Monday, April 1, 2024

Ketchikan Cruise Port Location, Things to do, Excursions

ketchikan cruise port

Ou’ll be amazed as your vehicle seamlessly transitions into a boat as you enter the harbor. You’ll get a close-up view of fishing fleets, sea life, and Ketchikan’s waterfront while the captain shares local history and humorous stories. Depending on the month of your Alaskan cruise, you’ll have the opportunity to catch king salmon, silver salmon, halibut, lingcod, and rockfish. From outdoor adventures to deep dives into Alaska Native history, Ketchikan has a large variety of shore excursions to appeal to everyone in your cruise party. Ships dock in the center of town, unless there are many ships in port, then anchoring offshore and tendering passengers in may be necessary. They are numbered sequentially from south to north, along the downtown waterfront.

Learn More About Ketchikan Shore Excursions

Up to four magnificent cruise ships can dock at this bustling location. The "Bering Sea Crab Fisherman’s Tour" is one of the favorite shore excursions offered by most ships, but you can also book it directly if you choose to do so. It allows people from all walks of life to stand on the edge of the commercial fishing world. In downtown Ketchikan, you’ll find restaurants, shops, and several museums within walking distance of the cruise ports. Prepare to be enchanted by Ketchikan, a quaint Alaskan town nestled amidst lush forests and cascading waterfalls.

Visit the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center

On a Ketchikan cruise, you’ll visit one of the prettiest towns along the Inside Passage. Cruise ships dock right in downtown near the Ketchikan Visitors Bureau. Passengers can easily pick up a map at the Visitors Bureau and spend the day shopping, or taking a walking tour of the historic downtown and/or West End districts. In addition, the Ketchikan area has many interesting things to see such as totems, nearby Misty Fjords National Monument, and Saxman village. Those looking for more active pursuits can go fishing, hiking, kayaking, or zip-lining.

What is the best time of year to visit Ketchikan?

If you prefer a different cruise line or want more flexibility with your vacation plans, other companies offer bookings for Ketchikan cruises. Researching online lets you find various options and compare prices to ensure you get the best deal. You have several options to book your cruise to Ketchikan, Alaska. One popular choice is Celebrity Cruises, which offers fantastic itineraries that include stops in Ketchikan. Make sure to catch a thrilling performance at the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show, where you can witness impressive athletic skills and learn about the area’s logging history. Get out on the water with a scenic boat or ferry ride, taking in the breathtaking landscapes surrounding you.

ketchikan cruise port

Whale Park

With something for everyone, the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center is an unforgettable experience for the whole family, whether it’s sunny or rainy. Those looking to explore Misty Fjords National Monument can easily do so via a short seaplane journey from Ketchikan. Located near Ketchikan, Misty Fjords offer spectacular aerial views of 3,000 feet granite walls carved out by glaciers. Although the boat has been renovated, much of the equipment used by a fishing boat still remains. During the tour, the staff pulls up crab traps, and you can see the different varieties.

Enjoy A Ketchikan Duck Tour

Please don’t forget to come back to whatsinport.com for new and updated port guides. The entire bus fleet is wheelchair accessible, and two are mobile works of art, having been painted by Ray Troll and Oliver Martin. Their murals depict the colorful salmon, which are at the heart of Ketchikan’s economy and way of life. Stephanie Yrungaray grew up in gorgeous Eagle River, Alaska and now calls Utah her beUtahful home. She enjoys traveling and exploring with her husband and five kids any way she can, from cruising to RV camping and everything in-between! When she’s not out exploring, you’ll find her writing about travel, finances and parenting as well as gift ideas on her website,

Local Currency & Tipping Customs

Over 15 cruise lines visit Ketchikan every year, bringing in millions of cruise passengers. Ketchikan has a creative, artistic atmosphere and offers some excellent shopping. There are multiple jewelry shops, many of them selling pretty silver earrings and necklaces made with blue mother-of-pearl or items made from locally sourced jade. Ships dock in the center of town at one of four berths, so there is a lack of the traditional cruise terminal facilities you might see at many larger ports. On crowded days, ships might be required to anchor and tender passengers into Ketchikan. Seeing totem poles is definitely one of the top Ketchikan cruise port things to do.

The perfect $2 day

The cruise ship pier is found right in front of the town and is only separated by a waterfront Melancon. Once you disembark you can quickly get to Ketchikan town by just crossing the streets. In 1938, long before Alaska was a state, the US Forest Service started a program to restore totem poles that were abandoned when native people relocated to cities for work. They also hired skilled carvers to pass the totem pole tradition on to artisans of the next generation. If you enjoy fishing, there’s few places in the world that are more exciting for sport fishing than Alaska. There are a vast number of outfitters in town that offer charters, equipment and general guidance to anyone who would like to experience this sport in our northernmost state.

The agreement allowed NCLH to build a new (2-ship pier) at the cruise port. The new pier has capacity to dock simultaneously two liners, each with passenger capacity ~4000. Famous sights in Ketchikan are its totem poles - one of the world's most elaborate collections of giant wood carvings. The Totem Heritage Centre houses a collection of authentic poles. At Totem Bight State Park and the Saxman village can be also seen original totem poles as well as enactments of native dances and legends.

The Ketchikan Rainbird Trail is quite popular and is easily accessible from town. It’s considered an easy trail that weaves through the thick rainforest and which offers lovely views of the harbor. The Deer Mountain Trail is only about a mile from the cruise ship docks but you might want to take a cab to the trailhead. The Tongass National Forest offers so many opportunities for hiking and walking and there are several trails that are especially popular with cruise travelers. This educational attraction is located in Saxman, about ten minutes south of Ketchikan.

Everything You Need to Know About Alaska's Ward Cove - CruiseCritic.co.uk

Everything You Need to Know About Alaska's Ward Cove.

Posted: Thu, 19 May 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]

If the salmon are running in the Ketchikan Creek below, it’s a great place to spot otters and harbor seals enjoying an easy meal. Further up the river, you can watch the salmon jumping up the fish ladder. Further down the street, the Chief Johnson Totem Pole has become one of the most photographed totem poles in the city, maybe even the world. If you’ve booked with Norwegian Cruise Line, their ships go to a new dock in Ward Cove, away from the port of Ketchikan. However, you can get a complimentary shuttle which takes 20 minutes to reach the downtown area. If you’re looking for more information about cruise ports and fun excursions for every taste, check out the Port Tips section of our site.

ketchikan cruise port

Ketchikan’s rainforest provides the ideal environment to enjoy a zip-lining adventure. The excursion is suitable for all family members, especially the kids. Electric bikes are easy to ride and take the grunt work out of peddling. On this ecotour, the highlight is the incredible temperature rainforest hike. The tour sells out and is rated one of the best, so book your tour online to prevent disappointment.

It is said that Married Man’s Trail was used by visitors to Dolly’s House and other such houses of ill repute. ‘Customers’ took the back path to avoid being seen entering from the main street of town. The Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show is one of the top Ketchikan shore excursions.

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