2026 EXPLORING SKAGWAY, ALASKA WITH NO EXCURSION, WALKING TOUR (THE BRAND-NEW STAR PRINCESS)

Hello everybody, welcome to Exploring with Cindy and Dan! Today we're in Skagway, the historic gold rush town in Alaska and we arrived aboard the brand-new Star Princess. Join us as we explore this beautiful destination and share another exciting adventure with you. Today marks Day 5 of our 7-day Alaska Inside Passage journey, and Skagway is our third port on our adventure. In this walking tour of the city, we will show you what to do if you don’t have an excursion or tour. As the brand-new Star Princess arrives in the historic town of Skagway, passengers are beginning their Alaska adventure with a unique arrival experience. We arrived around 6 am and our departure time was at 5 pm. Following the significant rockslide that affected part of the waterfront access area in 2022, cruise guests are currently unable to walk directly between the ship and town from the berth or docking area. Instead, after disembarking, passengers board complimentary shuttle buses provided at the dock. The shuttles transport guests from the ship to the dockside parking and transportation area, where you can then continue into town, join excursions, or begin exploring Skagway's colorful streets and Gold Rush history. While the short shuttle ride adds an extra step to the arrival process, it also offers a chance to take in the dramatic mountain scenery surrounding the harbor. Within minutes, visitors are on their way to discover the charm of Skagway, with its wooden boardwalks, historic buildings, and breathtaking Alaskan landscapes awaiting just beyond the waterfront. As always, every guest needed to carry their Medallion, the essential item required to leave and re-enter the ship throughout the day. For those joining a Princess shore excursion, meeting times and locations were clearly listed on each tour ticket, making it easy to connect with guides and begin the day’s adventure. For more than six decades, Princess Cruises has explored oceans across the globe, bringing travelers to hundreds of unforgettable destinations. Yet Alaska remains one of the most breathtaking journeys of them all, and it’s a place we find ourselves returning to again and again. No two Alaska sailings are ever the same. Around every turn, there’s a new glacier, a new wildlife encounter, or a new moment waiting to be discovered. This voyage feels even more special because for the very first time, we’ll be experiencing Alaska aboard the magnificent Star Princess. After arriving at the dockside parking and transportation area via the complimentary shuttle from the ship, visitors can either take the convenient town shuttle for $3 each way or $5 round trip, or enjoy an easy walk into downtown Skagway while taking in the beautiful scenery and historic surroundings. We chose to walk every time, as the stroll to town takes only about 10 minutes and offers a pleasant introduction to this charming Alaskan community.