Best Ketchikan Cruise Excursions (and What to Skip)
Quick Take
Ketchikan is the rain capital of Alaska and the totem capital of the world, and it's often your last stop before the ship turns for home. That combination trips people up. They either overspend on a single flightseeing tour or wander the shops downtown and never see what makes this town special.
Misty Fjords by Floatplane
This is the headliner and my top splurge for Ketchikan. A floatplane lifts off the water, flies you over sheer granite walls, waterfalls, and mirror lakes, and usually lands on a remote lake before flying you back. The whole trip runs about 90 minutes to two and a half hours depending on the operator.
Expect to pay $250 to $350 for a standard flight and $300 to $400 for the deluxe versions with a longer route and a water landing. It's not cheap, but Misty Fjords is only reachable by air or boat, and the aerial view is the payoff you can't get anywhere else on the trip.
One caution. Floatplanes cancel in bad weather, and Ketchikan gets a lot of weather. Book it early in your port day if you can, so a morning delay still leaves room to fly later.
A quick word on what you're actually seeing up there. Misty Fjords is a two-million-acre wilderness with cliffs that rise straight out of the water more than 3,000 feet, and the scale simply doesn't come through in photos. When the plane banks over a waterfall pouring off a granite wall, most people go quiet. That reaction is why I keep recommending it even at the price.
If flying makes you nervous, know that these small planes fly low and slow, and the pilots narrate as they go. It's a very different feel from a commercial jet, and many first-time floatplane passengers tell me it was the highlight of the whole cruise.
Totem Parks: Saxman and Totem Bight
Ketchikan has the largest collection of standing totem poles in the world, and this is the part of town I'd never skip. You have two main options. Saxman Native Village sits a few miles south and offers more poles, active carvers, and cultural performances, usually as a guided tour in the $50 to $60 range. Totem Bight State Park sits north of town, gives you a quieter forest setting and a clan house, and is free to walk if you make your own way there.
If you want the cultural story and the dance performance, book Saxman. If you'd rather wander among the poles on your own for the cost of a cab, Totem Bight is a steal. Either way, you're seeing something you can't see anywhere else.
There's a third option a lot of people overlook: the Totem Heritage Center downtown, which houses original 19th-century poles retrieved from abandoned village sites. Admission runs only a few dollars, and it's an easy walk from the dock. If rain has shut down your outdoor plans, this is a dry, meaningful way to spend a hour.
I'll add one bit of context, since it matters. These poles are not religious idols, and they're not interchangeable decoration. Each one tells a family or clan story, and the guides at Saxman explain the figures and the history behind them. That context turns a row of carvings into something you'll actually remember.
The Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show
This one's a crowd-pleaser and it's steps from the dock. You sit in a covered grandstand while lumberjacks race up poles, chop, saw, and log-roll in a rivalry that's more fun than it has any right to be. Tickets run $40 to $50, and the show lasts about a hour.
I call it a fun filler. It's covered, so rain doesn't ruin it, and it's perfect for families or for anyone with a short window between other tours. Don't build your whole day around it, but it earns its ticket.
Snorkeling and the Crab Feast
Two very different tours, both underrated. Yes, you can snorkel in Alaska. Operators put you in a thick wetsuit that keeps you warm, and you float over kelp forests, sea stars, and crabs in surprisingly clear water. It's a novelty, but it's the kind of story people tell for years, and it runs about $130 to $180.
The crab feast is the easier sell. You sit down to an all-you-can-eat spread of Dungeness crab, often with a harbor view and a short talk on the local fishery. Prices land around $100 to $150. If you love crab, this is the best value in port for the food alone.
Time your crab feast around your ship's dining schedule so you're not paying for a big meal a hour before the main dining room opens. I usually slot it as a late lunch, which leaves the evening free and means you arrive hungry. Bring wet wipes, because Dungeness crab is a gloriously messy business.
