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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Ketchikan | Juneau | Skagway | Icy Strait Point | Sitka | Victoria | Seattle | Vancouver | Anchorage
Read the reviews at travel partner websites!
Uniquely Ketchikan and/or very-Alaska experiences you must consider!
- Ketchikan is known for the rainforest and totem poles! The rainforest and totem combo tour is one of the cheaper Ketchikan tours you can do! Read the reviews.
- As seen on TV! Remember the Deadliest Catch?! You can ride the actual boat that was a part of the show. Read the crab fisherman tour reviews! (If you missed the episode: watch. Scary!)
- If you want to do the popular lumberjack show, do the add-on at the end and do the axe throwing combo tour! I did this and it was FUN!
- Look for fun marine life like starfish through the kayaking tour or the low tide excursion!
- Ketchikan on the cheap: Easy walking in Ketchikan cruise port
Ketchikan | Juneau | Skagway | Icy Strait Point | Sitka | Victoria | Seattle | Vancouver | Anchorage
Read the reviews at travel partner websites!
Uniquely Ketchikan and/or very-Alaska experiences you must consider!
- Ketchikan is known for the rainforest and totem poles! The rainforest and totem combo tour is one of the cheaper Ketchikan tours you can do! Read the reviews.
- As seen on TV! Remember the Deadliest Catch?! You can ride the actual boat that was a part of the show. Read the crab fisherman tour reviews! (If you missed the episode: watch. Scary!)
- If you want to do the popular lumberjack show, do the add-on at the end and do the axe throwing combo tour! I did this and it was FUN!
- Look for fun marine life like starfish through the kayaking tour or the low tide excursion!
- Ketchikan on the cheap: Easy walking in Ketchikan cruise port
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More Alaska cruise travel planning tips you need to know!
Juneau | Ketchikan | Skagway | Icy Strait Point | Sitka | Victoria
Seattle | Vancouver
Whittier | Seward | Anchorage
ð Best of Alaska
ð Before you book
ð PACKING LIST: waterproof shoes | rain jacket or poncho | puffer jacket
Ketchikan broke a record for daily rainfall in May 2025! Juneau and Sitka had above average rainfall in April. So, if you plan to be outside a lot, you really might want to be prepared for the rain so you won't be miserable!
Things you might need for a day in Alaska on land or at sea!
Read the reviews on Amazon! I'm an Amazon Associate.*
For more ideas, do a search for Alaska cruise clothes!
*I may earn a commission.
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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!
More Alaska cruise travel planning tips you need to know!
Juneau | Ketchikan | Skagway | Icy Strait Point | Sitka | Victoria
Seattle | Vancouver
Whittier | Seward | Anchorage
ð Best of Alaska
ð Before you book
ð PACKING LIST: waterproof shoes | rain jacket or poncho | puffer jacket
Ketchikan broke a record for daily rainfall in May 2025! Juneau and Sitka had above average rainfall in April. So, if you plan to be outside a lot, you really might want to be prepared for the rain so you won't be miserable!
Things you might need for a day in Alaska on land or at sea!
Read the reviews on Amazon! I'm an Amazon Associate.*
- Rain poncho for a day out and about
- Review from cruise ship passenger: "Absolutely loved having these for our Alaska excursions from the cruise ship! Nice, lightweight, easily packable... easy to put on over our backpacks... Also, highly breathable vs the disposable plastic ones. Ours held up to the windy conditions too!..."
- Read the full review.
- merrell waterproof shoes for women (one of the best shoe brands for the outdoors)
- merrell shoes for men
- travel binoculars for wildlife viewing from the cruise ship!
- Packable lightweight puffer jacket (aka travel-friendly)
- For women: puffer jacket | for men: puffer jacket
- Water resistant hiking clothes for Alaska
- for women: hiking pants | for men: hiking pants
For more ideas, do a search for Alaska cruise clothes!
*I may earn a commission.
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!