Ketchikan Cruise Holidays

Ketchikan, Alaska, United States

The Alaskan city of Ketchikan is one of the most popular cruise ports in the region for both visitors and cruise lines alike as if you are to book an Inside Passage trip, the chances are that you will call in there.

The city is located on Revillagigedo Island and was is named after the Ketchikan Creek that runs through the town.

One of the great aspects of the city from a cruising point of view is that you dock right in the heart of the downtown area and just a short stroll from the city’s main attractions.

As is so often the case in Alaska, the entry into the port is stunning and well worth getting up early to stand on the top deck and take it all in.

Our Visit

We were lucky enough to visit the city in September 2018 on a round-trip cruise between Seattle and Alaska and what an incredible adventure that was.

We would have a few hours to walk around the port, which included walking down the famous Creek Street but the most of our time onshore was spent taking a floatplane ride over the Misty Fjords and to see some bears the wild.

That was an incredible experience and one we will always remember but the whole experience of Ketchikan, from your arrival to your departure, makes for an incredible day.

Cruises To Ketchikan

Our Visit

Ketchikan Cruise Guide

This guide is for those who have already booked a cruise in the region and who are wanting to make the most of their visit to the port or for those who are still at the research stage of their next cruise getaway and are trying to decide on whether the port is right for them or not.

Type of Cruises Available

Ketchikan doesn’t have a cruise terminal from which to start a cruise journey, so the only opportunities to visit come from cruising from a nearby turnaround port such as Anchorage (Alaska), Seattle (USA) or Vancouver.

All of those are great destination to add on a few days stay in a hotel before or after your cruise and they also offer a range of both closed loop and repositioning cruises.

Ketchikan Cruise Port Location

Most cruise ships will dock at the Ketchikan cruise ship dock which is located right in the centre of town and just a short walk from the shops, bars, cafes and attractions you will be heading for.

Visitors are welcomed by a large eagle totem and there are a handful of tourist gift shops close by for those last-minute purchases before getting back on board at the end of your visit.

Some ships, mostly those operated by NCL, choose to dock around 7 miles outside of the main tourist attractions at a new port called Ward Cove, from where a 15-minute bus ride is needed to visit downtown Ketchikan.

Ketchikan Attractions

For such a small city, there is a great range of attractions on offer for visitors, with the majority of them easily visited on foot directly from your cruise ship.

As you cruise around Alaska, you will be left in awe of the scale of the Alaskan rainforest and Ketchikan gives you the chance to get up close to it as there are a number of trials directly from the town centre that allow you to explore easily.

A great place to gain an insight into the rainforest is at the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary whilst the Totem Bright State Historical Park gives visitors a look at the Tlingit history and culture.

Just a short walk from the main cruise dock is the historic Creek Street, which was once a place for sailor to head to let loose, it is now a great place to stroll down the boardwalk and take pictures of the brightly coloured wooden shop houses.

Close by is the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show that is gives an entertaining look at the skills needed by Lumberjacks.

There are a few museums in the city including the Totem Heritage Centre and the Tongass Historical Museum.

Although the city is compact and relatively flat, if the weather is poor or you struggle with walking, there is a regular tour bus service that takes in all the major sights of the city.

In some ways, your chosen ship become sone of the attractions of the city when it dock as one thing most visitors just cannot help but do it take lots of photos of their ship from multiple angles around the town.

Ketchikan Shorex

For those wanting an experience to remember, Ketchikan has several incredible shore excursions, with one of the most popular been a floatplane journey to the stunning Misty Fjords National Monument.

Other seaplanes journeys include trips to see bears in the wild and flights over the stunning Alaskan scenery.

If you would like to get closer to the nature and scenery that you sail past on your ship, there are lots of opportunities to take boat rides to see whales, eagles and sights such as lighthouses and totems.

For those wanting a more adventurous day on shore, the nearby zipline adventure park is the place to head whilst foodies will love some of the food tours offered including to local salmon restaurants.

Best Time To Visit Ketchikan

The main Alaskan cruising season is between April and September but with the weather not always the greatest early in the season and with the main summer months seeing crowded ships and ports, we would recommend visiting Ketchikan in June or early July.

Transport

Although there is an airport in the city and there are also several bus routes, most visitors to the city will not need to use any transport as most things are either walkable or need to be visited on a tour.

There is the option to use a tour bus, including duck tours, for those unable to walk long distances.

Ketchikan Cruises From UK

Aside from a World Cruise once in a while that leaves these shores, you will need to fly to a nearby turnaround port to visit Ketchikan.

Thankfully, there are a number of great option of cities to choose from, which offer lots of choices when it comes to ships and itineraries.

The Alaskan port of Anchorage as well as Seattle and Vancouver further south all make for great cruise and stay destinations to start your dream Alaskan getaway.

Ketchikan Cruises From Southampton

If you do find a World Cruise itinerary from the UK, it will more than likely set sail from either Southampton or Dover.