Princess Anchorage options

[cusematt4]

Hi all - does anyone know how to book a Princess transfer the morning of a cruise from Anchorage to Whittier?  Does anyone know what this costs per person and if it’s worth booking through Princess?  I’m not seeing it as an add on option.  Thanks!

[GJCruiser]

Transfers must be arranged through whomever you are booking your cruise through. There is no information available on line.

 

There are private shuttle services available.

[cusematt4]

Thanks!  The person at princess didn’t have info on a pre cruise transfer.

 

Trying to figure out if

-a night in anchorage makes sense with a  Princess transfer the morning of to Whittier

-a night in anchorage makes sense with a  non-Princess transfer the morning of to Whittier

-a non Princess transfer to Whittier the day or night prior and a one night stay in Whittier

 

Thanks!

[voljeep]

book the rail, not the bus

[GJCruiser]

You must speak to the agency that you have reserved the cruise through. If Princess, contact your Travel Planner with them.

Princess will have a hotel stay with transfer available. You can also arrange your own hotel and take the Princess transfer. Or you can get your own hotel and arrange private shuttle service. Or use the train as mentioned above.

 

There is no where to stay in Whittier. So you must stay in Anchorage and arrange transport for the morning of your embarkation.

[cusematt4]

Thank you, this is all very helpful.

 

I will take a look at the 3 options

-Princess hotel and transfer

-Princess transfer own hotel

-Non Princess transfer own hotel 

[BamaVol]

Our TA booked the princess shuttle for us. It was as much a tour as transportation. I really learned a lot and enjoyed it. I think it was $40 each. 

[skynight]

Fairly certain a Princess pre-cruise hotel package comes with airport to hotel & hotel to ship transfers. Is this what you have booked?

[voljeep]

1 hour ago, skynight said:

Fairly certain a Princess pre-cruise hotel package comes with airport to hotel & hotel to ship transfers. Is this what you have booked?

seems to me at least, based on the numerous threads the OP has started, the OP booked a basic 7 day cruise, and is now trying to add to that with transfers and lodges

[skynight]

3 hours ago, voljeep said:

seems to me at least, based on the numerous threads the OP has started, the OP booked a basic 7 day cruise, and is now trying to add to that with transfers and lodges

If this is the situation then there are a few options. Add a Princess pre-cruise hotel option which comes with the transfers, or book the hotel and transfers on their own.  I don't know if it's possible to just book a Princess transfer from the hotel to the ship. Maybe. But if they aren't staying in the same hotel(s) Princess uses then they would have to get over to that hotel to get the transfer. 

[SCX22]

If you go into your Cruise Personalizer and click on the Travel tab and scroll down towards the bottom of the page, you will come across the ability to add transfers in a drop down menu.  The drop down menu will show you if there are any alternative pick-up points for embarkation day transfer and price.  Make sure to pay for the transfer same day as it will drop from the booking if not.

[azbirdmom]

From pages 94 and 95 of the Princess 2024 Alaska brochure (here: https://www.princess.com/html/global/brochures/pc/2024-alaska.pdf )

 

 

[TW6cruiser]

On 9/28/2023 at 3:53 PM, cusematt4 said:

Thanks!  The person at princess didn’t have info on a pre cruise transfer.

 

Trying to figure out if

-a night in anchorage makes sense with a  Princess transfer the morning of to Whittier

-a night in anchorage makes sense with a  non-Princess transfer the morning of to Whittier

-a non Princess transfer to Whittier the day or night prior and a one night stay in Whittier

 

Thanks!

Last year we took a cruise out of Whittier.  We flew into Anchorage two days before the cruise to be sure we did not miss the ship and to see some things around Anchorage. We booked two hotel nights through Princess at the Captain Cook hotel that included a rail transfer to the ship the day of the cruise.  Yes, we paid more for the hotel than we could have paid at other hotels, but for us it was worth having the security of the transfer.  Not only was the train trip a pretty ride (Princess does also have a bus option) but you should be aware that going from Anchorage to Whittier is not like going to other ports.  There is a one way tunnel on the way that the train and buses/autos go through and it is open and closed at various times.  Also, we were able to book a tour from the Princess folks at the hotel for one afternoon pre cruise. 

[cruisequeen4ever]

The Princess transfers leave from Egan Center downtown and the airport. 
 

For least risk- do the Princess transfer with or without their hotel

 

For best views and legroom- Do the Alaska Railroad independently

[NavyVeteran]

1 hour ago, cruisequeen4ever said:

The Princess transfers leave from Egan Center downtown and the airport. 
 

For least risk- do the Princess transfer with or without their hotel

 

For best views and legroom- Do the Alaska Railroad independently

You stated that booking the Alaska Railroad independently gives the best views and legroom. Are the views and legroom really better than the rail transfer I booked with the hotel from Princess?