hmtsai Posted May 12, 2014 #1 Share Posted May 12, 2014 I've booked a Princess Cruisetour to Alaska this summer. It will be my first time to Alaska. The tour includes a Direct to the Wilderness Rail from Whittier to Denali National Park. One of the excursions I am interested is White Pass Scenic Railway in Skagway. But my friend advised me that since I'm going to be on the Denali Rail already, there's no need to ride the White Pass Rail. I guess I am so convinced by "The Scenic Railway of the World" about this tour. Anyone experienced can give me some suggestion? Does the White Pass and Yukon Route worth a ride? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huskyguy Posted May 12, 2014 #2 Share Posted May 12, 2014 It's good to be convinced by "The Scenic Railway of the World" - the White Pass blows away anything the Alaska Railroad has to offer. The Seward-Portage section of the AKRR is spectacular, but Princess passengers don't get to see that (and it's still not as good as the WP&YR). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chenega Posted May 12, 2014 #3 Share Posted May 12, 2014 (edited) They are two very different train rides but both worth your time. Lots of videos on both trips posted on YouTube. Only downside to the White Pass trip is if the weather is cloudy. You will spend a lot of time looking at the inside of clouds :) Edited May 12, 2014 by Chenega Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmtsai Posted May 13, 2014 Author #4 Share Posted May 13, 2014 It's good to be convinced by "The Scenic Railway of the World" - the White Pass blows away anything the Alaska Railroad has to offer. The Seward-Portage section of the AKRR is spectacular, but Princess passengers don't get to see that (and it's still not as good as the WP&YR). They are two very different train rides but both worth your time. Lots of videos on both trips posted on YouTube. Only downside to the White Pass trip is if the weather is cloudy. You will spend a lot of time looking at the inside of clouds :) Thank you so much for your assurance. I definitely will not miss White Pass. However, now I have to figure out which excursion is better. Princess offer several different tours along with White Pass Rail, and I found these two interest me most: 1. Yukon Expedition & White Pass Scenic Railway Tour up the Klondike Highway to the Yukon with picture stops Visit Caribou Crossing Trading Post & enjoy lunch Drive to Carcross, with free time to explore Tour to Fraser, BC train depot Ride White Pass Scenic Railway back to Skagway Tour back to cruise ship pier 2. Rail, Summit, Suspension Bridge & Garden Lunch Tour to train depot White Pass Scenic Railway to Fraser, BC Tour to suspension bridge Visit Yukon Suspension Bridge Tour down Klondike Highway to Jewell Gardens with photo stops Lunch & garden tour at Jewell Gardens Tour back to cruise ship pier The main difference is Caribou Crossing vs Yukon Suspension Bridge. And the first one is bus up and railway back, while the second option is railway up and bus back. Which one do you prefer and why? Or if you've been to any one of those, what's your experience? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budget Queen Posted May 13, 2014 #5 Share Posted May 13, 2014 Thank you so much for your assurance. I definitely will not miss White Pass. However, now I have to figure out which excursion is better. Princess offer several different tours along with White Pass Rail, and I found these two interest me most: 1. Yukon Expedition & White Pass Scenic Railway Tour up the Klondike Highway to the Yukon with picture stops Visit Caribou Crossing Trading Post & enjoy lunch Drive to Carcross, with free time to explore Tour to Fraser, BC train depot Ride White Pass Scenic Railway back to Skagway Tour back to cruise ship pier 2. Rail, Summit, Suspension Bridge & Garden Lunch Tour to train depot White Pass Scenic Railway to Fraser, BC Tour to suspension bridge Visit Yukon Suspension Bridge Tour down Klondike Highway to Jewell Gardens with photo stops Lunch & garden tour at Jewell Gardens Tour back to cruise ship pier The main difference is Caribou Crossing vs Yukon Suspension Bridge. And the first one is bus up and railway back, while the second option is railway up and bus back. Which one do you prefer and why? Or if you've been to any one of those, what's your experience? I recommend you NOT book the White Pass RR with Princess. There is a big difference with going independent which is superior. Princess uses full size tour buses, with fixed stops. Going independent has smaller numbers, and not as fixed a schedule. Plus, the independents aren't usually new seasonal workers that the cruise tours have large numbers of. Do you want to get into the Yukon? First decision you need to make. The susupension bridge is so so at best, in my opinion. Vancouver is superior. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Aurora Posted May 13, 2014 #6 Share Posted May 13, 2014 I find the Alaska RR and the White Pass and Yukon RR to very different experiences. And I agree with Budget Queen -- book independently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeamPrice Posted May 14, 2014 #7 Share Posted May 14, 2014 Where would you go to book the White Rail through? