Hotels in Anchorage

[CruisersfromMD]

My DH and I will be staying 2 nights in Anchorage before heading to Seward and then on our cruise.

I have been doing some research and checking prices. I want to stay in the downtown area so that we can walk to many different places.

I narrowed it down to 3 hotels and I am wondering if anyone has stayed at any:
- Anchorage Marriott
- Captain Cook
- Sheraton Anchorage

I was reading some reviews on cruise critic and someone commented that the Captain Cook did not have air conditioning. Being from Maryland, we use AC in the summer. Obviously, I know it will be cooler in Anchorage, but is not having AC a normal thing for that area? I am not sure about the other 2 hotels. I know people mentioned opening the windows which I am sure would be fine too.

At Captain Cook they have this Captain's Deck in Tower 2 which has a special area with great views. You can go for breakfast and evening drinks. Is that worth the extra price? (although it is not too bad compared to a regular room)

Any input positive or negative would be greatly appreciated.

[Texas Tillie]

I've stayed at both the Captain Cook and the Sheraton. Was at the Captain Cook as part of a Princess cruisetour in 2008 - so don't know about the rates. The hotel is very nice, centrally located with nice restaurants on the property. There is no air conditioning - which can be a problem on occasion. Stayed at the Sheraton in 2009 as a Priceline winner (so no choice) for $120 with all taxes, etc. The hotel is nice, but it is several blocks away from the action. Also, there's not as much available in the hotel for eating - the night I was there the restaurant wasn't open and the snack bar had closed for the day.(They were offering food in the bar - this is Alaska after all!) It does have air conditioning. Haven't been in the Marriott. So, bottom line, do consider the $$$ too.

[queen of the seas]

Originally Posted by CruisersfromMD

My DH and I will be staying 2 nights in Anchorage before heading to Seward and then on our cruise.

I have been doing some research and checking prices. I want to stay in the downtown area so that we can walk to many different places.

I narrowed it down to 3 hotels and I am wondering if anyone has stayed at any:
- Anchorage Marriott
- Captain Cook
- Sheraton Anchorage

I was reading some reviews on cruise critic and someone commented that the Captain Cook did not have air conditioning. Being from Maryland, we use AC in the summer. Obviously, I know it will be cooler in Anchorage, but is not having AC a normal thing for that area? I am not sure about the other 2 hotels. I know people mentioned opening the windows which I am sure would be fine too.

At Captain Cook they have this Captain's Deck in Tower 2 which has a special area with great views. You can go for breakfast and evening drinks. Is that worth the extra price? (although it is not too bad compared to a regular room)

Any input positive or negative would be greatly appreciated.

We stayed at the Captain Cook in Sept in Tower #2 on the 17th floor. The price was not that much more than a regular room. It included warm hors d'oeuvres in the evening and a full breakfast in the AM. There is also a refrigerator which is stocked with juices, sodas, and bottled water. I thought the room was smallish, but we did not spend much time there anyway. Not having AC did not bother us, but it was in the 60s when we were there. I believe there are ceiling fans in the room. We walked everywhere, so it is centrally located. We had an excellent view of the (I think) Cook Inlet. We did not eat dinner there, we walked to the Glacier Brewhouse down the street instead.
Have never stayed at the Marriott or Sheraton, so can't help you there.

[Gardyloo]

I would go with the Marriott as my first choice. Newer than the others and with a good location. You might price the Hilton, which also has a great location.

[CruisersfromMD]

Originally Posted by queen of the seas

We stayed at the Captain Cook in Sept in Tower #2 on the 17th floor. The price was not that much more than a regular room. It included warm hors d'oeuvres in the evening and a full breakfast in the AM. There is also a refrigerator which is stocked with juices, sodas, and bottled water. I thought the room was smallish, but we did not spend much time there anyway. Not having AC did not bother us, but it was in the 60s when we were there. I believe there are ceiling fans in the room. We walked everywhere, so it is centrally located. We had an excellent view of the (I think) Cook Inlet. We did not eat dinner there, we walked to the Glacier Brewhouse down the street instead.
Have never stayed at the Marriott or Sheraton, so can't help you there.

Thanks for the info. I have also read on tripadvisor that the views are great!

We will be able to get breakfast the first morning, but we may miss the breakfast on the second morning as we are taking the train to Seward and the train leaves at 6:45 AM. I am sure we will be up and out of hotel before 6 AM.

Small world, we were also thinking about going to the Glacier Brewhouse.

I am waiting to hear back on prices. I think my choices have been narrowed down to Captain Cook or Marriott.

[PennyAgain]

I prefer the Captain Cook but don't go to Alaska in the summer so I don't know about a/c. If you are booking with them, telephone and ask a lot of questions as the rooms do vary even within a price range. The views to the west are Cook Inlet, to the north (sometimes) McKinley/Denali and to the east the Chugach mountains. If you want a certain view, book it.

Room service at the CC is excellent. I have also booked late check out with no problems.

[ryanpatricksmom]

I stayed at the Marriott several years ago. It was a nice hotel with all of the amenities, convenient location, and the restaurant breakfast was good, but pricey. We only stayed one night, and then switched to the hotel next to the train station (it used to be a Clarion, I believe) for our early morning departure to Denali. Believe me, the Marriott was much nicer.

Dining in Alaska takes a little getting used to. We, like you, are from Maryland (Washington D.C. suburbs) and even for us, the prices were sky high. There are alot of good choices near the Marriott, but they will be comparable to NYC prices...and the service will be sloooooooow, LOL!

[CruisersfromMD]

Originally Posted by ryanpatricksmom

I stayed at the Marriott several years ago. It was a nice hotel with all of the amenities, convenient location, and the restaurant breakfast was good, but pricey. We only stayed one night, and then switched to the hotel next to the train station (it used to be a Clarion, I believe) for our early morning departure to Denali. Believe me, the Marriott was much nicer.

Dining in Alaska takes a little getting used to. We, like you, are from Maryland (Washington D.C. suburbs) and even for us, the prices were sky high. There are alot of good choices near the Marriott, but they will be comparable to NYC prices...and the service will be sloooooooow, LOL!

Good to know about the dining prices. I have created a pretty high budget for this trip due to the price of excursions (compared to Caribbean cruises).
That is funny that the prices are like NY, but the service is not faced paced like NY. LOL

Small world - we live in the DC suburbs too (in Montgomery County).

I see that you are going back to Alaska next year too. That is good to know that you liked your first cruise and you are heading back.

[psyfi]

Just to throw another option into the mix, we were considering the Grand Anchorage hotel, as well, it's less than the Captain Cook but I have heard decent reviews.

[PennyAgain]

Quite often we make our money go further by sharing an entre and having salads or soup for a starter. That and visiting grocery stores along our way.

Alaskans still expect restaurants to feed them as if they were all lumberjacks and oil field workers.

[pspercy]

I stayed at the Capt. Cook some years ago on a biz trip. It was very nice, good views and so on.
One problem we had was all the cruise passengers at breakfast time slowing down the buffet, so we got down there earlier

The only restaurants I remember are Club Paris and Simon & Seafort, both good.