White Pass RR- Alaska??

[smb6]

I'm looking to do the White Pass RR excursion. I'm considering booking the tour independently. For adults it is only about $10 cheaper- but I have three tweens that are charged kids prices from White Pass RR, but adult prices from Disney. So this would save us a few hundred dollars to book it myself. It is only 3/4 a mile from the cruise docks.
This is my question/concern- Our dock/arrival time is 7:15 am for Skagway. The RR excursion is for 8:15am. That is an hour to get off the ship and get there. Is this safe? We have not cruised before.... How long does it take to get off the ship? Anyone else considering this option?
TIA!

 

[outahere]

Since DCL has not yet sailed to Alaska, no one can be absolutely certain if they will arrive at every port at the published time. However, out of 9 DCL cruises, we have never been late into a port. If anything, we have been early several times.

We did the White Pass excursion when we sailed on NCL and it was one of the highlights of our cruise. The train is right at the port, so it is a very short walk from the ship (5 minutes or less).

We really enjoyed that train ride - the scenery is fantastic and the smell of the pines made me think it was Christmas. I think you will enjoy it! Have fun!

 

[True Romance]

I have done the Whitepass RR twice on my own. It is so easy and close to the port you will not have a problem. We exited the ship and then you walk a block and you are there. I will see if I can dig up and scan some old photos. There is a seasonal Starbucks there that is really cute. When were were there in 2000 it was the 2nd Starbucks in Alaska besides Anchorage and only open in the summer months. They said it was the only seasonal Starbucks in the world.

Definitely do it on your own. Have fun.

 

[jlwhitney]

I had been in contact with one of the tour operaters in skagway, that offers excurions on the RR and the assured me that the ship will be ready by 7am to get off. They said Disney is being cautious since it is new tothem. The company said the shoreman work hard and fast to get the ships ready by 7 so they can go home.

 

[NancyIL]

You might want to consider a private tour that takes the train one-way and a van the other: http://www.chilkootcharters.com/summitrail.htm

I've done their longer Yukon rail/bus excursion, and I think taking the bus the opposite way is a good alternative to the roundtrip train.

 

[smb6]

You might want to consider a private tour that takes the train one-way and a van the other: http://www.chilkootcharters.com/summitrail.htm

I've done their longer Yukon rail/bus excursion, and I think taking the bus the opposite way is a good alternative to the roundtrip train.

Thanks; I'm looking into that option.... Do you know the price of that one off hand? Their website does not say....

 

[mellers]

We're also booking it independently, and we just figured we'd take the 12:45 train--since we'll be back by 4:15, that should give us enough time to make our dinner seating and gives us plenty of time before we are supposed to be back on the ship.

 

[Mozart]

Is the railroad one way? Everything I've read seems to indicate that you should take a van back, but I'm wondering why you can't just take the train?

 

[smb6]

We're also booking it independently, and we just figured we'd take the 12:45 train--since we'll be back by 4:15, that should give us enough time to make our dinner seating and gives us plenty of time before we are supposed to be back on the ship.

That was my initial thoughts, but we are also looking to do a helicopter tour in this port. I have spoken with an independent contractor- TEMPSCO- and they only have afternoon slots available, so I would have to take the morning train to make it all work.... But otherwise, I do agree that the noon train is a safer bet....

Is the railroad one way? Everything I've read seems to indicate that you should take a van back, but I'm wondering why you can't just take the train?

You can take the train round trip OR take it one way with a bus coming back...

 

[jlwhitney]

Thanks; I'm looking into that option.... Do you know the price of that one off hand? Their website does not say....

BUS ONLY EXCURSIONS
White Pass Summit & City Excursion (2.5 Hours-by bus only)
$49 Adult $39 Child (12 & Under)

Discover The Yukon Adventure (6 Hours-by bus only)
$98.00 Adult $66.00 Child (12 & Under)

Discover The Yukon Adventure With 15-Minute Dogsled Ride (6 Hours-by bus
only)
$128 Adult $95 Child (12 & Under)

BUS & RAIL EXCURSIONS
We currently have 4 combination bus and rail excursions.

