Ward Cove serves as a cruise ship port outside of Ketchikan for the Norwegian Cruise Lines as well…read moreas Oceania, Regent and Seven Seas Explorer (all owned by NCL) and Viking cruise line. Princess and Holland America are lucky enough to dock directly in the town of Ketchikan and everything's in walking distance, but for everyone else on NCL or NCL-owned cruises into Ketchikan (and Viking), you will be shuttled to and from Ward Cove by school buses into town, and depending on your cruise itinerary, will only have a few hours in Ketchikan as traveling to/from Ward Cove will eat up some of those hours, not counting the time you have to stand in a snaking line to get onto the bus from Ketchikan's dock back to Ward Cove. One good thing at Ward Cove is "The Mill", which is a giant one-stop shop/warehouse that you have to pass through to get to the buses that take you into town. It's better to buy things when you come back because then you won't have to haul around your purchases in Ketchikan. Not sure if the stores will let you leave purchases w/ them until you get back. The prices were the best anywhere for souvenirs that we have seen, very reasonable, and the sales tax here was 2.6% vs 8% in town (I found this out from the bus driver). Here you can buy all your T-shirts, coffees, snacks, preserved salmon, candies, magnets, bags, Ulu knives, carvings, jewelry, clothing, stuffed plush toys, crafts, etc. and you won't have to carry it very far, since the ship is only a few hundred feet away. We purchased specialty coffee, chocolates, jams and jellies and preserved salmon. I loved the huge re-usable The Mill at Ward Cove shopping bag they give you when you buy things for no extra charge, I was almost tempted to send my son back in line with a few more things to get another bag.

The Mill at Ward Cove in Ketchikan Alaska is where the NCL ships dock, and it really does feel like…read moreit is tucked away from the action. Downtown Ketchikan is about 7 miles out, and depending on traffic and the road construction, it can take 30 to 40 minutes (sometimes longer) to get there. NCL runs a free shuttle bus, out of here but the catch is that the last one heading back from downtown leaves about 1.5 hours before ship departure. That part is a little rough if you have only got a short port stop. We happened to dock at the same time as the NCL Encore, and wow... chaos. The Encores last shuttle bus back from downtown left at 11 AM which is way too early if you want to actually explore, while ours thankfully ran until 3:30 PM. But that final shuttle line in downtown to return to the ship was nuts. Picture hundreds of people funneled into downtown at once. The line for the shuttle snaked across the street, wrapped around a building, and looked like it might never end. It felt like the entire town was waiting to get on those buses. The Mill itself is interesting because it used to be a real lumber mill that was the main economic driver for the area before shutting down. NCL turned it into their own port hub, and they did a nice job weaving in a lot of history about both the mill and the city, which makes the stop more meaningful than just shopping. It is also kind of like a big holding area since there are usually two ships docked here at once. Departing from mill cove can feel a little slow with the shuttle lines, but they keep things moving and we only waited about 15 to 20 minutes at the Mill. Inside, it is a massive shop with souvenirs that I thought were pretty reasonably priced. In fact, it ended up being the second cheapest port for souvenirs on our cruise. Juneau was the cheapest. We found lots of edible goodies like chocolates, salmon spread, and salmon jerky, plus the usual trinkets. The white blueberry chocolate is delicious. There was even a live entertainer singing for folks in line, which added some fun to the wait. For food and drinks, there is a small restaurant and a beer garden. Pro tip as you disembark, look to the left near the water. We spotted bald eagles swooping around and even landing on the grass which was one of the coolest sights of the stop. All in all, while it is a bit of a trek from downtown, the Mill at Ward Cove is organized, full of history, has some solid souvenir finds, and gives you a neat glimpse into Ketchikan's past and present. Just brace yourself if you are around for that last shuttle back.

My family and I loved this excursion. Lighthouse Excursion staff were professional and made us feel…read moresafe. Their salmon spread was delicious. This may sound silly, but one of the main reasons I wanted to see Alaska since I was a young girl, were the eagles. I would hear stories of eagles just flying overhead regularly and how stunning they looked as they soared through the sky. Well, this excursion made my dreams come true! I still have the chills just thinking about it. We did not see whales like some were fortunate to see them, but we didn't feel like we missed anything. The totem poles were gorgeous and the lighthouse added a warmth feeling when I saw it. It was a perfect day.

The staff: Kelsey, Nathan, Jarred, Jeff were incredible in looking after 13 of us! The excursion…read morewas very informative with taped information and then information from the captain (Kelsey) The boat ride was comfortable and the boat itself was clean and stable. The drinks (non alcoholic) were given out followed by a tasty plate of local produce and more drinks.

