flcraigs5 Posted October 26, 2020 #1 Share Posted October 26, 2020 Looking for recommendations on getting from East Coast of USA (florida or Georgia) to Seward Alaska. Link to post Share on other sites
1025cruise Posted October 26, 2020 #2 Share Posted October 26, 2020 You can fly into Anchorage, then bus/train it, or sail into Seward. Link to post Share on other sites
CruiserBruce Posted October 26, 2020 #3 Share Posted October 26, 2020 19 minutes ago, 1025cruise said: You can fly into Anchorage, then bus/train it, or sail into Seward. And, for the "best" way, I would do it in my private jet, and limo down to Seward with champagne. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
donaldsc Posted October 26, 2020 #4 Share Posted October 26, 2020 Ignoring the problems that Covid is causing, the absolute best way would be to fly to Seattle and spend 2 weeks driving to Seward. It is only 2500 miles and is a really great drive. I have done we loved that part of our AK 2 1/2 month AK driving trip. Assuming that you can't do that and I think that this assumption is probably correct, flying to Anchorage and renting a car. You can easily spend a week driving around the Kenai Peninsula on your way from Anchorage to Seward. DON Link to post Share on other sites
Northern Aurora Posted October 26, 2020 #5 Share Posted October 26, 2020 While Seward has a small airstrip there is no commercial air service into Seward. The closest airport is Anchorage. The Alaska Railroad offers daily train service during the summer. Or folks can drive. Several companies offer motor coach service or you could opt for a one-way car rental. While scenery is subjective, the Alaska Railroad route is generally considered to be more scenic, but the drive is enjoyable too. Link to post Share on other sites
rkacruiser Posted October 26, 2020 #6 Share Posted October 26, 2020 1 hour ago, donaldsc said: flying to Anchorage and renting a car. You can easily spend a week driving around the Kenai Peninsula on your way from Anchorage to Seward. That's what I would recommend as the "best way" if one has the time. If not the time, fly to Anchorage and rent a car; it's a 3-3.5 hour drive to Seward. Could be longer depending upon traffic or if an accident blocks the highway for awhile. Don't want yo drive? Take the train. There is enough to experience on the Kenai Peninsula and in Seward that having a car makes sightseeing much easier. Link to post Share on other sites
oaktreerb Posted October 27, 2020 #7 Share Posted October 27, 2020 Fly into Anchorage and arrange a transfer to Seward as described by many above. The cruise line will also arrange the transfer for you. OR, fly into Vancouver and take a cruise to Anchorage (Seward). The port for Anchorage will be either Seward or Whittier depending on the cruise line. Link to post Share on other sites
diesel1973 Posted October 27, 2020 #8 Share Posted October 27, 2020 I have been going to Alaska (never a cruise) for over 20 years. Have done the drive from Eagle River to the Kenai Peninsula probably over a 100 times. Have never been bored and and it is constantly changing. Probably my favorite thing to do when up there. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
jean87510 Posted October 28, 2020 #9 Share Posted October 28, 2020 (edited) I am cruising out of Seward on RCCL Radiance and am planning on flying into Anchorage. I am pricing rental cars and cannot find anything reasonably priced for that drive. This is my first time to Alaska so I have been sticker shocked for the past couple of weeks but honestly, $418 a DAY with Hertz??? Is there something I am missing here? Or is this normal? I paid less for a rental car to drive from NJ to Alabama for 10 days. Edited October 28, 2020 by jean87510 Link to post Share on other sites
CruiserBruce Posted October 28, 2020 #10 Share Posted October 28, 2020 54 minutes ago, jean87510 said: I am cruising out of Seward on RCCL Radiance and am planning on flying into Anchorage. I am pricing rental cars and cannot find anything reasonably priced for that drive. This is my first time to Alaska so I have been sticker shocked for the past couple of weeks but honestly, $418 a DAY with Hertz??? Is there something I am missing here? Or is this normal? I paid less for a rental car to drive from NJ to Alabama for 10 days. Alaska is known for incredibly high car rental fees. Link to post Share on other sites
Langley Cruisers Posted October 28, 2020 #11 Share Posted October 28, 2020 On 10/26/2020 at 10:40 AM, donaldsc said: Ignoring the problems that Covid is causing, the absolute best way would be to fly to Seattle and spend 2 weeks driving to Seward. It is only 2500 miles and is a really great drive.... Even with your disclaimer, what you are suggesting is not possible at this time. Maybe some day - - but at the moment the border is closed to non-essential travel and people have been turned around when they tried to enter Canada. IF one was permitted to cross with the intention of driving to Alaska, they are issued an "in-transit" pass and must go directly to Alaska, no sight seeing, no dilly-dallying. Many tourists were fined this past summer for sight-seeing on their way to Alaska. I realize you said this is the "best way" and in a perfect world it would be an exceptional drive, but I didn't want OP to think s/he could actually do this anytime soon. 🙂 1 Link to post Share on other sites