1) White Pass Summit Rail & Bus Excursion
Duration: 3.5 Hours
Departure: 7:30AM & 12:00PM (Train first)
Departure: 8:30AM & 1:00PM (Bus first)
Cost: $122.00 Adult $71.00 Child (12 & Under)
Itinerary: Skagway/White Pass Summit/Fraser & return to Skagway by bus

2) Yukon Rail & Bus Excursion
Duration: 7.5 Hours
Departure: 7:30AM
Cost: $175.00 Adult $115.00 Child (12 & Under)
Lunch: Caribou Crossing Trading Post/Yukon Wildlife Museum/Husky Puppy
Camp/Lunch Included
Itinerary: Skagway/White Pass Summit/Fraser by train - 1 3/4 hours on
train to Fraser, Fraser to Carcross & Emerald Lake and return to Skagway by
bus

3) Yukon Rail & Bus Excursion With 15-Minute Dogsled Ride
Same as #2 above plus dogsled ride included in this package
Cost: $206.00 Adults $147.00 Child (12 & Under)

4) Skagway/Carcross Rail & Bus Excursion (May 22 – September 1, 2011)
Duration: 9 Hours
Departure: 7:30AM
Cost: $239 Adult $119 Child (12 & Under)
Lunch: Lake Bennett Train Depot dining hall/Parks Canada Interpretive
Displays/Lunch Included
Itinerary: 2 1/2 hours on train to White Pass Summit, Fraser & Lake Bennett
– 1 1/2 hours for lunch and layover at Lake Bennett – 1 1/2 hours by train
to Carcross – Carcross to Emerald Lake and return to Skagway by bus

that is what they emailed me

 

[mellers]

Is the railroad one way? Everything I've read seems to indicate that you should take a van back, but I'm wondering why you can't just take the train?

It depends upon which of the tours you take--The White Pass Railroad has a listing of all of them on their website--http://www.wpyr.com/excursions.html

 

[pouncingpluto]

It seems to me that the attraction of doing the train only one way is that a bus can make stops for pictures/extra time at scenic viewpoints/feeling like you're a bit more "there" than when you're in the bus/train the entire time.

 

[llkoolj40]

BUS ONLY EXCURSIONS
White Pass Summit & City Excursion (2.5 Hours-by bus only)
$49 Adult $39 Child (12 & Under)

Discover The Yukon Adventure (6 Hours-by bus only)
$98.00 Adult $66.00 Child (12 & Under)

Discover The Yukon Adventure With 15-Minute Dogsled Ride (6 Hours-by bus
only)
$128 Adult $95 Child (12 & Under)

BUS & RAIL EXCURSIONS
We currently have 4 combination bus and rail excursions.

1) White Pass Summit Rail & Bus Excursion
Duration: 3.5 Hours
Departure: 7:30AM & 12:00PM (Train first)
Departure: 8:30AM & 1:00PM (Bus first)
Cost: $122.00 Adult $71.00 Child (12 & Under)
Itinerary: Skagway/White Pass Summit/Fraser & return to Skagway by bus

2) Yukon Rail & Bus Excursion
Duration: 7.5 Hours
Departure: 7:30AM
Cost: $175.00 Adult $115.00 Child (12 & Under)
Lunch: Caribou Crossing Trading Post/Yukon Wildlife Museum/Husky Puppy
Camp/Lunch Included
Itinerary: Skagway/White Pass Summit/Fraser by train - 1 3/4 hours on
train to Fraser, Fraser to Carcross & Emerald Lake and return to Skagway by
bus

3) Yukon Rail & Bus Excursion With 15-Minute Dogsled Ride
Same as #2 above plus dogsled ride included in this package
Cost: $206.00 Adults $147.00 Child (12 & Under)

4) Skagway/Carcross Rail & Bus Excursion (May 22 – September 1, 2011)
Duration: 9 Hours
Departure: 7:30AM
Cost: $239 Adult $119 Child (12 & Under)
Lunch: Lake Bennett Train Depot dining hall/Parks Canada Interpretive
Displays/Lunch Included
Itinerary: 2 1/2 hours on train to White Pass Summit, Fraser & Lake Bennett
– 1 1/2 hours for lunch and layover at Lake Bennett – 1 1/2 hours by train
to Carcross – Carcross to Emerald Lake and return to Skagway by bus

that is what they emailed me

We did #2 tour and it was amazing!The bus was small so not so many people and it was great fun!!

