Also Read: Your Guide to the Best Alaska Cruise Ports. All train cars are wheelchair accessible (however, space is limited on cars with a lift), and they are equipped with one restroom per car, complimentary bottled water and one souvenir White Pass and Yukon Route map per passenger. Best cruise excursions in Skagway Alaska - Gangwaze There's a world of sights to be seen in the Great Land and our Alaska cruise excursions give you a front-row seat to it all. Sitka is noteworthy among Alaska towns for its strong Russian and Tlingit heritage. Those who book will ride along on Aleutian Ballad, a fishing boat featured in the second season of "Deadliest Catch.". Can I cancel? Satisfaction Guarantee Higher Quality Guaranteed Return to Ship Lower Prices 24/7 Support Choose A Destination Below Juneau 2061 Reviews Skagway 1552 Reviews Ketchikan 1458 Reviews Alaska Interior Icy Strait Board a custom-built enclosed expedition boat for a 60- to 70-minute ride through fjords and rainforests with an abundance of wildlife and spectacular views. Along the way, you stop at waterfalls and other spectacular overlooks. Best Cruise Excursions in Alaska - Sitka. Professional climber guides will help you choose a route, then give you advice to reach the apex of whichever ascent you choose; theyll also provide a safe rappel back down as you enjoy the sweeping views. Lets be real: rock climbing and rappelling arent for everyone, but this tour is truly unique and thus scores high on my list of the best Skagway cruise excursions. Lunch is served daily, from 11 to 5, and it's locally sourced pub fare with crab artichoke dip, fish sandwiches, salads, burgers, pastas (with gluten-free options) and more. But, Ive weighed the options and consider these nine to be the bestSkagway cruise excursions. The 10 Best Skagway Shore Excursions for Your Alaska Cruise in 2023 Planning an Alaska cruise with a port stop in Skagway? But the real action begins when you learn to climb up and rappel down glaciers using special equipment. Carnival, Disney, Holland America, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean. On the train, you'll ride from the tidewater to the 2,865-foot elevation . First, youll board and ride the White Pass and Yukon Route, a narrow-gauge railroad that ascends the White Pass for epic views and scenery. Also, in May and June, you need an additional $15 king salmon stamp. All at local prices. By Bike: You can rent a bike at Sockeye Cycles, 381 5th Avenue, 907-983-2851. I started this site to share my travel stories and inspiration to help you complete bucket list trips. Or, it might kick off across the Canadian border in Fraser -- about a 45-minute ride by motorcoach. End by enjoying a champagne toast in the Red Onion Saloon, whether youve seen a ghost or not! To help, Ive reviewed all of the excursions offered by Alaska cruise companies, and have ranked the best 10. From the helicopter, you might also view bears, moose, mountain goats and other wildlife. Ketchikan - runner up for best overall + best shopping. (Pro tip: Use Alaska.org's exclusive Skagway Audio Guide !) The Best Alaska Excursions For Your Alaskan Cruise It's now set within the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park as the site of a dog musher's camp. 23 Sep Skagway has a variety of tours to choose from and picking the right one can be a daunting task. There are many ways to experience it for yourself, but . Both Grand and Sapphire Princess offer weeklong Alaska cruises in May 2024 starting from $548 per person for inside cabins. You should be aware that being on a small boat on the open sea subjects you to swells and wind chop. Have it All Early Booking Bonus for Alaska Cruisetours offers crew appreciation and upgraded beverage package and Wi-Fi. Alaska Cruises - Editor's Picks: Alaska's Best Shore Excursions (There are six cables side by side, so up to a half-dozen participants can do the ride at the same time.). Immerse yourself in gold rush life at the Gold Rush Trail Camp where you'll learn how to pan for gold. The latest round of negotiations, which took place over the 4th of July weekend, ended in a stalemate with SMART-TD rejecting WPYRs offer. One tip: Heading from Fraser down to Skagway, there is way more to see on the right-hand side of the train. The Best "Non-Excursions" in Port During Your Alaska Cruise For a snack between sightseeing, stop in at Klondike Doughboy, offering a local sweet treat called fry bread. You're not likely to see any scenery prettier than this, and you'll stand a good chance of spotting wildlife including eagles, bears, mountain