Hi there!
I have arrived to Skagway by cruise ship 2 times in 2023, and this is based on my experience and understanding!
Things can change, the landscape can change, how they operate shuttles can change!
But this is how it was for me in May 2023 just to give you an idea!
I have also included below letters delivered to cabins during my Princess cruises about the shuttles.
What’s going on in Skagway cruise port?
Affecting the 2023 Alaska cruise season in Skagway is a big rock at the top of the hill that may or may not fall onto a cruise ship pier some time soon.
Because of concern that the big rock will fall at any moment, if your cruise ship is docked at the pier closest to this big rock hill, you cannot walk the entirety of the pier.
That’s because if you were to walk it, you would be walking on the pier in the direct spot of where the rock could fall.
And so, if you are docked at this pier, you have to either move very quickly on the pier (land shuttle) or avoid it altogether (water shuttle).
👆 Front of the railroad dock. You are not allowed to walk on this side of the pier if your cruise ship is docked here.
It’s also possible that you might not be docked at a pier that’s affected by the rock at the top of the hill.
In which case, you won’t need a shuttle directly from the cruise ship at all.
So, just because you’re going to Skagway doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll need a shuttle.
How you might get off the cruise ship in Skagway
Skagway cruise port shuttle required… or no?!
1. Land shuttle bus
Once you walk off the cruise ship, you might need to take a shuttle bus to get you to the end of the pier.
👆 The back of the railroad dock. Here, passengers on the Norwegian Encore take a shuttle bus to the end of the pier.
👆 The Sapphire Princess is docked at the back of the railroad dock so a shuttle bus is required to get to the end of the pier.
👆 To the right, the Sapphire Princess is docked at the back of the railroad dock. To the left, the Carnival Spirit and Norwegian Jewel cruise ships are docked elsewhere without a need for a shuttle.
2. Water shuttle
You might need to take a water shuttle directly from the cruise ship to get to land.
3. WALK and only walk!
You might not need a shuttle at all!
PLUS…
Skagway city shuttle (SMART bus)
And then aside from the cruise ship shuttle that is needed as a result of the rock that may or may not fall, there is also the Skagway city shuttle.
The city shuttle will take you from near the cruise port (after you’ve taken a shuttle, if you need one) and goes around town.
There is also a shuttle that goes to the Gold Rush Cemetery from downtown Skagway.
The Skagway city shuttles will have SMART written on the side of it.
This Skagway city shuttle costs money. (cash: $5 for a day pass, or $3 per ride.)
You can get on the Skagway city shuttle from the cruise port.
There are bus stops around town, and you can also take the Skagway city shuttle to get back to the cruise port.
If you’re in town wanting to get a ride back to the cruise ship, you’ll want to confirm with the bus driver that it will go to your ship and it’s not going to a different dock.
You can also walk around 10 minutes to town.
Or you can walk more to the Skagway footbridge, Yakutania Point, and/or Smugglers Cove!
Also see so-very-Alaska things to do in Skagway.
So…
Is your Alaska cruise to Skagway affected by the rockfall?!
To find out if your cruise ship will need a shuttle, you will want to find out where your cruise ship will be docking.
To find out where in Skagway your cruise ship will be docking, see the 2023 cruise ship schedule for Alaska and look for SKG Skagway.
Things can always change!
If you are docked at the Railroad Dock, then you will need to take a shuttle.
This is indicated as RRF (railroad forward) and RRA (railroad aft).
forward = front
aft = back
If your cruise ship is docked at the back of the railroad dock, then you will need a land shuttle bus to get you to the end of the pier.
If your cruise ship is docked at the front of the railroad dock, then you will need a water shuttle to get you to the end of the pier.
Check if your Princess cruise itinerary says water shuttle required in Skagway
And then another way you can know if you need a water shuttle in Skagway if you’re on a Princess cruise is by logging in to your account at princess.com and looking at the itinerary.
But again, this can change, so if you really want to be sure, you might want to check back as your cruise date nears.
It’s actually a good idea to check this itinerary even if you aren’t curious about the water shuttle, because port times can change and you won’t necessarily be notified about it.
👆 Look for “itinerary” to see if there’s a water shuttle required in Skagway during your Alaska cruise with Princess.
👆 Majestic Princess Alaska cruise itinerary starting May 13: Water shuttle required in Skagway.
Not all Princess cruise ships need a water shuttle. Some Princess cruise ships won’t need a shuttle at all. It just depends on where your cruise ship will be docking in Skagway.
See below for the letters sent by Princess explaining the Skagway cruise port shuttles!
🏔
Official letters from Princess about the Skagway shuttles
Again, things may be different for your cruise.
But just to give you an idea, here is the information given on the cruise ship about the Skagway shuttles.
Land shuttle in Skagway: How does it work? (Sapphire Princess, May 5, 2023)
I think it was the day before Skagway that a letter was sent to the cabin about getting off the cruise ship in Skagway cruise port and how to take the shuttle.
👆 Princess explains how the Skagway cruise port shuttle will work in a letter sent to cabins during the cruise. Below is the letter zoomed in.
There was also a note on the Princess Patter for Skagway day.
The Princess Patter is the printed daily onboard activities schedule. Every evening you will receive a Princess Patter which will give you a list of scheduled onboard activities for the next day.
Water shuttle in Skagway: How does it work? (Majestic Princess, May 17, 2023)
On the second day of the cruise, a few days before Skagway, there was a letter sent to the cabin about how to take the water shuttle in Skagway cruise port.
👆 Princess explains how the Skagway cruise port water shuttle will work in a letter sent to cabins during the cruise. Below is the letter zoomed in.
There was also another reminder about the water shuttle in a section on the Princess Patter, the onboard cruise entertainment schedule.
The Princess Patter is always sent to the cabin the night before.
And that’s a little to give you an idea about what your shuttle in Skagway might be like!
Your experience may vary!
HAPPY TAKING THE SHUTTLE IN SKAGWAY CRUISE PORT!
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