I got to take many scenic photos and video on the way up and down on the bus. Any guest unable to produce the proper identification will not be able to participate.US and Canadian citizens who are under 16 years of age may travel with a certified birth certificate. Youll see the priceless nickel silver dress worn by the Onions first madam and many other artifacts. Cancellations/deposit refund requests that do not comply with the above may not be subject to refund. Vintage passenger cars are heated and have large windows and restrooms. Onboard the bus for close to 30 minutes, the tour guide gave us an overview of the tour and some background about himself. This applies to individuals only and not the remainder of the group. 3.5 hour Train Up/Bus Down 12:45 pm departure Required fields are marked *. Today, guests experience the breathtaking panorama of mountains, glaciers, trestles & tunnels from the comfort of vintage train cars. Waiting for the few stragglers who needed to go back to the ship to get their passports, we were not able to leave until slightly after our scheduled 8am departure time. Voted "The Caribbean's Leading Cruise Line" 2013-2021 by World Travel Awards, This website uses cookies. Will they cancel the Skagway and White Pass Summit Excursion if it is raining? Skagway White Pass Summit and Highlights Excursion, Skagway White Pass Summit and Highlights Excursion Reviews. Cruiseline.ui.init({ For cancellation reasons below, you must contact us via email within 14 days after your excursion: For guests wanting to see the highlights of the Skagway local area, this Alaska Cruise Excursion combines historic Skagway with a tour of the scenic White Pass Summit Area following the famous Klondike Highway. The first major landmark on our journey was the White Pass Summit and the U.S./Canadian border about 7 miles from the Fraser station. Travel Alaska is a registered trademark of Alaska Travel Industry Association. The driver was informative, funny and helpful. Tormented Valley 2021, Princess Cruise Lines, Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Moderate Physical Activity: A fair amount of walking is required, and you may need to climb up full flights of steps and or negotiate uneven terrain. This railway is an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark (along with the Eiffel Tower and Statue of Liberty). While these day excursions are larger in size, our focus on quality remains extremely high. A bus picked us up at the ship and took us to the train. on the bus, followed by the train ride back down to downtown Skagway. This tour can only accommodate "umbrella" style baby strollers that do not exceed the following measurements when folded up: 45 inches in length by 10 inches in width by 10 inches in height (including wheels). Luckily, our car was not too full, as you can only fit two or three people in this area at once. Shortly thereafter, remains of the tragic Dead Horse Gulch can be seen. If there is no room on the bus, these items will have to be left behind with the local representative and delivered to the guest at the conclusion of the tour. Regardless of where your cruise began, you must have a passport. Also very good because the driver gave information on the points we passed and stopped a couple of times for us to take pictures. Although there is no guarantee to wildlife sightings, the further you go from civilization, the stronger you chances become. On the way back, we stopped at several scenic places and took photos. referral: "s33722.p856.sites.pressdns.com", widgetTitle:"Find the Lowest Prices on Alaskan Cruises", Phew! The tour will be crossing the Canadian border and then back across the US border. Escape the cruise ship shore excursion crowds and enjoy unique sights of Skagway and Alaska! Best Excursion we could have taken in Skagway. Standard Shore Excursions typically range from 20-50 people. domain: "cruiseline.com", Ascend the beautiful mountains on the White Pass Summit Train. For more information please see info on our website or contact us). You get the history and engineering of the train route with the scenic stops for photos and small group enjoyed on a bus tour. Getting to see this route as. About a mile further down the track, a wood plaque exists indicating the remains of the Trial of 98. Best of both worlds.. Trips depart from Skagway, AK, Fraser, BC, Carcross, YT, & Whitehorse, YT, between early May and late September each year. To find out more, please. Scenic sightseeing drive along the Klondike Highway to the White Pass with photo stops, Visit to several scenic overlooks in British Columbia Canada, Driver / guide who will introduce you to the history and breath-taking scenery of this area, Orientation drive of Skagway Historical area. (Mon, Wed, Thur, Fri, Sat) 12:45 departure, Highway & White Pass Train Combo: I would highly recommend this excursion. Would I ride the train again? For all Alaska tours, we recommend layers of clothing, with the top layer being waterproof. With the White Pass Railway and Historic City Highlights tour, you get to see the route from different vantage points, as opposed to the round trip train ride from Skagway to Fraser, B.C. horizontal: true, All participants must check-in at least 15 minutes before departure. All Minors Must be Accompanied by a Legal Guardian. This Skagway and White Pass Highlights Excursion operates rain or shine, within safety guidelines. Bus + Rail Excursion. The video recounted the story of Captain William Moore and the discovery of gold in the Yukon as well as the trek prospectors had to