EP23

First time cruiser and also first time using princess. And I am already thinking this cruise going to be a lot of chaotic issues. I am planing our boarding day at Whittier for the Alaska south bound cruise to Vancouver on Aug 3rd. On the personzier, i saw a transfer option pre cruise for $59 per person either from airport or coach. And I also know the train run at 9:30 am at anchorage to Whittier on same day as well, but princess does not seem to offer the train as one of their transportation or excursion online. So I called princess to ask if they know how often the transfer run from anchorage airport or hotel to Whittier? And what is their rough time schedule like? Are they wheelchair accessible (since husband is paralyzed), they answered me they don’t have access to the information…..so I asked if there a bus company running that transfer I can call to get the information? He said he does not have access to that….. Then I ask if princess has package for the train ride to Whittier as their transfer or excursions before the cruise. I said I wouldn’t find that information on the personizer. First he told me to check with princess AFTER the boarding. 😂 so I asked “ you mean I should ask princess about the train rail to the port AFTER I already board the princess cruise? Then he told me he needs assistance to get the answer. And back after 3 minutes he told me to just book with the Alaska railroad directly instead. Since I read about the railroad will ship our luggage directly at the check in at anchorage to our room on princess cruise, if we book directly with the railroad, how the luggage transfer be done? Representative seems to have no experience or knowledge of the cruise or transport. Keep refer me to the website, which I wouldnt see or find the information I need, that’s why the call. I am needing some help planning my transfer from anchorage to Whittier and want to have a few options available since we may have a group of 8 people and some may want different way to get there. I know the Alaska railroad have transfer bus and cost $75 and is wheelchair accessible and only run at 3 pm that day. And other vendor that I contacted ( those some included tour to wildlife center and the glacier), there are not wheelchair accessible but they have a lot of options so if other group want to do that, it will be fine. I also check out the railroad options as well, is it true princess does not sell transfer package ? I can definitely book the train myself as well, but not sure if it is easier for the check in and boarding process if we buy the train ride ticket form princess. And they run at 9:30am and arrive at 12:15 ish. Now I would also like to know the one princess mentioned on their website site, while the representative said “dont have access to info”, what time they run that shuttle? And how often? Cause it seems to be the cheapest options compare to the third part bus and train ride. Also, who should we talk to for the princess cruise to get help. Their associates answering the phone seem to only know a very little about specific details about the cruise itself… Thank you for all the help in advance.

I am actually planing it myself. I have done quit a bit of research… Family really wants to try Denali…. Which I already told them Denali road close, only able to do 1/3 of the road there due to landslide. 70 % of people cannot see the Denali mountain due to weather. Need to take tour bus. Only able to drive the first 15 miles out own. Need to drive at least 6 hours one way to get there, road driving there is not as scenic, nothing interesting on the way to Denali except maybe at Palmer have little something, so very boring drive, and wildlife is not guarantee, even you see them, they maybe very very far away….. guess what. They still want to go 😂 🤦🏻‍♀️

Surprise surprise! it is princess … 😔 they take out Skagway and put icy strait…. And we really want to do train ride at Skagway but now … just not possible 😔

Also thank you everyone for their input. Definitely will let the family know all the details about the cruise. And I will probably let them decide. Mother in law hate to do things last minutes but we are also going with a few other younger adult that like to have adventures! thank you so much for everyone input! Really helpful !

Thank you so much for the inside insight about the cruise!

I believe this spark a lot of discussion due to Princess refusal to give people their latest check in time. (I have talked to a few of their representatives, they all told me I am cutting it too close 😔) then I talked to a specialized cruise travel agent, he said it is too much of a gamble ( he literally said, you don’t ask for what you win, but you need to ask can you handle the lose, which is potentially missing your cruise). And another experienced Alaska cruise enthusiast said there may be a “reason” princess does not offer this excursion for your cruise. It is only for those B2B passenger. One reason behind they cannot allow you to check in so late. so with all these, now make me think about the Kenai Fjord tour instead of this 26 glacier tour due to timing constraints 😔

Hello everyone, I am planing a 2024 July to Aug alaska trip for the family. We can arrive midnight on sunday July 28. Will rent a car. So far confirmed 4 people (may add 2 more), me, paralyzed husband on wheelchair (foldable, will bring power and manual), mother and father in law (both age 70 +). Into seeing wildlife and nature. Not into mine or museum, But mother in law would like to see totem. I have done some survey and research of what the family want to do. 1. Denali nation park. 2. Train ride ( we will be driving the Turnagain and to wildlife center, so the train ride from anchorage to Whitter may not be as "WOW" since we will be driving there once already, any other route for suggestion? - Our ports are Icy strait point, Juneau, Ketchikan, ***NO Skagway) 3. Land Tour (preferred), boat tour or flight tour to see bears catching fishs, glaciers, marine wildlife (budget $400, saw some cheapest for bear viewing by boat one ask for $675) I have researched some locations so am familiar with areas such as Palmer. But have not been looking at Homer or Seward area yet. So would like to know for a 5.5 day pre cruise land trip (which includes drive all the way up to Denali - mostly will eat up at least 2.5 days), dose anyone have suggestions of where to take a train ride and tour (self or guided, Land preferred due to disability) to see animal beside of Denali park? I was looking at some boat tour from Homer or anchor point to chinitna bay in lake Clark national park. But worry about not have enough time for all. also thinking about taking a train ride from anchorage to Seward for some cruise tour and visit the exit glacier so that the family can check out the bucket list. But also may not have time for all. ( also wonder the train ride from anchorage to Whittier vs girlhood to Seward , which route more scenic? ) Thank you in advance. I have other suggested NOT to go to homer or Seward location due to time restrictions and have disabled family that may take even longer time for transmute. Thought about that ?

