3 questions about Regent coach to Seward

[poss]

Is there a bathroom on the bus?
Is there a preferred side for best viewing?
Are any beverages served?

Thanks x 3.

[Rally]

Is there a bathroom on the bus?
Is there a preferred side for best viewing?
Are any beverages served?

Thanks x 3.

There is a bathroom on the bus. Drinks are not served.

[cruiseej]

And you want to be on the RIGHT side going from Anchorage to Seward.

-- Eric

[Host Dan]

There is a bathroom on the bus. Drinks are not served.
I guess thats better than drinks being served and NO bathroom on the bus!! :D

Host Dan

[Rally]

I guess thats better than drinks being served and NO bathroom on the bus!! :D

Host Dan

Could be a horrible trip: free drinks, no bathroom, and on the WRONG side of the bus =)

[poss]

Thanks, Rally.

Dan, at our age, we don't need to have drinks to need the bathroom! :-)

Eric: I am definitely not interested in participating in a "running of the brides," a la Filene's basement, or a Pamplona-type stampede. But if we can manage the right side in a civilized manner, that's what we'll do-- thanks.

[cruiseej]

[QUOTE=poss;20409769I am definitely not interested in participating in a "running of the brides," a la Filene's basement, or a Pamplona-type stampede. But if we can manage the right side in a civilized manner, that's what we'll do-- thanks.[/QUOTE]

It's hard to imagine Pamplona-style stampede with just 40-50 people getting on a bus, but I get your drift. ;)

I don't know how they queue up for the bus, but I'd just try to position yourself near the door of the hotel or outside near the bus, if you can. That way, you'll have far fewer people you need to knock down. ;)

Seriously, remember that a good number of people on your bus won't have done the research you've done -- well, few people anywhere have done the research for this trip that you've done! -- and won't even know there's a preferred side, or which side is preferred. So you don't have to worry about being on the bus first, just not in the last third to board.

-- Eric

[breezepark]

So when I get on the bus, I can figure all the cruise critic readers will be on the right:)

Being more familiar with buses than limos, I think the best seats are usually the 2 in front (not behind the driver of course). Depending on whether they pick up at the Hilton or the Sheraton first, you may have a crack at those, Poss.

Alaska is so beautiful, any view that presents itself is enjoyable. But I appreciate the info and will choose the right side if any seats are left there after we wander onboard:)

[Rally]

It's hard to imagine Pamplona-style stampede with just 40-50 people getting on a bus, but I get your drift. ;)

I don't know how they queue up for the bus, but I'd just try to position yourself near the door of the hotel or outside near the bus, if you can. That way, you'll have far fewer people you need to knock down. ;)

Seriously, remember that a good number of people on your bus won't have done the research you've done -- well, few people anywhere have done the research for this trip that you've done! -- and won't even know there's a preferred side, or which side is preferred. So you don't have to worry about being on the bus first, just not in the last third to board.

-- Eric

I can only comment on the bus from the Anchorage HIlton to Seward. There were three buses and we were assigned to the first one (they might have been about 15 - 30 minutes apart?) Anyway, since one grandchild was reputed to have motion sickness (which we are happy to inform his parents that is does NOT get car sick/sea sick, at least not when us =) we decided to go stand and wait for the bus about 15 minutes early. Yep --- 20 people in line already, all insisting they needed the first two seats because of motion sickness. Then, when the bus arrived, Regent loaded about 10 passengers who were either in wheelchairs or traveling with those in wheelchairs, onto the first rows of the bus. I had to laugh. So, we were about half-way back on the bus (and the driver whispered to us that we should seat the kids on the left for the best views.) I didn't see anyone get sick or turn green, very few used the bathroom, and we arrived hours before the people on the train.

[poss]

Rally: Best view going south is on the LEFT???

[Rally]

Rally: Best view going south is on the LEFT???

