Skagway Cruise Ship Arrivals Schedules Municipality of Skagway Borough Alaska
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In a town the size of Skagway, there isn’t a big transportation network. However, there is a “SMART Bus” (more of a shuttle, really) that picks up and drops off at points around town, including the pier. The cost is $3 for a one-way ride into town or $5 for an all-day pass. The entire downtown area revolves around cruise ship tourism. In many ways, that’s a great thing as it’s easy to get around, there’s plenty to do and see, and nearly every storefront caters to tourists, such as souvenir shops, restaurants, and breweries. The White Pass Scenic Railway was built in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush as a means of transporting gold prospectors to the gold fields.
Take in the Majesty of Glaciers with an Aerial Tour
A printable PDF is available in the documents section below. The view you get from the Skagway Footbridge is incredible and well worth the visit. Make sure to be careful walking on the bridge as some of the planks are a bit wobbly. If you have extra time, this spot is the beginning of some other trails well worth your time.
Klondike Gold Fields
Skagway offers a range of shopping opportunities for cruise ship travelers, with products made by local artisans. You can find unique souvenirs like native artwork, custom jewelry, and traditional handicrafts. Docking options at this busy port are plentiful, with multiple departures scheduled daily.
TAKE A HIKE
It offered the shortest route to Klondike, but it was far beyond from being the easiest one. The gold rush was a blessing for Skagway and by 1898 the town became the largest in Alaska (with population ~20,000). When in 1900 the gold yield dwindled, Skagway's population of mostly miners shifted to Nome. Skagway Brewing Company is a popular favorite for locals, cruise travelers and cruise ship crew. Try a pint of Spruce Tip Ale for a unique taste of this Alaska beer.
There are a few shorter day hikes you can do in and around Skagway. Three of the short hikes are Yakutania Point, Gold Rush Cemetery and Lower Reid Falls, and Lower Dewey Lake. Here are some FAQs answered to help you on your cruise to the Skagway port. Additionally, May or June is the least rainy time of year in Southeast Alaska and the Inside Passage, ensuring you can make the most of your trip without worrying about wet weather. The local currency in Skagway, Alaska, is the U.S. dollar (USD), accepted throughout the state.
So as you get close to the ships, just look for the shape that corresponds with your pier. Well, today you can now ride the rails on a scenic route that takes about three hours and carries you up into the mountains. You get some of the most postcard-worthy vistas you can imagine as the train heads along the pass. But then, as the gold rush quickly died down, the population plummeted from thousands to just hundreds. With the rise in popularity of cruises, however, Skagway has started to enjoy a second life.
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You will need waterproof outerwear, as well as winter gloves. Temperatures in Skagway begin to cool as summer turns to fall. Expect daytime temperatures between 40° and 55°F, as well as fairly frequent showers and fog. Don’t forget waterproof clothing if you plan on spending most of your time outdoors. Unlike those in Anchorage and Juneau, Alaska, the Skagway Airport does not have the runway facilities needed to deal with larger planes. This is one of the main reasons why most Alaskan cruises list Skagway Cruise Port as a port of call rather than their original departure point.
Alaska Standard Time Zone is one hour behind Pacific Time and four hours behind the Eastern Time Zone. This activity is running in small groups and has very limited availability, so make sure you book a tour in advance. Keep in mind that the weather changes a lot, so make sure you bring warm clothes or a rain jacket. Walk on raised balance beams, enjoy eleven ziplines across waterfalls, and cross four suspension bridges on this adrenaline-packed outdoor activity.
It’s a charming and historic town, most famous for its abundance of Alaskan Gold Rush history. The well-preserved Gold Rush buildings in Skagway are part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. Navigating your way around Skagway is incredibly easy due to the various transportation options available.
The currency in Skagway, and all of Alaska, is the U.S. dollar (USD). You’ll find an ATM at the Wells Fargo Bank at 6th and Broadway. Tipping for service at restaurants and bars as well as other service-oriented businesses is customary in Alaska. It’s also appropriate to tip tour guides for good service around 10% of the cost of the tour. Probably Skagway’s most famous pub, the atmospheric Red Onion Saloon, a former bordello on Broadway and 2nd, is unmissable for a taste of life during the Gold Rush.
Skagway sits on the Lynn Canal, North America’s longest and deepest fjord. Numerous tour operators can provide safe and guided rafting experiences. Despite its small size and population, Skagway has plenty to offer visitors. Since Skagway once served as the main gateway to the gold deposits of the Klondike region of Yukon, Canada, the town has a very noticeable link to the Klondike Gold Rush. Since Skagway is located more south than some of Alaska’s other towns and cities, temperatures are relatively mild. Pack light, comfortable clothing, but make sure you bring a rain jacket just in case.
When dining in restaurants, it is customary to leave 15-20% tip for good service since servers typically make minimum wage. Please let me know what you enjoyed most in the comments below. Plan to spend 2-3.5 hours on this hike, depending on your speed. If you want more a more challenging hike away from the cruise crowds, head to Lower Dewey Lake.
Staff also play a part in the history, dressed up as “madams” as they provide tours. And with every step you take into town (and especially if you take a train ride through White Pass), then you are setting a new record for the farthest north you’ve been. We’d suggest the $5 pass as you’ll see markers all around town where it stops, providing a ride for folks that don’t want to or can’t easily walk. If you visit Skagway and find it has a different feel than some of the other ports in Alaska, you aren’t alone. In our opinion, many ports are towns that also cater tourists. In the late 1800s, gold was discovered in the Yukon — a place that to this day can be difficult to reach.
To get cash, you can visit a nearby ATM to withdraw U.S. dollars. Whether you are after an adventure or prefer a relaxing walk, your adventures begin right at the edge of the dock due to Skagway’s walkability factor. Your ship will need to sail through the Lynn Canal which is not a canal but a fjord. This valley shaped by glaciers is the deepest fjord in North America. Be on outside deck an hour before arrival and/or up to 1 hour after departure.
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