Benefits of Taking the Grandview Train from Anchorage to Seward
Traveling from Anchorage to Seward offers a scenic experience unlike any other.
If you’re boarding an Alaskan Cruise that departs from Seward, you’ll need to travel there from Anchorage. In which case, you have a few options.
railroad vs. driving
You can either take Seward Highway by driving, taxi, or bus (which takes about 3 hours), or you can travel along the Alaskan Railroad via the Grandview Train (around 4½ hours).
By taking the Grandview Train, you still get to follow parts of Seward Highway – one of the most scenic highways – but you’re also able to stray from the road, as it passes through a variety of terrains ranging from snow-capped mountains, flatlands and marshes, to coastal inlets and lakes.
convenience
When you board the train, you have the option to pre-check your bags, so you won’t have to deal with them while checking in on the ship. Make sure you have everything you need on you, as you won’t be seeing your bag again until you get up to your room.
Also, you’ll be let off right up to the ship, as Seward’s train terminal is stationed along the pier, making the whole boarding process (and entire day) very simple and easy.
Comfort and Hospitality
The train has both dome observation cars and normal passenger cars, though if you’re going to take it, I highly suggest you go for the dome in order to really take in the views.
Each car has their own waiter who will serve you throughout your ride, bringing refreshments and food. They serve coffee, sodas, and alcoholic beverages - I had a great bloody mary. As for lunch, their menu has a variety of sandwich baskets, bagels, etc. There’s four to a booth, making it ideal for comfort and conversation.
During the ride, each car has their own tour guide. Ours was fantastic, entertaining, and informative - their knowledge really elevated the experience. They remain with you for the duration of the trip to answer questions and make sure you don’t miss any sites - including wildlife.
A glacier in Moose Pass.
Sites and Wildlife
When the train isn’t following Seward Highway, the train takes passengers through the wilderness, where there’s glaciers and glacial run-offs creating waterfalls, and the wildlife is more visible.
Keep an eye out for Dall Sheep, bald eagles, moose, caribou and potentially bears. The Dall Sheep (we were lucky to see several, as they can be elusive and tough to spot) can be seen hanging out on the mountains, whereas the rest will most likely be spotted in the flatlands and marshes - except for bald eagles, they’re everywhere (you may get to see a few of their massive nests).
Overall, taking the train was an excellent experience. The ride is relaxing with spectacular views, which was a nice preview of the cruise itself.
Though it does take longer and is a bit more expensive, I would recommend doing this over driving. We wouldn’t have seen half of the scenery or wildlife had we driven, as our focus would’ve been on the road – and even if we had a driver take us, there still would’ve been a roof obstructing our view, not to mention we wouldn’t have gotten to go through the mountains.
You can book the train through your cruise line as a pre-cruise excursion. If you’ll be staying in Anchorage prior to your cruise, here’s a few ways to spend your time there.
