Arrival: ~7:00 AM  Departure: ~8:00 PM

Gateway to the Klondike
Today you’ll step into one of Alaska’s most storied towns — Skagway, the legendary starting point of the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush. Once a raucous boomtown filled with dreamers and fortune seekers, Skagway has preserved its frontier charm with wooden boardwalks, false-front shops, and tales of grit and gold around every corner.

Morning Arrival
As you approach the narrow inlet leading into Skagway, mountains rise dramatically on both sides — a spectacular sight best enjoyed from your verandah. Docked right in town, you’re just a short walk from the heart of this historic community.

Begin your day by exploring the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, where rangers bring the past to life through exhibits, walking tours, and restored buildings along Broadway Street. It’s easy to imagine the chaos and excitement of stampeders heading north with their year’s supply of gear in search of fortune.

Afternoon Adventures
Skagway is known for its incredible scenic rail and wilderness excursions, each revealing a different side of Alaska’s rugged interior:

• White Pass & Yukon Route Railway: This narrow-gauge train climbs nearly 3,000 feet in just 20 miles, following the original trail of the gold rush. Panoramic windows and open-air platforms offer breathtaking views of waterfalls, bridges, and glacier-carved valleys.
• Yukon Discovery Drive: Cross into Canada’s Yukon Territory for a full-day adventure of mountain vistas, alpine lakes, and photo stops that feel untouched by time.
• Dog Sledding or Glacier Flightseeing: Take to the skies for a helicopter ride over icy peaks, landing on a glacier for a once-in-a-lifetime sled ride.

If you prefer a slower pace, spend time wandering Skagway’s charming main street. Visit local artisans, grab a homemade treat at Sugar Mamas Café, or stop in the famous Red Onion Saloon, once a gold rush brothel, now a quirky bar and museum full of character.

Evening Departure
As the ship pulls away, the late northern light casts a golden glow on the mountains — a perfect time to reflect on the day’s adventures. Head to the Crow’s Nest or your verandah to watch the dramatic scenery fade into twilight.

Later, enjoy dinner and live music onboard, perhaps ending the evening with dessert under the stars as the Nieuw Amsterdam continues northward toward Glacier Bay — one of Alaska’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders.

Tomorrow, prepare for a day of breathtaking silence and sheer grandeur in Glacier Bay National Park.