3.5-4 hours
Duration

Anchorage to Whittier Bus Tour with Wildlife Park for Cruise Passengers

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Add a little scenery to your transfer. With a little extra time you will be able to get out of the bus and appreciate the scenic drive with photos and memories to last for lifetime. Our Anchorage to Whittier Bus Tour with Wildlife Park is the best value on a market and our most popular transfer, featuring photo stops and a visit to Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center where you are guaranteed to see some Alaskan animals such as bears, moose, caribou, musk oxen, and wood bison. Admission to the park is included in the price.

Anchorage to Whittier Bus Tour with Wildlife Park for Princess Cruise line with Wildlife Park picks up at selected Anchorage hotels, airport, car rentals and drops off directly at the cruise ship terminal.

 LOCATION

Bus Tour Departs: Anchorage hotels, car rentals, airport

Bus Tour Arrives: Whittier cruise ship terminal

BUS DEPARTURE TIME

Princess and Holland America Cruise Lines:
  • Early Afternoon (on Sundays for Holland America Cruise):
    • 11:30-12:15PM bus picks up at Anchorage hotels,
    • 12:30-12:45PM departure from Anchorage airport.
  • Afternoon (on Wednesdays and Saturdays for Princess Cruise):
    • 12:30-1:15PM bus picks up at Anchorage hotels,
    • 1:30-1:45PM departure from Anchorage airport.

ALL OF OUR TRANSFERS AND TOURS WILL DELIVER YOU TO THE CRUISE SHIP IN TIME FOR BOARDING, YOU WILL NOT MISS YOUR CRUISE SHIP IF YOU TRAVEL WITH OUR BUSES, OUR SCHEDULE IS COORDINATED WITH CRUISE SHIP SCHEDULE!

BUS ARRIVAL TIME

Early Afternoon: Bus arrives Whittier Cruise Ship Terminal 3:45 PM (Holland America Cruise Line).

Afternoon: Bus arrives Whittier Cruise Ship Terminal 4:45 PM (Princess Cruise Line).

Is that enough time to get to the ship? Will I miss my ship if I take this transfer?

Please check our Frequently Asked Questions for answer to this question.

WEAR

Comfortable layered clothing.

INCLUDED

This Anchorage to Whittier Bus Tour with Wildlife Park includes:
  • Bus picks up in Anchorage (hotels, airport, car rentals, see list of places we don’t and do pick up)
  • Turnagain Arm – Beluga Point – (photo stop) Dall sheep, Beluga whales
  • Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center with the perfect picture opportunity for Bears, Moose, Caribou, Bison, Musk Oxen, Deer, Elk, bald eagle
  • Portage Glacier valley with excellent glacier picture opportunities (photo stop)
  • 2.5 mile-long Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel
  • Drop off directly at the cruise ship terminal

Anchorage to Whittier Bus Tour with Wildlife Park Detailed Description

Our Anchorage to Whittier Bus Tour with Wildlife Park option is the best alternative to get to your cruise ship in Whittier from Anchorage airport, car rental, or hotel. Anchorage to Whittier Narrated Bus Tour with Wildlife Park makes a stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, where you can view bears, bison, elk, eagles, moose, caribou, and musk oxen in a natural setting and a stop for sightseeing at the Portage Glacier Valley with excellent opportunities to take pictures of glacial ice and a stop at the Beluga Whales for an opportunity to see Beluga Whales (if time permits).

Our wildlife tour bus will pick up at Anchorage Ted Stevens airport, car rental company or hotel, see list of places we don’t and do pick up. Our friendly drivers/guides will direct you to your Whittier tour bus, where you will be seated in comfort with lots of luggage space in the luggage section. Then continue on the most scenic Seward highway on your Anchorage to Whittier wildlife tour. You will learn about history and surrounding places of interest on your way from Anchorage to Whittier in your Wildlife tour/transfer bus. Enjoy the wonderful views of the Seward highway designated “National scenic byway.” You will make a first stop at the Beluga Point for a chance to see beluga whales or dall sheep to make some amazing photos.

