Chilkoot Charters & Tours - Skagway

[Kidguile]

Was researching some excursions for Skagway for an upcoming Alaska cruise and I was sad to find out Chilkoot Charters & Tours cancelled the Fraser & Bennett train departures for the 2022 season. Damn Covid! Any other suggestions for Skagway excursions? Will have a 3 yr old so some of the minimum age excursions won’t work.

 

[Geomom]

I just checked this. White pass railway is only doing roundtrip "summit" excursions due to issues with crossing into Canada. You can book the summit train ride directly with White pass railway. Or do just a bus tour with Chilkoot Charters. Look into the Klondike Gold Rush national park. https://www.nps.gov/klgo/index.htm. They have a junior ranger activity center and list various things to do with kids. (Click on "learn about the park" and then "kids & youth".). The visitor center is in walking distance of the ship.

 

[Kidguile]

I just checked this. White pass railway is only doing roundtrip "summit" excursions due to issues with crossing into Canada. You can book the summit train ride directly with White pass railway. Or do just a bus tour with Chilkoot Charters. Look into the Klondike Gold Rush national park. https://www.nps.gov/klgo/index.htm. They have a junior ranger activity center and list various things to do with kids. (Click on "learn about the park" and then "kids & youth".). The visitor center is in walking distance of the ship.

I checked out the White Pass Railway and the round trip is not available when we’re in Skagway. Thinking the bus tour is the next best option.

 

[Geomom]

I checked out the White Pass Railway and the round trip is not available when we’re in Skagway. Thinking the bus tour is the next best option.

Did you try a different time? The default is 8am which is only certain days of the week. 9am and 1pm seem more common. Time is located just above the month.

 

[Kidguile]

No I did not. Thanks for the tip! It shows availability now !

 

[TinkLoverSam]

Can the 3yo get off the ship on a non-Disney excursion? My understanding is that unvaccinated children may only leave the ship on a ship sponsored excursion so we are doing the white rail pass and trail camp booked through DCL with our 2yo. He’s free!

 

[Kidguile]

Since the port of call is Alaska - I’m not aware of any restrictions for unvaccinated children under 5.

 

[TinkLoverSam]

Since the port of call is Alaska - I’m not aware of any restrictions for unvaccinated children under 5.

Until April 1st the Know Before you Go section included that unvaccinated children could only debark the ship on a DCL shore excursion. That wording appears to have been removed so I guess you can go on your own

 

[JulieODC]

We are tentatively booked on a hike and float tour in Skagway - with Skagway Float.

We’ve also have a rental jeep booked - to drive on our own, but only plan to keep it if it looks like going into Canada and back is possible. The rental comes with a packed lunch and audio tour.

 

[BrandyMcD]

Just got the same message and I am so bummed as this was the big excursion we were looking forward to. I'm trying to make sure I understand what has happened and what my options are. Because of Canadian regulations, the train can't stop in Fraser or Bennet and I guess that's where we would have gotten on with Chilkoot - is that correct?

According to Chilkoot, they are still offering the bus-only option which will stop at the Caribou Crossing place for lunch, puppies, etc.

Or, I can do the train through White Pass Railway, but it's just a round trip train ride with no option to get off/do lunch, etc.

Is this correct? There is no way to do a train ride AND a lunch in the Yukon village this year?

 

[lovingeire]

I had the Yukon Rail and Bus tour booked with Chilkoot and just got an email from them that the WPRR canceled the Fraser and Bennett departures so they are canceling our tour. We will likely rebook the bus tour. Ironically, I have the Yukon Expedition booked through Disney as well, since I didn't know if Chilkoot would be operating this summer, and have gotten no communication about the tour being canceled or changed.

 

[BrandyMcD]

I had the Yukon Rail and Bus tour booked with Chilkoot and just got an email from them that the WPRR canceled the Fraser and Bennett departures so they are canceling our tour. We will likely rebook the bus tour. Ironically, I have the Yukon Expedition booked through Disney as well, since I didn't know if Chilkoot would be operating this summer, and have gotten no communication about the tour being canceled or changed.

The email made it sound like they were contacting us in order of cruise date. Are you also on June 13 departure?

 

[lovingeire]

The email made it sound like they were contacting us in order of cruise date. Are you also on June 13 departure?

I am on the June 13th departure! I emailed them back with a question, but am not in a rush for a response. I figured they were going to contact us in order of sail date as well. I think we'll switch to the equivalent bus tour? Otherwise, I better go excursion shopping!

 

[BrandyMcD]

I am on the June 13th departure! I emailed them back with a question, but am not in a rush for a response. I figured they were going to contact us in order of sail date as well. I think we'll switch to the equivalent bus tour? Otherwise, I better go excursion shopping!

We are definitely considering the bus only tour too, but one concern is that it might get a little boring. And I’m also just wondering if this means there will be long lines to cross the border? I don’t fully understand why the train portion was cancelled.

I’ve started looking at other excursions too. A lot of them are full. Double whammy for us because we got caught up in all of Disney’s IT issues and even though we were paid in full we weren’t able to book activities on silver day. So, we’ve missed out on pretty much all the things. Still looking forward to Alaska though!

 

[lovingeire]

We are definitely considering the bus only tour too, but one concern is that it might get a little boring. And I’m also just wondering if this means there will be long lines to cross the border? I don’t fully understand why the train portion was cancelled.

I’ve started looking at other excursions too. A lot of them are full. Double whammy for us because we got caught up in all of Disney’s IT issues and even though we were paid in full we weren’t able to book activities on silver day. So, we’ve missed out on pretty much all the things. Still looking forward to Alaska though!

I did hear back from Chilkoot that the Yukon Adventure tour is the same minus the 1.75 hours train ride. Their buses seat 25. She asked me how I’d like to proceed so I guess since I reached out they’re ready to make changes for me.

I will say, this company came highly recommended and there should be plenty of stops to break things up. I like the idea of a smaller tour too.

I also messaged the White Pass Railroad and they provided an explanation on the decision.




I do understand the frustration of having to change things and some things being sold out. We are sailing concierge so could have booked something else at the time. But, oh well. I debated doing the helo/sled dogs in Skagway and whale watching in Juneau, but really wanted to do this tour and have pictures with the welcome to Alaska sign and the Yukon signs and Emerald Lake, etc. I’m hoping it will still be worthwhile.