Alaska - Skagway or Icy Straight Point

[Rachael Grantham]

I'd go with Skagway--there is so much to do from there. We didn't do a helicopter excursion, but we did do a dog cart ride as part of our excursion from Skagway. We booked with Chilkoot Charters--Yukon rail and bus with Dogcart ride. It was our favorite Alaskan excursion. We did the bus up--many picture stops, lunch at Caribou Crossing Trading Post, dog cart ride there, petting zoo area, puppies! Then White Pass Scenic Railway back to Skagway. DH and I couldn't pass up the chance to say we'd been to the Yukon when we were 'so' close to it! And my oldest daughter just wanted something with dogs!

As far as prices...I'm guessing Ice Straight Point cruises will be more expensive since there are only 2 cruises offered that include it--supply and demand...fewer of them drives the price up, even if it 'is' an inferior port, lol.

We are looking at an Alaskan cruise to Skagway. Im interested in the excursion you did. We have a little one who is almost 4. Is what you did something appropriate for his age range? Thanks!

 

[Dug720]

One of the newly released Alaska itineraries for 2020 has Icy Straight point as one of the ports, replacing Skagway. Looks like Icy Straight Point is smaller with less options on excursions but maybe the cruise will be cheaper? Any advice on which one to choose?
We want to do a helicopter dog sled excursion at one of the ports if that makes a difference.

I have done both (on a RCCL cruise) and while I was not thrilled with either one, I'd go with Skagway. You would literally have to pay me to go back to the obviously fake Icy Strait Point (it was all constructed simply to have a cruise ship stop in the area - even the "old" stuff looks new).

 

[Geomom]

We are looking at an Alaskan cruise to Skagway. Im interested in the excursion you did. We have a little one who is almost 4. Is what you did something appropriate for his age range? Thanks!

It's been a long time since I had a 3 yr old! My girls were 12 and 16 on that trip. I'd say it depends upon the kid--how does he do with long car rides WITH lots of stops to get off the bus, take pics, and get back on the bus. I think he'd probably love Caribou Trading Post with the various animals, lunch, etc. I will say that the bus/rail combo is much better than just doing a train ride roundtrip--all of us would have been bored riding the train both ways. But, I am glad we got to experience the train 1 way! Views were incredible and you could walk around while on the train....or take a little nap if you were tired! I'd also suggest doing the bus up to the Yukon, train back to Skagway. I know kids tend to get less patient as the day goes on, and having the train at the end where he doesn't need to be seatbelted in place would probably be best! Chilkoot charters does have a price for ages 0-12--so they don't seem to have a younger age limit in place.

 

[pixiedustedme]

Skagway. We did the glassblowing experience at Jewell Gardens (booked directly through the gardens), followed by a walk to the Gold Rush graveyard and Lower Reid Falls. Then we chose to walk through town back to the ship, just to absorb local color. It was nice and really made us feel that we were in Alaska.

 

[sazzle12]

I know this is an old post, but We are trying to decide if we should keep our DLC July 20, 2020 icy strait itinerary or move it up a week to July 13, 2020 which does Skagway instead. We have young kids between the two families (1, 2, 3 and 4 years old) so not sure we would do the train ride in Skagway anyway? We are considering a 6 person whale watching tour in icy strait to take the 3 and 4 year old while we leave the really little one in the nursery. Skagway def has more options for little kids though. I wonder if icy straits will turn away families with really little kids leaving more space in the nursery for our little ones to use?!

 

[jdb in AZ]

We did a fun whale-watching/bear watching excursion in Icy Straight Point, but if I had to choose, I'd choose Skagway. As others have said, there's a lot more to do there, especially the historical railway.

 

[Jessicabr]

I have been to both ports. I loved icy strait, but I would suggest for the first port Skagway. Maybe we love Icy strait due to the quietness. There is not much at all. But that also means not so many tourist, shops and all the things you see in the other ports in Alaska. We had a peaceful stroll along the water, did the wonderful zip line and on our back (by tender) we were a little delayed, a pot of killer whales decided to come by and say hello. I do have to mention we were here with a smaller ship.
Skagway has many more excursion options, restaurants and of course the shops.

 

[NancyIL]

I prefer Skagway to Icy Strait Point. However, if you do go to ISP - I suggest you do your whale watching there. Juneau is the other port that offers whale watching tours - but there are a lot more things to do in Juneau besides whale watching.