goats, deer and wolves. When you stop in Skagway, there is no better scenic and relaxing ride to the area's beautiful waterfall destinations, both in the state and along the Klondike Highway into Canada. Sitka, like many Alaskan towns is . On this 2.5-hour excursion, you'll walk through the small city of Sitka, once known as the "Paris of the Pacific," with a guide, stopping at various art galleries and artisan ateliers along the way. You'll then bike 15 miles down the Klondike Highway on a guided summit-to-sea tour back to Skagway -- and we mean down, down, down. Accordingly, passengers can opt in for a version of the excursion that includes a post-tour motor coach transfer to Anchorage hotels and its airport. You then head to Saxman Totem Park, home to one of the largest collections of authentic totems in the world, where your guide will help explain the stories and meanings behind the poles. Skagway - Bus/train into Canada (many local companies to choose from as well as ship excursion) If doing an independent excursion, try to get the train back as there will be passengers on it doing ship's excursion - in case there is a delay the ship will probably wait. You are hauled up a mountain in a 4x4, geared up with a harness, gloves and a helmet, and with the direction of trained guides, sent to glide down a mountain on a zipline that runs between platforms attached to the tops of trees. You might also see the cascading Hole-in-the-Wall Glacier, the floating Dead Branch Glacier or the river-like East Twin Glacier before landing on Norris Glacier, home to a mushing camp. The railroads scenic 110-mile journey, which stretches from Skagway, Alaska, to Whitehorse in Yukon, Canada, is renowned for its breathtaking views of mountains, glaciers, gorges, waterfalls, tunnels, and trestles. Their wild west lifestyle also drew shady businessmen and intrepid ladies of the night all of whom left their mark on the region. The union argues that expecting conductors to take on double the workload could compromise the safety of the guests and the general public. Luckily, the cruise lines make it easy with shore excursions that range from the sublime to the extreme -- from a ride on the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad to see the beautiful scenery to a hike in crampons atop a pristine glacier. If you prefer a drive, fast-talking guides in period garb lead the Skagway Street Car Tour, a two-hour look at the port's Gold Rush history onboard a restored yellow Mac Model B. Gold-Panning at Liarsville Gold Rush Trail Camp: A stop at this recreation camp, which was set up by press men who were supposed to be reporting from the front lines of the Gold Rush (thus Liarsville), is often packaged with the train tour if you go one way by rail and one way by bus. Sitka is noteworthy among Alaska towns for its strong Russian and Tlingit heritage. The 6 best Alaska cruise shore excursions - The Points Guy The labor union SMART-TD Local 1626, representing the operating personnel of the historic White Pass & Yukon Route (WPYR), authorized a strike after six years of unsuccessful negotiations with the railroad company. Upon your arrival at Glacier Point, a remote beach, you'll set out on a short drive and hike, before boarding a 31-foot-long canoe for a paddle up to the face of Davidson Glacier. The narrow-gauge train follows the path that pioneers in search of Klondike Gold climbed in order to get to Dawson's Creek in nearby Canada. Screaming is de rigueur. Adult Price: $129 (ages 10 and up) Keep your eyes peeled on the scenery, and maybe youll catch a glimpse of some of Alaskas famous wildlife. Note: You need to buy a one-day fishing license from the captain of the small boat for $25 cash, as required by Alaska law. You can also seasonally fish Freshwater or Saltwater via a guide, charter, or self-guided DIY fishing. (This is a great one if you plan to buy Alaska salmon on your trip thats one of my most-recommended Alaska souvenirs!). The dispute takes on an added layer of complexity with WPYRs plan to slash its workforce by a third. To break ties, I used top Uniqueness score, since I want to encourage you to try new things in Alaska. With the possibility of the iconic WPYR railroad journey being unavailable, cruise lines may find themselves forced to reimburse thousands of guests who have pre-booked this popular excursion as part of their cruise package. Your understanding of Alaska should include native culture. In 1994, it was designated an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark; it shares that title with