The next visit at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center where you will have an opportunity to see bears, moose, caribou, musk oxen in their natural setting. Get ready to take lots of pictures of Alaskan animals as they play right in front of you. Then you will stop at the Portage Valley with an amazing overlook at a lake, numerous hanging glaciers on top of the mountains and have great picture opportunities. You will then go thru the North America’s longest highway tunnel. This 2.5 mile Anton Anderson tunnel is the one way tunnel blasted thru the mountain.

Then continue on to Whittier to be dropped off directly at the cruise ship terminal. We make your experience while traveling from Anchorage to Whittier easy and unforgettable. Reserve your Wildlife tour with your bus transfer from Anchorage to Whittier today, receive your confirmation e-mail with travel details and get ready for an unforgettable ride.

This Anchorage to Whittier Bus Tour with Wildlife Park is a shared transfer service in our most comfortable coaches with tinted windows, easy step up (unlike full-size vans that other transfer companies use, you don’t have to bend over or hit your head climbing in and out), air conditioner/heater, large picture-view windows, full size individual bus seats (unlike vans that other transfer companies use, you will have a private seat for yourself and will not be holding somebody else’s bag), DVD player, full narration.

About Whittier, Alaska

If one one the Whittier cruises your final destination you might find following facts interesting. Whittier is Anchorage’s portal to Prince William Sound. Although Anchorage itself in on Upper Cook Inlet, the highest tides in the Northern America, muddy, fast-moving water offers no use for boating. Whittier, on the other hand, stands on the edge of a long fjord, whose clear waters are full of salmon orcas, and otters. Surrounded by mountains dripping with glaciers which are beautiful when the sun is shining, they also trap storms over the town and as a result 15 feet of rain and 20 feet of snow a year is average. Most of town’s 250 residents live in one 14-story structure, which certainly cuts down on snow-shoveling time.

In the past, the only way to get to from Anchorage to Whittier cruises was by riding through the mountain by train. Now the railway tunnel is paved creating North America’s longest highway tunnel and providing opportunities for buses, shuttles, and motorcoaches to take you to Anchorage.

There are lots of exciting things to do in Whittier such as hiking, fishing for salmon, trout, red snapper, photography, hunting for bear and birds, wildlife viewing, and much more right here in Whittier, Alaska!

This service is available only on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Our tour/transfer is directly coordinated with the Princess and Holland America cruise line schedule and place. We will pick you up at most locations in Anchorage, will take care of your luggage, and we GUARANTEE to deliver you to your cruise ship right on time for your departure.

Holland America Cruise Line:

  • Early Afternoon:
    • 11:30-12:15PM pick up at Anchorage hotels,
    • 12:30PM-12:45PM departure from Anchorage airport.
    • 3:45PM arrival to Holland America Cruise Ship

Princess Cruise Line:

  • Afternoon:
    • 12:30-1:15PM pick up at Anchorage hotels,
    • 1:30-1:45PM departure from Anchorage airport.
    • 4:45PM arrival to Princess Cruise Ship

Princess and Holland America cruise ship depart at 8:00PM from Whittier port

Seward Anchorage Bus Tour with Wildlife Park

Tour Reviews

5.00 based on 30 reviews
June 7, 2017

Convenient transfer from Anchorage to Whittier cruise port
We use this shuttles for our transfer from Anchorage to the cruise terminal at Whittier, with an additional wildlife tour on the way. They have assigned hotels pick-up in downtown Anchorage but if the hotel you are staying is not on their list, just get on your own hotel shuttle bus to the airport and join them from there.
The journey to the cruise terminal were smooth and punctual. It’s about 2 – 3 hours ride to the terminal, and half way through the journey we were taken to a small wildlife park for a glimps of the bear, moose, deer…
Good service from the driver as well as the guide on the bus that day.

