By Jen Kleinberg, Director of Strategic Accounts | August 12, 2019 ( Comments)
This is a review of Holland America's Alaska Cruisetour #Y4C, 11 Night Yukon & Double Denali.
Today was mostly a travel day. We got up early in the morning to board the White Pass & Yukon Route train. The hour and a half ride to Carcross, YT wound around the mountains, and showed off the waterfalls and flora of the area.
Once in Carcross, we got off the train and had a break at a visitor's area with little shops and a cafe. From there we boarded our motor coach for the two hour ride to Whitehorse. Again, our guide kept us entertained along the way, this time with the history of the gold rush. There were more opportunities for photo stops, like Miles Canyon.
Whitehorse is the Yukon's capital city with a population of about 31,000. There are less than 40,000 inhabitants in the entire Yukon Territory, with a land area larger than the size of California (population 40 million.) So the remaining towns in this region usually only have a couple hundred residents.
If you need to stock up on toiletries, medications, or other supplies, you'll want to do it in Whitehorse. There is a Walmart here, along with grocery stores. The next few days will be spent in much more remote locations, so now is the time to grab what you need.
We're again staying at a Westmark hotel. This one is, well... rustic, I think is the nicest way to put it. Definitely older, although we were happy to find that there's a portable AC unit in our room. We have two queen-size beds, the shower works great, and the location is good. So all-in-all, not terrible, just be aware that this isn't the best hotel you've probably stayed in. They do have construction going on downstairs, so hopefully some renovations will help to spruce things up.
Tomorrow we have a long travel day from Whitehorse to Dawson City, where we'll stay for two nights. The drive is over six hours, and on a motor coach with various stops, it will probably be closer to eight. Time to walk downtown for dinner, then rest up.
Click here to read Day 6 & 7 - Dawson City
