Transfer to Whittier

[ralphey]

Our family of 4 (kids 11 and 9) can't wait to go on our first cruise and have picked Alaska! We are from New Zealand.

We are going from Whittier to Vancouver on 14 July aboard the Coral Princess.

We have been quoted transfers from Anchorage to the ship at approximately $50 each. Is this a good deal?

Is there any other way that is of better value? Would even public transport work?

I have an awful lot of reading to do about cruising and the options available to us but we really CAN'T WAIT!!

[6rugrats]

I am not sure what you are asking. Transfers from and to where? Usually ship transfers are a huge rip-off. $50 a person is very expensive!

[Suzanne123]

A cheap alternative is the no frills, early morning transfer with Alaskan Leopard. If you use them, you can take one of the Prince William Sound glacier cruises before you board your ship. The PWS company will hold your bags.

http://www.alaskanleopard.com/Tours/index.htm

http://www.princewilliamsound.com/

[Suzanne123]

Ralphey - Lots of Alaska info on this board:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=55

[Budget Queen]

When are you getting there??? If days ahead of your sailing, then consider a one way Avis rental car. Superior for allowing you extra, not to be missed touring perhaps. With your own transportation- you have far more dining and lodging options as well.

 

Alaska RR is a good option as well. Do consider a Prince William Sound boat tour, however and don't be in a rush to get on your ship. Excellent and far superior to anything seen from the cruiseship.

[NancyIL]

Anchorage to Whittier @ $50/pp is pretty much the going rate. The train costs more. We took Alaskan Leopard from Whittier to Anchorage ($52+ tax/pp) last year, and that gives a nice little tour along the way. IF you don't mind driving on the other side of the road - a rental car from Avis, as Budget Queen suggested, might not cost much more than a transfer for 4 people. However, if your trip is July 2008 - you could have trouble finding availablility at this late date.

[ddg64]

I just posted this here:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=14930718&postcount=5

 

This will show you a cheaper ($19 per person) way to get from Anchorage to Whittier.

[eaglewingks]

How would we do this tour the other way around? We will be arriving at the end of our cruise in Whittier and would like to do this tour, but the 'leopard' shuttle leaves before the 'Sound' tour is over. $188 seems like a lot when we only need transport one way. Is there any way to do this and get to Anchorage that same evening? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[NancyIL]

How would we do this tour the other way around? We will be arriving at the end of our cruise in Whittier and would like to do this tour, but the 'leopard' shuttle leaves before the 'Sound' tour is over. $188 seems like a lot when we only need transport one way. Is there any way to do this and get to Anchorage that same evening? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

The cost of the roundtrip transportation to Whittier is about what you will pay for a one-way transfer. You could use 2-for-1 coupons for the PWS tour, and then book the train to Anchorage separately.