New NCL dock in Ketchikan opinions?

[BunnieGirl]

We are headed to Alaska next week on the NCL Spirit. We are going to be in Ketchikan from 6:30 to 1 pm. We had booked a excursion through NCL to go to Totem Bight Park which we just found out they cancelled. Now I came across a post on TA about a new dock NCL is using 7 miles from town. We are trying to plan our day in town and get to the park on our own. Does anyone have any experience with this new dock? This is frustrating as it seems that NCL is trying to trap cruisers at there own shops and terminal. 

[shof515]

i read alot of complaints with the horrible shuttle services that is always crowded and only runs for a few hours and stops running very early  

[Jldevlin]

We were there twice in May and it is not an issue...lots of buses running back and forth with hardly any wait. 

[BirdTravels]

1 hour ago, BunnieGirl said:

We are headed to Alaska next week on the NCL Spirit. We are going to be in Ketchikan from 6:30 to 1 pm. We had booked a excursion through NCL to go to Totem Bight Park which we just found out they cancelled. Now I came across a post on TA about a new dock NCL is using 7 miles from town. We are trying to plan our day in town and get to the park on our own. Does anyone have any experience with this new dock? This is frustrating as it seems that NCL is trying to trap cruisers at there own shops and terminal. 

It's wonderful that NCL has invested millions of dollars with the Native Alaskan Shareholders to build a dock for NCL ships. No more fighting over dock space. No more tendering.

 

The new terminal opened with the restart of cruising in August 2021 (over a year ago). NCL and some private shore excursions will pick up at the terminal. If you want to try your luck on your own downtown, you'll have to catch a shuttle over there. Remember to allow time to get back to the ship on the shuttle.... not like you can call up an uber or taxi in Ketchikan. 

 

The new Ketchikan Ward Cove terminal.

 

Edited September 2, 2022 by BirdTravels

[gknep]

I was there last September and learned more about Ketchikan on the shuttle ride from Ward Cove to downtown than I had in 6 previous Alaska cruises. The shuttle was not an issue at all. I'll see how it is now later this month. 

[Bowmanvilletravel]

We were just there the week of the 20th... the shuttle takes about 30 minutes to go to town. I would say no more crowded then a normal shuttle and they have those big coach buses. 

 

The only watchout for you to be aware of: we had the exact same port times as you, so all aboard time of 12:30...but the last shuttle left to go back at 11. This caught all of us off guard. So everyone was freaking out that you wouldn't be back in time. The bus driver gave us a heads up that they would keep shuttling people back. Our tour ended late and we got back to the pick up time at 11:30 and there was no problem catching the boat back. Our back up plan was to just take a cab. 

[Urban trekker]

Are they charging for the shuttle and if so how much?

Dennis

[drumming cruisers]

1 hour ago, Urban trekker said:

Are they charging for the shuttle and if so how much?

Dennis

NO