Ketchikan, Alaska

Nestled at the mouth of Ketchikan Creek and shaded by Deer Mountain, Ketchikan stands apart in Alaska's cruise map with its vivid cultural mosaic, rainforest backdrop, and compact, walkable harbor that puts visitors within steps of salmon boats, totem poles, and timber-town lore. This port offers signature experiences like watching totem poles at the Totem Heritage Center and Saxman, taking floatplane flights to Misty Fjords National Monument for sweeping fjord landscapes and thundering waterfalls, and fishing for wild Alaska salmon with local guides along the Tongass Narrows. The downtown is a postcard of color and texture: rainbow clapboard houses, Creek Street's boardwalks, Spruce Mill Development shops, and an arts scene that blends Tlingit heritage with contemporary Alaska craft. Shore excursions can lead travelers to Revillagigedo Island's old-growth forests, totem parks at Totem Bight and Saxman, and wildlife-spotting tours that bring brown bears, eagles, and sea otters into view. When aboard, cruise ships bring Alaska's frontier spirit onboard through observation decks that peer into misty channels, naturalist-led programs that interpret coastlines and culture, and cuisine that leans on fresh salmon and seafood from Tongass sources, while onboard services tailor itineraries with in-depth port talks, local artisans' showcases, and easy, on-foot access to the shoreline.