Visiting Skagway on an Alaska Cruise

When cruising to Alaska, there are a variety of itineraries for passengers to choose from. Most Alaska cruise routes will include stops to Juneau and Ketchikan, and some will include a visit to Skagway.

This was not our first Alaska cruise, but it was our first time visiting Skagway. It turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip to Alaska.

Similar to Juneau and Ketchikan, Skagway is a very easy to explore with kids. Passengers can easily walk off the cruise ship and reach the touristy downtown within minutes.

First Impressions of Skagway

When you step off the cruise ship, you notice right away how walkable Skagway is. The main street, Broadway Avenue, looks straight out of a movie set from the Gold Rush era. It’s only a few steps from the cruise ships to the downtown area.

Our cruise ship, Koningsdam, was the last to arrive that morning. A light layer of fog danced across the water as the ship quietly approached port – see photo below.

Skagway, once the gateway to the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush, sits at the very northern tip of Alaska’s Inside Passage. It’s located just 15 miles from the Canadian border and it’s surrounded by the Coast Mountains, which gives it that steep, dramatic landscape you see from the cruise ship.

Because it’s so far north and inland, compared to other ports like Juneau or Ketchikan, Skagway is drier and sunnier on average. You might actually get blue skies here even if it’s raining elsewhere along your cruise route.

We disembarked the ship shortly after it docked and went straight to the White Pass and Yukon Route Railway for our Skagway excursion. More on that below.

White Pass & Yukon Route Railway

There are several Skagway day trips and excursions to choose from. However, the most popular is the 2.5-hour round trip up to the historic White Pass Summit train ride.

The train climbs nearly 3,000 feet, crossing old wooden bridges and winding through mountain passes with incredible views around every corner. Learn about it’s gold rush history here.

We boarded the train right beside the entrance to the cruise ship port. There were 4 ships docked during our visit, so it depends on the ship location. The train stops a few steps from where Holland America Line ships dock.

There are no assigned seats. It does not matter what side of the train you face (although, some people recommend the left side when the train is going up). The train does a loop at the top of White Pass Summit, so your window will see the stunning landscapes on the way up or down.

We were told to find a seat near the back of the train because it makes for a better photo op when the train bends and turns along the track.

Watch this short video from the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway.

Book your tickets for the White Pass train early.

It’s the most popular family-friendly excursion and sells out fast.

There are multiple train departures each day. We did the first departure time.

Bring snacks when traveling with kids. The train excursion provides a bottle of water, but that’s it. There is no food cart on the train and our boys were hungry half way through the 2.5 hour trip.

More info about the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway excursion here.

View inside the vintage carriage. The seats are like cushioned benches.

Views from the train on the way to White Pass Summit.

Passengers are able to stand outside on the platform, which adds to the experience. We spent a lot of time on this small platform as the train made its way through the mountains.

Note – passengers are NOT allowed to move to car to car. You must stay in your original car for the entire trip.

Watch this short video from the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway.

The train departs steps away from the cruise pier, so it’s super convenient.

Exploring Downtown Skagway

After the train excursion, we spent a couple hours exploring downtown Skagway.

The downtown core is part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, meaning many of the original buildings have been beautifully preserved or restored. You’ll find old-time saloons, frontier-style storefronts, and wooden boardwalks.

Skagway might be small today, but in the late 1890s, it was the gateway to the Klondike Gold Rush and one of the wildest boomtowns in North America.

After the gold rush ended, Skagway nearly disappeared.

However, the construction of the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway in 1898 gave it new life, turning it into an important transportation hub and later, a popular Alaska cruise port.

We popped into the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park Visitor Center, which has free exhibits and a short film. From there, we wandered down Broadway Ave and found the Skagway Brewing Company, pictured below.

We took a lot of photos of Skagway. It’s one of the most photogenic and walkable ports in Alaska.

The popular Skagway Brewing Company is a fun stop for lunch. More photos here.

Arctic Brotherhood Hall (AB Hall) is said to be one of the most photographed buildings in Alaska.

Built in 1899 as a fraternal order, the Arctic Brotherhood Hall has over 8,000 pieces of driftwood on the outside of the building. It’s also home to the Skagway Visitor Center.

Broadway Avenue is the main street in Skagway. During cruise ship season, it will packed with tourists.

The Brass Pic, established in 1898 and the House of Negotiable Affection.

Skagway Station is an historic building that is still in operation.

The Red Onion Saloon (white building on the left), was established in 1898 during the infamous Klondike Gold Rush.

This landmark building was once Skagway’s most prestigious bordello. It’s now home to a brothel museum.

You can see the White Pass train stopped in the middle of Broadway Ave.

Skagway is an isolated town that is connected to Dawson City, Yukon, by the iconic Klondike Highway.

We spotted this playful sea lion in the water beside the cruise ship.

Travel Tips for Cruisers visiting Skagway Alaska

Book popular tours early. The White Pass Railway and dog sledding excursions often sell out weeks in advance.
Bring layers. Even in summer, Skagway mornings can be chilly, and mountain excursions get colder as you climb in elevation.
Spend time in town. Even if you have an excursion, leave at least an hour to wander downtown. Try to book morning excursions.
Tourist attractions. Most attractions are free or low-cost, and everything is within a few blocks.
Time management. Most cruise ships stay in Skagway for 7 to 9 hours, but tours and lines can eat into that quickly.

Related – Peak inside the Stateroom on Koningsdam cruise ship

Are you considering an Alaska cruise?

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Visiting Skagway on an Alaska Cruise