We had an absolute blast on the Ketchikan Duck Tour! Even though it was raining, this 90-minute…read moreland-and-sea adventure turned out to be the perfect way to explore Alaska's First City without getting soaked. The tour winds through the charming, rustic streets of Ketchikan before making a splash--literally--into the harbor for some incredible waterfront views. The live narration was fun, informative, and full of puns that kept us laughing the whole way. Our guide shared interesting facts and trivia about the town's history and culture, and we were lucky enough to spot bald eagles soaring overhead. The mix of entertainment and sightseeing made it easy to decide where we wanted to go next once the tour ended. If you're in Ketchikan and want to get your bearings (or stay dry), this tour is a must. Only fun people allowed--and it shows! Captain Jonathan and Allyson were amazing!

Great experience!!!!…read more Booked with them directly instead of the cruise ship. Yes, I'm like most don't want to risk getting left.... however, if you plan it right by shuttling downtown shortly after docking and book an early tour, it certainly works out and saves you money. Stacy called me first thing in the morning and wisely moved my tour up 1/2 hour since NCL was casting off ridiculously early. That was very kind of her and shows the forethought of the company, because they didn't have to do that. Could've reasoned... "that's the time you booked, oh well." But that really says alot about them. Great tour, friendly and well trained staff. Highly recommend!!

Had a wonderful experience booking with Wild Wolf Tours for an excursion during a port stay in…read moreKetchikan. We used Viatour to book and had clear communication with them from booking, pickup, and through the drop off at the end of the excursion. We were lucky to get Austin as our guide for our group of 4 and he provided us with knowledgeable, engaging and entertaining information about our surroundings. We started off with the Rainforest walk and then stopped over at visitor center and learned about the local Totem art and history. Overall had a great experience, made all the better with Austin's contagious love for Ketchikan and Alaska. He expressed how much he loved working with Wild Wolf Tours which made our experience even sweeter. Check out and support this local family owned business if you get the chance!

We took a 3 hour custom tour with Austin, and it was amazing. He spoke knowledgeably about the…read morehistory, culture, geography, and ecology of the reaction, mixing in his own personal experiences growing up in Alaska. Highly recommend!

They cancelled our reservation of 8 but refunded only 4. They claim they refunded all 8 but we…read morenever got the credit for the 2nd 4. Do not use a debit card with them as you cannot get the bank to reverse/refund it. Also, they are quite rude in communications. We attempted to contact them multiple times and never got a response for weeks. Then they come back and say we are "harassing" them.

We had a fantastic time with Emily, our tour guide on the Wilderness zodiac Quest. We booked the…read morefirst trip of the morning and our group was very small, which made for a great time. The van picks you up and drops you off at the cruise docks, so no worries about transportation. They were very conscientious about getting us back to the boat on time. The cannery was a cool and unique venue, which included snacks and drinks after the zodiac ride. They have all the equipment needed to stay warm and dry. Emily was extremely knowledgeable and personable, which made for a great experience. We saw eagles, seals, deer, and of course, stunning scenery. 10/10 would recommend this, it was one of the highlights of our Alaska trip.

Date of tour: July 18, 2025…read more Really enjoyed this all-women(!) crew on our visit to the Dawes Glacier. The boat was clean and spacious--there's nothing worse than being on a boat that is packed to the gills with people--with two levels to enjoy and outside areas as well, including a third level that was opened when the boat was not in motion. Everyone was friendly and the snack and drink options were plentiful and for the most part, affordable. Given the captive audience, I appreciated that they weren't outright gouging us during our journey. They also offered up some free items as well, which was also quite unexpected. Crew interacted well with the passengers, asking them how their cruise has been and where they were from. The collection of glacier ice to be used in the making of drinks at no additional cost was a nice touch, even giving the kids cups of glacier ice without a charge was something you rarely see in this day and age! There were some things that could be improved, though: - The captain scolding the crew over the public address system was unnecessary. Apparently the other boat forgot their net and we needed to pass it over to them but the crew was busy helping passengers and didn't want to make the lines longer by going to fetch the net and pass it over. Confident that this could have been handled better. - The free donut holes were awful. Like puffs of stale bread that sat next to sugar, hoping the wind would blow some sweetness onto them. I know, it's free, but still something that should not have been served. - Hearing a crew member awkwardly navigate the tipping section of the credit card machine literally 50 times the exact same way. Saying, "You can just hit skip. If I do it, I'll get talked to about it." There are so many other ways to handle this that don't come across like she's going to be beaten at the end of the cruise.

