Inclusive Prices
Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All accommodations, cruise ship transportation, sightseeing, admissions, shore excursions, port fees, luggage handling, the rail adventure aboard the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad , the rafting journey through the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, wine with dinner aboard
Spirit of Yorktown cruise ship, and the services of the Tauck Director and ship crew are included. A representative of Tauck will meet you at Juneau International Airport and provide transfer to Seadrome Dock to board
Spirit of Yorktown regardless of the day or time of your arrival, provided we have updated flight arrival information at least two weeks before the tour departure date. On the last day of the cruise, Tauck will transfer you by shuttle from the ship to the airport in the morning.
Ship Accommodations – Tauck’s price includes all ship accommodations with private baths. The Tauck standard is to provide the best available accommodations without sacrificing value. On board
Spirit of Yorktown, each stateroom has two twin beds; there are a limited number of staterooms where the twin beds can be joined together to form a queen size bed. Triples consist of two twin beds and one pull-down berth.
Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary.
Tauck Director – Each “Alaska’s Inside Passage” cruise is conducted by two Tauck Directors who will remain with the group throughout the duration of the tour. Your Tauck Directors are professional, fully trained employees of Tauck.
Gratuities Included – All appropriate gratuities for bellmen, doormen, dining room servers, drivers, ship staff, local guides and Tauck Directors are included.
No Options Sold - Tauck Directors sometimes assist with information on free-time activities based on honest opinion and guidance, but they will not sell you anything. This means better value and a more relaxed, pleasant experience for you.
Not Included
Airfare to the tour departure point and from the tour ending point is not included. Airfare may be purchased from Tauck for travel originating in the United States.
Hotel Rooms Before and After Tours – To avoid jet lag and possible flight delays, you may wish to make hotel arrangements for the nights preceding or following your tour. As a service, Tauck will book additional nights for you on a space-available basis using special rates only available through Tauck. Hotel room charges will be added to the tour cost. If you wish to spend additional nights, please consult the
Extend This Journey section on this website and discuss it with the reservations agent when you book your tour.
Luggage Responsibility – Although every effort is made to handle your luggage carefully, we cannot be responsible, assume liability or accept claims for loss or damage to luggage and personal effects due to breakage, theft, or fair wear and tear through hotel, airline and group carrier handling. It is important for your own self-interest and protection that you make certain you have adequate insurance to cover these eventualities. Please refer to
Tauck Travel Protection for more information.
Personal Expenses - Phone calls, room service, alcoholic and bar beverages, mineral water, soft drinks, laundry, airline excess luggage charges, vaccinations, visa fees (if applicable), airport and departure taxes, and other optional or incidental extras are not included and may be significant.
Additional Information
Airline Security Measures – Identification in the form of a passport must be presented at the time of airport check-in. Your passport name must match the name on your tour reservation and airline ticket or you may be denied boarding.
Air Services – Airfare may be purchased through Tauck for travel originating in the United States. By using Tauck's air services, you agree that Tauck, in purchasing, selling or otherwise arranging air transportation, is acting only as your agent and is not liable or responsible for any accident, death, personal injury, illness, property damage, delay or other loss or expense of any nature whatsoever arising directly or indirectly out of any act of God, or any actions or omissions (including any failure to provide services) or default of, any carrier. All carriers are independent contractors and are not owned, managed, controlled or operated by Tauck. Your airline ticket constitutes a contract between yourself and the airline (and not Tauck), even if purchased through Tauck. Tauck is not liable for, and does not assume responsibility or accept claims with regard to, seat assignments, schedule changes, flight changes, cancellations, claims for a refund or reimbursement of airline ticket fees, or any other loss incurred by you for any reason whatsoever (including, without limitation to, bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar relief from creditors). Tauck must handle ticketing for Tauck's special fares, which are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed until reserved. Special fares cannot be combined with any other promotional offer. Tauck's air services can only be purchased in conjunction with a Tauck tour. Tickets or e-ticket numbers will be mailed with final documents. If you cancel or change your air before or after departure, all airline cancellation and change fees will apply.
Cruise Regulations – International maritime security guidelines require that your passport or travel document information be provided to the cruise line prior to embarkation. Please provide this information to Tauck as soon as you book your cruise or boarding may be denied.
If you are U.S. citizen, Tauck is required to provide to the cruise ship your:
- Passport Number, including date of birth and place of birth - or
- Government Issued Photo ID number such as a Driver’s License Number or a Military ID number
Tauck strongly recommends that if you do not have a passport, you should carry with you a notarized copy of your birth certificate with a raised seal.
