Anchorage Port
Peter Sealy
Hi
I am booked on a cruise departing Anchorage in June to Vancvouver. I am
not taking the cruise line's optional air transport and transfer add-on as
I wish to travel independently to Anchorage a few days before sailing to
do some sightseeing in the area. I have heard that cruise ships do not
actually berth at Anchorage but at a port some distance away. [I don't
even know whether Anchorage has a deep water port! or is built next to the
sea - so please be gentle] I would appreciate some advice from experienced
Alaska cruisers.
1 Assuming that ships do not berth right at Anchorage, how far from
downtown to the cruise ships berth. What is the most efficient way of
travel between downtown and the dock. Estimated costs for different modes
of transport. How much time should I allow for this transfer.
2 Would it be better to take a hotel at the airport or downtown in regard
to onward transport to the ship berth.
3 Suggestions for hotels in medium price range.
4 Suggestions for a day's sightseening in Anchorage itself.
Thank you most sincerely for anyone who takes the time to respond.
Peter Sealy
Fred Lanyard
Hi Peter,
Some answers follow:
>do some sightseeing in the area. I have heard that cruise ships do not
>actually berth at Anchorage but at a port some distance away.
The cruise ships dock at Seward which is about a three hour ride from
Anchorage, on the Gulf of Alaska. Anchorage does have sea access but
none of the cruse ships put in there, as far as I know.
> I don't
>even know whether Anchorage has a deep water port! or is built next to the
>sea - so please be gentle] I would appreciate some advice from experienced
>Alaska cruisers.
>1 Assuming that ships do not berth right at Anchorage, how far from
>downtown to the cruise ships berth. What is the most efficient way of
>travel between downtown and the dock. Estimated costs for different modes
>of transport. How much time should I allow for this transfer.
As I stated above, the ride to Seward is about three hours. The cruise
lines furnish bus transportation, usually from the Egan Center
downtown Anchorage. If you are forfeiting the transfers by taking the
deviation (I am looking into the same thing), you can purchase them
for $50 each. No one has suggested to me that there is more economical
way, such as public transportation (the luggage may be the drawback).
>2 Would it be better to take a hotel at the airport or downtown in regard
>to onward transport to the ship berth.
The airport is about 5 miles from downtown so you would need to make
your way there OR you could possibly arrange to meet the cruise bus at
the airport as it arrives to transport the air/sea passengers to
Seward.
>3 Suggestions for hotels in medium price range.
Unfortunately, hotels in Anchorage are on the high side in the summer
cruise season. The moderate hotels have been described to me in a
fashion to suggest dingy and not real appealing. Figure on about $125
a nite minimum for decent accomodations.
>4 Suggestions for a day's sightseening in Anchorage itself.
The highlight seems to be the Art and History Museum. An investment in
Fodor's Alaska would probably be a good suggestion for you at this
point. If you rent a car, the trip down to Seward with a few stops
along the way and maybe a visit to Kenai would be a good way to spend
two or three days.
Good luck.
Regards,
Fred Lanyard
CRUISE VALUE CENTER
(800)231-SHIP Residence:(732)636-0938
Ray Goldenberg
pse...@tyndale.apana.org.au (Peter Sealy) wrote:
>1 Assuming that ships do not berth right at Anchorage, how far from
>downtown to the cruise ships berth. What is the most efficient way of
>travel between downtown and the dock. Estimated costs for different modes
>of transport. How much time should I allow for this transfer.
Hi Peter,
Without knowing the ship it is hard to know the correct answer. There
are a very few ships that do go all the way to Anchorage. Most,
though, use Seward as their port. It is about 3 to 3 1/2 hours south
of Anchorage. Your best bet would be to purchase transfers from your
cruise line. They will be departing from the downtown convention
center which is conveniently located.
>2 Would it be better to take a hotel at the airport or downtown in regard
>to onward transport to the ship berth.
It really doesn't matter except you will find downtown more
interesting. Also, since the coaches leave for Seward starting around
1PM, it will make for a more relaxing morning.
Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com
The Gruffs of the Glacier
I'm going to take the liberty of posting this on alt.culture.alaska so you
can get some answers to your question. The Anchroage port is deep, but no
Cruise ships come there. The closest is either Seward or Whittier, with a
rail,car, or bus trip to Anchroage. I'll let others answer your other
questions. You might want to look up our Alaskan food faq, too
ffurG
On Mon, 30 Mar 1998, Peter Sealy wrote:
> Hi
> I am booked on a cruise departing Anchorage in June to Vancvouver. I am
> not taking the cruise line's optional air transport and transfer add-on as
> I wish to travel independently to Anchorage a few days before sailing to
> do some sightseeing in the area. I have heard that cruise ships do not
> actually berth at Anchorage but at a port some distance away. [I don't
> even know whether Anchorage has a deep water port! or is built next to the
> sea - so please be gentle] I would appreciate some advice from experienced
> Alaska cruisers.
