rvorcruise

In 2003 I published a guide to the South Klondike Highway, aimed at people who arrive in Skagway on a cruise ship and rent a car to drive to Carcross and Emerald Lake. People here on CruiseCritic soon named it "Murray's Guide" and I adopted that as its official name. Two years ago I announced that due to illness there would be no update that year, hoping to re-start the next year. Yesterday, triggered by a request for information about the 2023 edition, I made the difficult decision to state that there will be no more updates. Huge thanks to all the people who have made my time at CC so enjoyable over those many years.

Seeing orca near Alaska cruise ports is not at all common, except out of Seward. I've seen them from the ship a few times (distant and fleeting sightings) but never on a whale-watching tour except out of Victoria.

There are 2 places along the highway from Skagway north.

I'm waiting until the bookings open (later in October) for the Bennett Lake Scenic Journey. Check it out. It might fill your bill but tours in 2018 did not run Sunday or Monday. https://skagwayshoretours.com/tour/bennett-lake-scenic-journey/

I think it's always better to book direct rather than through a broker like that:

- the WP&YR at https://wpyr.com/excursions/product/bennett-scenic-journey/

- or Chilkoot Charters (same but with a smaller bus for the return trip) at https://chilkootcharters.com/reservations/

I assume from your name that you are from New Zealand. If this assumption is not correct and you are a US citizen, be aware that if a tour goes into Canada. you need a passport.

Everyone needs a passport, even Canadians.

There's no "best" cruise line for everybody - there are cruise lines, and indeed ships, to suit everyone's specific wants.

In Southeast Alaska, May and early June are the driest period, and I love the snow that's still on the mountains.

Some people think that the itinerary is the most important thing, but the ship itself is huge to me. After 13 Alaska cruises and a few in other regions, I've settled on Celebrity, and preferably Solstice-class ships. HAL comes in a close second, and I've loved all of their ships I've been on.

Some people think that Glacier Bay must be on an itinerary, but I think they must not have seen Hubbard Glacier.

If at all possible, take a flight somewhere - my favourite is Misty Fjords out of Ketchikan.

Some people like to get dressed up on the ships - it's the only place that my wife and I ever do. Saying that the people who do look ridiculous is just..... well, let's leave it at being a ridiculous comment.

Some friends of mine are on the Ruby P. next week an since I've been up to Alaska several times, she was worried about the fires, an I told her not to worry.

The Windy Arm fire, the only one that could have affected cruisers at Skagway, is pretty much out as of yesterday afternoon.

Have any excursions from skagway cancel going into the yukon?

No, nothing has been cancelled or will be cancelled - the fire is now moving away from the South Klondike Highway, though it could still threaten a small community far off the excursion routes.

Do you think they would be active in September 22 or later.On the Bliss that week and that's on my bucket list.

The full moon is on September 24th, and that washes out all but extremely strong auroras.

This incredible photo combining the Windy Arm fire and the aurora was one of several shot by Jason Gendron on Monday might and posted on an aurora group I run on Facebook. They've already been shared over 1,200 times.

Any time it's dark, the aurora is possible. In late August, the sky is still light until about 11:00 pm at Skagway. I use the University of Alaska Fairbanks' aurora forecast to see if staying up is worthwhile - http://auroraforecast.gi.alaska.edu/ - but there are several aurora-forecast apps, too.

A heads-up that the Aurora borealis (Northern Lights) started early this year, and we've been getting some very good shows for about 2 weeks now. If you're up late and the skies are clear, find a dark spot on the ship, and good luck!

The fire is now out of control and there are fears that it will jump the lake when it reaches the narrows in the next few days. If that happens, the community of Tagish is in great danger. :(

Only the hardiest people are in the water outside in late August - I'm not one of them!

However you phrase it, when you sell other companies' tours, you're acting as a broker.

Welcome to the world of charging whatever the traffic will bear. Renting an SUV for a few hours in Skagway will cost you $175.

They said 11pm.

It can be anytime it's dark, though. Sometimes they last all night, sometimes only for a minute. Sometimes they cover most of the sky, sometimes you just get a little band and have to be looking in the right direction. Dedication and luck both count!

OMG That's to die for! Fantastic photo. Does it ever happen in late June or early July? We have a cruisetour scheduled for June 23 starting in Fairbanks and ending in Vancouver July 6, 2018.

No, you have no chance of seeing them between very early May April and early August.

rvorcruise

Your photo of the lights is spectacular but were you able to see such colors with the naked eye? The one time we saw the northern lights (off the coast of Iceland in September at 2:00 a.m.) it seemed to me that they were just a blurry white cloud and the colors only showed up later in photographs of the event.

Cameras always see the colours better, even with no manipulation. There was colour, but not this bright.

The earlier or later in the season that you travel, the greater yoru chance of seeing them because you will have darker skies at night.

No, you have zero chance of seeing them early in the season.

This is the one I believe the OP is referring to based on their thread title:

 

http://www.juneauharborwebcam.com/

That one works for me.

Thank you for posting this website! I have bookmarked it on my phone and computer. I sure hope we are blessed on our cruise/inland trip in mid-July next year.

Sorry, in July you have zero chance, because the skies don't get dark.

Just be prepared for a lot of rain. I've found that many people don't even get off the ships at the ports. It doesn't "always" rain, but it happens a lot.

Good aurora began early this year and have been pretty good so far. The aurora forecast that I use is http://www.gi.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast There are no notifications from ship personnel unless you're on one of the small specialty ships.