YES, that is enough time to get to your cruise ship! NO, you will not miss your ship if you use our service!
We would never schedule any of our transfers if there was even a slight chance of missing the cruise ship as we ONLY transport cruise ship passengers everyday for several years.
We have a schedule for each cruise line for each day. Our schedule was set up after years of picking up and dropping off passengers at the cruise ship terminal to accommodate cruise ship passengers.
All of our transfer or tour options arrive to the cruise port several hours prior to the ship departure time. When our bus arrives to the cruise ship terminal, we drop you off directly at the luggage acceptance booth after which you walk inside the terminal (20 step walk) to check in for your cruise. The whole process takes no more than 15 minutes.
In any case, we have a contact with the port manager in case there are some delaying circumstances. We have never arrived late for the cruise ship departure and will get you to the ship on time with any of our transfer options.
To see our schedule, please click this link Schedule

YES, absolutely!

All we do everyday is transport cruise ship passengers. We have a schedule for each cruise line for each day. Our schedule was set up after years of picking up and dropping off people at the cruise ship terminal to accommodate cruise ship passengers.

It works great for passengers getting off a ship on each particular day. There is only ONE SHIP per day, per port in our area and each port is a VERY small place with ONE small terminal building right in front of the ship dock. Our cruise ship ports differ from large ports in other places, there are NO several large ships which are able to dock in Seward or Whittier, only ONE per day.

Once the ship calls your number to disembark, it takes 5-10 minutes to find us (for normal walking pace) inside the cruise ship terminal building next to the luggage and our buses are right outside the building.

Each passenger is designated a specific time to get off the ship according to the form that each passenger fills out once on the ship. If you travel with us, you will be given a specific time as listed below to disembark. This does NOT mean that all the rest of 2000 people will be getting off at the same time. Since disembarkation lasts about 4 hours, each group of people will be walking off at a specific time. There are no customs in Seward or Whittier ports, so there are no lines, or chaos when disembarkation is happening. Everything is done in an efficient and timely manner. There are no delays, rushing, hassle or panic. If you feel that you are going to be delayed, please give us a CALL so we know what is happening to you, since our bus has to depart at specific time also found below.

Here are all the ship docking and disembarkation times along with our bus departure times. These times work for passengers traveling with our company year after year:

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruise lines:

6:00AM docking time to Seward port
7:30-8:15AM disembarkation time
8:30AM bus departure from Seward port
10:30AM bus departure from Seward port

Visitors with a few hours or a full day to explore Anchorage can store their luggage (and fish) at the airport.
Open 5 a.m. – 2 a.m., the storage area is located in the South (Domestic) Terminal of the Airport on the Lower (Arrivals) Level across from baggage claim. Telephone: (907) 248-0373.
Free luggage storage is also offered by the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum, located near the airport. www.alaskaairmuseum.org.
Check with your cruise line directly to see if they can hold your luggage at their station in downtown Anchorage.
We recommend you visit downtown Anchorage prior to your flight as there are numerous gift shops, museums, restaurants, shopping malls. More information about Anchorage activities can be found on 4th Ave at the Visitor Information Center Downtown Anchorage.

We can accommodate 2 large or 3 small luggage size bags per person, this is what will fit into the luggage section of the bus when the bus is completely full. You can also bring a personal item such as a backpack or a purse into the cabin of the bus. You can also bring a foldable/travel size wheelchair, walker, stroller. We cannot accommodate motorized scooters in our buses, we don’t have enough space to store them.

Once you make a reservation, you will receive an email confirmation that will have very detailed instructions on how to find the bus whether you are looking for the bus at the cruise ship terminal or at the airport.

LOADING THE LUGGAGE:

Whether you are getting on the bus at the cruise ship terminal or at a hotel or the airport, you will need to bring your luggage to the bus for the driver to load it inside the luggage bays of the bus. Once it is loaded, it stays locked up in the bays until the arrival to your destination.

UNLOADING THE LUGGAGE:

If you are getting off the bus at the cruise ship terminal, it is advised to put your cruise ship provided luggage tags on each of your bags. If your tags are on your luggage, the driver will transfer your luggage directly to the cruise line loading dock, so you will not have to carry it with you through the check-in process. It will be brought directly to your cabin on the ship while you are checking in for your cruise ship. If you are not getting on the ship or you don’t have your luggage tags, you will continue with the bus to the unloading spot to claim your luggage or put luggage tags on your bags.

If you are getting off the bus at the airport or hotel, the driver will open the luggage bays and help you unload the luggage that belongs to your group.

