Whittier - Anchorage Transfer & Time Question

[NukeTim]

Anyone have suggestions what to do between time we arrive in Whittier (port) and 11pm return flight from Anchorage airport? A tour and transfer would take up some of the day, but still would be back in Anchorage early afternoon. Anyone know of a hotel with a day rate where you can stay until 9pm or so. If we have to pay the full rate and leave the next day, anyone know of an inexpensive Alaskan hotel (I know that's any oxymoron).

[Cactus]

Rent a car and return at the airport.

Booked:
Island Princess 06/26/04
Alaska
Grand Princess 03/19/05 Western Caribbean

Completed:
Golden Princess 03/20/04
Eastern Caribbean
Star Princess 10/11/03
Mexican Riviera

[Budget Queen]

TAKE ADVANTAGE of being in Anchorage. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif I would also suggest you maybe consider one of the excellent day cruises out of Whittier, then take the regular run of the Alaska RR? But this would require a later flight- you do need 2 hours prior at the Anchorage Airport. If not that option- I would take an early bus with a drop off at the airport and rent a car for the day. Request their visitor guide www.anchorage.net (http://www.anchorage.net)

[MLinFL]

We had the same question - about the day rate for a hotel. We ended up booking the Courtyard by Marriott at the airport (regular "night" rate). Since there are 2 couples, we are sharing the room. Don't really plan on sleeping, but wanted to have a place for our luggage and to "crash" if we were really tired. We are also renting a car. Our flight does not leave until 1:00am the next morning (Sunday). Perhaps getting the room was a little extreme, but we just wanted to have some options, not knowing how tired we would be. Also, since we are sharing the cost ($130)with the other couple, it doesn't seem so bad.

Mary Lou

***Waiting for 8/1/04 when we tour the Canadian Rockies and cruise Alaska on the Island Princess!***

[Kevin]

I remember the wait for the 1:18am Delta flight as being one of the longest days in my life.

We were traveling with my parents, my wife's parents, and an aunt.

They kick you off the ship real early so they can get ready for the next batch of people. Everyone was already grumpy from having to get up so early and the fact that the vacation was over.

We took a tour of Anchorage. We saw the water airport, the underground house, the 24 hour post office. We got something to eat for lunch.

After that we stayed at the Princess hospitality center until it closed at 4:00pm. The bus driver knew everyone on the bus was not leaving until after midnight so he took us on a tour of Anchorage.

We saw the water airport, the underground house, the 24 hour post office.

At the airport is where everyone turned nasty. My wife and I decided we would get a taxi and find somewhere to eat dinner. We had found a brochure in the airport that described an italian restaurnat in the Capt. Cook hotel. At the last minute everyone decided to go.

At least at the time, taxi's were limited to carrying 6 people even if it was a minivan that seated 8. We ended up having to take two cabs there.

Once at the hotel it turns out it was an itialian themed bar.

They did have a restaurant up on the top floor though. We headed up there.

It turns out it is a 5-star type restaurant. (Coat and tie requested) We were wearing jeans and tee shirts in preparation for an 18 hour wait and 7 hour flight.

They seated us in a room to ourselves so we would not bother the other guests.

They brought out the menu. Every thing on the menu sounded gross. The only thing anyone was even remotely interested in was the crab legs. They were $49.95 for a 1/4 pound. Now we had just spent at least $20000 between the 7(4 cabins, 3 people did a land tour first) of us but that was just too much to pay for food we really did not want.

We told them to bring the check so we could pay for the drinks but they just let us go. I think they were happy we left.

Now we still needed somewhere to eat. We asked around in the hotel and found out where there was a real italian restaurant not too far away. It was just a few blocks but my mom can not walk that far. We called for a set of cabs. Only one came. My wife and I decided to just walk and catch up at the restuarant.

Everyone finally perked up when they got some food into their systems. We only had 6 more hours until our flight left......

Our Cruise Info Page (http://www.interactivecruises.com)

[MLinFL]

Kevin,

After reading your post, I think we made the right decision on booking the room and reserving the car.

Do you remember the name of the Italian restaurant and were it was located?

Thanks!

Mary Lou

***Waiting for 8/1/04 when we tour the Canadian Rockies and cruise Alaska on the Island Princess!***

[Kevin]

I don't remember the name of the restaurant, just that is within walking distance of the Captain Cook hotel.

Our Cruise Info Page (http://www.interactivecruises.com)

[Budget Queen]

You would have been better off staying downtown at the Egan Center- since that is the area you taxied back to?? Anyway- there are plenty of great resturantes in Anchorage- but a car makes getting around a whole lot easier. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif