One of the advantages of the Glacier Route cruise itinerary is the opportunity to explore the land side of Alaska before or after your cruise. Glacier Route cruises sail between Vancouver, BC and either Whittier or Seward Alaska. Both Whittier and Seward are a few hours by train or bus from Anchorage, the nearest major airline hub. We highly recommend that you spend some exploring the land side of Alaska either pre cruise for southbound sailings, or post cruise for northbound sailings.

People often ask how many days are needed for a pre or post cruise land tour. You should plan on at least 4 or 5 days, while 6 or 7 days would be even better. Popular destinations include Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska, and of course Denali National Park. Other top choices are Fairbanks, Talkeetna and the town of Seward, gateway to the spectacular Kenai Fjords National Park.

All of the major cruise lines that sail to Alaska offer add on land tour packages. The combination of a cruise and a land tour is often referred to as a “cruise tour”. When you submit a cruise quote request with us you will receive a “cruise only” quote from one of our member agencies. However, that same agency will also be able to assist you with purchasing a cruise line arranged Alaska cruise tour, if you wish. We have found it is generally a good idea to start by getting a cruise only quote in case you need to make comparisons with other cruise or land tour options.

Increasingly, more independent travelers are making their land tour arrangement separately from their cruise reservations. There are a number of companies and web sites that assist travelers in this regard. We work closely with a company called Alaska Tour & Travel who specializes in providing independent land tour options such as lodging, transportation and tours along the rail belt to destinations including Seward, Anchorage, Denali Park and Fairbanks. If you submit a cruise request for a Glacier Route cruise, you will also receive land tour information from Alaska Tour & Travel along with details on railroad and bus transportation options between Anchorage and the pier in Seward or Whittier. They are a great resource regardless of where you purchase your cruise, or even if you decide to fly to and from Alaska for your vacation. You can visit Alaska Tour & Travel at www.AlaskaTravel.com.