Princess - Anchorage pre-cruise

[Mully too]

Has anyone done a precruise in Anchorage with Princess? If so,do they only use the Capt. Cook hotel or can you stay in other hotels? Any info would be appreciated.

 

Jan

[Budget Queen]

Princess does use the Cpt. Cook Hotel, but other property as well. BUT always compare pricing yourself, most times this is the most costly way to book. Rates are per person, not per room.

 

If you are worried about transfers, again very simple to arrange.

[Mully too]

Thanks budget queen - We already have our transfers for our 8/07 Alaska cruise and a room at the Capt. Cook. Was told by Princess this is the only hotel they use. We think it is expensive and would like to stay in a less expensive hotel. However,if we book on our own,can we still use the Princess transfers and will they pick us up and get us to the ship even if we don't book the hotel through them. Any advise you can give me would be appreciated.

 

Jan

[fti]

Thanks budget queen - We already have our transfers for our 8/07 Alaska cruise and a room at the Capt. Cook. Was told by Princess this is the only hotel they use. We think it is expensive and would like to stay in a less expensive hotel. However,if we book on our own,can we still use the Princess transfers and will they pick us up and get us to the ship even if we don't book the hotel through them. Any advise you can give me would be appreciated.

 

Jan

 

As much as the people on this board are helpful, I really don't think this is a question you want definiitively answered by anyone besides Princess. If someone here gives you info that turns out to be wrong, you are the one bearing the consequences. Call Princess or contact the TA you booked your cruise through and ask them this question. You will sleep much better at night!

 

Having said that, I am pretty sure Princess will sell you transfers to/from the ship, but not necessarily picking up and dropping you off at your hotel. I think they use Egan Center or some place named similar (you can do a search for prior threads since it has been mentioned a lot). But I still strongly suggest you contact Princess directly on this one.

[NancyIL]

You don't need the Princess transfers to get to Whittier. You can take the regularly scheduled Alaska Railroad that leaves downtown Anchorage at 10:00 and arrives in Whittier ~ 12:20 for $58/pp. You'll arrive early enough that you could take advantage of one of the Prince William Sound cruises that departs Whittier at ~ 1:30:

 

http://www.26glaciers.com

http://majormarine.com/Cruises/Prince_William_Sound_Glacier_Cruise/

 

You can also arrange transportation via motorcoach for the 11:00 PWS cruise to Esther Passage: http://www.princewilliamsound.com/577.cfm?itemid=gac

or the train for the 1:30 Blackstone Glacier cruise: http://www.princewilliamsound.com/578.cfm?itemid=gac

[bunduo]

Not to be contrary, but I've found that some of the people who post on cruise critic to be MORE reliable than the customer service at some of the cruiselines. If you hang around the board enough, you will start to see the posters who give the most reliable advice. :)

 

You have probably shopped around for other hotels in ANC. If not, you will find it very difficult to find a 'reasonable' rate.

 

-Matt

[ARRTrain]

Princess mainly uses the Cook Hotel, they also use the Hilton on 3rd. I think they go to the Hilton when they can't get enough rooms at the Cook.

 

As stated before there's other ways than Princess to get you to the ship. The ARR is a good choice, it gets you there early and you are probably the first ones to board the ship. The train arrives before the busses. But on the other hand the busses might take you to the Portage Wildlife Area.

[NancyIL]

Don't know why I didn't think of this earlier...the Alaskan Leopard Comedy Tour shuttle bus: http://www.alaskanleopard.com/Tours/index.htm

[Budget Queen]

YES, you can purchase a Princess transfer independently- a fact. :) Problem with contacting Princess directly- some of the phone service people don't even know Alaska is a state. :)

 

Anyway, from ANY downtown hotel, you are just a short cab ride away from the Princess pick up point- Egan Center. The rail - booked direct, is also just a short cab ride away and will be about the same cost as the Princess transfer. Leaves about 10am. Easy and direct.

 

I greatly value the accurate information that is on this board.

[fti]

I also greatly value the info on this board and feel it is very accurate. However, to rely on advice here when it pertains to a very specific question that a traveler will have to end up contacting the source for anyway, why not just contact the source to begin with? Travel insurance is another good example - "what is covered" is a common question on this board. Well, as much as we would like to say what we think is covered and what was covered in my policy last year or even yesterday, it behooves the poster to check out the source. I don't know of any travel insurance company that paid a claim based on the information provided on this or any other board. Just my opinion of course.

[Mully too]

Thanks everyone - I value all your opinions. I guess I will contact my TA and let her figure it out for me.

 

Jan