READ ALL THESE POINTS:

1. They have no restrooms. Those companies will tell you that they stop for a restroom on the way, however, there is only one highway to the ports and ONE restroom where hundreds of people stop daily! It is poorly maintained and there is always a long line. Don’t waste your valuable vacation time. Please beware which bus company you are booking with by asking about the restroom and make sure you book with BIG BUS!

2. Any delay on the highway and you are stuck on the bus with no restroom or air conditioning for hours.

3. Most older small buses don’t have air conditioning. They open windows for air which is quite loud when on the highway. It gets hot in Alaska (75-85F) in the summer and opening a window will not help while the bus is waiting.

4. There is no place for a live tour guide on a small bus, the driver will drive and narrate at the same time, which might create some safety problems. We are concerned about your safety and use a separate professional guides on our wildlife tours.

5. Small buses don’t have luggage space inside the bus and they use large trailers attached to the bus via a hitch. Weight of the trailer with the luggage about the same as the weight of the vehicle and since trailer has no brakes, it can create a dangerous situation in emergency braking. They are known for losing trailers on the highway.

6. Small buses are much less regulated and never inspected by DOT for commercial qualifications. Almost anyone can drive these buses.

7. Avoid tunnel wait times when getting to or from Whittier. Large coaches are the first ones to clear the tunnel unlike smaller buses.

This is why we ONLY use large, modern motor coaches on our shared transfers and tours!

We are the only bus transportation company that offers a convenience of door to door transportation. We will pick you up at your hotel/airport and drop you off at your hotel/airport (on selected transfers).

• Note: The only pick up and drop off in Seward is at the Cruise Ship Terminal (also known as Dale Lindsey Seward Intermodal Facility with an address of 913 Port Ave, Seward).

Our DIRECT non-stop transfers' locations vary depending on the time:

• ANCHORAGE TO SEWARD:
  • 6:00AM - 7:00AM bus schedule picks up at all the locations in the long list below plus Anchorage Airport.
  • 12:00PM, 1:00PM, and 1:30PM bus schedules pick up only at the Anchorage Airport.
• SEWARD TO ANCHORAGE:
  • 8:30AM, 9:30AM, and 10:30AM bus schedules will only drop off at the airport
  • 3:30PM bus schedule will drop off at the long list of locations listed below.

Our WILDLIFE and FULL DAY tours drop off and pick up at the following locations (in alphabetical order):

Anchorage International Airport
(If you are being picked up at the Airport, please wait either inside the terminal or right outside by the door of Alaska Airlines Luggage Claim Door #1 and look for our bus...)

Hotels:

• Alex Inn and Suites – pick up and drop off is at the Wyndham Garden - 4411 Spenard Rd
• America’s Best Value Inn Executive Suites – pick up and drop off is at the Wyndham Garden - 4411 Spenard Rd
• Anchorage Historic Hotel – 330 E St
• Arctic Fox Inn - pick up and drop off is at the Ramada - 115 E 3rd Ave
• Captain Cook Hotel - 939 W 5th Ave
• Clarion Suites Downtown – 1110 West 8th Ave
• Comfort Suites – 2919 W International Airport Rd
• Copper Whale Inn - pick up and drop off is at the Captain Cook Hotel - 939 W 5th Ave on the corner of 5th and K St
• Courtyard by Marriott – 4901 Spenard Rd
• Crowne Plaza – 109 W International Airport Rd
• Embassy Suites – 600 E Benson Blvd (at the back of the hotel on 32nd St only, some walking)
• Fairfield Inn and Suites – 5060 A St
• Four Points by Sheraton – 325 W 8th Ave
• Hampton Inn – 4301 Credit Union Dr
• Hyatt Place - 101 E. Tudor Rd (we don't pick up or drop off at Hyatt House, meet the bus at the airport)
• Hilton Anchorage – 500 W 3rd Ave (the bus picks up at the Historic Hotel on E Street side of Hilton)
• Hilton Garden Inn – 4555 Union Square Dr
• Homewood Suites by Hilton – 101 W 48th Ave
• Home 2 Suites by Hilton – 4700 Union Square Dr
• Inlet Tower Hotel – 1020 W 12th Ave (on the 12th street north side of the hotel, some walking)
• Lakefront Millennium Hotel - 4800 Spenard Rd
• Marriott Downtown – 820 W 7th Ave
• Motel 6 – 5000 A St
• Puffin Inn – pick up and drop off is at the Wyndham Garden - 4411 Spenard Rd
• Ramada Downtown – 115 E 3rd Ave
• Rodeway Inn – Voyager Hotel - pick up and drop off is across 5th Ave at the Captain Cook hotel - 939 W 5th Ave
• Sheraton Anchorage Hotel – 401 E 6th Ave (5th Ave side entrance)
• Springhill Suites Midtown – 3401 A St (we don't pick up or drop off at the University Lake, meet the bus at the airport)
• Staybridge Suites - 200 Calais Dr
• Towne Place Suites – 600 E 32nd Ave
• Westmark Anchorage – 720 W 5th Ave (on G Street side exit of the hotel)
• Wildbirch Hotel - 239 W 4th Ave (on 4th Ave side of the hotel lobby only)
• Wingate by Wyndham – 111 Ship Creek Ave
• Wyndham Garden – 4411 Spenard Rd

