Anchorage Transfers/Airport

Hi,

We have booked our northbound Alaska cruise for July and will be ending in Seward. We really are not interested in Anchorage and would prefer to just fly directly home. The flights from Anchorage for us leave between 8:00pm and midnight and are overnight. I realize that the transfer to Anchorage from Seward is a long bus ride or a shorter train ride, which would still leave us in the airport for 8-12 hours if we took the transfer directly to the airport.

Does anyone have any suggestions of what to do between getting off the ship in the morning and a flight leaving Anchorage in the late evening? Even though we aren't interested in Anchorage, we would be open to walking around town or other options just to pass the time so that we wouldn't have to be stuck in the airport for so long.

Thanks for any suggestions in advance!

You might consider using for Seward - ANC

http://www.alaskacruisetransfer.com

They offer an all day tour which ends at 5:00pm at ANC. Arriving there at that time for an 8:00pm flight isn't that bad...or if you have a later flight you can checkin and then possibly make your way into town for dinner.

We have used this bus transfer before and would recommend them...nice large comfortable bus that has a restroom onboard.

Do a Kenai Fjords wildlife cruise before you leave Seward.

Or do a one way car rental from Seward (Hertz will be your only choice). You'd have a lot of great options of activities between Seward and Anchorage.

Thanks for the ideas! The Alaska Cruise Transfer seems nice. We may go with that unless we find something better that strikes our fancy.

Once you get to the airport there are some very nice large cushy chairs on the mezzanine level. The area is called the Sleeping Lady Airport Lounge. I’ve never seen more comfy chairs that are open to the public in an airport. This is the area where they also have displays of Alaska Native Art.

If you are there early enough the Alaska Aviation Museum is about 1 mile away. Not a bad walk or there is a free shuttle from the terminal that picks up outside baggage claim door 3 and across to the island. They close at 5pm.

Although you’ll be ending your trip, the visitor center is in baggage claim near carousel 3. They have Visit Anchorage post cards that you can fill out and drop in the box and they will stamp and mail for you at no charge.

Also, if you get there early before you are allowed to check your baggage, there are two storage companies. One is located behind baggage carousel 4 and the other is on the ticketing level across from TSA screening.

I do like AKStafford’s suggestion of taking a Kenai Fjords wildlife cruise. Major Marine has a 9am departure that returns at 12:30pm and then Seward Bus Line has a 2pm departure that gets into Anchorage at 5pm.

Thanks for the ideas! The Alaska Cruise Transfer seems nice. We may go with that unless we find something better that strikes our fancy.

You're very welcome...Glad to have possibly given you something to consider. Enjoy your cruise and whatever you decide will work out best for you personally.

I'd suggest a 3 hour window at the ANC airport, especially cruise ship days. The airport is also, very Art Museum like :) Plenty of interesting exhibits to also take a look at.