> 1 Assuming that ships do not berth right at Anchorage, how far from
> downtown to the cruise ships berth. What is the most efficient way of
> travel between downtown and the dock. Estimated costs for different modes
> of transport. How much time should I allow for this transfer.
> 2 Would it be better to take a hotel at the airport or downtown in regard
> to onward transport to the ship berth.
> 3 Suggestions for hotels in medium price range.
> 4 Suggestions for a day's sightseening in Anchorage itself.
>
Ray Goldenberg
The Gruffs of the Glacier <rs...@aurora.alaska.edu> wrote:
>I'm going to take the liberty of posting this on alt.culture.alaska so you
>can get some answers to your question. The Anchroage port is deep, but no
>Cruise ships come there. The closest is either Seward or Whittier, with a
>rail,car, or bus trip to Anchroage.
Hi,
Excuse me for the correction but I don't want anyone to get confused.
The Crystal Harmony, for one, does go all the way to Anchorage.
Michael C. Gow
Thanks Ray for the timely response. I had just been talking to my TA on basis
of the earlier posts because I am going to be cruising from Anchorage on the
Harmony in late August. She thought too that I would have to transfer to
Seward, so that info helps me.
Mike
Wally Samuelson
I am sure you will get a 1000 responses on this one. Cruise ships very
definitely DO call at Anchorage. The Crystal Harmony does, I know for
sure because I am booked on her this summer. Anchorage has a very fine
deep water harbor when it is ice free.
--
MZÖ
Peter Sealy
Many thanks for all your advices
Peter
Denise Blackmore
There are only two ships that dock in Anchorage, they are the Island
Princess and the Crystal Harmony. All other ships dock in Seward, a 3 and a
half hour motorcoach transfer away. If you do not want to take the motorcoach
transfer there is a train that travels from Anchorage (Downtown) to Seward
daily. This train leaves Anchorage at 6:45am and gets into Seward at 11:00am.
This allows you the whole day in Seward or relaxing on the ship! The train
costs: Adult $43 US and Child $32 US.
If you want to overnight in a moderately priced place I would
recommend a Bed & Breakfast. There are over 60 in the Anchorage area, some
are in great areas and offer free transportation to/from airport, train,
downtown, etc.
Denise Blackmore
CruiseShipCenters
www.cruisealaska.com
M.F. Evans
Hi,
It might more appropriate to say it has SOME deep water when the tide is
in. There's nothing fine about a harbor that has an 8 knot tide ripping
through it every 6 hours and has the consistency of the water in a
pothole at Tudor and Lake Otis at 5pm. Ya gotta love it.
Morgan
Michael F. Pickett
Morgan wrote:
>Wally Samuelson wrote:
>>
>> I am sure you will get a 1000 responses on this one.
Actually, ah on'y got two, ya' know...
>> Cruise ships very
>> definitely DO call at Anchorage. The Crystal Harmony does, I know for
>> sure because I am booked on her this summer. Anchorage has a very fine
>> deep water harbor when it is ice free.
>Hi,
>It might more appropriate to say it has SOME deep water when the tide is
>in. There's nothing fine about a harbor that has an 8 knot tide ripping
>through it every 6 hours and has the consistency of the water in a
>pothole at Tudor and Lake Otis at 5pm. Ya gotta love it.
Ree-mahnd's me of a story...
Great port, as Morgan mentioned. Like the time the Chevron tanker
anchored out off the dock, and it, and it's anchor were dragged
either UP or DOWN the channel. Lo and behold, the anchor gathered
in one phase of the 3 phase line coming from down the coast toward
Tyonek. Snapped that puppy like a piece of spaghetti, throwing the
whole damned area into pure blackness.
AND....was goin' to be a WHILE before Chugach Electric could lay,
or splice that cable. So, everyone had to watch their power consumption.
And, they were even reminding us we'd be using some of the little ol'
hydro up by the Knik crossing, and some power from Elmendorf, if I
remember correctly.
Cost a BUNCH fixin' that cable. Of course there were accusations
flyin' every which way....like why the hell was the line so shallow?
Or did the Chevron tanker really get DRAGGED over the cable, or did
it accidentally pull anchor across the cable..
Whatever...
Nice quiet, deep water port, when Ice free, Huh.
ffurG
--
Glacier Gruff, Esq. rs...@aurora.alaska.eduSPAM