Getting to Anchorage: Ted Stevens Airport (ANC), Whittier/Seward Cruise Transfers & Alaska Railroad

Serving as the aviation and cruise-land-tour hub of Alaska, Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) is one of the four busiest air-cargo hubs on Earth (sitting within 9.5 hours' flying time of 90% of the industrialised Northern Hemisphere), and its passenger terminal is just 10 kilometres (6 miles or 15 minutes) southwest of Downtown Anchorage.

1. Getting From ANC Airport to Downtown Anchorage (10 km / 15 Minutes)

• By Uber, Lyft or Yellow Cab (12 to 15 Minutes to Downtown): pickup is outside Baggage Claim on the lower level to any hotel in Downtown or Midtown. Many Midtown, Lake Hood and several Downtown hotels also run a free 24-hour Airport Courtesy Shuttle Van via the courtesy phone board near Baggage Claim.
• By Public Bus (People Mover Bus Route 40): walk out Door 1 of the South Terminal Baggage Claim to board Anchorage's public People Mover Bus Route 40, departing every 15 minutes from early morning until late evening to the Downtown Transit Center (6th Ave & H St) in 22 minutes (check the People Mover website or mTicket app for current fares).
• Late-Evening Flights After Morning Check-Out: use the Luggage Storage Desk inside ANC Airport, or book a sightseeing transfer coach (ACT Big Bus or Salmon Berry Tours) that stores your bags while showing you Turnagain Arm before dropping you at ANC in the evening.

2. Alaska Cruise Ship Transfers: Whittier (1.5 Hours) vs Seward (2.5 Hours)

If you are starting or ending a Gulf of Alaska cruise (on Princess, Holland America, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Silversea or Viking), check which port your ship uses:

1. Port of Whittier (Princess & Holland America, 60 Miles Southeast via the 2.5-Mile Tunnel): transfer into Anchorage via the Alaska Railroad Glacier Discovery or Cruise Train right beside the ship gangway, via direct motorcoach, or via a 4-hour sightseeing transfer coach (ACT or BAC) stopping at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.
2. Port of Seward (Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian, Viking, 125 Miles South): transfer via the Alaska Railroad Coastal Classic or a 3-hour motorcoach up the Seward Highway.