Via Tripadvisor

June 21, 2017

Great and ONLY option! Wildlife amazing!
We had an amazing time on our way to the cruise ship from Anchorage to Whittier. The driver was excellent and very informative, being from Anchorage. We had a couple of photo stops before the Alaska Wildlife refuge, which was the best part of the trip: brown bears, black bears, eagles, caribou, elk, etc., etc. It was amazing! 110% RECOMMENDED!

Via Tripadvisor

July 8, 2017

Fantastic way to get to the cruise ship in Alaska from Anchorage
Our guide, Shari, was fantastic – lots of fun and full of knowledge about the countryside, the animals, the glaciers and so much more. There were several quick stops for pictures at various times and a longer visit to the animal sanctuary, where food was also available to purchase, as the trip took in the lunch hour. We arrived at the Princess cruise ship in lots of time for boarding.

Via Tripadvisor

July 11, 2017

Nice tour on way to cruise ship!
Rather than spending $35 per person for the direct route to Whittier,we chose the $49 indirect route,which was well worth it! The bus first drove thru the city picking up pre-booked passengers which was a nice time to view the city of Anchorage.Then the driver started the narrated tour, towards our ship. The route was scenic and beautiful with mountains,sheep,and open waters.The driver really did his job,informing us where we were and also the wildlife he saw as we passed by. We did 2 picture stops and 1 hour at wildlife refuge,which was a perfect amount of time to see it all-moose,bears,reindeer,etc. Highly recommended if you have the extra time!!

Via Tripadvisor

July 12, 2017

Prompt, great communication, good guides
Booked ACT from Anchorage Airport to the Whittier Cruiseship Terminal with a stop at the Wildlife Conservation Center. Communication with these guys was excellent, both on the day of the trip (they called to say they were running slightly behind, don’t worry) and in emails previous. The driver and the guide (Sherri) was excellent, providing humorous and informative commentary the whole way. The bus was comfortable and instructions were clear (on luggage, when to meet back at the bus, etc). The stop at the AWCC was definitely worth it. We got a little extra time- I think because we missed our tunnel window- which was fine with us! Got in line for the tunnel and proceeded through within 5 minutes. Got to the ship, dropped our luggage and was on board quickly. These guys know what they are doing! Highly recommended as an economical and educational way to get to your cruise ship!

Via Tripadvisor

July 19, 2017

Good transportation from Anchorage to Whittier
Booked online for pickup at our hotel. Our tour included at stop at the Alaska Wildlife rehab facility, which was very interesting and had many varieties of wildlife on display. This also allowed a short stop to get a bite to eat. No food/drink otherwise allowed on board bus. The luggage policy allows 2 normal checked bags per person, which are carried in the luggage compartment below. Anything else (purse, backpack, etc.) must fit under seat in front of you. Tour commentator was good – very knowledgable and friendly.

Via Tripadvisor

July 22, 2017

Prompt, great communication, good guides
Booked ACT from Anchorage Airport to the Whittier Cruiseship Terminal with a stop at the Wildlife Conservation Center. Communication with these guys was excellent, both on the day of the trip (they called to say they were running slightly behind, don’t worry) and in emails previous. The driver and the guide (Sherri) was excellent, providing humorous and informative commentary the whole way. The bus was comfortable and instructions were clear (on luggage, when to meet back at the bus, etc). The stop at the AWCC was definitely worth it. We got a little extra time- I think because we missed our tunnel window- which was fine with us! Got in line for the tunnel and proceeded through within 5 minutes. Got to the ship, dropped our luggage and was on board quickly. These guys know what they are doing! Highly recommended as an economical and educational way to get to your cruise ship!