Took a whale watching tour with them on Auke Lake. Crew was young, but highly competent, incredible…read moredialogue and interaction, easy relaxed event... good food and great drinks. Highly recommend this adventure crew. Captain Jennifer was excellent... naturalist Cat was excellent... 3 others on crew also excellent...

Katlyn has always got her eyes out for you! Spotting bears, eagles, and any other animals worth…read moreseeing. You can really feel how excited she is to share this experience with you.

Kaitlyn was great! She is from Ketchikan with tons of local knowledge. Small group, slow paced to…read moreenjoy the view. Perfect for getting outside of the downtown area. Hering Cove is the money spot! We saw bears eating salmon, harbor seals, eagles fighting, salmon running, all on a beautiful sunny day. Would recommend for small groups setting. We only had 6 in our 12 passenger van, plenty of room and she provides snacks and water and phone chargers. Very thoughtful, thank you again!

I coordinated the trip for my 6 family members and they all came back raving about the captain,…read moreGrayson. He made sure they caught their halibut limit and a to of salmon and rockfish. Everyone was very happy and I have a tough crowd here. Do note, no bathroom or food (beyond granola bars) onboard for 8 hours. Be prepared!

From the owner: Ketchikan, Alaska #1 Rated Fishing Charter…read more Fishing charters in Ketchikan, Alaska for salmon and halibut. Offering a variety of fishing charters specifically for cruise ship guests visiting Ketchikan or in town multi day trips. Fishing charter times and durations are customized to fit cruise ship schedules. We also offer guaranteed on time pickup and drop off. We offer a service to have your Alaska catch processed and shipped home. Choose from a variety of salmon and halibut trips which range from 4hr trips, 6hr trips and full day trips. Experience exclusive fishing excursions in Ketchikan with the top rated company based on guest testimonials.

This is my opinion of Big Fish Charters. Our group of 4 arrived at the airport and there was a…read morevehicle waiting in the parking lot for us to just load our gear, hop on the ferry and be at the apartment within 10 minutes of departing the ferry. A very nice two bedroom with two beds with all your necessary needs and full kitchen plus a grill outside in case you needed it. The apartment was not fancy but we were there to fish. Met with Captain Rick later that day and we went over all the questions we had and a general idea of what kind of fishing we wanted to do. We left for the boat every morning at 6:15 am and fished 12 hours a day for three days. We caught Kings, Coho, Pinks and a large Chum Salmon and we also caught 2 small halibut. Captain Rick pretty much left it up to us as to what kind of fishing we wanted to do since the Coho bite was on we fished the main part of the tide for Salmon and when it slowed down we asked to fish for Halibut. When we asked for a change Captain Rick did not blink a eye and put us on his spots, working hard trying to put us on fish. Since everyone should know, they call this fishing otherwise they would call it catching so there was no misconceptions on the few slack times we had not getting fish. During the slack times we all got to know all about the Captain and he learned a little about each of us and it was a great experience. Our experience with Big Fish Charters was great and we will be booking with him on our future trips to Ketchikan. If we had gotten another skipper this review might be different, who knows. Dale M

Went on a pink salmon excursion during vacation. We were lucky for the excursion to be split onto…read moreRick's boat. Rick was great. He was laid back and had patience with people who have never fished before (especially when we couldn't determine what a bite on the line was). He showed us how to bait the line and the procedure for bringing the fish into the boat once it was caught. With 6 of us on his boat, we caught about 12 or so salmon for the few hour excursion. He made it fun and also had one of the guests on the excursion drive his boat most of the time. While waiting for the bites on the lines, he also told us some of the history and going ons of the town.

Absolutely the best way to experience Ketchikan! Our guide Rick has lived in Ketchikan for over 30…read moreyears and was a font of local as well as Alaskan knowledge. Rick really cared that we have a great experience while in Ketchikan. The Honda Odyssey van was spacious enough for the four of us. Rick had pairs of binoculars and waters for us. He took us to a place to see black bears catching and feasting on salmon. We saw Bald Eagles and just missed seeing an orca. While on Creek Street, a black bear emerged from under a building to eat blueberries and huckleberries. We ate a few too after the bear moved on. Rick took us to a totem pole park and gave a great tour and history of totem poles. We took many tours while in Alaska and this was by far the most enjoyable one. You can't beat having a private tour with a guide who is proud of his town and wants you to have a great experience.

The tour guy was beyond fantastic. Had the best stories and drove in a very safe manner. He even…read morestayed very cordial when some elderly people on the tour asked him the same questions 15 times. Highly recommend!!!