Ketchikan
United States (Alaska) Alaska

Ketchikan

Most ships dock at four berths on the downtown waterfront, a short walk from Creek Street. Some use Ward Cove, north of town.

Port of callShips dock at the pier
0.5 km to Creek Street, downtown Ketchikan
4 cruise terminals
249 upcoming cruises on our site
US$ US dollar (USD). Cards are accepted almost everywhere. City buses take cash only, and drivers give no change.
Language English.
UTC−8 Local time

From the downtown berths you walk to Creek Street in 5 to 15 minutes. On cruise days a free shuttle bus links the berths and the museums.

Ketchikan, in the south of Southeast Alaska, is usually the first or last Alaskan port on Inside Passage cruises from Seattle and Vancouver. Known as the salmon capital of the world, it is also one of the rainiest towns in the United States, so a waterproof jacket is useful even in summer. Most ships dock along the downtown waterfront, a few minutes' walk from the town centre. Some berth instead at Ward Cove, north of town, with shuttle buses to the centre.

Creek Street, a boardwalk of wooden houses on stilts over Ketchikan Creek that was the town's red-light district until the 1950s, is the best-known walk, and in late summer salmon can be seen swimming up the creek. Ketchikan has one of the largest collections of totem poles in the world, at the Totem Heritage Center in town, Saxman Native Village to the south and Totem Bight State Historical Park to the north. Popular excursions include floatplane flights over Misty Fjords National Monument, with its granite cliffs and waterfalls, and the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show, close to the docks.

From the ship to the centre

7 options
Berth 1Large ships, such as Holland America, Princess and DisneySouthernmost berth, at Salmon Landing. About 500 m on foot along the waterfront to Creek Street.
Berth 2Large ships, such as Princess, Holland America and CarnivalNext to the visitor centre and the tour sales booths, at the foot of Mission Street. About 500 m on foot to Creek Street.
Berth 3Large ships, such as Princess, Celebrity and Holland AmericaBerth with a float for tenders, on Front Street. About 700 m on foot to Creek Street.
Berth 4Large ships, such as Princess, Royal Caribbean and VikingNorthernmost berth, in the Newtown area. About 1.2 km on foot to Creek Street; the free downtown shuttle stops here.
  • On foot to Creek Street
    Along Front Street and Mission Street to the Creek Street boardwalk and the Tongass Historical Museum. The waterfront is flat.
    5-15 minFree
  • Free Downtown Shuttle
    Borough bus on a loop every 20 minutes while large ships are in port: the four berths, Creek Street, the museum and the Totem Heritage Center.
    Every 20 minFree
  • Totem Heritage Center
    From Berth 2 along Stedman Street and up Deermount Street, 1.2 km. Museum of 19th-century totem poles; the free shuttle also stops here.
    15-20 min$7 entry
  • Silver Line south to Saxman
    Hourly borough bus from the Visitors Bureau stop at Berth 2 to Saxman Totem Park, 4.6 km south. Cash fare, exact change.
    10 min$2 one way
  • Silver Line north to Totem Bight
    Hourly borough bus from Front and Dock Street to Totem Bight State Historical Park, 16 km north. The park charges $5 per person.
    25 min$2 one way
  • Taxis
    Yellow Taxi, Sourdough Cab and Alaska Cab serve the berths and Ward Cove. Useful for Saxman or Totem Bight.
    5-20 minMetered
  • Misty Fjords by floatplane
    Flightseeing over Misty Fjords National Monument from the downtown floatplane docks, sold on board or at the berths. Weather can cancel flights.
    About 2 hSet by operator

Map of Ketchikan

Cruise terminals Creek Street, downtown Ketchikan

Climate

Average daily temperature
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Now in Ketchikan–Loading weather…
Best months for a call
MayJuneJulyAugust

Mild and very wet: average temperatures of about 2 °C in January and 15 °C in July and August. About 180 mm of rain in June and July, the driest months, and over 450 mm in October. May to August are the best months.