Creek Street
Creek Street is a boardwalk built on pilings over Ketchikan Creek, lined with shops and history, and it's free to walk. In late summer you can watch salmon fighting their way upstream right beneath the boards. I always tell clients to leave 45 minutes for it, no ticket required.
It's the perfect thing to do before you head back to the ship. You get color, history, and a real sense of the town without spending a dime.
The shops here lean more local than the chain jewelry stores by the dock, so if you want an actual Alaska souvenir, this is where I'd browse. There's also a funicular that climbs to a viewpoint over the boardwalk for a couple of dollars if the walk up is too steep for your group. It's a small detail, but it makes the whole area easy for every fitness level.
Ship Versus Independent Booking
The trade-off in Ketchikan is the same as every port. The cruise line charges more and runs bigger groups, but it guarantees the ship waits for you if a tour runs late. Independent operators cost less and run smaller groups, but if you miss the all-aboard, the ship leaves without you.
Because Ketchikan is often the last port before a sea day, I'm extra careful with timing here. For the floatplane, which weather can delay, I lean toward the ship's version for the return guarantee. For totem parks, the lumberjack show, and anything downtown, independent booking saves money with almost no timing risk since everything sits close to the dock.
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What to Skip in Ketchikan
Skip the duty-free jewelry and diamond shops near the dock. They're the same chain stores you'll see in every Caribbean port, they have nothing to do with Alaska, and they eat time you could spend on totems or the creek.
Skip a second flightseeing tour if you've already booked the Misty Fjords floatplane. One aerial trip is plenty, and doubling up rarely justifies the cost. Put the money toward the crab feast instead.
Skip trying to cram both totem parks plus a floatplane plus a show into one port day. Ketchikan days can be short, and the town rewards a slower pace. Pick your headliner, add one filler, and leave time for Creek Street.
A Word on Rain Gear
Ketchikan averages more than 140 inches of rain a year, so plan on getting wet and you'll never be disappointed. Bring a real waterproof rain jacket rather than an umbrella, since the wind off the water makes umbrellas useless. Waterproof shoes make the totem parks and Creek Street far more comfortable, and quick-dry layers beat cotton every time. A rainy day here is normal, not a ruined day, and most tours run right through it.
If you would rather book your shore excursions on your own, I compare options and book most of my independent tours through Viator, which shows real traveler reviews and free cancellation on most tours. (Heads up: that is an affiliate link, so I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.)
Frequently Asked Questions
How long am I in Ketchikan on a cruise day?
Port time varies but often runs shorter than Juneau, sometimes five to eight hours. Plan one headliner, one filler, and time for Creek Street rather than three big tours.
Is the Misty Fjords floatplane worth the price?
For most travelers, yes, if the weather cooperates. It's the one aerial view of the fjords you can't get any other way, and it's the signature Ketchikan experience.
Which totem park should I choose?
Choose Saxman for guided cultural performances and active carvers. Choose Totem Bight if you'd rather wander a quiet forest setting on your own for the cost of a cab.
Can you snorkel in Alaska?
Yes. Operators provide thick wetsuits that keep you warm, and you'll see kelp, sea stars, and crabs in clear water. It's a novelty that makes a great story.
What can I do for free in Ketchikan?
Walk Creek Street, watch the salmon run in late summer, and visit Totem Bight if you make your own way there. You can fill a couple of hours without a ticket.
What if my independent tour runs late?
The ship can leave without you, and you'd have to catch up at the next port at your own expense. For weather-dependent tours near sail-away, book through the cruise line.
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Want to see the gear I actually pack? I keep a running list of my favorite cruise essentials, from packing cubes and magnetic hooks to motion-sickness remedies, on my Amazon storefront. (Affiliate links, so I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.)
Final Thoughts
Ketchikan rewards a light plan and good rain gear. See the totems, walk Creek Street, and pick one headliner, whether that's the floatplane, the crab feast, or the snorkel. Skip the chain jewelry shops and don't overpack your day.
If you want help lining up excursions with your ship's schedule and your budget, that's what I do all day. I'll point you toward the tours worth the money and away from the ones that aren't.