Well, to tell the truth we thought the view from both sides was pretty spectacular, but I guess if the consensus is that the best view going NORTH is on the RIGHT, then the best view going SOUTH would be on the LEFT, right? ;)

[Ka Honu]

Right or left side of the bus depends on whether you want to look at (and across) Turnagain Arm (right side southbound) or the mountains. Both are great views but I'd probably recommend the land views - left side southbound (I wouldn't want to miss the site of some of my finest indiscretions - the burned out hulk of the Bird House bar just past Bird Creek).

[cruiseej]

Well, to tell the truth we thought the view from both sides was pretty spectacular, but I guess if the consensus is that the best view going NORTH is on the RIGHT, then the best view going SOUTH would be on the LEFT, right? ;)

True, there are nice views everywhere.:)

Driving the Turnagain Arm going south, the left side is mostly looking directly up the side of the mountains which runs down to the road. In the spring and early summer, it's a nice view because there are spots of snow still on the mountain, and the mix of rocks, green, and white is very pretty. Now that the snow is off everything except the mountaintops, through, I don't think it's as scenic in general as the view out the right side -- which is across the water towards the mountains on the north end of the Kenai peninsula.

After Portage, a little less than halfway to Seward, the road turns inland and climbs onto the Kenai peninsula. For this part of the trip, my recollection from my three drives here, is that the differences between left and right are much less pronounced; I might slightly prefer the left side southbound, but I don't think it matters too much. So I'm basing my comments about side on the Turnagain Arm portion of the trip.

I've included a few photos showing the views on the mountain (left) and Arm (right) side. (These are from my trip last year in May, so there will be less snow on the mountains and more green on the hills when you're there in August.)

-- Eric

[Rally]

True, there are nice views everywhere.:)

Driving the Turnagain Arm going south, the left side is mostly looking directly up the side of the mountains which runs down to the road. In the spring and early summer, it's a nice view because there are spots of snow still on the mountain, and the mix of rocks, green, and white is very pretty. Now that the snow is off everything except the mountaintops, through, I don't think it's as scenic in general as the view out the right side -- which is across the water towards the mountains on the north end of the Kenai peninsula.

After Portage, a little less than halfway to Seward, the road turns inland and climbs onto the Kenai peninsula. For this part of the trip, my recollection from my three drives here, is that the differences between left and right are much less pronounced; I might slightly prefer the left side southbound, but I don't think it matters too much. So I'm basing my comments about side on the Turnagain Arm portion of the trip.

I've included a few photos showing the views on the mountain (left) and Arm (right) side. (These are from my trip last year in May, so there will be less snow on the mountains and more green on the hills when you're there in August.)

-- Eric

This is starting to sound like the all-you-can-eat-buffet story: it's all so good shouldn't I just take a lot of everything? What's not to like? Take what you like and can enjoy and leave the rest for the next visit? What do I know.

[Jbrown2820]

does the same seating suggestion apply for the train? Or did i read the seats are assigned?

[marycang]

I know this isn't the place to do a roll call. but are any of you on the Aug. 12 cruise? We will be on that cruise out of Vancouver. Hope to meet any of you on that cruise

[Rally]

I know this isn't the place to do a roll call. but are any of you on the Aug. 12 cruise? We will be on that cruise out of Vancouver. Hope to meet any of you on that cruise
Correct.

[cruiseej]

does the same seating suggestion apply for the train? Or did i read the seats are assigned?

Yes seats are assigned on the train, so you probably won't have any choice. (But on the train, you can get up and move around.) And yes, since the train tracks run literally right alongside the road for the portion along the Turnagain Arm, the views on the train will be similar to the bus or a car.

-- Eric

[MsBatt]

The seats are assigned on the train but not until just before you board, when they give you passes with car and seat numbers. We knew enough to be early, get as close to the front of the line as we could, and when we got to the place where the seat tickets were handed out, we asked if we could have two that faced front. Which we could, and it worked out fine for us.

[llorear]

marycang, go to the rssc Mariner roll call & there is a roll call for the 8/12 voyage & yes we are on that one.
Linda