Pre cruise activities in Seward on the day of cruise

[murky1980]

First time cruisers taking HAL Zaandam from Seward to Vancouver on Sep 11th. Need some advice on pre cruise activities by ourselves.

We are landing in Anchorage on Sep 10th (around 7:00pm) and would like to find out what others had done before boarding cruise in Seward.

we are thinking about one of the following options:

Option 1. Train from Anchorage to Seward and Exit Glacier
Option 2. Shuttle from Anchorage to Seward and Kenai fjord 6 hour trip
Option 3. Train from Anchorage to Seward and Kenai fjord 6 hour trip

Ship departs at 8:00pm and checkin is between 3:00pm to 6:00pm.


Thanks.
Murky

[Nancyquilts]

Definitely option 2 or 3 if the weather is good. You can get really close to sea animals and birds and glaciers in the small boat. Sometimes they don't get too far into the fiord if the wind is too much.

[murky1980]

For option 2, train reaches around 11:00am on 11th September at Seaward and we will have luggage's with us. Will Holland America accept the luggage's once we get down from the train?

If we catch 11:30 slot to Kenai fjord and it's a 6 hour tour so we will be back by 5:30pm, will we have enough time to board Holland America cruise since boarding has to be done before 6:00pm?

AM i getting paranoid or this is fine?


Thanks,
Murky

[FulltimeRVer]

We lived in Anchorage when we retired. It was 127 miles from our house to the campground on the beach in Seward. It takes about two and a half hours.

The trip from Anchorage to Seward is wonderful (weather permitting). Personally, I would rent a car and drive it. There are many places to stop on the road for photo ops.

Stop at the Portage Valley on the way. You can see glaciers from the road in the valley, especially if you drive into the Williwaw campground. You will almost certainly see icebergs at the Portage Valley Visitor Center.

Once in Seward, don't miss the Sea Life Center. There is nothing like watching the puffins "flying" underwater as they dive for food.

If you have time, take the shortest Kenai Fjords tour available. The meals on the longer tours are lousy, and after four hours you will have seen everything there is to see. Remember, you will have great glacier viewing on your cruise.

You are in for a great time!

[wwb]

Totally agree with the last poster about renting a car and driving yourself. We rented with Alamo in Anchorage and were able to drop the car right off at the pier in Seward. Don't know if that is still the case, but you can research if interested.
Portage Glacier is beautiful.
wwb

[Willsot]

We also enjoyed driving from Anchorage to Seward and stopped to take the boat cruise to Portage Glacier. We love to eat halibut and chips in Seward and it is fun to watch the halibut charters return at the end of the day.

[murky1980]

Shortest Kenai Fjords that are available during Sep 11th is 5 hours with Major Marine tours and they don't go to tidewater glaciers.

After reading the suggestions, i think it would be better for us to rent a car and checkout Portage Glacier and take 1 hour boat ride, and the boat goes close to Glacier. Any other recommendations for places to check either in Anchorage or on the way to Seward?