Australia is famous for its surfing and only a short ferry ride from anywhere around Sydney Harbour is Manley Beach. It’s approximately one mile long, stretching from Queenscliff in the north to North Steyne Beach in the south. It is a popular destination for locals that is known for its golden sand, clear water, and surf breaks. The beach town is famous for its shops, cafes, and restaurants, making it a great place for Sydney residents on weekends.
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The historic center of Quito, Ecuador is one of the best-preserved colonial areas across all of Latin America. It is the reason that in 1978 UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site. It is a miracle that the area has survived so intact, given that in 1917 it was hit by a devastating earthquake. The Church of the Society of Jesus, also known as La Compañía, is one of the most beautiful churches in Quito’s Historic District. This Baroque-style church is known for its ornate interior, which is covered in gold leaf and features intricate carvings and frescoes. It’s considered a masterpiece of colonial architecture and art. Add it to the top of your list when exploring Quito’s Historic District.
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Skagway is a popular port of call on many Alaska cruise itineraries. With a population that fluctuates between 700 in winter and 2,000 in summer it is easy to see what drives the economy. While Skagway is small and a bit isolated that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything to do. Historically Skagway has its beginnings in the Yukon gold rush when it was established as the port of entry for the famous Chilkoot trail leading up to the Yukon gold fields. Today it is a tourist destination with a lot of interesting options for spending a day off a cruise ship from shopping, riding a train or helicopter to even wilderness adventures.
Where Your Ship Docks
Cruise pier Skagway
There are several modern docks right near town with specific docks designated for different cruise lines. While there are no facilities right on the docks it is a short walk to public facilities going into town near the Marina with more available near the foot of State Street in town.
Wheelchair Accessibility
Disembarking – This port has a developed cruise ship pier but the ease of disembarking varies by the individual ships gangway designs. For passengers using wheelchairs there can be a moderate ramp incline to deal with.
Port City Characteristics – This port itself is mostly flat with no serious issues. It has an average wheelchair infrastructure with only moderate inclines in sidewalks. Intersection crosswalks may have curbs or other wheelchair obstacles.
Transportation
Taxis are available but the town itself can be walked in a short time. There are locations to visit on the outskirts of town like the gold mine where a taxi would be your best option. There are also Pedi cabs and a number of tour operators that offer short excursions around the area.
Currency
Riding The White Pass & Yukon RR
Alaska is a U.S. state and the U.S. Dollar is the preferred currency with most major credit cards accepted as well as ATM machines in town.
A Bit Of History
With a growing population of over 10,000 people, Skagway, Alaska, was on many peoples minds as word of the Klondike Gold Rush spread in 1897 – 98. They called the town Skagway for the Tlingit Indian name “Skagua,” which means “the place where the north wind blows.”
The town was founded in 1895 by Captain William Moore, a former steamboat captain, who traveled north from British Columbia to work for a surveyor. He is credited with discovering the White Pass route through the Coastal Mountain Range. He selected a site where the Skagway River entered into the salt-water Lynn Fjord. He filed a 160-acre homestead claim at the head of the White Pass Trail in 1887, and he and his son, Ben, built a cabin, a wharf and sawmill. He began to chart and mark the White Pass Trail in expectation of a flood of miners to the gold rush. The first rush of prospectors landed at Skagway in the summer of 1897. After all of his planning Captain Moore was pushed aside and ignored by the newcomers who took over the Moore homestead and the surrounding area and laid out a townsite without consulting him. They even forced Moore to relocate his cabin since it stood in the way of a newly plotted street.
Downtown Skagway 1898
Between 1897 and 1898, Skagway became a lawless town, described by the Canadian North-West Mounted Police as “little better than hell on earth.” Gun fights, prostitutes, and liquor were ever-present on Skagway’s streets, and the towns leader was a con man named “Soapy” Smith, who became the boss of a pack of robbers, gamblers and swindlers who ran the town.
The National Park Service Visitor Center at 2nd Avenue and Broadway in Skagway is a place to begin your exploration of the area’s rich gold rush heritage. Preserving History & Becoming an International Historical Park in 1997 with the park celebrating the centennial of the Klondike Gold Rush.