If you are a citizen of another country, Tauck must provide:
- Passport Number, including citizenship, passport date of issue, and passport date of expiration
Cruise Start and End Times are provided at the time of booking. The cruise begins at 4:00 p.m. local time on board the
Spirit of Yorktown in Juneau. You or your booking agent will be advised of any change to this schedule. When making flight arrangements, allow sufficient time to claim luggage and clear customs in order to join the tour on time. The ship departs at 6:15 p.m. sharp. When departing from Juneau, allow at least 2 hours for flight check-in.
Holidays and Museum Closures – Museum visits and personal shopping time may be disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances or the many religious, state and local holidays locally observed.
Itinerary Changes and Price Flexibility – Tauck pledges to make every effort to operate your tour as advertised. Tauck reserves the right to alter or curtail the itinerary, or substitute sightseeing, hotels, and/or conveyances as deemed necessary. Any savings realized by these changes will be refunded to you. Any resultant added expense will be covered by Tauck. Although not expected, prices on this website may be modified due to unexpected significant external factors not forecasted at the time of printing.
Membership will be granted to all persons. Tauck reserves the right to terminate the tour of any persons who are abusive of others or whose behavior disrupts the tour.
Photography on Tour – Occasionally, Tauck will use photographs taken by fellow guests or your Tauck Director on your tour for promotional purposes. If you prefer that your photo not be used in any marketing activities, please notify your Tauck Director at the start of your tour.
Preparing to Go
Air Conditioning – The staterooms on board
Spirit of Yorktown are air-conditioned.
ATM and Credit Cards - Tauck recommends that you contact your bank in advance of departing for this event to determine whether you will be able to use your ATM and credit cards while traveling. When contacting your bank, notify them of your travel dates so that they will anticipate charges being made outside of your hometown and do not suspend your cards for what may appear to them to be
“suspicious” charges. Tauck also recommends that you make a photocopy of the front and back sides of your ATM and credit cards to leave behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your cards are misplaced, lost or stolen.
Clothing and Packing – The weather in Alaska is unpredictable. We suggest you bring clothes that can be layered for various weather conditions. Slacks, a sweater or fleece, a lightweight jacket and a raincoat are versatile clothes for touring in Alaska, and comfortable walking shoes that have already been broken-in are a must! If you plan to spend a lot of time on deck viewing glaciers and wildlife you should consider packing a pair of long johns, gloves, and a scarf. Binoculars and umbrellas are provided on the ship.
Clothes that require little care are best. There is no laundry on board
Spirit of Yorktown, however, the Cruise Director can direct you to self-service laundries in particular ports, subject to the ship's schedule. Irons are available on board.
We recommend that you pack an adequate supply of your prescription medication in its original container to last through your entire journey, together with a copy of your doctor’s prescription, or a letter from your health-care provider on office stationery explaining that the medication has been prescribed for you, your travel documents and a change of clothing in your carry-on bag to avoid any inconvenience in the event that your flight or luggage is delayed.
Following is a list of recommended items to pack:
- Flat, rubber-soled walking shoes for on board
- Sturdy but comfortable walking shoes that have already been broken, or hiking boots for onshore
- Short and long-sleeved cotton shirts
- Shorts, slacks and jeans
- Tee shirts
- Thick socks
- Sweater or fleece
- Light and heavy-weight jackets
- Long johns, gloves, scarf and hat
- Raincoat and rain hat
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Camera, lenses, batteries and plenty of film
- Telephoto lens
- Copies of your travel documents that should be safely secured in your in-room safe while traveling
Elevation - The maximum elevation on this tour is 2,890 feet (881 meters).
Health – Cruising Alaska’s inside passage is very relaxing and the pace is leisurely. You should be in fairly good health and able to walk reasonable distances. There is a slight to moderate amount of walking during our onshore excursions. However, for the most part, the amount of walking you do at the various sites and towns is at your discretion.
Spirit of Yorktown has three decks and no elevator, so you will need to be able to climb stairs. There are approximately 14 steps on each staircase between decks.
The rafting journey through the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve is a float trip. There is no white water, so this adventure is suitable for most everyone. Optional excursions for those seeking more active adventures include kayaking and helicopter tours which can be separately purchased.
Tauck is not able to accommodate wheelchairs on this tour. We regret that we cannot provide you with individual assistance for walking, dining or other personal needs. If you need such assistance, you must be accompanied by an able companion who will assist you.
If you routinely require oxygen, please notify Tauck so that special arrangements can be made with Cruise West, the operator of
Spirit of Yorktown.
To safeguard the health of their passengers,
Spirit of Yorktown maintains a non-smoking policy in the interior areas of the ship. Smoking is permitted in designated areas on outer decks only.
