Re: SHORE EXCURSIONS
Having cruised in Alaska a number of times, I will through out another option for Skagway!!
On our last trip we actually rented an Avis van in Skagway that easily held 6-8 people (our crowd) and we took the highway route that was parallel to the White Pass and Yukon Train route. It was much cheaper, more flexible in that we could stop along the way to take pictures when we wanted, visit some small water falls, and continue further into the Yukon Terrority to see some beautiful lakes beyond where the train goes. If I am not mistaken the windows on the train do NOT come down and since the train always is rolling you need to stand on the (crowded)platform between cars to take a clear picture. Also if it is warm the day you are on the train,it can get warm since since there is little air flow through the closed up cars.
ON the way back we were able to drive to the Old Cemetery that is on the City Tour where some of the legendary ole timers are burried
Practical Tip: In Skagway the National Park Service has some great exihibts (I dont think you call them museums) and they are free and well worth visiting...especially before you take either the train or drive into the Yukon terrority. Actual artifacts are on display along with numerous pictures describing the bitterly cold/snowy winters, how they supplied to the gold rush camps using Mules and fate they encountered, plus an interesting story about the roles women played during the Gold Rush days. A MUST SEE!
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