July 25, 2017

Great way to transfer to a cruise ship
I chose the wildlife tour option as an informative/fun way of getting to the ship. The company couldn’t pick up from the hotel I was staying in, but we arranged to be picked up from one nearby. They were early!
Shari was very personable and helpful throughout, giving a running commentary, peppered with plenty of self deprecating humour
We stopped for a photo stop and got some breathtakingly beautiful pictures.
We had enough time at the wildlife sanctuary to see everything and it was certainly worth taking this tour.
We got to the terminal and just walked straight on the ship, with no line. Perfect
For the small amount extra I felt it was well worth it
Highly recommended

Via Tripadvisor

August 8, 2017

It was easy to book, got picked up at the designated address and drive was narrated so enjoyable. Liked option of visiting Alaska wildlife conservation center with extra $10.

Via Tripadvisor

September 6, 2017

Anchorage to Whittier Narrated Wildlife Tour (Princess)
Clean, very good service, hospitality,excellent explanation about the places along the way, Best price and excellent service.Very recommend to people who need transfer from Anchorage airport,and hotels to the Whittier Pier for cruising

Via Tripadvisor

September 6, 2018

Great Experience

Was picked up at airport early and trip to Whittier was great. Pulled us right up to the cruise port right by where you drop off your luggage. Even stopped a couple of places for us to view sites. Thanks .. Would definitely use your service again. Bus driver and guide were very knowledgeable and helpful. …

Via Tripadvisor

September 6, 2018

Easy, Dependable. Friendly
Booked the wildlife tour and transfer from Anchorage to Whittier to join our cruise. Turned up on time with friendly, helpful driver, great guide and all as advertised. What more do you want from a transfer?

Via Tripadvisor

September 7, 2018

Fantastic service!

We used the Anchorage to Whittier (Princess cruise) transfer with Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center visit. The whole experience was amazing. Our guide provided informative commentary throughout the journey. The wildlife center was very interesting and we got there right on time for bear feeding which was great. Excellent value for money and fully recommended.

Via Tripadvisor

September 8, 2018

Transfer from Anchorage to Whittier
The driver was very helpful and informative. This was a great tour to get us to our ship. Very comfortable bus.

Via Tripadvisor

September 8, 2018

Transfer from Anchorage to Whittier
This is a great way to transfer. The driver provided an interesting commentary along the way and the stop at the wildlife park was informative. If you suffer from claustrophobia you should be aware that there is a six mile long tunnel to be traversed prior to arriving in Whittier.

Via Tripadvisor

September 14, 2018

ACT Ride to Whittier

Our driver was great and had a lot of interesting information about the area. He stopped along the way for photo opportunities and was always out of the bus interacting with the group. Highly recommended way to get to your cruise ship.

Via Tripadvisor

September 16, 2018

Anchorage to Whittier

This was a great service to get us to the Cruise terminal in Whittier. Excellent narrative from the bus driver with an enjoyable stop at the wildlife center.

Via Tripadvisor

September 18, 2018

Very enjoyable transfer

Driver and guide were great, especially because we were expecting simply a bus transfer with some photo stops, but it turned out to be very interesting and enjoyable guided excursion. Might be the best transfer option from Anchorage to cruise ship (Whittier).

Via Tripadvisor

September 20, 2018

Transfer from Anchorage hotel to Whittier-WONDERFUL!

We had Joe, an Anchorage transplant from Georgia. Joe was a wonderful bus driver and guide. He pointed out important scenery, wildlife, and even let us use his binoculars during our stops along the way. Joe was very professional and courteous. We especially liked being picked up directly at our hotel, the Sheraton Anchorage. We choose the transfer option with the stop at the Wildlife Conservation Center, and that was very interesting and totally worth the few extra dollars. Plus it got us to the ship early and we boarded immediately upon arrival. I would highly recommend Alaska Cruise Transportation to anyone needing a ride from Anchorage to the cruise ports in either Whittier or Seward! Awesome trip Joe, THANK YOU!