Car and RV Rentals

• We DO pick up and drop off at all the car rentals that are located at the airport. Drop off and pick up at the airport is at the south terminal... You can also leave someone from your party at our pick up or drop off location with all your luggage and then return or pick up your car and return to your party.

We DO NOT pick up or drop off at any location not listed above.
The reason we are not able to pick up or drop off at all the locations is because our buses are too large to physically fit into some of the places' driveways.

Some closest suggestions for locations that we DO NOT pick up or drop off

• Duke’s Hotel – go to Marriott – 820 W 7th Ave
• Egan Convention Center – go to Westmark – 720 W 5th Ave on G St side
• Any RV places – go to the airport
• Hyatt House – go to the airport using their free airport shuttle
• La Quinta Inn – go to the airport using their free airport shuttle
• My Place Hotel – go to the airport using their free airport shuttle
• Residence Inn – go to the airport using their free airport shuttle
• Dimond Center Hotel – go to the airport using their free airport shuttle
• Aptel Studio – go to Sheraton – 401 E 6th Ave
• Merrill Field Inn – go to Sheraton – 401 E 6th Ave
• Ingra House – go to Sheraton – 401 E 6th Ave
• Aloft Inn - go to Springhill Suites - 3401 A St
• Arctic Adventure Hostel – go to Springhill Suites – 3401 A St or the airport

We pick up and drop off directly at the cruise ship terminal, right next to the ship. You are a few steps away from the ship; you don’t need to walk very far or get another transportation to get to the ship, we bring you directly to or from it.

Here is the complete list of places that we DON’T and DO pick up or drop off in Anchorage.

Anchorage pick up and drop off description:

We don’t have a bus station because our passengers are cruise ship passengers and they all have a ton of luggage...

Anchorage Airport drop off and pick up instructions:

If you are being picked up at the airport, please wait inside or right outside the terminal by the exit of the Alaska Airlines baggage claim #1 and look for a bus or someone holding a sign “Alaska Cruise Transfer”.

Anchorage Airport Car Rental drop off and pick up instructions:

We DO pick up and drop off at all the car rentals that are located at the airport... You can also leave someone from your party at our pick up or drop off location with all your luggage and then return or pick up your car and return to your party.

Whittier or Seward cruise ship dock pick up and drop off description:

When you are getting off or on the ship in Whittier or Seward, we pick up directly inside the cruise ship terminal by your luggage pick up location... We drop you off directly in front of the cruise ship terminal by the luggage drop off point, after which you simply walk on to the ship.

There are no customs or immigration check points in Whittier or Seward.

We accept Visa, Master card, American Express or Discover cards. This service is pre-paid, pre-booked in advance. You can put 30% deposit instead of paying the full amount if you are booking more than 30 days ahead.

We have group discounts and specials for groups of 6 or more. We also have children discounts. If your child is small enough to be held on a lap, then it is free and you don't have to mention your lap child when booking your seats. We don’t have any other special rates for any particular group or members of a group.

Yes, all the entrance fees are included in our scheduled tours. Our wildlife tours include the entrance fees to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Our full day tours include the Alyeska Tram fees, Alaska Wildlife Center, and lunches.

Shared Bus Service Reservations:

You can book early and lock in our early bird sale prices and rest assured that you can change or cancel your booking for any reason without penalties up until 45 days prior to travel.

It is advised to book early as our regular prices are usually 25% higher the closer it is to the date of your travel or summer months, in addition we do get full on selected days as we have limited seats.

Our family friendly policy allows you to cancel with a full refund due to serious incidents which are limited to medical emergencies, family emergencies, and/or missing the cruise ship due to inability to enter the country because of customs problems at any time even if it is less than 45 days prior to the date of travel.

Charges and Cancellation Dates for Shared Bus Service:

You can change or cancel your reservation with no fees or penalties up until 45 days prior to your travel date.
10% fee is charged between 45 and 31 days,
50% fee is charged between 30 and 15 days prior to travel.
All reservations are non-refundable within 14 days of travel.
Medical emergencies are exempt and are refundable at any time (for the person who is sick and his/her immediate family).
Please consider purchasing travel insurance to cover yourself in the event of any unforeseen circumstance. For more information on travel insurance, or to change or cancel an existing reservation, the best way is to email us info@alaskacruisetransfer.com

Payment and deposit policy:

There is no commitment and no payment required before January 1 of your travel year, after that we will place a charge on your credit card.

