Cruising in Alaska - Anchorage by TopCruisingPorts

Location:

The cruise ships dock at this tiny hamlet Whittier, most passengers taking a cruise organized excursion to Anchorage. The MS Amsterdam from Holland America line docks in Anchorage town itself. Other ships also use Seward.

The cruise terminal is 60 miles from Anchorage, you can take a bus or train from and to the terminal. Either way you pass the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel: shared by rail and vehicle traffic, when one is inside the other is not; they switch every half hour.

In the port of Anchorage itself: Shuttles, cabs and charter vehicles will connect passengers to downtown Anchorage. Shore excursions also depart by train and motor coach for activities across Southcentral Alaska.

Sightseeing:

Only 60 miles from Anchorage, Whittier beckons with all the beauty of Prince William Sound, a place where you learn the real meaning of the word "fjord". The Sound is made up of many deep fjords with tidewater glaciers that calve before your eyes and islands around every turn.

Whittier is also surrounded by the Chugach National Forest, the second largest in the United States and a vast wilderness.

Visit Whittier and see wildlife, beach comb and pick berries while walking along the harbor or hiking the Portage Pass, Salmon Run or Horse Tail Falls trails.

Whittier is a strange little port town built by the military during World War II that is reached only by boat or through a one-lane tunnel almost 3 miles long.

Whittier has about 180 residents, pretty much all living in the same apartment complex.

Nearby Places:

Of all the world's cities, Anchorage uniquely combines the conveniences of the modern world with a rugged, natural environment that has all but vanished from populated regions of the world. In Anchorage, you can watch moose in the morning and ballet in the afternoon. You can take a short flight to see some mountain scenery on earth, then be back for fresh seafood at a five-star restaurant.

Anchorage is an urban enclave surrounded by wilderness. Within a few miles of downtown, you can encounter scenes wilder than you'll find in most national parks: wolf packs roaming through a park, rushing mountain streams, and city parks vast enough to forget which century you live in. The world's second highest tides surge against its shores, and North America's highest peak glimmers in the distance.

Most of all, Anchorage is a gateway to adventure. You can experience all Alaska has to offer and never check out of your hotel. Flightsee over Mt. McKinley, fish a wilderness river, or visit grizzly bears via air taxi. See calving glaciers and enormous whales on a day cruise. Hike to a glacier, climb a mountaintop, or drive some of the world's most spectacular highways.

Currency:

The official U.S. currency is the United States dollar (symbol: $). ATM's everywhere.

Major credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard are widely used and accepted, even for transactions worth only a few dollars. In fact, in some cases, it may be the only way to make a transaction. Note to overseas visitors: Prices of goods and services always seem lower than they really are, as taxes and gratuities are seldom included.

Most states have a sales tax, ranging from 2.9% to nearly 10% of the retail price; 4-6% is typical. Sales tax is almost never included in posted prices (except for gasoline, and in most states, alcoholic beverages consumed on-premises), but instead will be calculated and added to the total when you pay.

Tipping in America is widely used and expected. While Americans themselves often debate correct levels and exactly who deserves to be tipped, generally accepted standard rates are:

Full-service restaurants: 15-20% (Often this is the only income of the wait(ress). Tips are either left in cash or you can add it to the credit card slip) Note: Few restaurants add an automatic service charge, in which case it is up to you how much you tip extra. Check your bill!
Taxi drivers, hairdressers, other personal services: 10-15%
Bartenders: $1 per drink if inexpensive or 15% of total
Bellhops: $1-2 per bag ($3-5 minimum regardless)
Hotel doorman: $1 per bag (if they assist), $1 for calling a cab
Shuttle bus drivers: $2-5 (optional)
Private car & limousine drivers: 15-20%
Housekeeping in hotels: $1-2 per day for long stays or $5 minimum for very short stays (optional)
Food delivery (pizza, etc.): $2-5, possibly more for very large orders

information provided by TopCruisingPorts.com