Alaska's 'First City' and totem-pole capital — a rainy rainforest port where Creek Street's historic boardwalk, floatplane wilderness, world-class salmon fishing, and Tlingit heritage all sit minutes from the dock.
Ketchikan has four downtown berths steps from Creek Street and one remote terminal at Ward Cove, 7 miles north. Where you tie up defines your whole day.
💡 Pro move: Berth assignments change weekly — always confirm from your ship's daily program. The Ward Cove shuttle is free and frequent, but the return queue peaks 45–60 min before all-aboard: build in a buffer.
For 2026, premium lines (Princess, HAL, Cunard) typically land downtown; NCL, Royal Caribbean, Disney, and Viking commonly use Ward Cove — but assignments shift by sailing date.
| Cruise Line | Typical Berth / Arrival | Dock or Tender |
|---|---|---|
| Princess / Holland America / Cunard | Downtown Berths 1–4📍 | Docked |
| Celebrity Cruises | Downtown Berths 1–4 (or Ward Cove — varies)📍 | Docked |
| Norwegian (NCL) | Ward Cove — free shuttle to downtown📍 | Docked |
| Royal Caribbean | Ward Cove — free shuttle to downtown📍 | Docked |
| Disney Cruise Line | Ward Cove — free shuttle to downtown📍 | Docked |
| Overflow / busy days | Anchor near downtown berths📍 | Tendered |
Ketchikan packs Alaska wilderness, Tlingit culture, and gold-rush history into a compact port. Pick one headline outing, then wander Creek Street and the totem parks on foot.
A floatplane soars over 3,000-ft granite cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and the volcanic spire of New Eddystone Rock before landing on a remote backcountry lake. The Alaska bucket-list flight — weather-dependent but unmissable when it runs.
Find flightseeing tours →Saxman is a living Tlingit village 2 miles south of town — two dozen totem poles, an active carving shed, and clan house dances. Totem Bight (north) has 14 beautifully restored poles in a rainforest park. Combine both for the full Indigenous culture experience.
Find totem tours →A high-speed catamaran threads the same fjord at water level — glacially carved cliffs towering overhead, naturalists spotting eagles, seals, and humpback whales as you navigate the narrows to Rudyard Bay.
Find Misty Fjords boat tours →Ketchikan earns its 'Salmon Capital of the World' title. Half-day charters target king, silver, pink, or sockeye depending on the month; full-day trips add halibut. Many operators will pack and ship your catch home.
Find fishing charters →Late July through September, black bears crowd the Herring Cove creek mouth to intercept spawning salmon. A short drive from downtown; guided viewing platforms put you safely close. One of Alaska's most accessible bear encounters.
Find bear viewing tours →Log-rolling, speed climbing, axe throwing, and 50-ft springboard chops in a covered arena a block from the downtown berths. Forty-five minutes of crowd-pleasing competition — ideal for a short call or when the weather turns.
Get show tickets →Downtown berths put Creek Street, the Totem Heritage Center, and the Cape Fox funicular all within easy walking range — flat, free, and worth every wet step.
The iconic stilted walkway built over Ketchikan Creek — former red-light district, now galleries, shops, and the Dolly's House Museum. Watch salmon surge beneath the planks from July onward. Take the free funicular at the south end up to Cape Fox Lodge for sweeping harbor panoramas.
📍 Open in MapsStart at the Ketchikan Visitor Center, detour to the Tongass Historical Museum, continue to the Totem Heritage Center (admission ~$6) housing 19th-century unrestored poles from abandoned Tlingit and Haida villages, then loop back along the waterfront. Flat and mostly free.
🗺️ See full route in Maps →Climate normals for Ketchikan, Alaska (2014–2023 averages). Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Rainy Days | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°F / 4°C | 33°F / 1°C | 22 | 8:03 AM | 3:49 PM |
| Feb | 38°F / 3°C | 30°F / -1°C | 17 | 7:09 AM | 4:53 PM |
| Mar | 43°F / 6°C | 33°F / 1°C | 19 | 7:00 AM | 6:51 PM |
| Apr | 49°F / 9°C | 37°F / 3°C | 20 | 5:41 AM | 7:52 PM |
| May | 58°F / 14°C | 45°F / 7°C | 14 | 4:36 AM | 8:50 PM |
| Jun | 61°F / 16°C | 50°F / 10°C | 17 | 4:04 AM | 9:29 PM |
| Jul | 65°F / 18°C | 55°F / 13°C | 17 | 4:26 AM | 9:17 PM |
| Aug | 65°F / 18°C | 55°F / 13°C | 18 | 5:21 AM | 8:19 PM |
| Sep | 59°F / 15°C | 50°F / 10°C | 19 | 6:20 AM | 7:01 PM |
| Oct | 51°F / 11°C | 43°F / 6°C | 20 | 7:18 AM | 5:45 PM |
| Nov | 43°F / 6°C | 36°F / 2°C | 22 | 7:21 AM | 3:40 PM |
| Dec | 38°F / 3°C | 31°F / -1°C | 20 | 8:08 AM | 3:15 PM |
Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)
Upcoming cruises that call at Ketchikan, Alaska. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.