I am very new to this forum. Didn’t realize there is an Alaska page of this. Will definitely post it there as well. Thank you for the suggestion.

Hello everyone, I am planing a 2024 July to Aug alaska trip for the family. We can arrive midnight on sunday July 28. Will rent a car. So far confirmed 4 people (may add 2 more), me, paralyzed husband on wheelchair (foldable, will bring power and manual), mother and father in law (both age 70 +). Into seeing wildlife and nature. Not into mine or museum, But mother in law would like to see totem. I have done some survey and research of what the family want to do. 1. Denali nation park. 2. Train ride ( we will be driving the Turnagain and to wildlife center, so the train ride from anchorage to Whitter may not be as "WOW" since we will be driving there once already, any other route for suggestion? - Our port is Icy strait point, Juneau, Ketchikan, ***NO Skagway) 3. Land Tour (preferred), boat tour or flight tour to see bears catching fishs, glaciers, marine wildlife (budget $400, saw some cheapest for bear viewing by boat one ask for $675) I have researched some locations so am familiar with areas such as Plamer. But have not been looking at Homer or Seward area yet. So would like to know for a 5 and half day pre cruise land trip (which includes drive all the way up to Denali - mostly will eat up at least 2.5 days there), dose anyone have suggestions of where to take a train ride and tour (self or guided, Land preferred due to disability) to see animal beside of Denali park? Thank you in advance. I have other suggested NOT to go to homer or Seward location due to time restrictions and have disabled family that may take even longer time for transmute. Thought about that ?

😊 I will definitely keep that one in mind. In future I will definitely look into it. In law and hubby have already been making the decision of getting on this princess cruise and maybe a bit too late to switch since this trip will be in 2024 Aug. but as I do more research, I believe Alaska worth a second visit again in the future. So much to do and to see. Thank you everyone for the information!

I contacted the 26 glacier for information and to book with them directly. That pretty much imply I guess if anything happened that we are not able to get on cruise. It is on us totally. Not princess and not 26 glacier tour. 😔

Thank you everyone for the inputs again! I contacted the 26 glacier, they said they have package with the train ride so they do expect to have passenger arriving by the train. So the train depart at anchorage at 9:45am, and train ride last 2.5 hours. Will arrive at Whittier at 12:15. while the 26 glacier depart at 12:30pm and back at 6:20pm. With that say, I do see the timing is very tight, leave no room for error. And not sure if princess even allow us to check in with them after 6:30pm….. And seems like all the comment was about having a back to back trip. Not before boarding the cruise. I do have other mentioned that there is a reason that princess does not offer the excursions before the cruise. And this would be too much of a gamble….. 😔

Thank you for the inside insight! That make me think twice about the 26 glacier tour now since husband will not able to walk at all. So he would be missing a lot of the scenery. the only reason I thought this would be a good idea is that we still doing something for Saturday before boarding the cruise to make the most of our trip. We are indeed landing Sunday night and have about 6 days on land in around anchorage, Denali area..plus the ports the cruise will stop at. So to have that glacier experience I was even thinking about driving to the matanuska glacier for a guided tour. But husband cannot walk so maybe only me and the in law doing it and husband just sit there ? 😵‍💫 or planing a helicopter that land on glacier but again husband cannot even stand up so we will have to lift him up into the helicopter and stay there while other walk on the glacier for that part. budget is limited and $200+ for a tour that may make us potential missing the princess cruise is iffy …unless princess said 6:40 to check in is not too late for a cruise that depart at 8:30pm.

Thank you everyone for the reply. The problem about the check in is that. We are going to take the train. And they arrive at Whittier at 12:20, and the 26 glacier tour depart at 12:30. So it basically impossible for us to check in with princess with so little time left. It is my first ever cruise, and I have no clue what is the latest time I can check in and I absolutely does not want to risk it by not able to be board the princess. And because husband is wheelchair bound so everything will take a bit longer time…. And only the 26 glacier is wheelchair accessible. The shorter cruise is not. So we are kind of stuck. Unless we skip the 26 glacier cruise completely and will feel like wasting a day just to board the princess…

Hello, 26 Glacier tour starts at 12:30pm, and back at Whittier at 6:20pm. While southbound Princess cruise from Whittier to Vancouver, depart at 8:30pm at Whittier. Called Princess, Princess refused to give me latest check-in time for boarding royal princess. Called 26 Glacier, said they don't usually have problem back to port scheduled time. Does anyone have experience taking the 26 glacier tour right before boarding Priness cruise on the same day???? I am worried 6:30 pm or even 7pm-ish is too late to board a cruise that is scheduled to depart at 8:30pm.