Oh hi! ð That’s me on an excursion in Ketchikan! ð
Ketchikan is the amazing cruise port where you can do a seaplane tour with a wilderness landing in a national forest, walk by lots of totem poles, go snorkeling in Alaska (what?!?!?!ðĪĢ), and see salmon jumping up the ladder!
I have been to Ketchikan 5 times by cruise ship.
Here is what to know about Ketchikan cruise port for your Alaska cruise! ð
All things Ketchikan on the blog!
- Best things to do in Ketchikan
- 10 best things to do in Ketchikan
- Easy walking in Ketchikan cruise port
- Ketchikan cruise port map + where cruise ships dock
- Where to see totem poles in Ketchikan
- Salmon ladder (mid-summer to early fall)
- Best Ketchikan excursions you must consider
- Cheap(er) and easy excursion: Ketchikan walking tour with Alaskan huskies
- Deadliest Catch fisherman’s tour
- You will be on a boat that is as seen on TV and one of Ketchikan’s most popular things to do. (Don’t worry, you won’t be sailing to the rough Bering Sea that’s seen on TV ðĪŠ)
- Unique and FUN activity: Snorkeling in Alaska!
- Ketchikan lighthouse eagle totem tour
- Ketchikan rainforest hiking tours
- NCL Alaska
- What to pack
- Ketchikan is one of the rainiest places! Are there days where it doesn’t rain? Yes. Is it more likely that it will rain when you are there? YES!
- Best waterproof shoes for Alaska
- What to wear in Alaska (layers!)
- Puffer jacket
- Poncho or rain jacket?
- Individual Ketchikan activities
- Ketchikan by season
- Alaska cruise ports (including Ketchikan!)
Partner websites are included on this website. I may earn a commission.
Check the homepage for the beginner’s guide to Alaska cruises!
More cruise ports: Juneau | Skagway | Icy Strait Point | Sitka | Whittier | Seward | Victoria | Vancouver | Seattle
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There are partner websites included on this blog.
More Alaska cruise travel planning tips you need to know!
Juneau | Ketchikan | Skagway | Icy Strait Point | Sitka | Victoria
Seattle | Vancouver
Whittier | Seward | Anchorage
Things to buy on Amazon that you'll thank yourself for having for your Alaska cruise!
I am an Amazon Associate. I may earn a commission.
ð Before you book
ð PACKING LIST: waterproof shoes | rain jacket or poncho | puffer jacket
ð Save this post for later! Save on Pinterest! ðð
Pinterest tip: Share the travel ideas you find on pinterest with your travel partners! Go to your Alaska cruise travel board, and look for the little + person icon! Or, you can go to "edit board" and "invite" your travel partners as a "collaborator"! This way you can all add pins to one shared board and you can all easily see what ideas others have found!
There are partner websites included on this blog.
More Alaska cruise travel planning tips you need to know!
Juneau | Ketchikan | Skagway | Icy Strait Point | Sitka | Victoria
Seattle | Vancouver
Whittier | Seward | Anchorage
Alaska excursions to consider for a classic Alaska experience!
- Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier, Nugget Falls, and whale watching combo tour
- Juneau is one of the best cruise ports for whale watching in Alaska, and it's the cruise port that is famous for being able to see a glacier from land. So basically, these are the 2 must-do things in Juneau! And you can do them as part of one excursion.
- You can also separately take the Mendenhall Glacier trolley tour for transportation to the glacier only, and you can also do a whale watching only tour.
- To get closer to the glacier, do the Mendenhall Glacier canoe tour!
- Skagway: Wild adventure to the Yukon tour
- Skagway is the gateway to the rugged wilderness of the Yukon territory through an Alaskan mountain pass that is all about the views!
- Your ONE splurge-worthy epic excursion: Taku wilderness lodge and glacier flightseeing tour
- So many Alaska things in one tour! Do a fly-over across several glaciers, have a wilderness landing on the water, eat classic Alaska food (salmon bake!) in the middle of the wilderness! And be sure to go for a walk in the forest too while you wait for your food! This has the potential to be the highlight of your cruise!
Things to buy on Amazon that you'll thank yourself for having for your Alaska cruise!
I am an Amazon Associate. I may earn a commission.
- Much of your cruise is in Southeast Alaska where it rains a lot so bring travel-friendly rain gear in case it rains
- Water resistant pants for walking in Alaska (lightweight comfortable pants that are good for movement and quick to dry!)
- for women: hiking/walking pants | for men: hiking/walking pants
- Lightweight waterproof binoculars (so you can see wildlife better on those scenic cruising days!)
- Merrell waterproof hiking shoes if you'll be doing rainforest hikes or if you'll be doing a lot of walking:
- Merrell is one of the best outdoor shoe brands
- Women's Merrell Moab 3 shoes
- Men's Merrell Moab 3 shoes
ð Before you book
ð PACKING LIST: waterproof shoes | rain jacket or poncho | puffer jacket
Pre-cruise Seattle hotel
When searching for Seattle hotels, look for the "view map" option!
Take a look at the Belltown Inn (3 minute drive or 10 minute walk from waterfront and NCL cruise port Pier 66), the Maxwell Hotel (10 minute walk from Space Needle), or the Arctic Club hotel (15 minute walk from the ferris wheel, 20 minute walk from Pike Place Market).
You may also want to look for vacation rentals in Seattle to save money.
When searching for Seattle hotels, look for the "view map" option!
Take a look at the Belltown Inn (3 minute drive or 10 minute walk from waterfront and NCL cruise port Pier 66), the Maxwell Hotel (10 minute walk from Space Needle), or the Arctic Club hotel (15 minute walk from the ferris wheel, 20 minute walk from Pike Place Market).
You may also want to look for vacation rentals in Seattle to save money.
Pre-cruise Vancouver hotel
When searching for Vancouver hotels near the cruise port (Canada Place), look for the "view map" option!
Take a look at the Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel which is literally at the cruise port, and the Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront which is a 2 minute drive or 10 minute walk from the cruise port.
Also have a look at vacation rentals in Vancouver to see if you can find more affordable options.
When searching for Vancouver hotels near the cruise port (Canada Place), look for the "view map" option!
Take a look at the Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel which is literally at the cruise port, and the Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront which is a 2 minute drive or 10 minute walk from the cruise port.
Also have a look at vacation rentals in Vancouver to see if you can find more affordable options.
ð Save this post for later! Save on Pinterest! ðð
Pinterest tip: Share the travel ideas you find on pinterest with your travel partners! Go to your Alaska cruise travel board, and look for the little + person icon! Or, you can go to "edit board" and "invite" your travel partners as a "collaborator"! This way you can all add pins to one shared board and you can all easily see what ideas others have found!