We charge the full balance at the time of reservation if the balance is less than $250, if the balance is more you are welcome to put 30% deposit at the time of reservation. The remaining balance will be automatically charged to your card within 45 days prior to your transfer. We accept Visa and Master Cards.

Private Bus Reservations:

We require 30% deposit at the time of booking which is refundable up till 60 days prior to travel. We will charge the remaining 70% balance to your credit card 30 days prior to the travel day. Cancellations with less than 30 days are non-refundable for private bus reservations for any reasons.

This service is pre-paid, pre-booked in advance. We do have limited seating capacity and sometimes get sold out. It is advised to book in advance, check out our cancellation policy below. Please plan your transfer in advance to avoid any inconveniences.

You can book by filling out our SECURE online reservation form CLICK HERE or calling us directly 1-907-350-6010 or toll free 1-888-257-8527 (from the US only). By booking online you will receive an e-mail confirmation in minutes, by booking over the phone it will take a few hours or the next business day, depending on how busy our reservation department is. You will need to call in your reservation if you are booking a private transfer or different price than what is showing up on the reservation system.

Shared Bus Service Reservations:

You can book early and lock in our early bird sale prices and rest assured that you can change or cancel your booking for any reason without penalties up until 45 days prior to travel.

It is advised to book early as our regular prices are usually 25% higher the closer it is to the date of your travel or summer months, in addition we do get full on selected days as we have limited seats.

Our family friendly policy allows you to cancel with a full refund due to serious incidents which are limited to medical emergencies, family emergencies, and/or missing the cruise ship due to inability to enter the country because of customs problems at any time even if it is less than 45 days prior to the date of travel.

Charges and Cancellation Dates for Shared Bus Service:

You can change or cancel your reservation with no fees or penalties up until 45 days prior to your travel date.
10% fee is charged between 45 and 31 days,
50% fee is charged between 30 and 15 days prior to travel.
All reservations are non-refundable within 14 days of travel.
Medical emergencies are exempt and are refundable at any time (for the person who is sick and his/her immediate family).
Please consider purchasing travel insurance to cover yourself in the event of any unforeseen circumstance. For more information on travel insurance, or to change or cancel an existing reservation, the best way is to email us info@alaskacruisetransfer.com

Payment and deposit policy:

There is no commitment and no payment required before January 1 of your travel year, after that we will place a charge on your credit card.

We charge the full balance at the time of reservation if the balance is less than $250, if the balance is more you are welcome to put 30% deposit at the time of reservation. The remaining balance will be automatically charged to your card within 45 days prior to your transfer. We accept Visa and Master Cards.

Private Bus Reservations:

We require 30% deposit at the time of booking which is refundable up till 60 days prior to travel. We will charge the remaining 70% balance to your credit card 30 days prior to the travel day. Cancellations with less than 30 days are non-refundable for private bus reservations for any reasons.

Narrated shuttle and tour both take the same route, same narration, however the direct shuttle does not stop and the tour is about an hour longer as it stops at the Wildlife Conservation Center which is the most popular attraction on the way where you will see black bears, moose, caribou, bison, and other Alaskan animals in their natural setting. We highly recommend it as most people truly enjoy the view and animals and leave this place with a ton of photos. As time permits the tour also stops for photo opportunities.

We are currently offering transportation only when a cruise ship is in port – Thursdays and Fridays. There are also a couple of Tuesdays when the Viking ship or Silversea is in port. Please use this link Calendar select your travel date, and on the right hand side, it will show you all the options that we offer on your particular travel date.

We provide boxed lunch on our day tours. It includes a full size sandwich (mayo, mustard on the side), chips, apple, cookie, beef stick, fruit snack, and water. We don’t provide hot meals or meals at a sit down restaurant. The lunch is meant to be consumed on the go during a tour.
We also offer snack packs that can be purchased separately on our short tours and include – Apple slices and grapes, chocolate, crackers, salami or beef stick, cheese stick, chips, cookie, and water.

Our all day tours include a boxed lunch as part of the tour.
We also offer snack packs that can be purchased separately for our short tours or transfers and include – Apple slices and grapes, chocolate, crackers, salami or beef stick, cheese stick, chips, cookie, and water.

NO, we would NEVER cancel anyone’s reservation on a cruise ship day. Our services are only for cruise ship passengers and we know that you have to get on the cruise ship that you paid lots of money. Our company’s sole purpose is to deliver cruise passengers to and from their cruise ship safely and ON TIME!