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TinCan782 Posted May 14, 2014 #8 Share Posted May 14, 2014 Where would you go to book the White Rail through? Based on the good words here on CC, I booked the Bennett Scenic Journey through Chilkoot Tours. Looking forward to riding the White Pass and Yukon Route! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare DragonOfTheSeas Posted May 14, 2014 #9 Share Posted May 14, 2014 We used Chilkoot. I give them high marks. We were in a small touring van. [about 15-20 people] then when we boarded the train we were in our own compartment. We had more room than in the other cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paylady Posted May 15, 2014 #10 Share Posted May 15, 2014 We used Chilkoot. I give them high marks. We were in a small touring van. [about 15-20 people] then when we boarded the train we were in our own compartment. We had more room than in the other cars. I concur, this is the way to go. Since we've been so many times, we just rent a car from Avis and drive up the Klondike Hwy. this year we have others traveling with us and I suggested Chilkoot for them so they can experience both the White Pass train and the Klondike Hwy. Both have nice scenery. Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike2131 Posted May 15, 2014 #11 Share Posted May 15, 2014 We have not taken this particular tour, but our other excursion experience with them was excellent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeamPrice Posted May 16, 2014 #12 Share Posted May 16, 2014 Thanks for the advice and help. We're booking the tour to Emerald Lake through Chilkoot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
granny6 Posted May 16, 2014 #13 Share Posted May 16, 2014 We used Chilkoot, the small bus up, Emerald lake, the train back through Bennett for lunch at the depot. Our driver stopped anytime we saw something, but still kept watch on the time to have us at the train on time. We went about the middle of June and that was our coldest excursion yet, it was very windy that day. Except for the glacier cruising. White Pass was well worth the time. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talisker92 Posted May 16, 2014 #14 Share Posted May 16, 2014 We have taken both trips. The White Pass and Yukon rail trip is totally different from the Denali trip, but we enjoyed them both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out to sea! Posted May 18, 2014 #15 Share Posted May 18, 2014 Based on the good words here on CC, I booked the Bennett Scenic Journey through Chilkoot Tours. Looking forward to riding the White Pass and Yukon Route! Any idea on the cost of this tour? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TinCan782 Posted May 18, 2014 #16 Share Posted May 18, 2014 Any idea on the cost of this tour? $229 per person when we booked it last fall. http://www.chilkootcharters.com/carcross.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out to sea! Posted May 18, 2014 #17 Share Posted May 18, 2014 $229 per person when we booked it last fall.http://www.chilkootcharters.com/carcross.htm Yes, that's the one I have bookmarked. Thanks for the pricing info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TinCan782 Posted May 18, 2014 #18 Share Posted May 18, 2014 BTW...Chilkoot does not post their prices. They will send them to you if you email a request to them. The prices are revealed, of course, when you go through the reservation process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out to sea! Posted May 19, 2014 #19 Share Posted May 19, 2014 BTW...Chilkoot does not post their prices. They will send them to you if you email a request to them. The prices are revealed, of course, when you go through the reservation process. That's what I noticed and therefore emailed them but haven't heard back from them yet. Then again, my Alaska trip is still a year away and they may not have pricing yet to email but at least now I have a ballpark figure to budget for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TinCan782 Posted May 19, 2014 #20 Share Posted May 19, 2014 Apparently they do not release pricing until after the current season is over. When I emailed them last fall for this year, they acknowledged my email and they would respond when pricing was available. A few weeks later they did and I was able to book our tour for this summer. Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out to sea! Posted May 20, 2014 #21 Share Posted May 20, 2014 Apparently they do not release pricing until after the current season is over. When I emailed them last fall for this year, they acknowledged my email and they would respond when pricing was available. A few weeks later they did and I was able to book our tour for this summer. Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk Correct. I just received an email from them stating they would not release prices or take bookings for 2015 until Oct 2014. Guess I'll have to wait. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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