10+ welcome signs in Alaska cruise ports you need to see!

Hi there!

As part of your cruise memories, you must take pictures of some Alaska signs!

And you will find a number of them during your Alaska cruise.

Some of the signs you might just walk by naturally on your way to downtown from the cruise ship, but this may depend on where exactly your cruise ship is docked and the walking route you take!

So here are welcome signs in some Alaska cruise ports that you want to be sure to make it a point to look out for!

Some of these can be quick things to do if you find yourself with extra time at the end of the day before your back-on-board time!

I have been to Alaska cruise ports multiple times and here are the signs that I have come across that you need to know about!

 

 

1. Welcome to Alaska’s 1st city, Ketchikan, the salmon capital of the world

This is one of the most famous welcome signs in Alaska cruise ports, and one you’ve likely seen in pictures. And if you haven’t yet, it’s only a matter of time if you’re looking up things to do in Ketchikan!

Ketchikan is the “first city” in Alaska when you’re coming up from the south.

You might be on a cruise ship that docks just a minute or 2 walk from the street this sign is on. (map)

 

👆 Ketchikan welcome sign: Welcome to Alaska’s 1st city, the salmon capital of the world.

 

👆 Spot the Ketchikan welcome sign!

 

2. Creek Street (Ketchikan)

You have probably also seen the Creek Street sign, also in Ketchikan. There are Creek Street signs in 2 separate areas, so you can get one or both of them.

Creek Street is an easy walk from cruise ships that are docked in downtown Ketchikan, which describes all major cruise lines except for NCL cruise ships which dock at Ward Cove.

One “entrance” is near the Ketchikan Creek Bridge. (map)

The other way to get to Creek Street is near the Chief Johnson totem pole. (map) This is the side closest to the salmon ladder.

Creek Street is really not that long so it doesn’t really matter which side you go to.

 

👆 Creek Street sign on the Ketchikan Creek bridge side.

 

👆 Creek Street on the Chief Johnson totem pole side.

 

Plan your walk to Ketchikan’s welcome signs and more: Walking in Ketchikan cruise port

 

3. Welcome to Juneau, Alaska’s capital city

This is a sign that is in a convenient location and you will probably walk right past. Despite that, it’s easy to miss.

If you’re walking along the boardwalk, you’ll have to be looking “inland” in order to spot the Welcome to Juneau sign. So, be on the lookout for it!

It’s located near the Goldbelt Tram that’s near the cruise port. When facing the mountains, it’s in an area that’s off to the left of the tram station.

 

 

4. Tongass National Forest recreation area, Mendenhall Glacier (Juneau)

You’ll be able to get a picture of a Tongass National Forest sign if you’re taking the bus to the Mendenhall Glacier visitor center or if you’re driving yourself.

Because otherwise, if you’re a part of a tour, you’ll drive right by it without stopping.

If you’re taking the bus, you’ll get off at the nearest bus stop which is 1.5 miles away. Then, you’ll walk by the Tongass National Forest sign on your way to the visitor center. On the way out, you’ll see an exit sign! (It’s on the opposite side of the welcome sign.)

 

 

Plan your walk to Juneau’s welcome signs and more: Walking in Juneau cruise port

 

5. Welcome to Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, Skagway, Alaska

Depending on where you cruise ship is docked, you may or may not walk right past this sign as you are walking to downtown Skagway from the cruise ship.

It’s near the corner of Broadway and State, near the Locomotive 52 display. Once you are at this little plaza with the Klondike Gold Rush stampeder statue, walk the pedestrian path towards the cruise ships until you see the sign! (map)

 

 

6. Welcome to Skagway, Garden City of Alaska

This is an easy walk from the cruise ship, and you’ll find the Welcome to Skagway sign at the Skagway footbridge parking lot. (map)

This is the same spot you would go to if you want to hike the Yakutania Point Trail, the Smugglers Cove Trail, or the AB Mountain Trail.

 

 

Plan your walk to Skagway’s welcome signs and more: Walking in Skagway cruise port

 

7. Welcome to Alaska (Klondike Highway, Skagway)

If you’re doing a tour that includes a drive on the Klondike Highway, then your tour will very most likely stop at this Welcome to Alaska sign. This is on the border of Alaska and Canada, so passport required! (map)

Tours that drive the Klondike Highway include tours that go to the Yukon and combo tours that also include the popular White Pass train.

If you’re doing a DIY drive of the Klondike Highway to the Yukon, you will for sure see this on your way back to Skagway. But you might want to pullover and get a picture of the sign as you’re driving to the Yukon just in case you run out of time on the way back for an extra stop or something!

I did a tour with the Klondike Highway in early May… the sign was covered in snow. 😂

 

👆 The classic “Welcome to Alaska” sign that you must get is on the Klondike Highway! This is what it actually looks like… without snow. 🤪

 

8. Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal, Sitka, Alaska

As long as Sitka is not a tender port for your cruise ship, you will arrive at Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal.

As you walk off the cruise ship and towards the free shuttle that will take you to downtown Sitka, you will pass the Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal sign.

Be sure to get a picture of the sign so that you see the cruise ship in the background!

As you keep walking towards the shuttle line, there will be an eagle that will welcome you to Sitka too!

 

 

9. Sitka National Historical Park

Go to Sitka National Historical Park during your cruise ship visit to Sitka and you can get a picture of this sign!

This is an easy walk from downtown Sitka, (map)

You’ll be dropped off downtown when your cruise ship docks at Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal or is a tender port.

 

 

Plan your walk to Sitka’s welcome signs and more: Walking in Sitka cruise port

 

10. Icy Strait Point Adventure Center

If your cruise ship is docked at the pier closest to the Icy Strait Point beach, then you will walk right off the cruise ship and you will see the Icy Strait Point Adventure Center.

You can get a picture of the Icy Strait Point side of the sign!

If your cruise ship is docked at the other pier, you can either take the free gondola down or walk the Icy Strait Point Nature Trail to get down to the shoreline. This is the main part of the Icy Strait Point cruise port, so chances are you will naturally end up here!

 

 

11. Welcome to Hoonah Alaska

Start the walk towards Hoonah and you will see the Welcome to Hoonah Alaska sign!

Even if you don’t want to walk all the way to Hoonah (around 1.5 miles from the cruise port), all you need to do is leave the secure cruise port area and you will see the sign!

 

 

Plan your walk to Icy Strait Point’s welcome signs and more: Walking in Icy Strait Point cruise port

 

12. Glacier Bay National Park

For this sign, you will look for it on the cruise ship!

If you’re going to Glacier Bay National Park, be sure to find out where the morning ranger chat is, and that is where you will find a Glacier Bay National Park sign!

The sign will be set up throughout the day when the park rangers are onboard, and it will be in the same area that you can find the national park passport stamp and small pop-up shop of national park souvenirs.

 

 

And finally…

While not really a sign, take a picture of a life ring with the name of your cruise ship on it! Preferably with a grand Alaskan landscape as the background. 😁

 

 

More pictures you need to take: Statues in Alaska