Because you will be cruising within U.S. territorial waters, you are always within reach of U.S. medical facilities; therefore, a physician will not be on board. The officers on board
Spirit of Yorktown are trained in CPR and handling emergency situations.
Spirit of Yorktown is registered in the United States. Please check with your health insurance provider to determine whether you are covered while traveling. If you will not be covered under your current policy, we strongly suggest that you arrange for adequate coverage while on tour.
If you have a medical condition which might limit your participation in activities, please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice and notify Tauck as soon as possible, if you have not already done so. We will advise your Tauck Director accordingly.
No vaccinations are currently required for travel to Alaska. For complete vaccination and inoculation information, contact your physician, the public health service in your area, or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. The Travelers' Health Section of the CDC operates a 24-hour, pre-recorded "Travelers' Health Hotline" at 877-394-8747 (toll-free in the U.S.). You may also log on to the CDC Internet website at
www.cdc.gov
Luggage Restrictions:
Checked Luggage – General
While it is common for airlines to allow passengers to check more than one piece of luggage per person, space constraints during your Tauck journey make it difficult to accommodate extra luggage. We ask that you limit your checked luggage to one average size suitcase per person.
In addition, airlines have adopted more strict policies in enforcing size and weight limits. Luggage exceeding maximum restrictions may require expensive overage fees, frustrating and hurried re-packing at the ticket counter, or even risk being left behind.
As of June 2006, many carriers require checked luggage not exceed a weight of 50 lbs (22.7 kg) per piece. Airlines revise luggage policies frequently and often without notice; therefore, Tauck cannot be held liable to the weight limit listed above. We urge you to check with your airline before traveling to determine current weight and size restrictions. It is also important to note that restrictions
for luggage size and weight may vary with the same airline based on the class of service you select. First and Business Class ticket holders may have different restrictions than Coach Class travelers.
Tauck World Discovery cannot be held liable for additional fees or inconveniences imposed by the airline due to luggage size, piece or weight policies.
Please be sure to attach your Tauck luggage tag to your suitcase before leaving home.
Carry-on Luggage - General:
Although oversized bags and wheeled, carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for motor coach travel or for many on-tour flights. Most modern sightseeing motor coaches offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats or in the overhead rack is typically small, and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags, etc.
For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece, and only those items you need handy during the day such as purses, make-up, medications, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or in the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may not allow for access during daytime travel.
Travel Document Requirements – “Alaska’s Inside Passage” cruise begins and ends in the U.S. If you are a U.S. citizen, you must carry proof of citizenship such as your passport, a notarized copy of your birth certificate, a driver’s license with photo or your naturalization papers.
If you are a citizen of another country, please contact an embassy or consulate of the U.S. to determine what travel documentation will be required.
The train excursion on day 11 from Skagway to White Pass is a round trip journey that crosses the border into Canada but does not stop; there is no presentation of passports on this day.
Tauck strongly recommends that your passport be valid for six months beyond the completion of your tour. Also, Tauck recommends that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, date of expiration and your citizenship, as well as the front and back sides of your driver’s license. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents or cards are misplaced, lost or stolen.
Please note: The U.S. government has implemented new border crossing regulations. Travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada must have a passport or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States. Beginning January 8, 2007, this requirement applies to all air travel. Beginning June 1, 2009, this requirement extends to all land and sea border crossings as well as air.
Travel with Children – If you travel into or out of the U.S. with children under the age of 18, you should be aware of the following: because of increasing incidents of child abductions in disputed custody cases and because children are at risk as possible victims of child pornography, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) strongly recommends that unless the child is accompanied by both parents, you should have a note from the child's other parent (or, in the case of a child traveling with grandparents, uncles or aunts, sisters or brothers, or friends, a note signed by both parents) stating that the parent(s) not traveling acknowledge that the parent(s), family members, etc. who are traveling out of the country with the child have permission to do so.
CBP also suggests that this note be notarized. While CBP may not ask to see this documentation, if they do ask, and you do not have it, you may be detained until the circumstances of the child traveling without both parents can be fully assessed.
If there is no second parent with legal claims to the child (deceased, sole custody, etc.) any other relevant paperwork, such as a court decision, birth certificate naming only one parent, death certificate, etc., would be useful.
All children who are U.S. citizens should also have a certified copy of their birth certificate or baptism record for ID. Children over the age of 14 are also required to have a photo ID.
Tauck is not responsible for the disruption of travel caused by improper documentation for any travelers, including children traveling without both parents. While there is no definitive format or standards for these letters, Tauck does offer for
download a sample letter for guardians or one parent traveling with a child.
