Skagway/Juneau/Ketchikan Upcoming Alaskan Cruise

[Eagle]

Headed to Alaska on a cruise with the family June 10-17. Have excursions booked for Skagway (train out and back) and Juneau (whale watching) but looking for ideas in Ketchikan. Also looking for any recommendations on spots to eat in all three locations, as our excursions at the first two won't last longer than the morning and will be over by Noon.

Ketchikan is tricky due to the ship leaving at 1 pm, I'd love to bottom fish, but not sure that's a wise choice given the time constraints. Appreciate any insight/advice/input.

 

[stank.243]

We did the cruise last July. We only ate out in Juneau. We ate at The Hangar. Highly recommend!
We didn't do an excursion in Ketchikan because of the time at port. We walked around for awhile and then just hung out by the water before going back to the ship. Its an easy place to walk around but doesn't take much time. FWIW Most of the excursions in Ketchikan were cancelled on our cruise because we had some problems on the ship that set us back on time. So if you booked independently from the cruise you were out the money.

My advice to give is bring the best binos you can. Its a lot of time on the ship. I used it as an excuse to buy some Mavens and it was well worth the investment for the trip alone.

Have a blast!

 

[taxidermybycam]

If your visiting Ketchikan,Creek Street is pretty cool, but if your gonna eat walk to the Alaska fish house ,they have the best chowder I've had in my life. Their fried fish is average good, up the road is cape fox Lodge they have great fried halibut and salmon. But then again I've only ever gone in winter during duck season I never got to go when all the restaurants were open. The rotary beach is neat and the totem bight state park.

 

[Eagle]

We did the cruise last July. We only ate out in Juneau. We ate at The Hangar. Highly recommend!
We didn't do an excursion in Ketchikan because of the time at port. We walked around for awhile and then just hung out by the water before going back to the ship. Its an easy place to walk around but doesn't take much time. FWIW Most of the excursions in Ketchikan were cancelled on our cruise because we had some problems on the ship that set us back on time. So if you booked independently from the cruise you were out the money.

My advice to give is bring the best binos you can. Its a lot of time on the ship. I used it as an excuse to buy some Mavens and it was well worth the investment for the trip alone.

Have a blast!

Thanks. I'll be taking my zeiss 10x42 SF's and considering taking my swaro ATX 85, but unsure I want to carry that much money in optics to leave in the room for a fair bit of time. If the swaro would fit in the safe they put in the cabins, that would be the way to go, but I'm not even sure my binos will fit in one of those things.

 

[Johnny Tyndall]

Headed to Alaska on a cruise with the family June 10-17. Have excursions booked for Skagway (train out and back) and Juneau (whale watching) but looking for ideas in Ketchikan. Also looking for any recommendations on spots to eat in all three locations, as our excursions at the first two won't last longer than the morning and will be over by Noon.

Ketchikan is tricky due to the ship leaving at 1 pm, I'd love to bottom fish, but not sure that's a wise choice given the time constraints. Appreciate any insight/advice/input.

My info is out of date, but in Juneau fish & chips at the Sandbar (note: it's a genuine dive) and pizza at the Island Pub (family friendly). Both require taking a cab, but it's nice to get away from the dock anyway. If you do go down the the Pub walking around on Sandy Beach and the old mine ruins is very cool. If you go out towards the Mendenhall Valley, the USFS visitor center at the glacier is cool. Rookery is (was?) a good coffee spot. There's a distillery and a brewery downtown that are popular. Alaskan bar is a classic. Hanger is good and popular with locals. Many other restaurants near the water are tourist traps.

 

[stank.243]

Thanks. I'll be taking my zeiss 10x42 SF's and considering taking my swaro ATX 85, but unsure I want to carry that much money in optics to leave in the room for a fair bit of time. If the swaro would fit in the safe they put in the cabins, that would be the way to go, but I'm not even sure my binos will fit in one of those things.

We were on a smaller ship, so might not be relevant, but I don't think a spotter would have worked well for 90% of the cruising with all the ship movement (but I also didn't have a spotter to bring haha).
I trusted the crew members more than most passengers, but I packed my binos around everywhere we went. Dinner, drinks, walks, whatever I always had them handy. Actually got a lot of questions on my AGC harness. Apparently not everyone knows bino harnesses are a thing.

