to your cruise. What type of experience do you want ? Sites you want to see ?

Cruise Line Motorcoach.  These are usually direct transfers to/from the ship.  If you’re going to Whittier from Anchorage, it’s about an hour.  To Seward, 2 ½ to 3 hours.

Tour Motorcoach.  There are some that do direct to/from ship.  And others offer tours, such as to see the Alaska Wildlife Center, maybe take a cruise to Portage Glacier, or even an Anchorage city tour.  I don’t care much for the Alaska Heritage Center !  But others love it !

Private Motorcoach.  If you have a group, you may want private transfers for your group.  To include a tour.

Alaska Railroad.  It’s called the Coastal Classic.  This is my favorite way, especially if porting to/from Seward !  If there in May, you will hopefully see lots of snow !  If only from Whittier, whichever is the lesser cost is what I will choose ! 

The times available, when purchasing the cruise lines may be totally different than buying from Alaska Railroad.  Once I went from Seward to Anchorage with Holland America and we left at 6am.  Through Alaska Railroad, this departs about 6pm, arriving to Anchorage near 10pm.

 

Rent a car.  If you do this, you have to be sure, you have booked it to/from Anchorage and then to/from, where your ship is.  Otherwise, it will cost you a fortune when you turn it in.  It may cost you a fortune anyway !

 

 

 

No matter, the Seward Highway is gorgeous ! 

And if you travel by rail from Seward, you will enjoy the mountains, not seen if you go by Motorcoach or only travel to/from Whittier.