Attractions
If you are looking for a scenic excursion The White Pass and Yukon Railroad provides train rides up thru the mountains to the White Pass and back. Their station is right in town and tickets are usually readily available. There is also a gold mining attraction near town where you can pan for gold. There are a number of whale watching boat trips and a helicopter tour that will take you up to land on a glacier.
State Street also has the usual lineup of tourist retail stores with an emphasis on jewelry. For some unique items look for local artists and crafters gift items.
Helicopters heading for the glacier fields
If you are looking to book a tour our suggestion is to book on your own instead of through the ship. You will have a whole day in Skagway with plenty of time to set something up. By calling the helicopter tour service in Skagway the day before arriving in Skagway you can save almost fifty percent on booking a helicopter flight up to a glacier.
Shopping
Skagway Mining Company: This store sells a variety of Alaskan-made gifts and souvenirs, such as jewelry, art, and clothing.
Skagway Outlet Store: This store offers discounted prices on a variety of merchandise, including outdoor gear, clothing, and souvenirs.
Skagway Spirits: This store sells locally made spirits, including whiskey, gin, and vodka. They also offer tastings and tours of their distillery.
The Glass Door: This store sells a variety of art and gifts made by local artists, including pottery, jewelry, and glassware.
Alaska Christmas Store: This store specializes in Christmas decorations and ornaments, but they also sell a variety of other gifts and souvenirs.
Skagway Fish Company: This store sells fresh and smoked Alaskan seafood, including salmon, halibut, and crab.
Tip: Most U.S. and Canadian cell services do not have any surcharge for using you phones in Alaska. Just make sure you have a land based signal and are not on the ships cellular service.
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Hubbard Glacier is truly a stunning natural wonder and something everyone should try and plan seeing when visiting Alaska. Hubbard Glacier is a glacier located in eastern Alaska and western Yukon. It’s 76 miles long, 7 miles wide at its front, and has a height of up to 600 feet above the water at its terminal face. The glacier is considered one of the most active in Alaska, with frequent calving events and ice dam formations.
A majority of the people that have seen Hubbard have experienced it while taking an Alaska cruise. Typically cruise ships travel up Disenchantment Bay and slowly approach the terminal face of the glacier while pushing through water filled with chunks of ice. Cruise ships are permitted to get as close as 0.6 miles to the terminal face of Hubbard Glacier, but this can vary depending on weather, sea and ice conditions. The captain of the ship will typically navigate as close as possible keeping in mind passenger safety and minimizing any disturbance near the glacier. There are limits placed on the number of ships allowed into Disenchantment Bay which means every Alaska cruise doesn’t have this glacier on their itinerary.
The Glacier calves into Disenchantment Bay. Catching pictures is a challenge as the sound of the event is what draws your attention but being a half mile or more away by the time you hear it, it’s already half done. Fun trying…
The Hubbard Glacier was first discovered in 1890 by an American naval officer named G. W. Stoney. It was named after Gardiner Greene Hubbard, a lawyer and philanthropist who was the first president of the National Geographic Society, which sponsored an expedition to the area in 1895.
A cruise ship slowly moves in toward Hubbard Glacier
If you are planning a cruise to Alaska here are some tips we suggest you consider:
First and foremost check and make sure the cruises you are considering are visiting Hubbard Glacier.
Second, this is one cruise experience where we recommend booking a veranda stateroom. Room on the ships outdoor railings can be tough to reach. It doesn’t matter if it’s port or starboard as the ship will reposition to face both toward the glacier face.
Be sure and pack clothes you can layer, as the temperature can be quite cold on the water and near the glacier.
Be sure and bring binoculars to get a closer look at the glacier and any wildlife that may be in the area.
If you’re interested in a tour that explores more of the glacier the best options are available through your cruise line. Because of the glaciers remoteness a vast majority of tours are managed by the cruise lines. One tour operator that focuses on Hubbard Glacier is Yakutat Charter Boat but if you’re not taking a cruise getting to Yakutat can also be a challenge.
Yakutat is a small town located in the Gulf of Alaska and is the nearest town to Hubbard Glacier. It is situated at the mouth of Yakutat Bay within the Tongass National Forest with a population of around 600 people.
If you’re interested in taking a helicopter flight to land on a glacier or hike glacier trails there are a number of glaciers in Alaska that are much better choices.
Hubbard Glacier guided tours are available from Yakutat Charter Boat HERE.
