Skagway cruise port guide

Arrival & Getting Ashore

Getting to the centre: From the Ore, Broadway or Railroad dock areas, head into town towards the National Park Service visitor centre at 2nd and Broadway, taking your ship's transfer first at Railroad Dock.

• Shuttle: paid SMART Downtown Shuttle between the dock areas and southern downtown. This town service is separate from the ship's Railroad Dock transfer.

The main cruise berths are at Ore Dock, Broadway Dock and the forward and aft positions of Railroad Dock. Ships normally berth alongside. The way passengers get ashore differs:

• Ore and Broadway: leave by the end of your own pier for the shore-side pickup area and town.
• Railroad Forward (RRF): use the ship's tender to the landing, then go up the ramp into the shore-side meeting area.
• Railroad Aft (RRA): take the short ship shuttle to the pier-end pickup area.

Follow the crew's directions for your assigned berth. For the public approach to Railroad Dock, use Harbor Way and Congress Way. The small-boat harbour's boat-staging area is closed to through pedestrians. Dock access arrangements were checked on 3 November 2026; keep the ship's instructions for your call.

About this port

Skagway gives you two quite different ways into the gold rush story: a wander among the historic town's buildings and museums, or a train ride into the mountains towards White Pass. Choose the railway first if that's your main reason for coming. Your berth also shapes the day. At Railroad Dock, reaching town can start with a tender or a short shuttle even while your ship is alongside.

Getting Around

Once you're in the Historic District, the visitor centre and neighbouring museum make a useful starting point for a walk. SMART serves the Railroad, Broadway and Ore dock areas as well as downtown. If you use it, establish the stop for your return and tell the driver which dock you need. Keep your berth name with you, especially the distinction between Railroad Forward and Aft.

Things to Do

• Explore the gold rush town: start at the National Park Service visitor centre at 2nd and Broadway, in the historic White Pass & Yukon Route depot. Its exhibits and park film introduce the journey people made towards the goldfields. The Visitor Center Museum is next door, and the park preserves gold rush buildings throughout the Historic District. Ask the ranger which museums and programmes are open that day. Building access varies with the season.
• Take the White Pass Summit Excursion: this railway outing climbs past Bridal Veil Falls and Inspiration Point, with mountain scenery, tunnels and trestles along the route. The operator describes a 40-mile round trip taking 2½–2¾ hours, checked 3 November 2026. Choose a departure from the railway's current Summit offering that fits your call, with additional time for boarding and the trip between train and ship.

Getting back to your ship

Getting back: return to your assigned pier at Ore or Broadway and follow staff directions through the ship entrance. For Railroad Forward, return to your ship's tender landing for the boat back. For Railroad Aft, return to the ship-shuttle pickup and take it back along the dock. Stay on the directed passenger route.

After a train trip, follow the booked return arrangements, then complete any remaining journey to that pier or transfer point. Count back from the ship's all-aboard time and its final tender or shuttle instructions, allowing for queues. Being back in town, or off the train, still leaves this last part of the journey.

Practical Information

• Train boarding: the railway offers dockside boarding through cruise-line bookings. Follow your ship excursion's meeting instructions for your berth. With a direct railway booking, use the departure and return points on your ticket. The National Park Service's historic depot is a sightseeing stop, so don't assume it is your train's boarding point.
• Mobility: if you need a lift-equipped train carriage, tell the railway when booking because spaces are limited. Arrange the ship-to-shore part of the day separately with your cruise line.