Regent Alaska Airport Transfers

[seashel]

We are travelling on a southbound Anchorage to Vancouver cruise in a few weeks. We have booked our air and transfers through Regent. Would someone who has done this before, please let us know what we can expect. We are scheduled to arrive at 3:40 the day before (so that we can take Regent's train to Seward) and are being put up in the Hilton. Does Regent wait for several passengers from different airlines before leaving for the hotel? We'd like to make 5:30 dinner reservations at a restaurant near the Hilton (possibly Simon and Seafort or Glacier Brewhouse). Would this be enough time?

 

On the return trip, Regent has scheduled our flight at 12:45 (returning to the US east coast). I understand disembarkation in Vancouver can be hectic. What are the customs procedures for Canada and the US? Again, will we need to wait for several passengers for transport to the airport? Are we better off trying to get transportation to the airport on our own?

Thanks for your help!

[nana541]

Can't help with the Airport transfer question other than to say that I was up visiting family in June and happen to notice two people from Regent with signs down in baggage claim collecting Regent customers and collecting their baggages from them..

However, as to dinner....both places you mentioned are really good but have you considered calling the Crows Nest at the Capt Cook.... Just :Date there with family and had such sweeping views it was just incredible...food was awesome and I would describe the food as a Wow experience especially when paired with the view. It is pricey to say the least but if you limit to a glass of wine each or a drink before dinner then you should be able to get out of there without mortgaging the grandkids!

I just happen to think the sweeping views and food at the top of this hotel are something not to be missed (would not stay there but eat there YES).

Enjoy you cruise, DH and I are looking forward to ours on the thru the Panama Canal over Christmas....

[JACKHAWK]

We just got back on 7/29. The ship docked around 7am & with the Regent transfer - we were done with immigration & security by 9:30.

 

Our flight left at 11:35, so we had been worried about the connection.

[ErinPhotoBug]

We sailed the 7/22 SB out of Seward and also flew in a day early to take the Grandview train (sadly, didn't end up taking the train as the tracks were washed out due to a flash flood. :( As far as I know, it didn't cause any lasting damage so your train transfer should be fine).

 

We, too, were unsure of how the transfer would work, but as soon as we arrived in the baggage claim area of the terminal in Anchorage, there was a gentleman with a "Regent" sign to whom I said "Hey, we're Regent people!" and he checked our names off his list, helped gather our bags, and then pulled a van around curbside to pick us up. I guess we were the only Regent people on our flight, and I was surprised that we had a big ole van for just the two of us, but he specifically mentioned that for Regent pax, they stress "no waiting."

 

Our driver's name was Gerald, by the way, and he was very friendly and answered a bunch of our questions on the transfer to the Hilton, where he pulled our bags off the van and put them directly in the hands of the bellman. He then escorted us inside to a desk where a Regent rep had our key cards (they had already checked us in to the hotel), said adieu, and we headed right up to our room where we were joined shortly thereafter by our bags. It was the easiest transfer of my life. What a great way to start the cruise (save the train issue).

 

Have a great cruise!

[Cattravel10]

This may be a bit off topic but beware of Vancouver airport. After going through security/immigration and putting the luggage on the conveyor belt (tags intact and secured), somehow my luggage got lost and has not been found. (I was on the June 10 sailing.) This has been an ABSOLUTE nightmare, needless to say. NOT HAPPY with Vancouver!!!!:mad::mad: I realize this could happen anywhere, but after reading the Alaska board, this happened to three other couples leaving from Vancouver a week after me. Just saying...

[lkakers]

I don't have information specific to this itinerary, but I will add a few thoughts.

 

1) My recent cruise started in Osaka, Japan... our flight had been delayed and then it took extra long (like 45min-1hour) to get off the plane due the swine flu scare. There were several Regent pax on the flight, and we did have to wait a bit until the whole group had convened (of course, we had to go through customs, etc.), so depending on how many Regent pax are on your flight, you may have to wait for those other passengers. [Also, we waited extra as a Regent celebrity lecturer & his party had been slated for the transfer and never showed -- we talked to them later and they had been unable to locate the Regent greeter (how, we do not know, because they did have a very obvious sign showing in the meet-&-greet area.] Moral: even though Regent stresses no waiting, sometimes your fellow passengers can slow things down. Better to build some extra time in.

 

2) I think a 5:30 reservation is cutting it a bit close anyway... seems like having to wait on baggage claim after your flight, the transfer, settling into the hotel... those things always seem to take longer than you think they would. You might want to make it closer to 6:00 or so.

 

3) I think you'll be ok with Regent's transportation to the airport -- Regent will make sure you leave the ship with enough time to get through check-in/customs/security/etc.

[Lsb58]

I was on the 7/15-7/22 NB cruise and I wanted to give a thumbs up to the Regent staff at the Anchorage airport. Because of the weather on 7/22 we took the bus instead of the train. When we got to the Anchorage Airport our luggage was lined up in alphabetical order. We were a group of 8 and had a tremendous amount of luggage. Even though we didn't make our hotel transfer through Regent (stayed at Capt. Cook overnight), there was a young man who loaded all of our suitcases on a large cart and took it downstairs and out to where our private transport would be meeting us. We had no idea where to go and he was so helpful and friendly! If anyone decides to arrange private transportation I was very impressed with BAC Limo in Anchorage (see 7/15-7/22 review).

[TheWaywardTraveler]

.....On the return trip, Regent has scheduled our flight at 12:45 (returning to the US east coast). I understand disembarkation in Vancouver can be hectic. What are the customs procedures for Canada and the US? Again, will we need to wait for several passengers for transport to the airport? Are we better off trying to get transportation to the airport on our own?

Thanks for your help!

 

On our Alaska cruise last year, getting off the ship was fast - we were directed to coaches that took us to the airport. The only line we had to wait in for any amount of time was at the Vancouver airport for customs (you go through US customs at Vancouver) - and it was a long one. Procedures are pretty routine - show them your passport and filled out form - and away you go... it just took us an hour to get through the line. We had a 2:00 pm flight to Seattle but could have made the 1:00 flight(detoured to visit SIL in Seattle before heading back East).

[raiderette]

This may be a bit off topic but beware of Vancouver airport. After going through security/immigration and putting the luggage on the conveyor belt (tags intact and secured), somehow my luggage got lost and has not been found. (I was on the June 10 sailing.) This has been an ABSOLUTE nightmare, needless to say. NOT HAPPY with Vancouver!!!!:mad::mad: I realize this could happen anywhere, but after reading the Alaska board, this happened to three other couples leaving from Vancouver a week after me. Just saying...

 

We had a three hour layover in Dallas at the way to Anchorage so we totally missed our dinner reservations. We were in a terrible line when we left Vancouver, don't listen to the local help. AA Airline people were terrible. Any yes we also lost had our luggage lost. We did receive it almost a week later. So keep your fingers crossed.