Cruise Line Buys Alaska

They must be doing something right. Holland America Line and Princess Cruises, combined, bring more people to Alaska than all other cruise lines. That leadership position applies to their offerings that visit the Canadian Yukon as well. That did not happen by accident. A massive land tour infrastructure already in place and cultivated over the last half-century or so bring travelers the right tools for the job. To ensure continued success in this part of the world, Holland America Princess Alaska Tours will buy the White Pass & Yukon Route which includes railroad and retail operations in Skagway, Alaska. An interesting story, it is not often that a cruise line buys Alaska.

As the gateway to the legendary Klondike Gold Rush region, Skagway is beloved by our guests and crew for its warm hospitality and distinctively Alaskan array of sightseeing and recreational activities. – Stein Kruse, group CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc’s Holland America Group and Carnival UK.

In addition to the acquisition, Holland America Princess Alaska Tours also executed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), subject to review and approval, with Survey Point Holdings, Inc., an Alaskan company based in Ketchikan, and one of its affiliated companies. This MOU will create a joint venture making Survey Point the managing partner of the port, White Pass Scenic Railway and the associated retail operations that Carnival Corporation & plc is acquiring from TWC Enterprises.

Also included in the deal, investments that include expansion of docking facilities to accommodate the newest generation of cruise ships for Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and others in the Carnival Corp family of cruise brands. Interestingly, we have quipped many times how between Holland America Line and Princess Cruises, they own Alaska. Now they actually do.

Want to know more about the Holland America Yukon experience?
See this photo storybook account of our trip there not long ago:

The Canadian Yukon by CHRIS OWEN on Exposure