KirkWN737

1 hour ago, volk904 said:

The politics of this makes me sick.  Somebody explain to me what the big risk their us to FLL and Florida?  The passengers with mild sickness stay on the ship until well, the 10 passengers needing hospitals will go to a hospital that Holland has made arrangements with so nobody is being dumped on the Florida Heath are system. The healthy passengers will be checked for fever and leave the ship wearing masks by charter bus To the airport and get on a plane and leave.   I just don’t see the issue.  

I think one of the biggest issues is that so many people can be asymptomatic with the virus and still spread it. I’m 60+ and I tested positive in Early March (with high risk travel) and had no symptoms other than a sore throat and very mild cough that went away in a couple days. I never ran a fever but still tested positive on two separate tests. 

The county has also indicated that the plan from Carnival Corp. is not sufficient 

The majority of cases in Florida are in and around the Ft. Lauderdale area. They’re probably worried about it spreading and taxing the hospitals more than they already are. 

1 minute ago, FlorenceItaly said:

Are they speaking of the Coral Princess that is coming their way with now reported virus possible passengers?

They don’t seem happy about the Crown Princess arriving today to Port Everglades with sick crew members. There was no reference to what kind of sickness. 
 

Also finding out today that the Coral Princess is arriving on Saturday. Although, correct me if I’m wrong, I didn’t hear there were sick people on the Coral Princess. 

They don’t seem too happy about getting blindsided by the Princess ship today. 

About 10 minutes between the two and yes there are shuttles running constantly.

Wait times are pretty quick downtown for both. The cabs are always so grimey and old in Anchorage. All the ubers I've been in have been a lot cleaner.

From what I have found, even with the demand pricing, I've never seen it be as expensive as the cabs in Anchorage.

Rooms are nice. The hotel is centrally located downtown with lots of places to eat nearby. Snow City Cafe, Glacier Brewhouse, Humpys, 49th State, Pangea, and Ginger are all great restaurants where we have eaten in the past. The art gallery in the hotel is pretty interesting.

The Princess desk is located on the first floor.

Transfer to the train is very easy and quick. They have it down to a science. You get picked up from the hotel the driver doubles back on the road and brings you directly to your train car. You leave the bus and show your ID to the train staff and are onboard. From walking onto the bus to boarding the train is about 15 minutes. One time we left the hotel and the driver was told to delay so he gave us a great 15 minute tour of downtown as well.

That Brown Jug is not the biggest liquor store. But they know who their market is during the summer and the selection is good.

Also off the Golden yesterday. Out time of 7am, Bus pulled away at 7:45ish and through the 8am tunnel. The driver gave us the option of going to the airport or the Princess tourist center in Downtown Anchorage. We arrived at the airport at 9:30ish. Great tour guide too!

In my experience, no. I do like the dome car and I love the personalized service, and the food is great! I also like how the outside area is on the top rather than the bottom. Someone told me that the RR will charter some of the cruise line's dome cars if theirs get full and the other way around.

I don't think it's worth it though. The regular RR has outside areas at the end of each car, they have a raised dome area that they limit seating to ~30 minutes (I think). The food is still good and they have nice commentary. It's about a 4 hour train ride and it goes by quickly either way.

There are a few ways that we've done it over the years.

1. You can rent a car one way and spend your time heading up to Anchorage and the ultimately the airport. There's the wildlife conservation center that rehabs wild Alaskan animals. Then spend some time in Anchorage, hike flat top, coastal trail, portage cruise, whale watching out of Whittier, etc.

2. Take the transfer from the cruise line. They'll get you to the airport or to their meeting center downtown if your flight is later. If you choose to go downtown, they'll store your luggage and provide you a shuttle to the airport every hour I think. While downtown you can go to the market on the weekends, take the trolley, hike/bike the coastal trail, do some last minute souvenir shopping. We've also booked shore excursions that will have us ultimately end up at the airport.

3. There's the Alaska Cruise Transfer. It'll get you from the ship to the airport. There is an option to stop at the wildlife conservation center as well.

Bear Lodge and Pikes is what I remember them overflowing into last summer.