 

[smb6]

We did #2 tour and it was amazing!The bus was small so not so many people and it was great fun!!

I am considering this one also..... I have been speaking with Chikoot via email and when I asked if this tour still made the stops that the other shorter one does (welcome to Alaska sign, Pitch fork falls, ect...) they said yes. Do you recall if that was the case? (I like reassurance)

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

I am always ready to save some money........and a few hundred is alot!

BUT

Remember, if you don't book though DCL...and you miss the ship for some reason........you have to pay to get to the next port.....if you book though DCL.they have to pay to get you to the next port to meet up with the ship.

Just something to keep in mind!

Have a great trup......AKK

 

[NancyIL]

I am always ready to save some money........and a few hundred is alot!

BUT

Remember, if you don't book though DCL...and you miss the ship for some reason........you have to pay to get to the next port.....if you book though DCL.they have to pay to get you to the next port to meet up with the ship.

Just something to keep in mind!

Have a great trup......AKK

Chilkoot Charters guarantees to get you back to your ship on time. When I've read of excursions getting back to the ship after the departure time, it has always been one of the ship's tours. I've never read of a private excursion doing the same thing.

I saw a couple "miss the boat" while on a cruise in Europe this summer, and they had been on a ship's excursion. Instead of boarding the ship when their tour bus returned, they went in the other direction to pop into a museum. Even though the ship hadn't left the dock, the gangway had been taken in, and the couple was left behind! Fortunately for them, the next port was in the same country (Ireland), so they caught up with the ship the next day.

 

[llkoolj40]

I am considering this one also..... I have been speaking with Chikoot via email and when I asked if this tour still made the stops that the other shorter one does (welcome to Alaska sign, Pitch fork falls, ect...) they said yes. Do you recall if that was the case? (I like reassurance)

We stopped at the welcome to Alaska sign, the welcome to the yukon sign,Emerald lake, Tushi lake(beautiful),Carcross Desert,Mushers camp for lunch( abit cheesy but great fun),Bove Island,stopped at a little town where you can stamp your own passport.The tour company was Great!! I called them on the phone.They were so kind and helpful. Enjoy!!

 

[LV Disney Fan(atic)]

We did the Yukon rail/van combo through Chilkoot last summer - it was wonderful! We took the train up and van back; made all the stops described above and the driver was very flexible about more time here, less there, depending on what we wanted to see. Book it, you won't be sorry! (And remember, for the best views, sit on the left side of the train if you're going up and on the right side if you're going down.)

 

[jackieinJuneau]

I few tips, I live in southeast and have done the white pass. You will have time, down town Sagway it tiny, I mean really small getting around it fast. One important thing is if you are going to do the train one way explain that to the people at the train station and ask them what side of the train you should sit on to get the best view. The way the train works is that it goes up the pass and back down there are engines at both ends of the train so your really just going backwards on your way down. The view is the same both ways and they make everyone change sides at the top so that everyone gets a chance to see the good side. I am almost positive that on the way up you want to be on the left handside but I would check. Also you are allowed to go outside on the ends of each car. It's a great trip but I saw a few people doing the one way trip that where disappointed because they didn't get the good views. So I thought it would be a good FYI.

 

[woody73]

. . . The way the train works is that it goes up the pass and back down there are engines at both ends of the train so your really just going backwards on your way down. The view is the same both ways and they make everyone change sides at the top so that everyone gets a chance to see the good side. . .

In May 2009, we went on the WP&YR roundtrip. When our train car reversed direction, we were asked to flip the seatbacks, so we would face forward on the return trip.

Woody