Port reference

Ketchikan

Ketchikan is an Alaska Inside Passage destination with two very different cruise arrival areas: downtown and Ward Cove. The local visitors bureau distinguishes the city waterfront berths from the separate Ward Cove facility outside the centre. Confirm the actual arrival area before arranging an excursion meeting point. A booking labelled Ketchikan does not guarantee a walk straight into downtown.

Quick facts

Country
United States
Region
Alaska
UN/LOCODE
USKTN
Port coordinates
55.33333, -131.65
Published distance to centre (km)
—

Coordinates identify the general port, not a passenger entrance. A dash means the value has not been independently verified.

The downtown waterfront includes cruise berths 1 through 4, with additional arrangements for some smaller vessels. Ward Cove has its own passenger facility at The Mill. A ship there needs a different city-access plan from a ship alongside a downtown pier. Keep the assigned dock with your travel documents and use the correct area when arranging a return vehicle. No universal terminal street address is inferred from a harbour office contact.

Ketchikan International Airport is on Gravina Island, across Tongass Narrows from the town-side road network. The borough publishes the airport ferry connection. An airport arrival therefore needs that water crossing and an onward land transfer to the actual cruise area. The airport ferry is a separate service from a ship's tender or the Ward Cove city shuttle. Check its current operations and the complete luggage journey.

There is no mainland passenger railway platform at the cruise facility. Independent onward travel uses local roads, flights or sea services appropriate to the actual destination. For Ward Cove, the operator publishes a complimentary shuttle between its welcome centre and downtown Berth IV. Last departures are listed for the specific ship schedule. Do not treat a downtown excursion's meeting time as the time to leave the ship at Ward Cove.

Creek Street offers preserved buildings, shops and a creek-side city walk. Its relationship to a downtown berth differs from its relationship to Ward Cove. Allow for the shuttle journey and any onward walking before committing to a visit. The return route should reach the assigned passenger facility within the ship's deadline, rather than ending at the wrong cruise pier.

CLAA's 2027 Ketchikan calendar lists recurring Holland America, Princess, Norwegian, Carnival and Royal Caribbean calls. These are future programme entries and can change; they do not assign every listed ship to the same facility. The coordinate is the NGA general Ketchikan harbour position because the verified UN/LOCODE lacks coordinates. It does not mark Ward Cove or a particular downtown door.

Terminals and landing places

Downtown cruise berths 1–4

City waterfront cruise berths; confirm the assigned pier and passenger exit.

The Mill at Ward Cove

Separate cruise facility outside downtown; its city shuttle has call-specific last departures.

Getting there

Airport connections

Airport on Gravina Island: use the borough airport ferry plus the separate road transfer to the assigned cruise facility.

Rail connections

No mainland passenger railway at the cruise facility; plan the actual air, sea or local road connection.

Local transport and final connection

Ward Cove city shuttle serves downtown Berth IV with ship-specific last departures; downtown berths1–4 are different.

Sights and local orientation

Cruise lines with documented programmes

Connections reflect published programmes, not a guarantee for a particular sailing. Pending and future calls can change.

Nearby ports in this reference

Approximate straight-line distances between general port coordinates, not road or sailing routes. Proximity does not imply an available connection.

View on OpenStreetMap

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Ketchikan — OpenStreetMap

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Sources