Destination Information
Cell Phones - We understand and appreciate the value of instant communication when we travel; it keeps us in touch with friends and family, and it's a reassurance in the event of an emergency. However, the use of cell phones can be disruptive to a tour and to other guests who are enjoying their vacation. As a courtesy to others, we ask that you refrain from using your cell phone during motor coach travel, group functions, when sightseeing and when the Tauck Director is addressing the group as a whole. There are usually ample opportunities to make or receive calls at times when it does not impact others.
Please contact your cell phone carrier to determine limitations and services that exist for the destinations to which you are traveling.
Currency and Exchange Rates - The U.S. dollar (USD) is the unit of currency and is divided into 100 cents. Only major banks exchange foreign currency. ATMs are widespread and credit cards and travelers’ checks are widely accepted. Travelers’ checks should be taken in U.S. dollars to avoid hassles. Banking hours are generally Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Shipboard accounts will be set up prior to your arrival to charge bar services, wine, and gift items. You may settle your account with U.S. travelers’ checks, a personal check, MasterCard, Visa, Discover, or American Express.
To obtain the most current exchange rate, you may want to check your local newspaper or log on to the Internet website
www.oanda.com
Customs and Tax-Free Shopping – Travelers to the United States who are non-residents do not have to pay duty on the following items: 50 cigars or 200 cigarettes or 2 kilograms of tobacco, or a proportionate mix of these. Travelers over 21 years can import 1 U.S. quart of alcoholic beverages. Non-residents may enter the U.S. with gifts valued $100 USD or less provided their stay in the U.S.A. is not less than 72 hours and that the allowance has not been used in the preceding six-month period.
If you are not a U.S. citizen, you should refer to your own country’s rules and regulations regarding customs and duty-free shopping to ensure compliance.
The individual states within the U.S. levy sales taxes on consumer goods and services. There is no federal Value Added Tax (VAT)-like system that permits non-residents to obtain refunds of the sales taxes levied by each state.
Electrical Current – The electrical current in Alaska and on board
Spirit of Yorktown is 110 V, 60 Hz, AC, which accommodates standard U.S. plugs having either two flat pins or two flat pins and a round grounding pin. If you bring electric devices that are not compatible with this system you should bring the appropriate adapters and converters.
Time Zones – Alaska is 9 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (or Greenwich Mean Time). From early April to late October, Alaska switches to Daylight Savings Time and is 8 hours behind. In June, Alaska is 4 hours behind New York City.
To determine current time in major cities around the world, we suggest you log on to the Internet website,
www.timeanddate.com
Weather - The weather in Alaska is varied and unpredictable. From June through September the inside passage enjoys mild weather with rain, mist and clouds occurring regularly. Average temperatures range from 45 to 65°F (7 to 18°C), sometimes soaring above 80°F (26°C) on a clear, sunny day.
|
Juneau, Alaska |
| |
Average Temperature
|
Average Rainfall
|
| Month |
Hi/Lo ºF |
Hi/Lo ºC |
Inches |
Millimeters |
| January |
31 / 21 |
-1 / -6 |
4.8 |
122 |
| February |
34 / 24 |
1 / -4 |
7.0 |
178 |
| March |
39 / 28 |
4 / -2 |
3.5 |
89 |
| April |
48 / 33 |
9 / 1 |
3.0 |
75 |
| May |
56 / 40 |
13 / 4 |
3.5 |
88 |
| June |
62 / 46 |
17 / 8 |
3.4 |
85 |
| July |
64 / 49 |
18 / 9 |
4.1 |
105 |
| August |
63 / 48 |
17 / 9 |
5.4 |
136 |
| September |
56 / 44 |
13 / 7 |
7.5 |
192 |
| October |
47 / 38 |
8 / 3 |
8.3 |
211 |
| November |
38 / 29 |
3 / -2 |
5.4 |
138 |
| December |
33 / 24 |
1 / -4 |
5.4 |
137 |
To determine current weather conditions, we suggest you log on to the Internet website,
www.weather.com
If You Have to Cancel
Cancellation Fees – Regardless of reason, cancellations of confirmed bookings result in Tauck incurring costly penalties and cancellation fees from our travel and hotel providers. Therefore, Tauck will charge guests who cancel confirmed bookings a cancellation fee according to when the cancellation notice is received in our Norwalk, CT office. To help limit guests’ liability, Tauck offers its guests Tauck Travel Protection.
Guests choosing to purchase Tauck’s Guest Protection or Cancellation Fee Waiver will have cancellation penalties reduced. Click here for more details.
Guests choosing not to purchase Tauck’s Guest Protection or Cancellation Fee Waiver will incur cancellation penalties per person as follows:
60 days or more before departure
$950 per person (the amount of the deposit)
59-30 days before departure
50% of the cost of the tour per person
29-1 days before departure
100% of the cost of the tour per person
