Skagway, Alaska Cruise Port Guide: What to Do, What to Wear + My White Pass Railway Experience
If Skagway, Alaska is on your cruise itinerary, this is one port where I would absolutely plan an excursion.
We visited Skagway during our 7-day Alaska cruise aboard the Norwegian Encore, and it was one of our longest port days. Our ship arrived early in the morning and didn’t leave until that evening, which meant we had plenty of time to experience one of the things I was most excited about on this trip: the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway.
Skagway itself is tiny, incredibly walkable, and surrounded by mountains. It also feels completely different from Juneau and Ketchikan, which is one of the things I loved about cruising Alaska. Every port had its own personality. For our day in Skagway, we booked a combination excursion that took us on the White Pass Railway and then back along the Klondike Highway by coach. It gave us two completely different perspectives of the area and even took us across the Canadian border.
If you’re planning an Alaska cruise and wondering what to do in Skagway, here’s everything you need to know before you go.
A Little About Skagway, Alaska
Skagway is probably best known for its connection to the Klondike Gold Rush. During the late 1890s, thousands of people traveled through Skagway on their way north in hopes of finding gold in the Yukon. Today, much of the town’s historic character has been preserved as part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park.
And when I say this town is small, I mean small. The main downtown area is only a few blocks, with colorful historic buildings, shops, restaurants, and plenty of reminders of its Gold Rush past. But the real star of Skagway is what surrounds it. Mountains are basically everywhere you look.
Our Day in Skagway
One thing I loved about our Skagway itinerary was that we had such a long day in port, which gave us plenty of flexibility when choosing an excursion. We decided to book the afternoon White Pass & Yukon Route Railway with a Klondike Highway coach return, and I’m so glad we did. Having an afternoon departure meant we didn’t have to wake up super early, rush off the ship, and start our day right away. We could take our time that morning and still have plenty of time for the full excursion.
The combination tour was also such a great way to experience this part of Alaska. Instead of taking the train both ways, we took the White Pass Railway for incredible views and then saw the landscape from a completely different perspective on the drive back along the Klondike Highway.
Riding the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway
The White Pass Railway was one of the excursions I knew I wanted to experience on our Alaska cruise. The railroad was originally built during the Klondike Gold Rush and climbs from Skagway into the mountains along a route once traveled by people heading toward the Yukon.
And the views are incredible. You’re traveling through mountains, over bridges and past waterfalls while slowly climbing higher and higher above Skagway. This is definitely one of those excursions where you’ll want to keep your phone or camera ready because the scenery constantly changes. Depending on your route and excursion, you’ll see dramatic mountain passes, rushing water, forests, and some pretty incredible views down into the valley.
I also loved that this wasn’t an overly active excursion. After several days of walking around cruise ports, it was actually nice to sit down, relax, and just enjoy the scenery for a while.
Take the Train One Way and the Klondike Highway Back
If you have the option to book a combination excursion that includes the train one way and a coach along the Klondike Highway the other way, I would choose that over simply taking the train round trip. The scenery is beautiful from the train, but the highway offers an entirely different perspective. We were able to make stops along the way, get out for photos, and see areas that you wouldn’t necessarily experience from the railway.
It also made the excursion feel much more varied. Instead of spending the entire experience sitting on the train, we had the railway portion followed by a scenic road trip back toward Skagway.
Yes, You’ll Need Your Passport
This is important. Our excursion crossed the border into British Columbia, Canada, which meant we needed our passports with us. Don’t assume that because you’re getting off the ship in Alaska you can leave your passport in your cabin.
Always check the details of your specific excursion beforehand because some White Pass and Klondike Highway tours cross into Canada while others do not. If yours does, make sure you have the proper identification with you before leaving the ship.
What’s the Weather Like in Skagway?
Alaska weather is unpredictable. This became one of my biggest takeaways from our entire trip.
We cruised in June, and both Juneau and Skagway were much warmer than I expected. I packed for cold Alaska weather and quickly realized that layers would be much more useful than a single heavy jacket. The temperature can also feel completely different throughout the day.
It might be cool when you leave the ship in the morning, warmer while you’re walking around downtown, and then chilly again once you gain elevation on the White Pass Railway. That is why I would dress in layers rather than trying to predict exactly what the weather will do.
What to Wear in Skagway
For a summer Alaska cruise, I would keep your Skagway outfit comfortable and practical. Think layers. I wore casual clothes throughout our Alaska cruise because the entire trip was much more relaxed than I expected. For Skagway, I would recommend comfortable walking shoes, a long-sleeve shirt or lightweight base layer, a sweatshirt or sweater, and a lightweight jacket you can easily take off.
I would also bring sunglasses. And definitely bring a small backpack or bag so you have somewhere to put those layers as you take them off throughout the day. You can see everything I wore below and on my SHOPMY
Should You Book Your Skagway Excursion Through the Cruise Line?
There are pros and cons to both. Booking through your cruise line gives you extra peace of mind because cruise-sponsored excursions are coordinated around the ship’s schedule. If an approved excursion is delayed, the cruise line knows where you are. Booking independently can sometimes be less expensive and give you more options.
Because Skagway was such a long port day for us, we had much more flexibility than we did on a shorter port like Ketchikan. No matter which option you choose, pay close attention to your ship’s all aboard time and give yourself plenty of time to get back.
Is the White Pass Railway Worth It?
For me, yes. If you’re deciding where to spend your excursion budget on an Alaska cruise, I think the White Pass Railway is one of those experiences that is very specific to Skagway. You can walk around town without spending much money, so I would put the excursion budget toward getting outside of Skagway and seeing the surrounding landscape. I especially liked doing the train and coach combination because it didn’t feel repetitive.
The train gave us that classic Alaska railway experience, while the drive back along the Klondike Highway allowed us to stop, take photos, and see the landscape from another perspective. If I were planning the trip again, I would book the combination excursion again.
Final Thoughts on Skagway, Alaska
Skagway was such a memorable part of our Alaska cruise because it gave us a little bit of everything. We had the historic downtown, incredible mountain scenery, the White Pass Railway, and a drive along the Klondike Highway all in one day.
And because our ship was in port for so long, we never felt like we were racing back to the Norwegian Encore. If Skagway is on your Alaska cruise itinerary, I would absolutely spend part of your day exploring downtown, but I would also make it a priority to get outside of town. For us, the White Pass Railway and Klondike Highway combination was the perfect way to do exactly that.
Planning an Alaska Cruise?
I’m putting together everything from our 7-day Alaska cruise aboard the Norwegian Encore to make it a little easier to plan your own trip.
You can also read my Norwegian Encore Alaska Cruise Review or read more Alaska posts HERE
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