By: Jesse Foutz, a Marvelous Mouse Travels agent
When it comes to Alaskan Cruises there are several different itineraries to choose from. I just recently sailed on Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas to Alaska. This 7-Night itinerary was a one-way cruise starting in Vancouver, British Columbia and ending in Seward, Alaska.
When either starting or ending your cruise in Seward, Alaska you will most likely be flying in or out of Anchorage, AK, located just over 120 miles away. There are a few options for getting between Seward and Alaska but I am here to tell you…Take the train!
You can take the Coastal Classic Train on the Alaska Railroad. This train ride has been ranked by National Geographic as one of the Top 10 Train Rides in all of North America. It was one of the highlights of my trip and the perfect way to end a beautiful cruise.
Here are a few reasons why you should take the train.
The train ride was a little more than 4 hours in total with stops to change the track. However, in that 4 hours you are moving through the Alaskan wilderness. The train cars that you will be riding on offer you plenty of viewing capability as most of the car is glass, allowing you to take in the scenic views to the side and even above.
Throughout our train ride we saw moose, eagles, whales (yes, whales!) and glaciers. But just by the sheer landscape, I was absolutely blown away. I am not a professional photographer and you don’t have to be to capture some of the most beautiful scenery (it will never do it justice). Just point a camera and shoot.
The cars themselves are very comfortable and spacious making the ride more enjoyable. I was able to spread out and answer some email (there’s no wifi, but depending on your carrier I was able to get cell service most of the trip).
Another major perk of the train ride was the dining service conveniently located in the cars. I was able to start my morning off with a hot coffee and bagel sandwich while I just took in the sights.
The train transports you just steps away from the cruise port to the airport in Anchorage. You do not have to worry about transferring to the train station from the airport or cruise port. It’s very close by. Within 10 minutes of getting off my cruise ship, I was already boarding the train. The train picks up and drops off right at the airport.
The train ride itself is fairly inexpensive when you consider it as an extra excursion for your Alaska Cruise. My ticket cost right around $120 and it was money well spent. There are bus transfer options you can take that will get you to the airport faster and cheaper but for the experience, I would highly recommend that you… Take the train in Alaska!
Ready to book your next vacation? Please reach out to Marvelous Mouse Travels for more information or for a quote!
