via Scenic Observation Car

Today is the official end of our cruise, and today begins our Seward to Anchorage train experience.

The morning comes much earlier than any of us hope. There is a hint of sadness as this chapter of our journey comes to a close, mixed with excitement for what lies ahead. Seward is entirely new to us. None of us have ever been here, and we are eager to experience it with the kids.

Debarking in Seward

We make our way down to Deck 6, to the Colony Club, to debark the ship for the final time. The process comes with its challenges. My parents are assigned to a different debarkation group and are scheduled to leave ahead of us.

Once we exit the ship’s ramp, we enter a large structure where passengers reunite with their groups and collect luggage. Finding my parents takes longer than expected, made even harder by the complete lack of cell reception in the area.

Inside the structure, luggage lines the floor as people sort through belongings and regroup. Very few passengers are actually leaving, which slows everything down. With the number of suitcases we have, we certainly do not make the process easier.

It becomes clear that Seward is either building a new pier or updating the current one. Construction is underway throughout the area.

Luggage, Construction, and One Less Worry

The bright spot comes when we discover a service that stores our luggage and ensures it is loaded onto the Seward to Anchorage train. It removes one major concern, though it does come at a cost.

I make several trips hauling luggage from the port building to the van that will transport it to the train station. Because of construction and unfinished parking areas, the shuttle parks far away. In some spots, I carry suitcases instead of rolling them.

With all the walking, I close my fitness step ring in record time.

Before the trip, Dawn secures a private minivan rental so we can explore Seward at our own pace. While I manage the luggage situation, she walks to the pickup location to retrieve the vehicle. Once we reunite, we can finally move on.

We are all exhausted, and it is still very early in the morning. Even so, the next adventure is already beginning.

First Impressions of Seward

After Dawn gets her morning coffee, we drive toward Kenai Fjords National Park. We are not able to drive in as far as I would like. The road ends at the Exit Glacier Nature Center, where visitors can continue on foot.

The visitor center is only open during certain months and is closed during our trip. Even so, we drive far enough in to take in incredible scenery. It only adds to our excitement for what lies ahead.

Kenai Fjords National Park

If Dawn and I never cruise to Alaska again, I would still want to return to Seward for a Kenai Fjords glacier and wildlife tour. The photos from that experience look incredible.

What we see just driving into the park is equally impressive, even though we are only experiencing a small fraction of it.

When the kids are older, Kenai Fjords National Park will absolutely be on my list to revisit.

Exploring Seward Before the Train

We travel along the Seward Highway, the same direction we will later take on the Seward to Anchorage train. We ooh and ahh at the landscape. The scenery feels almost impossible to describe.

Eventually, we feel content with what we have seen and decide it is time to experience something else.

My parents explore downtown while Dawn, Benson, Molina, and I head to the Alaska SeaLife Center. Aquariums are something I always enjoy, and it quickly becomes clear that Benson does too.

Of all my experiences at aquariums and zoos, I never fully grasp how large sea lions are until moments like this. Watching a full-grown sea lion swim and comparing its size to an adult human is unforgettable. It becomes one of those moments that stays with me.

As we make our way to find my parents, we pass the Seward Brewing Company. One of its windows is covered in stickers left by travelers. I proudly add a ReadTimber.com sticker featuring Timber the Owl.

Downtown Seward is not especially accessible for strollers or those with mobility challenges. Several buildings require stepping up to enter, which makes navigating the area more difficult.

Barbecue in Alaska

Being from Kansas City and someone who loves barbecue, we cannot pass up the chance to eat BBQ in Alaska. We head to Firebrand BBQ, where everyone orders something different.

I splurge and add an Alaskan crab cluster to my meal. I cannot pass up crab in Alaska.

I am biased when it comes to barbecue. Kansas City has plenty of great spots and a few not so great ones too. None of us think this meal is fantastic, but it is far from bad. I have eaten better, and I have also eaten worse.

Unfortunately, our time in Seward is coming to an end. It is a place I would love to visit again, spend more time in, and explore more deeply.

Gold Star on the Rails

Dawn drops us off at the train station and returns the rental car while I check our reservation for the Seward to Anchorage train.

Before the trip, I purchase the Gold Star experience. Gold Star passengers ride in separate cars from standard seating, and the experience does not disappoint.

Our car has two levels, massive windows, and a covered observation platform. I spend as much time on that platform recording the landscape as we move through it.

The train departs Seward around 6 PM. As rain begins to fall, visibility becomes limited on the journey to Anchorage. Even so, Dawn and I talk about doing a one-way cruise starting in Seward someday, just to experience this train ride with more daylight.

With the Gold Star experience, we enjoy a full three-course meal served in a way I have never experienced before. The food is excellent and feels restaurant quality.

Arrival in Anchorage

It is close to midnight when we arrive in Anchorage. Passengers who did not sail south arrive either by bus or by train with us.

When we arrive, it is cold and raining. A small covered tent offers limited shelter as passengers search for luggage. No one seems to leave, and people begin frantically searching for taxis.

I pull our suitcases out from under the tent and into the rain. That way, when I flag down a minivan taxi, I can load everything quickly.

We manage to fit all the luggage. My dad, Benson, and I ride with the bags. Dawn, Molina, and my mom take an Uber she is able to secure.

It is one of the most chaotic and disorganized moments of the trip. During planning, this arrival in Anchorage is the part of the Seward to Anchorage train journey I look forward to the least.

To the person whose taxi reservation I took, I am sorry. I truly hope you were able to find another ride.

Stay tuned as we share more from our adventure at sea! To read about day eight of my Alaska adventure, visit Day 8: 2025 Family Cruise to Alaska. Also explore the whole story at 2025 Second Alaska Cruise.