1 way Harbor Cruise to Downtown Ketchikan Excursion

[ClevelandCruisin]

Anyone do this excursion with NCL yet? Was thinking it might be faster than waiting for the complimentary shuttle bus.

[quack2]

Sounds like a ripoff.   $39 to take to where your cruise ship should have been docked in the first place.  Pass on Ward Cove.  Pass on NCL

 

 

Edited September 2, 2021 by quack2

[SomewhereGirl]

I plan to in the opposite direction in a couple weeks.  It's free for the first passenger (or a solo passenger) with the shore excursion credit.

[TMLAalum]

Here is a link to the Ketchikan Public Bus timetable, but IDK where it stops closest to Ward Cove.

https://www.kgbak.us/DocumentCenter/View/8664/BUS-SCHEDULE-2021

If the excursion from NCL is one way, how do you get back to the pier?

Perhaps taxis will be able to take you to and from downtown Ketchikan or is Ward Cove not accessible by land?

[SomewhereGirl]

There's a one-way in each direction but the timing to Ketchikan in the afternoon makes no sense because you'd have to head back to the ship quickly.  There was no morning departure *to* Ketchikan when I booked the afternoon return to Ward Cove.  

 

NCL has a free (subject to change) shuttle to/from Ward Cove.  This boat ride is just another option they very recently added.  I figured it's free so will give it a try.

Edited September 2, 2021 by SomewhereGirl

[TMLAalum]

Does this help? It's $2 one way

1. Ward Cove, Alaska 99901
   

   Walk

   0.2 mi (5 minutes)
2. 8:17 AMNorth Tongass Highway / Across from Troopers
   

   Silver Line towards Silver South

   Schedule Change to Silver Line Sunday Service for Aug. 1st-Oct. 3rd:Starting August 1st, Transit will be starting Silver Line service earlier on Sundays (6:25 a.m. on Silver North and 6:31 a.m. on Silver South). The buses will now depart Franklin/Roosevelt and Clover Pass Church at 7:01 a.m. and 8:01 a.m. There will no longer be departures from Franklin/Roosevelt and Clover Pass Church at 9:01 a.m. and 10:01 a.m. until the fall. The end time for the route will remain the same at 3:40 pm on Silver North and 3:31 pm on Silver South.The Bus - Ketchikan Gateway Borough
   8:29 AMTongass Avenue / US Post Office/Ferry

   (Ketchikan, Alaska 99901)

[quack2]

The logistics of getting to/from Ward Cove appear to cut your effective time in Ketchikan by at least two hours. 

[donaldsc]

Are you telling me that NCL is docking at Ward Cove instead of Ketchikan.  Ward Cove is 7 miles outside of downtown Ketchikan.  Does anyone have any idea why they are doing this except perhaps that docking fees might be cheaper.  Do you think that they make it clear to their customers that they don't actually dock in Ketchikan.

 

DON

[Northern Aurora]

Yes, Don -- NCL is using a new two berth facility at Ward Cove.  It is a remodeled old pulp mill which closed a number of years ago.

[donaldsc]

4 hours ago, Northern Aurora said:

Yes, Don -- NCL is using a new two berth facility at Ward Cove.  It is a remodeled old pulp mill which closed a number of years ago.

 

I read that they claim that one reason for the new births is that Ketchikan harbor is getting overcrowded w ships - which is certainly true.  However, a better way to handle this problem would be to restrict the number of ships that are allowed into Ketchikan at one time.  However we both know that the chance of this happening is less than zero.

 

That is one reason that I like small ships going into small towns which are not overrun w ships and tourists.  

 

DON

[nitesiren]

On 8/31/2021 at 4:52 PM, ClevelandCruisin said:

Anyone do this excursion with NCL yet? Was thinking it might be faster than waiting for the complimentary shuttle bus.

Didn’t do this, we took the bus from the cruise terminal down to Ketchikan and back with no cost.

[quack2]

On 9/4/2021 at 11:34 AM, nitesiren said:

Didn’t do this, we took the bus from the cruise terminal down to Ketchikan and back with no cost.

Except for the cost of your valuable time.

 

[ClevelandCruisin]

Where does the free shuttle pick up in Ketchikan? 

[gottagoacruzn]

Never heard of it.

[SomewhereGirl]

9 hours ago, ClevelandCruisin said:

Where does the free shuttle pick up in Ketchikan? 

 

In a review someone mentioned in front of the Holland America ship.  (Edit: Someone posted the answer on the NCL board.  Visitor Center on front street.  That's a good location.)

 

I'm hoping someone on a recent NCL cruise will see this and have some info on where this harbor cruise docks downtown.

Edited September 7, 2021 by SomewhereGirl

[don't-use-real-name]

Map LINK:

 

Google Maps

 

Zoom in for more details - - - 

Centered on the image are the cruise ship piers (4)

Just around the pier at the bottom of the image is dockage

that I have seen chartered and excursion cruises departing/arriving  

[travelbug11]

On 9/6/2021 at 7:15 PM, ClevelandCruisin said:

Where does the free shuttle pick up in Ketchikan? 

Last time I was there, the free shuttle went to all the docks to pick up and drop off.