Alaska CruiseTour

[ImperialLady]

8 minutes ago, georgiacat said:

When we were on the train from McKinley to Whittier, it was very chilly on the train.  I did not take off my outside coat the whole time.

Thanks, since I am often cold when the younger ones are not I will make sure I have my coat on!

[JoRoy218]

I got so many great hints here on CC, helped to know what to expect, fewer surprises. Wishing you an awesome trip! 

[ImperialLady]

1 hour ago, JoRoy218 said:

I got so many great hints here on CC, helped to know what to expect, fewer surprises. Wishing you an awesome trip! 

Thanks...we have sailed on Princess twice to Alaska but this is the first time we have been able to do the land part and the first time (hopefully) we get to go to Glacier Bay. I agree most people on Cruise Critic as so very helpful and answer the same questions again and again.

[ImperialLady]

Has anyone taken this tour at Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge?   CHULITNA GORGE TOUR (5 1/2 hrs)...if so what was your experience?  thanks

[Oscar13]

On 1/28/2023 at 2:59 PM, Torfamm said:

I did a Princess Lodges rail tour that was completely separate from my cruise and loved it. There was no bus travel nor were there lots of organized group excursions or planned meals. We could pick the excursions we wanted at each lodge or book something on our own. To me it was the best of all worlds - hotels, train tickets and transfers arranged, leave luggage outside your door each departure morning and find it in your room at the next destination but spend each day as you wish. To me, traveling every leg by train was way better than doing half by bus on a land tour.
 

https://www.princesslodges.com/alaska-rail-tours/learn/

 

i chose this unescorted 6 night tour from Fairbanks to Anchorage and would highly recommend it. 

https://www.princesslodges.com/alaska-tours/itinerary-3ts/?from_search_query=dG91clR5cGU9ZXhwbG9yZXImc2VhcmNoT25seT0w#3TS

 

I'm thinking about doing one of the rail packages.  From what I have read the tour ends up in Anchorage.  How long did you have to stay in Anchorage in order to connect with a Southbound cruise?  Next day or a couple of days?

thanks

Karen

[Torfamm]

1 hour ago, Oscar13 said:

 

I'm thinking about doing one of the rail packages.  From what I have read the tour ends up in Anchorage.  How long did you have to stay in Anchorage in order to connect with a Southbound cruise?  Next day or a couple of days?

thanks

Karen

In our case it was a couple of days.  We arrived in Anchorage late on Monday afternoon and sailed from Whitter on Wednesday. We took advantage of the time on Tuesday to do a day trip to the Matanuska Glacier and took a cruise transfer/tour that stopped at Mt. Alyeska and the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center on the way to Whittier on Wednesday. We booked with Salmonberry Tours and enjoyed both, especially the glacier hike. It was a fantastic experience and I would highly recommend it.

 

https://www.salmonberrytours.com/tour/matanuska-glacier-walk/

https://www.salmonberrytours.com/tour/anchorage-to-whittier-transfer-and-tour/

[Oscar13]

Hi Torfamm

Thank you for the info.  I was sort of hoping we had a day or 2 in Anchorage to explore.  If we don't, will just have to come back another time. 🙂  Your pictures are beautiful.  I will look into the tours also.

 

Karen