take on the Chilkoot or White Pass trials. Everything went was stated. This meant that prospectors had to travel up and down the White Pass Trail several times to get goods up to the base camp of the mountain. js.src = "//forms.aweber.com/form/76/1442865476.js"; We offer you convenience, flexibility and peace of mind. Moore Creek overlook For more information please see www.abta.com. with stops including below (stops may vary due to traffic/weather conditions/border wait times/road construction, etc. We had many stops and perfectly narrated by our guide Mike who was phenomenal. View past newsletters here. Weather conditions or equipment failure prevents the operator from running the excursion. First, the bus took us to a small theater in downtown Skagway. js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; Although staff do have general first aid knowledge, this tour is not recommended for guests with serious medical conditions. Enjoyed the train ride up to Canada and then crossing back through. Of course, wouldnt you know that the couple right in front of us did not have their passports. The White Pass is located between Alaska and British Columbia. Your booking confirmation will contain clear instructions on where and when to go to start each of your tours. Views of the railroad tracks from the highway Next up, at mile 17, was Inspiration Point. var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; Also not available for the following ships: Radiance of the Seas on Mondays and Wednesdays, Celebrity Millennium on Wednesdays, Discovery Princess on Thursdays, Quantum of the Seas on Thursdays, or Norwegian Jewel on Fridays when it departs at 5pm. If it was not bad enough that our tour guide looked 16, his wife, who was the same age as him, looked barely 12! If you want to really experience Skagway, this tour will show you the best Skagway has to offer. Sensible walking shoes are also suggested. Any single adult traveling with a child under 18, must provide a death certificate for the non-accompanying parent(s) OR a certified letter from the non-accompanying parent(s) stating: 1) The accompanying parent has permission to take the child across the border, 2) The accompanying parent has the authority to make any and all decisions regarding any medical care required by the child, 3) Provide a daytime telephone number for the non-accompanying parent where they can be reached if there are any questions. Basically, you have to travel for seven or so miles before you encounter customs agents. } Do I need to take my passport with me on the Skagway White Pass Summit and Highlights Excursion to show along with my Electronic Shore Excursion Ticket? At mile marker 11.5 is Bridal Veil Falls, a waterfall cascading 6,000 feet and said to resemble a bridal veil. Everything needed will be listed on your E-ticket. Following the video, we exited through a hallway next to a jewelry store that ALSO contained a coffee shop serving Starbucks. You must drive 35 miles through British Columbia to reach the Yukon Territory. Our driver Jessie's knowledge of history with interesting details along with lots of humour made this trip so enjoyable! It had some historical significance and being a train trip it was a novelty. destinationSlug: "alaska" They dropped us off in Skagway or at our ship. Guide was great. containerId: "cruiseline-horizontal-check-prices-widget-alaska", This bus and rail combination tour provides a view of the unparalleled beauty of Alaska from two completely different tour perspectives--one way by train and the other by bus. We would be able to get good pictures after all. Our most popular tours sell out quickly so we recommend that you book early to avoid disappointment. We were up early and off the ship by 7:30am. Drop us an anchor below to tell us about your experiences in Skagway, Alaska and your recommendations for the best things to do while visiting this historic area. Riding the train is a nice pastime, with a great history lesson and many picturesque opportunities, but it is a bit long, clocking in at two hours. Taking a side trip from our Alaskan Cruise, we took the bus excursion from Skagway along the Klondike Hwy. fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); YES, it is necessary to take along your passport (except for some Alaska Shore Excursions if you are US or Canadian citizen. Soon after, Black Cross Rock is visible, which is really only a black cross that marks the resting place of railroad workers killed in a granite accident. Covering the stories of characters like William Moore and Soapy Smith, he described the history of the town and the living conditions prospectors encountered in their 27 mile trek to Canada. Your tour concludes with a scenic drive back to the pier or, should you choose, you can remain in town and explore Skagway. This was a very dangerous portion of the trail where over 3,000 horses, overloaded with goods, lost their footing and were trampled to death by the processional of prospectors making their way along the trail. A man needs to know where he can get an iced caramel macchiato on this beautiful 60 degree Alaskan day, as this coffee location would come in handy when we returned from the excursion. The train trip appealed to us. People of all other citizenships are required to have a photo I.D., a passport, and visa (If required). The Train and Highway combo tour gives you the best of both the train and the bus tours, giving you a great variety of scenery. Back in Skagway, take a scenic motorcoach ride through the downtown historic district to the Gold Rush