HAL Alaska Land/Cruise Tour question

[BaltimoreCruise]

For those of you on Cruise Critic that have taken a Land and Sea tour of Alaska on Holland America where the land tour is first out of Anchorage, can you share your experience or recollections on how the first day, or report day to the hotel works? 

 

For some context, we arrive in Anchorage on May 14.  On May 15 we head to Seward with stops along the way (thanks to the CC members that provided great suggestions on the AK board).  We plan to return to Anchorage on May 17 leaving Seward in the early morning.  I want to reserve a flight seeing, glacier landing, and dog sledding excursion.  We can drive our rental, or purchase transfers from Anchorage to the airstrip and back after the excursion is over.  I think we should be back in Anchorage by 5PM.  At that point we have to return our rental to the airport and proceed to the hotel, or proceed to the hotel to check-in then return the car to the airport.  

 

Your comments, suggestions and experiences are appreciated.

 

Thank you.

BC

[oaktreerb]

Does your cruise tour begin on May 17?  HAL will have your tour group staying in a hotel, most likely the Westmark or the Captain Cook.  There is a special desk at the hotel where you will check in for your tour, get your itinerary packet, your room assignment and room key.  Your itinerary will tell you where and when to meet the next morning to begin your journey.  Many travelers take the HAL transfer from the airport to the hotel and arrive in groups.  If you don’t know where to pick up your packet, just ask the front desk.  

[BaltimoreCruise]

Oaktreerb,

Thank you. Yes, our cruise tour begins on May 17.  I assume that we have all day and into the evening to check-in.  

 

BC