Via Tripadvisor

September 23, 2018

Alaska Cruise Transportation Big Bus

The “ACT” bus picked us up at the Anchorage Airport and took us to Whittier, Alaska for our Alaskan Cruise. On the way to the port we stopped at Whittier for the Narrated Wildlife Tour. Once there we were able to see many of the animals found in this area in a natural outside setting. We walked around and had ample time to see the grounds. Once our time was up we rode the bus to the cruise terminal. It was a very worthwhile trip and one we chose to do instead of a bus offered by the cruise ship.

Via Tripadvisor

June 10, 2019

Transportation to Whittier Cruise Terminal
A fun day traveling from our hotel in Anchorage to Whittier Cruise Terminal. The guide was delightful and certainly made the trip (I hate that I forget her name,Kristina? Driver, Eddison interesting as well and a wonderful driver. Stopped at a wildlife park along the way and also a beautiful scenic photo spot. Well worth the journey. Full of interesting information we never would have gotten elsewhere. The journey through the tunnel amazing as well. A definite recommend.
via Tripadvisor

July 6, 2019

Great way to get to cruise ship
We had an awesome driver and guide for the trip from Anchorage Airport to Whittier. The conservation center was nice. The scenic stops were brief but very nice and the guided narration was very insightful. Highly recommended.
via Tripadvisor

August 12, 2019

Cruise transfer from Anchorage to Whittier
Great transfer with informative guides. We included a stop at a wildlife reserve. Great opportunity to see some of the local wildlife, including bears, wolves, porcupines and moose. Great stop to break-up the ride!
via Tripadvisor

September 15, 2019

Great new bus and fun driver
Smooth ride, right amount of time at the conservation centre. On time for the cruise ship too. Cheaper than Princess charges by a fair bit
via Tripadvisor

May 21, 2022

Transfer to Whittier cruise port in a fun way
A fun way to transfer from Anchorage to Whittier cruise port. Interesting information about the region and stops at scenery points for pictures. An opportunity to visit the wildlife center and see species of Alaska’s fauna.
via Tripadvisor

June 25, 2022

Skip the train, take this bus!
The bus tour guide was very charismatic and entertaining. We could hear him clearly on the bus and supplied us with a little Alaskan history and local information along the way. We had great opportunities for photo ops, and the visit to the animal rescue site was great. Since we didn’t see any bears on any other stops we got some fabulous footage of those awesome animals. Our travel partners took the train and while they may have had lunch and drinks provided, I think we got a better Alaskan experience! I recommend this family business wholeheartedly!
via Tripadvisor

August 27, 2022

Anchorage to Whittier with a stop at Wildlife Conservation Center
The bus picked us up at our hotel(9:45) Then picked up other passengers. Our driver provided great information on the drive, pointing out things for us. The Wildlife Center ticket was included in the fare. We had lots of time and were able to see everything. We were a little ahead of schedule to go through the tunnel, so we made another stop for the view. We were at the ship around 1:45 and were able to board right away even though our boarding pass said 4:00. This was definitely the best way to get to the ship.
via Tripadvisor

May 22, 2023

Great experience – ACT from Anchorage to cruise terminal
Great group handled our journey from the airport to Whittier with a stop in between for photos. The guide was truly funny and we thoroughly enjoyed his narration. They handled our luggage loading to the cruise drop off area and that really helped.
via Tripadvisor

July 11, 2023

Terrific ride
Our guide and driver were the best. They both were very helpful and friendly and had a great sense of humor. We learned a lot on the short drive from Anchorage to Whittier and the stops for photos made for great memories.
Thanks for a great ride.
via Tripadvisor

August 27, 2023

Excellent Narrated Tour from Anchorage to Whittier with ACT
We highly recommend Alaska Cruise Transportation – ACT and especially the narrated tour from Anchorage to Whittier Alaska. Rick did an excellent job providing the narrated tour. He was funny and entertaining. Eddie did a great job driving the motor coach. The motor coach was brand new and extremely clean and well kept. It was a wonderful way to kick off our Alaskan cruise and we would definitely book another trip with ACT again in the future.
via Tripadvisor

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