Glaciers

There are no steep hills between the Westlake Station and the Marriott Waterfront. Maps may tell you to head towards Pike Place Market and then along Pike Place but it will be packed with people and inconvenient with luggage. From Westlake head north along 1st or 2nd Ave and then west on Bell St. There is an elevator at the end of Bell St. down to the terminal.

The Millennium Lakefront Hotel has had several names in the past 30 years but it still appears it is the same property currently with the Coast just down the street where it has always been. Is that not the case any longer?

You won't make this flight. The earliest suggested time for a departure is noon. TSA lines can be insane at SeaTac. Even with TSA pre-check, it took us 45 minutes to get through last year.

We've been visiting Mendenhall Glacier for 30 years and used to go each visit. Haven't been for many years now as it kind of lost it's appeal. I do think for a first time visitor it still has some charm and will continue to be a main event in Juneau for several more years. The area itself is beautiful.

The Millennium Lakefront Hotel is nice. It sits on Lake Hood and they have a nice deck where you can watch the float planes come and go.

We drove up from Seattle and parked at the long term value lot at the Vancouver airport next to the Templeton Station. 2 years ago it was $135 for 2 weeks. Took the train into downtown. We'd do it again.

@julia Thank you, my mistake. Another area to post this would be on the "Mexican Riviera" thread. Maybe they have...

https://myperfectalaskacruise.com/cruise-alaska/worst-time-for-alaska-cruise/

"Fees are not necessary for accessing the parking areas, or hiking Nugget Falls Trail, East Glacier Trail, Powerline Trail, Moraine Ecology Trail, the Trail of Time, and all the Dredge Lakes and West Glacier Trails." https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tongass/about-forest/offices/?cid=stelprdb5400800

Better late than never, I suppose. In addition to having a bit more control with fewer or smaller ships the other side of this is that when supply is limited with the demand so high, Alaska cruises will be even more expensive than they are now.

I’m usually up 1 hour before entering the bay, particularly on a NB trip, as the chances for humpback sightings are good in that area. They may be at a distance so expectations shouldn’t be that they will be close if you see them at all. We were surrounded by them one trip as we exited the bay.

We’ve used it a couple of times and we did skip the long line and were put at the first of the queue. The only line that was faster was CLEAR. Although it was during a slower time at the airport before cruise season, we arrived at the airport early once and were able to reschedule to an earlier time while there.

If you end up staying at the Courtyard, walk across the street to the Lakefront/Millennium Hotel. They have a nice deck where you can watch the float planes come and go. It’s the busiest seaplane base in the world.

Left side. They views along Turnagain Arm are very nice. There is a section where you travel towards the Placer River Valley that Spencer Glacier and Grandview will be off the right side but for most of the trip, the left side is best.

The rideshare pickup area is in front of the terminal and then south in front of Anthony’s Bell Street Diner. Taxis pickup from the north end between the terminal and the Edgewater Hotel. https://www.portseattle.org/sites/default/files/2021-08/BellHarborCruiseTerminalAreaMap.pdf

Although you may not see many from the ship, you can use a gps map that will show what towns you are passing by. I use maps.me. Although free, it does require you to download maps for the regions where you’ll be using it. We’ve also used it while driving when we have no cell service.

We like the Fairmont Olympic and Inn at the Market although a bit pricey now as tourism numbers have increased. A bit more reasonable would be the Mediterranean Inn on Lower Queen Anne. It’s near many restaurants and just a 10 minute walk to the Space Needle/Seattle Center where you can catch the monorail to downtown in 3 minutes. It’s near many restaurants. Another would be Belltown Inn, within a 15 minute walk to both the Seattle Center and Pike Place Market. There are many restaurants within a couple blocks.

Another parking option is the Olympus Parking Garage on Clay St. They have a cruise special for $75/week. It would require transportation from there to Pier 91, $15-$20. About a 10 minute walk to Pier 66.

Pier 66 is within the hotel zone so Yellow Cab has flat rate for $40 from there to the airport. We’ve used it a couple times and it has been reliable. We did pay a bit more, maybe $42, due to traffic.

I think staying in Seward is a great idea. A rental would give you the most options to stop along the way from Seward to Anchorage, if you could find a vehicle to accommodate everyone and luggage. The kids would probably love the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. There are occasionally dall sheep at Windy Corner at Mile 106 that you could stop for. Sometimes beluga whales in the inlet and if you’re timing is good, the bore tide is a neat experience watching the standup paddle boarders ride the wave. You’d hit Potter Marsh and the boardwalk just prior to getting to Anchorage.

If not the Edgewater or Marriott, look at the Belltown Inn. It's a 4 block walk to the terminal and within a 15 minute walk to both the Space Needle and Pike Place Market. It's also near many restaurants.

From your other posts it looks like you’re traveling on RCL which docks at Pier 91, about 3 miles north of downtown. We love the Edgewater although it’s next to the other cruise terminal, not yours. Look at the Mediterranean Inn. It’s one of the closest hotels to your cruise terminal and near many restaurants. Just a 10 minute walk to the Space Needle. They have transportation from the airport to hotel and then to pier for a fee. I don’t know of hotel that provides free transportation.

Ketchikan has a city bus for $2 that runs out to Totem Bight and Saxman Totem Park as well as several other areas in town.

Consider and compare prices with the Mediterranean Inn, Belltown Inn and the Mayflower. They are in much better locations with many restaurants nearby so will be much more busy in the evenings.

We have done it on Princess from Whittier.