City Character – Cobh is a picturesque city centered on its waterfront. It features a beautiful Cathedral, nice shops, restaurants and pubs and The Titanic Museum. The connection to the Titanic is based on Cobh being the last port before the ship’s fateful Atlantic crossing.
Cobh, Ireland was originally known as Queenstown. It was renamed Cobh in 1922, shortly after Ireland gained independence from the United Kingdom.
The dock and train station in Cobh
Where Your Ship Docks – Cruise ships will normally dock right in town only steps from shops and restaurants and immediately next to the rail station. There is no cruise ship terminal for Cobh so ships have to make use of boarding ramps. For people with walking issues and wheelchairs it can be difficult. There is a very nice visitors center at the pier with public facilities, food and gift shops.
Cobh’s Wheelchair Accessibility
Port City Characteristics – This port has an average wheelchair infrastructure typical of large cities. The port area has moderate inclines in sidewalks. Intersection crosswalks may have curbs or other wheelchair obstacles. Above the waterfront there are hills with some steep sidewalks.
Currency
The Irish Republic is still part of the European Union and the Euro is the official currency. Do not expect the British Pound or U.S. Dollar to be accepted but most major credit cards are welcome and there are ATM machines available.
Cohb waterfront
Transportation
Nearby Trips – Cobh is the seaport servicing the City of Cork which is only a half hour away by train. – In Cobh you can easily catch a train right at the main station attached to the pier. Depending on time of day trains run every hour or half hour (usually every half hour if a cruise ship is docked). At this writing a one-way ticket to Cork from Cohb costs about $6.
The City of Cork
Cork, Ireland is a vibrant city with plenty of things to see and do. Here are some popular attractions and sights to consider visiting:
English Market (a historic indoor food market)
St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral
Cork City Gaol (a former prison turned museum)
Cork City Hall
Crawford Art Gallery
Fitzgerald Park
Shandon Bells and Tower
There are also many charming neighborhoods and streets to explore, such as the colorful houses on St. Patrick’s Hill and the trendy bars and restaurants in the historic Huguenot Quarter.
Blarney Castle
There is no direct train service from Cobh to Blarney. However, you can take a train from Cobh to Cork city center, and then take a bus or taxi to Blarney. In addition, you can take a taxi from Cobh to Blarney. The distance between Cobh and Blarney is approximately 10 miles and the journey takes around 30 minutes by taxi at a cost of US$45 one way.
The cost of a tour from Cobh to Blarney Castle does vary depending on the tour operator and the type of tour you choose. As an estimate, a half-day tour from Cobh to Blarney Castle can cost from US$35 to $60 per person. A recent day trip to Blarney Castle was less than $35 per person and included admission at the castle).
Kissing the Blarney Stone is almost a pilgrimage event when visiting Ireland and with Blarney being only a short distance away from Cobh this will probably be the best opportunity. The castle and grounds are home to the Blarney Stone which promises to make every one who kisses it more eloquent. Built nearly six hundred years ago by one of Ireland’s greatest chieftans, Cormac MacCarthy, it has been attracting attention ever since. Over the last few hundred years, millions have flocked to Blarney making it a world landmark and one of Ireland’s most notable treasures.
Sights in Cobh
Located on the waterfront next to the cruise dock is the statue of Annie Moore and her brothers. It commemorates Irish immigration to the United States by paying homage to Annie Moore (1874-1924), who was the first Irish immigrant to pass through Ellis Island on January 1, 1892.
The Titanic Museum – Also along the waterfront is a museum dedicated to the HMS Titanic. Cobh was the last port the Titanic visited before setting off on its ill-fated Atlantic crossing and the museum offers a number of exhibits on the crew and passengers along with artifacts and memorabilia.
Actually it isn’t some mystery from the deep or an alien device, it’s a sculpture exhibited at Australia’s annual Bondi Beach, Australia’s Sculpture by the Sea. The exhibit is on the Bondi to Bronte Coastal Walk each year in late October to early November.
The Coastal Walk offers incredible ocean views from its easy 3.7 mile walking trail along the cliffs between Australia’s well-known beaches making this an incredible experience. Add it dozens of sculptures by artist from around the world and it’s an event not to be missed.
Join us as we visit historic treasures, natural wonders and vibrant cities set against backdrops that are endlessly changing and visually magnificent.
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