Cemetery for a recounting of the deeds done by the colorful characters of the city's early days and to see their final resting place. This tour cannot accommodate (and is not accessible to) wheelchairs, motorized scooters, or strollers. He made a point of stopping at a pull out to allow several of his passengers to take a photo of a black bear. callback: function() { There are basic restrooms at some of the stops. Our cruise holidays are ATOL protected (No. Well worth the money and time. The White Pass Railway is historic and one of those excursions you have to do, just to say you did it, if you are ever in Skagway. I was a little nervous, but it was quite easy. Monthly travel tips, highlights, and savings! portSlug: "juneau-alaska" Our first stop was near the William Moore Memorial bridge, one of the scariest bridges ever built as it is right over a fault line. Yes, as part of a combo tour. REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU BOARD YOUR CRUISE SHIP: As of June 1, 2009, all U.S. and Canadian citizens who are 16 and older traveling between the U.S. and Canada, by land will be required to present a valid Passport, Passport Card (or government authorized "enhanced" drivers license). Plenty of photo opportunities can be found as your bus makes regular stops when traveling on the highway, and you can exit your railway car to snap a few shots of the scenery while you are rolling down the narrow gauge tracks. Along your journey you will pass Pitchfork Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, the Gold Rush Cemetery, William Moore Bridge & Overlook, Skagway Scenic Overlook, Fraser Train Depot, Tormented Valley, and the "Welcome to Alaska" Sign. key: "e709d04de53049f94701c1c5a47e3cbb", It is suggested to bring a photo ID as well. Probably not. We debated doing the round-trip route, heading from Skagway up to Fraser, British Columbia and back, but read that the trip is exactly the same both ways. Impressive, very educational and worth visiting. Small increases or decreases in altitude resulted in very different types of trees and greenery. Multiple combo tours exist that include rides on the White Pass and Yukon Rail coupled with other means of transportation. The tour operator and their employees were friendly and knowledgeable. callback: function() { Taking the bus excursion first, then ending with the train back to Stagway gave you the best of both worlds. The Train and Highway by bus combo tour gives you the best of both tours without repeating any scenery by traveling a horseshoe shaped route on one side of the White Pass valley by train and on the opposite side by bus. A medical problem prevents you from safely participating in the excursion (we will verify with the excursion operator and the guest may send doctor's note). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Welcome Aboard! 6294). Main Takeaway: Taking a ride on the White Pass and Yukon Route to view the Trail of 98 is almost a rite of passage if you are cruising to Alaska. Please be aware that this tour operates in the wilderness, hours away from medical facilities. Visit British Columbia and its contrasting terrain! The last notable landmark during the train ride on the White Pass Railway and Historic City Highlights tour was Rocky Point. Perfect introduction tour to Alaska and Canada which will help me on future cruises. Scenic touring of White Pass with views of the White Pass and Yukon Railroad! We recommend finding one that matches your tastes and tolerance for activity. referral: "s33722.p856.sites.pressdns.com", Experience the best Skagway has to offer on this interesting and interactive Skagway White Pass Summit rail and bus excursion. The train cars were well appointed with heat and a bathroom if needed, the commentary was informative and together with the scenery and historical commentary ensured the trip of some three hours went by fairly quickly. $85 child -12 and under During the bus tour, our guide did an excellent job of retelling the history of the Yukon Gold Rush. We would hear these stories again, and again, throughout the tour. We work with reputable, local tour operators to offer you a wide variety of excursions to choose from, in every port youll visit. Private Shore Excursions allow you to travel with your party alone. Your ship arrives into port late and you cannot make it in time to the meeting location (we will verify with the tour operator). Guests without a passport will be denied boarding and will not be eligible for a refund of their excursion, please see "Restrictions" for more information. To protect themselves from creating a welfare state, the Canadian government barred folks from entering the Yukon area unless they had a full years worth of supplies, or some 2,000 lbs of goods. widgetTitle:"Compare and Save on Your Next Alaskan Cruise", You should be in good physical health if you reserve one of these tours. For the third time, he stated that everyone would need to have his/her passport in hand so he could check prior to boarding. Begin your adventure with a journey on the famed White Pass & Yukon Route Railway to the summit of the White Pass. We're here to answer them. You will also make a stop at the Skagway Scenic Overlook to stretch your legs, take pictures, and enjoy the beautiful atmosphere of the Alaskan wilderness. Harding and the Chilkat Range. From your antique narrow-gauge car view incredible scenery, as your tour guide shares stories and the history of the Klondike Gold Rush. These kids were going to be driving our buses up a mountain through the Alaskan Tundra?!? No.