the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty. You fly over the massive and impressive Juneau Icefield and see the advancing Taku Glacier up close. Alaska shore excursions give you an up-close view of this wild, beautiful state. The seaplane will also briefly land on water within the park to give you a taste of the serenity down below. You'll begin this trip with a 35- to 40-minute bus ride to the remnants of the nearby ghost town of Dyea, which was Skagway's biggest competition during the gold rush days. This 2.5-hour tour takes you to a native village just a short ride from Ketchikan where the Tlingits welcome guests and offer a taste of their culture. And if you dare to look down, you'll also see the flora and fauna of a rainforest and the remains of an old gold mining operation. Skagway, Alaska is known for its beautiful scenery and historic setting as the epicenter of the Klondike Gold Rush. Disney, Oceania, and Viking. These include Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Carnival Cruise Line. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. Luckily, the cruise lines make it easy with shore excursions that range from the sublime to the extreme -- from a ride on the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad to see the beautiful scenery to a hike in crampons atop a pristine glacier. Recognising that the Alaska demographic is fairly broad, cruise and excursion companies offer active itineraries -- hiking, biking and kayaking -- in addition to tours for history-lovers, those interested in native culture and those looking for pure entertainment -- like the Lumberjack Show or Duck Tours in Ketchikan. This is a real adventure experience. 24 Things to do in Skagway Alaska Cruise Port - High Seas Cruising I mean, theres like a whole generation of people who have transformed the restaurant industry with that preference. Sitka is a fantastic Alaska cruise port for hiking and exploring on your own! Cruisers with disabilities can also enjoy the Skagway train ride as the train cars come equipped with a wheelchair lift and other accessibility features. The White Pass and Yukon Route railroad offer other Alaska excursions and train rides, with most options resuming service in April 2023. $51 Scenic Skagway Shore Excursion: Full-Day Tour of the Yukon You glide above the treetops on this zipline experience on Douglas Island (the isle is accessed via a high-speed channel crossing from Juneau aboard an expedition craft). Once you land, your guide will take you on a dogsled ride over the snow-covered glacier and describe the 1,000-mile Iditarod race from Anchorage to Nome. The pristine park encompasses nearly 2.3 million acres, where you'll gaze upon sheer granite cliffs, imposing waterfalls, sparkling fjords and thick forests. Native art and souvenirs are offered for sale. On this adventure, you'll check out the local terrain from above with a helicopter flightseeing experience. Skagway Glacier Helicopter Tour | Alaska Shore Excursions Upon your arrival at Glacier Point, a remote beach, you'll set out on a short drive and hike, before boarding a 31-foot-long canoe for a paddle up to the face of Davidson Glacier. Without a future meeting date set, the path forward remains uncertain. For even more adventure, some tours combine the zipline with an ATV ride. The best part is that no experience is needed; a guide will instruct you in the use of the provided mountain gear, which includes boots, an ice axe and crampons. After a narrated bus ride along the Haines Scenic Byway, transfer to the glacially carved Chilkat River on a flat-bottom boat where you will traverse a remote section of the renowned Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. Alaska is one of those places where you want to get off the beaten path and experience the landscape -- the "real" Alaska. The Best Excursion for First-Time Cruisers to Skagway The Best of Skagway tour does exactly that, and is offered by many of the cruise companies that make port stops in Skagway. Given how many cruise companies offer a number of interesting and unique shore excursions in Skagway, it was hard to choose which ones to recommend. As you start planning your Alaska cruise and choosing an excursion in Skagway, be aware: some excursions dont actually happen in Skagway, they take place in nearby Haines. The White Pass and Yukon Route is a popular sightseeing train tour that runs between Skagway, Alaska and up to the White Pass Summit. Thousands of Cruise Passengers Could Be Affected by Popular Alaska Tour
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