diesel1973 Posted October 28, 2020 #12 Share Posted October 28, 2020 1 hour ago, jean87510 said: I am cruising out of Seward on RCCL Radiance and am planning on flying into Anchorage. I am pricing rental cars and cannot find anything reasonably priced for that drive. This is my first time to Alaska so I have been sticker shocked for the past couple of weeks but honestly, $418 a DAY with Hertz??? Is there something I am missing here? Or is this normal? I paid less for a rental car to drive from NJ to Alabama for 10 days. I agree with the high price of rental cars. When I first started going up to Alaska I rented cars from Rent-a Wreck. Cheap rates but some crazy cars. When I started staying 6+ weeks I would check craigs list and purchase a car needing min. repairs. Being handy with cars I would repair them and sell them when leaving. I made out pretty good financially. Now I just use one of my nephews cars. Link to post Share on other sites
flcraigs5 Posted October 28, 2020 Author #13 Share Posted October 28, 2020 Thanks for the replies everyone. I have looked up the alaska railroad and think maybe that is my choice. At least right now LOL.... was also looking at starting in Fairbanks instead of Anchorage. For those that have been to both which has more to see? Link to post Share on other sites
jean87510 Posted October 28, 2020 #14 Share Posted October 28, 2020 1 hour ago, CruiserBruce said: Alaska is known for incredibly high car rental fees. It would seem so! As well as everything else. However, we are looking forward to it. Link to post Share on other sites
rkacruiser Posted October 28, 2020 #15 Share Posted October 28, 2020 4 hours ago, jean87510 said: I am cruising out of Seward on RCCL Radiance and am planning on flying into Anchorage. I am pricing rental cars and cannot find anything reasonably priced for that drive. This is my first time to Alaska so I have been sticker shocked for the past couple of weeks but honestly, $418 a DAY with Hertz??? Is there something I am missing here? Or is this normal? I paid less for a rental car to drive from NJ to Alabama for 10 days. You simply have to shop for a rental car. When I did my shopping for the Summer, 2019, Hertz was the highest of any of the major companies. In the lower 48, I have had good experience with Enterprise. Their rates were less than Hertz, but not what I was willing to pay. I finally found a good rate with Budget. What I experienced, however, was NOT a "budget" experience. A brand new Ford Focus with less than 2000 miles on it, Sirius XM radio was included, check-in and check-out at ANC was as hassle free as it could have been. Next time I need a rental car, Budget will be my first place to shop. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
jean87510 Posted October 28, 2020 #16 Share Posted October 28, 2020 Thx. Sorry to hog the post. Appreciate all the tips that i read on here. Link to post Share on other sites
donaldsc Posted October 29, 2020 #17 Share Posted October 29, 2020 10 hours ago, jean87510 said: It would seem so! As well as everything else. However, we are looking forward to it. The problem w one way rentals either to or from Seward is that I believe that Hertz has the monopoly on Seward rentals. The same problem exists for Whittier. I feel that renting a car in AK is worth it at almost any price and have done it several times as I will not do tours, I want the Freedom of a car, I hate trains because they don't stop when and where I want them to do and I can afford the cost of the car rental. I can understand however that many people don't have the same attitude that I have. DON 1 Link to post Share on other sites
AKStafford Posted October 29, 2020 #18 Share Posted October 29, 2020 23 hours ago, flcraigs5 said: Thanks for the replies everyone. I have looked up the alaska railroad and think maybe that is my choice. At least right now LOL.... was also looking at starting in Fairbanks instead of Anchorage. For those that have been to both which has more to see? If it was me, I'd fly into Anchorage and rent a car. Four days before your cruise would be nice, a week is better and 10 days would be great. But even if you just had a day, before your cruise, I'd still fly into Anchorage. The drive from Fairbanks to Anchorage can be about an 8 hour drive, and while it's scenic, the scenery is repetitive. Plus a one-way rental from Fairbanks to Anchorage will have an expensive drop off fee. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Suzanne123 Posted October 30, 2020 #19 Share Posted October 30, 2020 I reserved a six day, round trip Anchorage, intermediate size Alamo car from Costco for $376 for next July. That’s more than we usually pay, but still a pretty good price for Alaska. Link to post Share on other sites
rkacruiser Posted October 30, 2020 #20 Share Posted October 30, 2020 8 hours ago, Suzanne123 said: I reserved a six day, round trip Anchorage, intermediate size Alamo car from Costco for $376 for next July. That’s more than we usually pay, but still a pretty good price for Alaska. That seems rather low. Does that price include all of the taxes, fees, etc.? Link to post Share on other sites
Suzanne123 Posted October 31, 2020 #21 Share Posted October 31, 2020 4 hours ago, rkacruiser said: That seems rather low. Does that price include all of the taxes, fees, etc.? Car rental is $251.10. Taxes $125.32. 7/4/-7/10. Costco also includes a second driver at no extra charge. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
masterdrago Posted November 6, 2020 #22 Share Posted November 6, 2020 I would fly to Anchorage, rent car from Enterprise, tool around the Kenai a few days, drop the car off (in Anchorage - save $$) and then do a bus (cheaper) or train to Seward. Way cheaper than a one way Anchorage to Seward car rental. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
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