Princess Cruise Alaska Gulf Southbound & Granville Island Food Tour
Decided to take the ACT big bus from Anchorage to Whittier. The bus stops at many of the Anchorage hotels and the hotels they don't stop at they will pick you up at the airport. Our hotel was one of the hotels that they didn't stop at so, we took a shuttle from the Hyatt House Anchorage to the airport and then grabbed coffee at Starbucks and then waited for the ACT big bus. There were 9 of us waiting for the bus and when the bus came it was a full bus after we all got on. Before getting on the bus, we made sure we had our cruise luggage tags on so, our luggage can find its way to our cabin. The ride took about 1 1/2 hours from Anchorage airport to the Whittier. Before you get to Whittier you must drive through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, which is a 2.5-mile, one-way shared highway tunnel. The tunnel operates on an alternating schedule that switches directions for vehicles and trains throughout the day. During summer months, traffic to Whittier leaves on the half-hour while traffic leaving Whittier departs on the hour. When we arrived in front of the ship there was a short line to check in and get our medallion but, it went quick and then we were onboard.
The itinerary for the Coral Princess started in Whittier, then onto Hubbard Glacier, where the ship did scenic cruising, then did some scenic cruising in Glacier Bay National Park, the third day we stopped in Skagway from 7:00 AM to 8:30 PM we didn't schedule any excursions we just walked around town and did some shopping, the fourth day we stopped in Juneau, where we did have an excursion scheduled, we did the Mendenhall Glacier & Whale Quest which departed at 10:00 AM and we got back around 3:30 PM the ship was docked from 6:30 AM to 4:15 PM. We boarded a bus and drove out of town to the Mendenhall Glacier and spent some time there. We were able to walk closer to the glacier and then did a short hike to Nugget Falls, and then visited the visitors center before getting back onto the bus and going to the boat that took us out looking for humpback whales. We were able to see a good number of humpback whales and even some seals before we ran out of time and had to go back to shore. The fifth day we stopped in Ketchikan from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, where we didn't have any excursions and we walked around town and shopped. Next time we go to Skagway and Ketchikan I would get excursions but, the first time going there I wanted to see the towns. Are final stop was Vancouver where we departed. Instead of flying home we decided to take the Amtrak train to Everett, which is 20 minutes from our house, and have our son pick us up. The train wasn't scheduled to leave until 4:45 PM so, we checked our luggage into a luggage storage place right outside the customs area of the cruise ship terminal. We booked it with Viator, and the cost of 2 suitcases and 2 back packs was $34.40. We then went to find an area where we could get an Uber and go over to Granville Island. We had to walk a few blocks but, the driver came quickly to pick us up. We had booked with Viator a VIP Granville Island Market Walking Food Tour; there was 10 of us doing the tour which lasted around 2 hours. We sampled food inside the market from cheese and meats that you would use on a charcuterie board, fresh breads, macaroons from Bon Macaron Patisserie Ltd., chocolate, Lee's donuts, coffee, fresh tuna, Hobbs Pickles, Thai, and cold lemonade flavored tea from Granville Island Tea Company. Everything was delicious except I didn't try the tuna. After the tour we went back and bought some chocolates and donuts to bring home. The market was very busy at lunch time it was a Wednesday but, it was July 1st, Canada Day, and the weather was perfect so, a lot of people at the market and near the cruise ship terminal. On the way back to pick up our luggage the Uber driver had to drop us off a couple blocks from the terminal and we had to maneuver through the crowds. Once we picked up our luggage the easiest way to get to the train terminal was to take a taxi that was already sitting outside where we picked up our luggage.
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