When we did it last year we took Uber/Lyft in the middle of the night from the Fairbanks airport to the Westmark. I looked up my receipt and we paid $16.89 for the whole ride. We've been traveling to Alaska almost every year and having Uber there now is great!

In the summers I use Grundens Weather watch pants and a Columbia rain jacket. They are small enough to fit in a backpack, easy to take on and off and are breathable. They are pretty heavy duty and have lasted 3 Alaskan summers and 3 Florida winters.

I also have a pair of frog togs that is mentioned other places in the thread. They are good, they just don't mesh well with my activity level. The pants rip a lot after light use. Good this is that they're cheap and I don't feel bad whenever I rip them.

I also really like Rustic Goat and the Spenard Roadhouse. The roadhouse has the same owners as Snow City Cafe downtown which is also amazing for breakfast/brunch.

My son is going to Embry Riddle to become a helicopter pilot. Our family reunion trip in 2020 will be an Alaskan cruise, and I thought he would enjoy doing a shore excursion that involved taking a helicopter somewhere. Which one would you guys recommend?

I would highly recommend Tanalian Aviation in Anchorage. We've used them multiple times for heli-skiing up here and I'm going to be getting my rotor license this summer with them. The prices are reasonable and everything is maintained very well. All their pilots are CFI's so your son can also get flight training during the tour!

I've also used Alpine Air Alaska in Girdwood (between Seward and Anchorage) and they are also very good. Tanalian is just closer for us.

Thank you all for this information. I have a group of 30. I think I will stick to my original plan and walk to the station for the early train. We are staying at the Anchorage Grand on 2nd Ave. Is this really walkable? I wanted a hotel that we could walk around Anchorage and walk to the train station.

It's definitely walkable. It is a hill but isn't too crazy at all. Walked it a couple times today for the Rondy at the top of the hill and the parking down at ship creek.

OK, Should I take the early train from downtown (6:45) on my own, or find transportation back to the airport to take the NCL train?

You're mostly getting the same thing. I am a huge fan of the Alaska railroad and have never had a bad experience and the price is generally cheaper. With the early train, you get the whole day in Seward to do things there. If I had to choose, I would do the early train.

Drop your luggage off at the airport, then grab an Uber/Lyft downtown to do the coastal trail, get something to eat, etc. There is the Trolley tour that takes about an hour and leaves from downtown that is surprisingly good.

Definitely take the time to go into downtown. There are lots of shops and a weekend market. The trolley tour is surprisingly good. When I was up there a couple weeks ago it was $15 for an Uber from the airport to my hotel downtown. I avoid the cabs in Anchorage at all costs now that uber and lyft are up there. Also, the Nordstrom has the same prices as the ones in the "lower 48" and there isn't a sales tax! My wife always makes it a stop and saved me come money for valentines day!

If you're more outdoorsy, go hike flat top mountain. It offers some of the best views of Anchorage, Mt. Susitna, and even Denali on a clear day. It can be pretty strenuous as its mostly uphill but there's amazing views all the way up. There are some less strenuous trails that also offer amazing views.

I'm also in the group of people who hate buying souvenirs made in China. I've found the best place to get actual made in Alaska souvenirs is at the Native Hospital in Anchorage. They have a gift shop and it's where I do most my shopping for people who want things from the 49th state.

When we were there in September, we had no problem using Uber/Lyft to get a ride around Juneau. I'm really glad it's up in Alaska. I was getting tired of all the cabs trying to scam tourists.

+1 on the 26 Glacier cruise. We've done both and found it to be better

Uber/Lyft are in Anchorage. We used them a lot last summer. They have X and XL vehicles. You can go on the uber website and get an estimate.

I would also choose the land portion. You can always go outside and see whet's going on. Plus you've already done it twice!

There's Enterprise, Avis, and Hertz all downtown. There are also a few scattered around midtown (usually the cheapest) and of course at the Airport. It would probably be easier to book at wherever is cheapest and then take Uber/Lyft to the rental car place. I've found that Uber/Lyft in Anchorage is much cheaper than the cabs (and they smell better too!).