Cruises from Ketchikan

Carnival LegendCarnival · 7 nights · Call 07:00–13:00
Apr 20, 2027Apr 27, 2027May 4, 2027May 11, 2027May 18, 2027May 25, 2027Jun 1, 2027Jun 8, 2027Jun 15, 2027Jun 22, 2027Jun 29, 2027Jul 6, 2027Jul 13, 2027Jul 20, 2027Jul 27, 2027Aug 3, 2027Aug 10, 2027Aug 17, 2027Aug 24, 2027Aug 31, 2027Sep 7, 2027Sep 14, 2027
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Norwegian EncoreNorwegian Cruise Line · 7 nights · Call 07:00–13:15
Apr 25, 2027May 2, 2027May 9, 2027May 16, 2027May 23, 2027May 30, 2027Jun 6, 2027Jun 13, 2027Jun 20, 2027Jun 27, 2027Jul 4, 2027Jul 11, 2027Jul 18, 2027Jul 25, 2027Aug 1, 2027Aug 8, 2027Aug 15, 2027Aug 22, 2027Aug 29, 2027Sep 5, 2027Sep 12, 2027Sep 19, 2027Sep 26, 2027Oct 3, 2027Oct 10, 2027
See itinerary →
Carnival SpiritCarnival · 7 nights · Call 07:00–13:00
Apr 29, 2027May 6, 2027May 13, 2027May 20, 2027May 27, 2027Jun 3, 2027Jun 10, 2027Jun 17, 2027Jun 24, 2027Jul 1, 2027Jul 8, 2027Jul 15, 2027Jul 22, 2027Jul 29, 2027Aug 5, 2027Aug 12, 2027Aug 19, 2027Aug 26, 2027Sep 2, 2027Sep 9, 2027
See itinerary →
Norwegian BlissNorwegian Cruise Line · 7 nights · Call 06:00–13:15
May 1, 2027May 8, 2027May 15, 2027May 22, 2027May 29, 2027Jun 5, 2027Jun 12, 2027Jun 19, 2027Jun 26, 2027Jul 3, 2027Jul 10, 2027Jul 17, 2027Jul 24, 2027Jul 31, 2027Aug 7, 2027Aug 14, 2027Aug 21, 2027Aug 28, 2027Sep 4, 2027Sep 11, 2027Sep 18, 2027Sep 25, 2027Oct 2, 2027Oct 9, 2027
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Royal PrincessPrincess Cruises · 7 nights · Call 07:00–13:15
May 1, 2027May 8, 2027May 15, 2027May 22, 2027May 29, 2027Jun 5, 2027Jun 12, 2027Jun 19, 2027Jun 26, 2027Jul 3, 2027Jul 10, 2027Jul 17, 2027Jul 24, 2027Jul 31, 2027Aug 7, 2027Aug 14, 2027Aug 21, 2027Aug 28, 2027Sep 4, 2027
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Star PrincessPrincess Cruises · 7 nights · Call 06:30–15:00
May 9, 2027May 16, 2027May 23, 2027May 30, 2027Jun 6, 2027Jun 13, 2027Jun 20, 2027Jun 27, 2027Jul 4, 2027Jul 11, 2027Jul 18, 2027Jul 25, 2027Aug 1, 2027Aug 8, 2027Aug 15, 2027Aug 22, 2027Aug 29, 2027Sep 5, 2027Sep 12, 2027Sep 19, 2027Sep 26, 2027
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Brilliant LadyVirgin Voyages · 7 nights · Call 09:00–17:00
Seattle· at sea ·KetchikanSitka· at sea ·· at sea ·Victoria (British Columbia)Seattle
May 20, 2027May 27, 2027Jun 3, 2027Jun 10, 2027Jun 17, 2027Jun 24, 2027Jul 1, 2027Jul 8, 2027Jul 15, 2027Jul 22, 2027Jul 29, 2027Aug 5, 2027
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Celebrity EdgeCelebrity Cruises · 7 nights · Call 06:00–16:00
May 21, 2027May 28, 2027Jun 4, 2027Jun 11, 2027Jun 18, 2027Jun 25, 2027Jul 2, 2027Jul 9, 2027Jul 16, 2027Jul 23, 2027Jul 30, 2027Aug 6, 2027Aug 13, 2027Aug 20, 2027Aug 27, 2027Sep 3, 2027Sep 10, 2027Sep 17, 2027Sep 24, 2027
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News about Ketchikan

Tips for your call

  • Which berth
    Ships use Berths 1 to 4 downtown. Norwegian, Oceania and Regent ships usually berth at Ward Cove, about 9 km north. Check the ship's daily programme.
  • Ward Cove
    Shuttle buses run on a schedule to downtown, with taxis and Uber too. The Mill at Ward Cove has shops and a second Lumberjack Show. Allow extra time to return.
  • Rain
    Ketchikan is one of the wettest towns in the United States. Bring a waterproof jacket and good shoes. June and July are the driest months.
  • Museums
    The Totem Heritage Center and the Tongass Historical Museum open daily 8:00 to 17:00 until 26 September 2026. Adults $7, both for $10, children 12 and under free.
  • Totem parks
    Totem Bight State Historical Park charges $5 per person. Saxman Totem Park is visited on Cape Fox Tours trips from the visitor centre at Berth 2.
  • Bus fares
    Borough buses cost $2 in cash, exact fare (drivers give no change), or $5 for a day pass in the Token Transit app. The downtown shuttle is free.

Accessibility

The downtown waterfront between the berths and Creek Street is flat. The borough runs Bus+ paratransit for riders with disabilities ($2). Alaska State Parks lists the Totem Bight trail as accessible. Cape Fox Tours vans take wheelchair users who can manage 2-3 steps.

In pictures

Ketchikan: Cruise ships in Ketchikan
Cruise ships in Ketchikan
Ketchikan: Creek Street
Creek Street
Ketchikan: The clan house at Totem Bight State Historical Park
The clan house at Totem Bight State Historical Park

Other ports in Alaska

Photos: Cover: Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons · Cruise ships in Ketchikan: KetchikanMan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons · Creek Street: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons · The clan house at Totem Bight State Historical Park: Joe+Jeanette Archie, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons