First Time in Skagway: Port Arrival

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Awake early aboard Sapphire Princess on the way to the Port of Skagway, the ship cruises through the Lynn Canal to the Taiya Inlet.

Sprinkled along the waterfront of Skagway's Taiya Inlet had some properties that I imagine offered natural privacy, wildlife viewing and majestic mountain backdrops. All I could think of was weather they were grid (with Western toilets) vs truly off-grid.

With a cloudy, drizzly morning, we could already spot waterfalls.

We spoiled ourselves with room service delivered to our Category S4 Penthouse Suite - Stateroom C408. Portions seemed very generous!

We're enjoying the views and our stateroom balcony - 169 square feet!

We are bringing our passport today as we will be jumping on a tour that crosses the Canadian border.

Don't Forget to Bring: binoculars and a great zoom camera!

One of the most charming historic traditions in Skagway are the painted rocks — affectionately known by locals as the Ship Signature Wall.

For more than a hundred years, crew members from cruise ships and gold rush-era vessels have left their mark on the rocky cliffside, painting ship names, colorful logos, flags, and dates. It’s a longstanding maritime custom — a kind of nautical rite of passage — celebrating maiden voyages and memorable journeys into Alaska’s rugged frontier.

I love Alaska cruise ports that don't often need tendering, unlike Sitka and Icy Strait Point that consistently require tendering.

Here's a good look at the stern of Sapphire Princess – built in 2004.
 
[Update: The ship received its most recent major drydock refurbishment and modernization in 2018.]

Located at Congress Way and just an 8-15 minute walk to Skagway's famous Gold Rush-era downtown Broadway Street, the Skagway Small Boat Harbor is a year-round, full-service marina accommodating vessels up to 150 feet.

Located at the southeast corner of the harbor is Pullen Creek – a premier location for viewing spawning salmon (King and Pink), as well as resident harbor seals, river otters, and kingfishers. Arriving in late September, we had just missed the best time to see the salmon run at Pullen Creek, which is late summer, specifically from July through August.

View from our Skagway tour offered a different perspective of both Sapphire Princess and Holland America cruise ships docked on this September day.