Post Cruise Advice: Transportation from Whittier to Girdwood?

[antsmarching777]

Hello,

 

Planning to spend the night in Girdwood after our cruise ends in Whittier. On the morning of debarkation, does anyone have any advice on how to get from Whittier to Girdwood?

 

It's $59 per person for Princess to take us back to Anchorage. Although, we would then have to find transportation (likely Turo) and waste time doubling back to Girdwood.

 

The train is $98 per person and wouldn't get us to Girdwood until 7:45pm. That's a long day in Whittier with our bags!

 

We're always willing to take a Uber/Lyft, I'm just not sure that you could get a rideshare in/out of Whittier.

 

There are rentals still available, but we'd be looking at nearly $1000 for picking up in Whittier and dropping off the next day at the airport for our late flight.

 

Any suggestions or tips would be greatly appreciated!

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

 

[GTJ]

9 hours ago, antsmarching777 said:

On the morning of debarkation, does anyone have any advice on how to get from Whittier to Girdwood? It's $59 per person for Princess to take us back to Anchorage. Although, we would then have to find transportation (likely Turo) and waste time doubling back to Girdwood.

The easiest option would be to board one of the buses from Whittier to Anchorage, and have the driver drop you off in Girdwood on the way. Buses ordinarily stop in Girdwood at the Speedway Express service station, adjacent to the Girdwood Station Mall (there's a free local transit bus between that location and the Alyeska resort: http://glaciervalleytransit.com). The critical element is ensuring that the bus driver will make the stop for you, something you would have to arrange either in advance with the bus company, or on the day of travel with the bus driver. Generally, it is best if your baggage is carried onto the coach, or is specially loaded below the coach so as to be accessible when stopping in Girdwood (otherwise the driver won't be able to find the baggage at Girdwood!). Princess Cruises uses Royal Hyway Tours, a subsidiary of Carnival, for their motorcoach transfers. There is also the Park Connection service, operated by Premier Alaska Tours, that departs Whittier at 9:45 a.m., arriving in Girdwood at 10:25 a.m. There is also Alaska Cruise Transportation that departs Whittier at 8:45 a.m. and 11:45 a.m., arriving in Girdwood at 9:25 a.m. and 12:25 p.m. Contact information is as follows.

Royal Hyway Tours, (907) 230-2823, http://www.alaskatourjobs.com

Alaska Cruise Transportation, (907) 350-6010, http://www.alaskacruisetransfer.com

Premier Alaska Tours, (907) 279-0001, http://www.premieralaskatours.com

(The broker for Premier Alaska Tours, which arranges for the Park Connection service, is Alaska Tour & Travel, (907) 245-0200, http://www.alaskatravel.com)

 

Also, note that there are two train departures daily from Whittier. The first departure is at 12:45 p.m., which arrives in Portage at 1:15 p.m. (The second departure is at 6:45 p.m.) The Portage station is less than 10 miles from the Girdwood Station Mall. It is so close, so you might be able to arrange for taxi or TNC (Uber/Lyft) service for this 10-mile journey from Portage to Girdwood. Alternatively, the train, after stopping at Portage, makes a tourist circuit to points south. You could remain on board the train and enjoy the tour. The train will return to Portage and Whittier, and then continue to Girdwood, arriving there at 7:15 p.m.

[Glaciers]

Try Bear Valley Road Runner. Another would be PJ's Taxi.

 

https://www.bearvalleyroadrunner.com/

 

https://www.bearvalleyroadrunner.com/system/resources/W1siZiIsIjIwMjIvMTAvMTIvOGczZzF5M3Rkbl9SYXRlc18yMDIzLnBkZiJdXQ/Rates%202023.pdf?sha=a80a8935a8a403cc

 

https://www.pjstaxi.net/

 

Edited May 23 by Glaciers
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[antsmarching777]

Thanks so much for the replies! A lot of more options than I could have known, one of these should work out perfect!

[cruisin'mama]

We’re ending up in Anchorage but I’m sure it would work for Girdwood too. After disembarking, we are catching the Glacier Discovery Train that goes to Grandview. It’s very scenic. It picks us up ( and all of our luggage ) in Whittier around noon and we get back to Anchorage about 9:15pm. We love the Alaska Railroad so this was an easy decision for us.

[GTJ]

On 5/26/2023 at 4:53 PM, cruisin'mama said:

After disembarking, we are catching the Glacier Discovery Train * * * we get back to Anchorage about 9:15pm.

The Alaska Railroad also offers the option, on the way back towards Anchorage, to alight from the train at Portage and to travel by chartered bus into Anchorage. This option avoids the detour through Whittier, and reduces the travel time to Anchorage by 2-1/2 hours.

[Luv2cruz1000]

 We are looking to go the opposite. Girdwood to Whittier the day of the cruise. Do you think a bus could be reliable to stop and pick up in Girdwood if prearranged? 

[GTJ]

6 hours ago, Luv2cruz1000 said:

 We are looking to go the opposite. Girdwood to Whittier the day of the cruise. Do you think a bus could be reliable to stop and pick up in Girdwood if prearranged? 

It is always more reliable boarding at a station stop and alighting at a highway stop, than to board at a highway stop and alight at a station stop. Best to call the dispatch office to make arrangements (and if arrangements can be made then call to confirm with dispatch on day of travel). Call Premier Alaska Tours for Park Connection service, (907) 279-0001; or Alaska Cruise Transfer and Tours for Alaska Cruise Transportation service, (907) 350-6010. Expect the Park Connection bus to come through Girdwood at around 4:05 p.m. on cruise vessel days (Saturdays, Sundays, and alternate Wednesdays); expect the Alaska Cruise Transportation bus to come through Girdwood at around 11:05 a.m. and 4:05 p.m. on Saturdays and alternate Wednesdays, and at around 3:05 p.m. on Sundays. Bus travel time to Whittier is about 40 minutes.

 

Otherwise, use Alaska Railroad, departing Girdwood daily at 11:00 a.m., arriving Whittier at 12:05 p.m.

[AKJonesy]

Excellent advice here from these posters.