HAL-Holland America Line is enhancing its Alaska Cruisetours for the 2024 season with upgrades to accommodations at McKinley Chalet Resort and the introduction of a new included tour in Dawson City (Yukon Canada).
Alaska Cruisetours blend a sea voyage with an overland tour to Denali NP, and HAL stands out as the sole cruise line extending these tours to the Canadian Yukon territory.
As part of the enhancements, 28 river-view resort accommodations will receive step-out balconies and upgrades to the Denali Suite category for guests participating in the "Klondike Gold Tour" which delves into the history of the Klondike Gold Rush.
Moreover, a new deluxe category of non-balcony rooms with suite amenities will be introduced. On select Denali and Yukon Cruisetours, guests will enjoy a new complimentary “Klondike Gold Tour” that enriches the gold rush experience. This tour includes visits to the original discovery claim site that ignited the gold rush and Gold Dredge 4.
The resort property will expand its offerings to include 84x Denali Suites, providing more guests with breathtaking balcony views of Denali National Park or the Nenana River. Additionally, 45x non-balcony accommodations will be upgraded to feature suite amenities, establishing a new Deluxe room category.
The new Klondike Gold Tour is complimentary for all guests on select Alaska Denali and Yukon Cruisetours, including Dawson City. Guests will explore the Discovery Claim National Historic Site, the birthplace of the Klondike Gold Rush, and experience Gold Dredge 4, a preserved dredge once utilized for gold mining in the Klondike River Valley. A Parks Canada guide will share insights into gold dredging history and the initial gold discovery in the Yukon.
Travelers can further immerse themselves in the Klondike Gold Rush during an Alaskan voyage or Cruisetour with additional shore excursions in Skagway. These excursions include visiting the Gold Rush Training Camp, engaging in gold panning activities, embarking on the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad to Liarsville Gold Camp, and exploring the Gold Rush Cemetery and Historic Skagway Inn (the largest brothel in Skagway during the gold rush era).
HAL remains the exclusive cruise company/travel brand offering an Alaskan cruise combined with an overland tour to Denali and the Yukon.
Yukon and Denali Cruisetours span 9 to 18 days and encompass either a 3- or 4-day Inside Passage cruise (ships Koningsdam or Zaandam) or a 7-day Glacier Discovery cruise (ships Nieuw Amsterdam or Noordam), along with a 2- or 3-night stay at Denali and additional city visits.