GREAT LITTLE STROLL! 4.8…read more This has got to be one of the cutest port stops we've visited in recent times! Ketchikan, known as Alaska's "First City," is proud to be home to Creek Street, a charming boardwalk steeped in colorful history. Built over the water and perched along the rocky shores of Ketchikan Creek, Creek Street is lined with historic buildings painted in vibrant colors. The soothing sounds of the flowing water make for a peaceful and picturesque stroll. Creek Street began as a hub for miners seeking gold before evolving into a center for fishing and logging. Perhaps the most "interesting" chapter in its history was its reputation as Ketchikan's red-light district. You can learn all about this fascinating past at Dolly's House Museum. Just steps away from the cruise ship docks, Creek Street is a wonderful place to explore. It is quite touristy, with prices to match, but nonetheless, the area is filled with restaurants, art galleries, gift shops, and museums. Depending on the day, Ketchikan can welcome anywhere from one to six cruise ships (four walk-off berths in downtown and two docks located eight miles north of downtown). Luckily, we had only two ships in port, which meant fewer crowds. Many visitors book excursions, so not everyone is exploring Creek Street at the same time. Earlier in the day, we took a private tour of Ketchikan's sights before returning to Creek Street when the weather was sunny and absolutely gorgeous. I would recommend booking an excursion while in Ketchikan, then exploring Creek Street afterward. A leisurely walk along the boardwalk takes only about 15-20 minutes without stopping. However, if you plan to browse the shops and tour Dolly's House, allow at least an hour to fully enjoy the experience.

If your Alaskan cruise docks in Ketchikan, you absolutely have to make the short walk from the port…read moreover to Creek Street. Coming from the concrete sprawl of Los Angeles, it was surreal to step into a spot that feels so completely frozen in time. First off, it's not a paved road..it's a meandering wooden boardwalk built entirely on wooden stilts right over Ketchikan Creek. Back in the early 1900s, this stretch was the town's notorious red-light district. You can actually still tour Dolly's House Museum, which is preserved exactly as it was when it operated as a brothel run by a madam named Dolly Arthur. It offers a quirky and fascinating glimpse into the area's Gold Rush-era history. The absolute highlight for me was the wildlife. You can lean right over the wooden railings and look straight down into the water to watch the salmon swimming upstream. Keep your eyes peeled..you can often spot harbor seals frolicking in the water and bald eagles hanging around looking for an easy catch. Today, all of those historic, brightly colored stilt-houses have been converted into local art galleries, souvenir shops, and cafes. It's a fantastic place to buy authentic Alaskan gifts, like locally carved jewelry or Ulu knives, rather than standard cruise port trinkets. A quick tip: Don't miss the "Married Man's Trail". It's a slightly hidden path in the back that men historically used to sneak into the brothels out of sight. Today, taking it gives you an awesome elevated view of the whole creek and leads right up into the lush green trees. Because it's Ketchikan's most famous spot, it does get pretty packed when multiple ships are docked. Try to walk over first thing in the morning to beat the crowds. Great photo ops, rich history, and the perfect slice of old Alaska!

The website for Southeast Alaska Discovery Center states that "...this USDA Forest Service managed…read morecenter serves as a gateway to the Tongass National Forest, the largest National Forest in the United States." The museum is located just a street away from where the Ruby Princess was docked. Inside were informative exhibits and artifacts. And, with our America The Beautiful Annual Park Pass, we bypassed the entrance fee. Plus, we got a stamp for our National Parks Passport even though it's not a National Park. Pretty neat visit, especially getting to see totem poles not worn out by the weather.

The Southeast Alaska Discovery Center is the hub for cruise excursions and getting local…read moreinformation on the town of Ketchikan. From the outside, there are three carved totem poles you will see. They represent Haida, Tlingit and Tsimshian Indian cultures. Inside, there is a museum that has a minimal charge to get a great Alaskan education. The Discovery Center is a short walk from the cruise ship docks, but you can also get there on the free Downtown Shuttle that goes around the waterfront area with a few stops at different landmarks for sightseeing.

This was interesting. And the views were pretty. But if you have limited time, this could be…read moreskipped. We rode public transit about ($2/person) but it took us about 30 minutes each way. Spent less than an hour, which is more than enough time. The bus only runs through every hour on the '7' - so don't miss it. Overall, I was underwhelmed given the hype. $5/person entry fee. I would have been really annoyed if I had purchased an excursion package for this for $79 per person.

Date of visit: July 19, 2025…read more This was a stop on an excursion from our cruise and it was very interesting, with a great setting right on the water, making for a great picture backdrop. The park does have a $5 entry fee per person May through September, so you may want to weigh that fact if you don't have a great interest in totem poles! If you do go, make sure you check out the Clan House and notice the storage underneath your feet as literally dozens of people would sleep in this facility at the same time. Coming with a guide may be your best bet as parking is limited and someone who knows the stories adds much more color to the experience.

Chief Johnson's Totem Pole is 55' tall. The current pole is carved from a single western red cedar…read morelog, this striking pole is a vibrant expression of Tlingit storytelling and artistry. This pole is a replica of the original that stood from 1901 to 1982, and it honors the Kadjuk House of the Raven Clan. At the very top, the legendary Kadjuk bird perches - a powerful symbol for the Raven Clan and the family it represents. The original totem pole is preserved in the Totem Heritage Center.

