SUPER ALASKA CRUISE
O. 4. Ketchikan Excursions
Alaska Cruise Excursion Recommendations
This excursion starts with a 10-mile bus ride to the Totem Bight State Historical Park, which contains totem poles, a house, and other elements of the native culture. On the ride back to Ketchikan the bus will drive around the town.
Saxman Native Village Tour
This is a bus ride to Saxman village where you will be educated about the native culture through a slide show, and educational talk, and demonstrations of native dances.
Back Country Jet Boat Adventure
This is a bus ride to a remote village where you will board a jet boat. The jet boat will take you around narrow remote waterways where you will see many waterfront cabins and houses accessible only by water.
Heritage Town and Country Tour
This tour begins with a walk around downtown Ketchikan. Then there will be a bus ride to tourist and scenic area attractions.
Historical Waterfront Cruise
This is a boat ride in a relatively large boat, with an enclosed cabin around the Ketchikan area. You will see sights and wildlife.
Misty Fjords Wilderness Cruise and Flight
This is a ride in a floatplane followed by a ride in a boat (or vice versa). The flight and cruise will take you around many of the scenic attractions in the Ketchikan area.
Misty Fjords Deluxe Seaplane Adventure
This is a ride in a floatplane to scenic remote places in the Ketchikan area.
Neets Bay Bear-Watching Adventure
This is a floatplane flight to a remote island. On the island you will walk down a trail to a location overlooking a stream where bears gather to feed on spawning salmon.
Ketchikan Sportfishing
If you enjoy fishing, I would recommend a sport fishing adventure in at least one port (they are offered in several ports). These trips are very long, but involve combining the activity of sport fishing with sightseeing from a small boat. Great fun even if you don’t catch anything.
Mountain Lake Canoe Adventure
This begins with a bus ride to remote lake surrounded by forestland. You will board a 20-person canoe and paddle around the lake, seeing wildlife.
Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show
This is a show demonstrating lumberjack techniques held in a building less than a block from where the cruise ships dock. I would not recommend signing up for this excursion because at any time during your time walking around Ketchikan you can go in and see the show for the same cost as if purchased on your ship. When I was in Ketchikan there were 4 large cruise ships in port, and people from the show were still trying to attract visitors inside to see the show. Since this is show is held indoors, this may be a good option in case of inclement weather. Below is a map of downtown Ketchikan that shows where the Lumberjack show is. The cruise ships dock where the words ‘Ketchikan Visitor Information Center’, ‘Discovery Center’ and ‘Cruise Dock’ are.
Ketchikan by Kayak
This excursion starts on a pier adjacent to where the cruise ships dock. It is a 2-hour kayak voyage around downtown area. You will kayak around the town, by your cruise ship, in the channel your ship just sailed down and to a scenic area where you can see wildlife. Wave to all your shipmates watching you from the pier.
Tatoosh Islands Sea Kayaking
This excursion was the first one to sell out on my cruise (of all the excursions in all 4 ports). I met people who took this excursion and they highly recommended it. It begins with a van ride to a shore where you will board a motorboat to an island in the Tongass National Forest. On the island you will board a kayak where you will see wildlife and other natural attractions.
George Inlet Mountain Bike Ride
I took this excursion. It was fun, though the scenery was not as breathtaking as in my other 4 ports of call. I think this was because Ketchikan is not as awe-inspiring as Haines, Skagway or Juneau, not because of any fault of the tour. You can review it in my explanation of my time in Ketchikan. Also the view of the water is blocked from the water by trees. It involves a bus ride to a waterside gravel road. There you will be fitted with 21 speed mountain bikes and ride down a shore-side road. The ride has uphill sections that will require hard pedaling if you are not a regular bike rider. This excursion also includes a trip to a salmon hatchery, which I think would be more interesting later in the season when salmon are spawning.
Tongass Game Trail Hike
This probably begins and ends with a sightseeing bus tour to the hike site. The tour involves a long hike through a wooded trail with exotic plants and wildlife, lead by a knowledgeable guide.
Orca Beach Nature Hike
This involves a scenic boat ride to and from a remote beach. At the beach you will take a hike through a forest. Much wildlife should be visible on this excursion.
Mountain Point Snorkeling
This excursion was highly recommended as a unique experience for persons who have snorkeled before in warm water such as in the Caribbean or the Florida Keys. Alaskan snorkeling is an exciting way to see the abundance of marine life in Alaskan waters, as well as salmon in season. Appropriate snorkeling attire (I think wet suits) is provided to keep you warm, though if you have your own snorkeling tube and mask that fits you well you may want to bring it. Note: not all cruise lines that visit Ketchikan offer this excursion; not sure which ones do, but I know NCL does on the Norwegian Wind.
Mountain Point Scuba Diving
If you are a certified scuba diver this is supposedly a unique unforgettable dive experience. Marine life is abundant, including mammals and wet suits are provided that keep you warm and necessary equipment is provided. Note: Not all cruise lines that visit Ketchikan offer this excursion; not sure which ones do, but I know NCL does on the Norwegian Wind.
Excursion
Evaluations
Juneau Excursions
Skagway Excursions
Haines Excursions
Ketchikan Excursions
To Previous Excursion Page (Haines)
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