The chief Johnson Totem pole!…read more Hey friends, if you are in town and don't have time to go to the totem parks or anything you're still in luck this example is really cool. It is not the tallest in the city but it is very impressive and I love reading about Chief Johnson on the plaque near the base.

This destination was combined with the lumberjack show booked through Celebrity shore excursion…read moreonline. It's on private property where a Tlingit fishing camp used to sit. Everything is recreated including the tribal house and clan houses. There are various cedar totem poles, and a carving workshop. There's a private car collection on property and a gun museum next to the gift shop. Our driver/tour guide walked us through. He gave us a narrative on the houses, and explained the raven's role in Tlingit's culture. I'm not sure I would make a point of coming on my own although we learned a lot. We were dropped back off at the pier.

This park was covered as part of the tour we purchased onshore, I assume it's included as part of…read morethe cruise ship offered tours as well but it's always cheaper to buy a tour directly off the ship. Park is decent sized with several totem poles, a totem pole carving workshop, native clan houses, some vintage cars and a gift shop. Due to the abundant rain Ketchikan is blessed with, this park is covered in lush greenery. You definitely need a guide to help explain the history behind the totem poles, the clan houses and all the other stories. On the whole it will take less than an hour to cover the entire park. The gift store is great as well and surprisingly very reasonably priced compared to the other touristy places. They had several totem poles in various sizes on sale in addition to the regular tourist store items.

Walkable little town. It's a new and exciting feeling in Ketchikan since it starts the Alaska…read moreadventures as you cruise your way up north to more destinations. Colorful buildings and lots of shops to walk around or dine-in/dine-out as desired. There are free shuttle buses if you look for it. Downtown Ketchikan shows off its charming colorful town looks as well as a good representation of southern Alaska itself. Not too many people live here as it's difficult to get off and on the islands. Ketchikan depends heavily on tourism/fishing/supplies/machineries/etc. There's plenty to see along the Pier/shipping & boating docks. If you want to walk into local parks, it's not far. Alaska has enough trees that most people wouldn't even get to touch in a lifetime. Lots of trails and bridges to walk along creeks too. Most tourists enjoy shopping here, but I think the magic is in the natural neighborhood beautiful views while walking around. There's very old and boring spots to check out away from touristy spots too. Plan your day by looking at a map. Everyone is nice and welcoming. They absolutely want your business here.

You step right off the cruise ship right into Ketchikan. The tiny city of Ketchikan is enchanting…read more Ketchikan welcomes visitors to southeastern Alaska's Inside Passage. It is just three miles long and three blocks wide, but here you will find a very busy waterfront with boat planes, fishing boats, pleasure crafts, and fishermen. Ketchikan is a thriving fishing town with colorful houses steeped in Alaskan culture. Some of the best seafood is found here. Ketchikan is the self-proclaimed salmon capital of the world. Catch the free shuttle bus and see the town.

The crowds here ebb and flow like the tides, however they're not influenced by the moon, but rather…read moreby the arrival and departure of the cruise ships. This visitor center is sizable, with a row of kiosks seasonally staffed by tour group companies, washrooms, and a general information desk. The workers are quite enthusiastic about helping, even though the queue of people lining up needing to be helped was quite daunting. Pamphlets and information line the walls, free for the taking. Helpfully, there's a whiteboard with the cruise arrival and departure information. I guess it help passengers understand the timing of everything so no one gets stranded! The only downside is that there's no free internet - you have to pay for a limited amount. Oh well, that just encourages you to go out and explore the town.

Ketchikan port area is a nice area with many local shops and restaurants. The local bus picks up…read moreright in the center of town and very close to where the cruise ships dock.

My family and I just completed a fun kayaking tour with Eli & Maddie! We booked the Eagle Island…read moreexcursion through the Royal Princess on our Alaskan cruise. This was the perfect way to spend our time in Ketchikan. We saw sea stars, seals, a bald eagle and more! Eli & Maddie were patient and informative. Highly recommend!

Rose and Bree took us on a fantastic kayak journey. Saw bald eagles and leaned much about the…read moreecosystem.

We did a tour of the farm and it was amazing! So informative and fun. Makes you really appreciate…read morehow much goes into the process. I now know starfish are evil oyster killers! :-) The oysters at the bar at the end of the tour were absolutely amazing.

Our family was coming in from our NCL cruise and I knew I wanted to support local with our…read moreexperience. My husband and I are avid oyster lovers and when I saw this as an excursion choice I knew we had to go! Pick-up from the dock was easy and since we were the first tour, it was just us and one other person! Everyone from our driver, the capt, and staff at Hump Island were so welcoming, friendly, and informative about the area. With our group being so small, it felt more intimate and enjoyable. Our boat ride was great to and from Hump Island because our captain made sure to show us around and we were able to catch glimpses of bald eagles and whales! Once we arrived to Hump Island Oyster Co we were greeted and given such detail about the process at the farm. Our kids got to enjoy their touch tank and even spotted some jellyfish! Once upstairs, we enjoyed raw and charbroiled oysters along with some amazing salsas and sauces. The whole experience reminded my husband and I of that of wine tasting, but with oysters. Conversation flowed and the laid back atmosphere was comfortable and enjoyable. It was magical being in this part of Alaska and enjoying fresh oysters shucked right in front of us and grown right there. Thank you, Hump Island Oyster Co! We look forward to making our way back in the future and can't recommend this tour enough to others on cruises or visiting Ketchikan!