 

[abbrown]

I lived in Ketchikan for a while. If it's still rolling, I'd recommend Ketchikan Kayak Company for a good outdoor water excursion out of Knudson Cove. Hike Deer Mountain up to the top if you have the time. There are groups that do 4wheeling outings, zip lines, more tourist-y things if that's what you're looking for. But bang for the buck those would be my two recommendations. Could always line up a fishing charter but if you only have the half day time slot I never had much success in those shorter time slots, unless your captain is feeling generous and taking you where the fish actually are.

 

[abbrown]

You'll almost certainly get whale watching action on the kayaks. Good bubble feeding activity right off the Cove most days in spring/early summer.

 

[112Savage]

In Juneau.
Island pub for pizza and walking Sandy beach
The Hangar for traditional American food and beer
There used to be a restaurant called Salt that was excellent but $$$
Pel Mini for a quick snack (in the hangar wharf)
Barnaby brewery (may change names soon, just got sold)
Salty Dog for fish and chips. Ask a local if it’s a good day for that. Most will know what you mean.
The rookery cafe is good

Most of the shops downtown by the docks aren’t owned by locals even if they say they are.
Stay away from the fish bakes. Sub par food and a waste of time.
The flight seeing glacier tours are a good time.

I haven’t been since 2018 so some things have changed but I lived there for over a year.

 

[tallbuchholz]

I did this same cruise. We did a short half day of guided fly fishing in Ketchikan, and it was easily the best fishing I've ever had anywhere. We fished the mouth of the river right behind the fly shop and caught a bunch of silvers, a ton of pinks, and a few huge chums. This was either in 2009 or 2012 and we obviously had the timing right, but it was really convenient - just walk off the boat to the shop, walk around back and start fishing.

 

[Silver Wings]

I second Alaska Fish House in Ketchikan. Nothing fancy but the food is always great.
You can still fish the morning with a departure time of 1:00. My youngest boy has been a guide out of Ketchikan for the last 10 years and has had his own business the last two. I don’t think I can link to him here, but if you message me I’ll give you his contact. He’d be happy to help answer any questions you have whether you want to fish or do something else.

 

[BuckRut]

Thanks. I'll be taking my zeiss 10x42 SF's and considering taking my swaro ATX 85, but unsure I want to carry that much money in optics to leave in the room for a fair bit of time. If the swaro would fit in the safe they put in the cabins, that would be the way to go, but I'm not even sure my binos will fit in one of those things.

We are heading up in August. Have you looked into whether you will have trouble with your binos at customs and proving you had them going up?

 

[Eagle]

We are heading up in August. Have you looked into whether you will have trouble with your binos at customs and proving you had them going up?

Never crossed my mind. I’ll check into it

 

[rookieforever33]

We are heading up in August. Have you looked into whether you will have trouble with your binos at customs and proving you had them going up?

We did a week in Alaska then the cruise from Seward to Vancouver. A lot of people had binos and no one said they were questioned about them.

 

[BuckRut]

Never crossed my mind. I’ll check into it

I was really wanting to bring my ELs but I am afraid of getting taxed to bring them back to the states through Canada. Especially since I’m possibly going to have issues with an old DUI when I get off the boat.

 

[Pony Soldier]

There was a topless bar and laundramat that was worth a visit in the 70s in Ketchican. But if it still exists there is the risk that they have the same girls which would make it a nursing home.

 

[stank.243]

We are heading up in August. Have you looked into whether you will have trouble with your binos at customs and proving you had them going up?

I didn’t have an issue. We stopped in Vancouver and then bussed to Seattle airport. Our bags were sealed getting off the ship and loaded on the buses by the crew. At the border they just had everyone go in without any belongings. They whisked us through quick and we were on our way.

 

[rookieforever33]

Take the walk to Nugget Falls from the Mendenhall Glacier visitor center when at Juneau. Nice wide path mostly paved if I remember. Well worth it.

 

[Tanya Avery]

Alaska is incredible! I did a Princess Cruise training last September and had the chance to ride the White Pass Scenic Railway in Skagway and do the City Highlights, Totems & Creek Street Trolley tour in Ketchikan. Both were fantastic experiences—and I made time to check out some great local pubs and restaurants in each town too. I attached some photos below.

I’m a travel advisor and love helping others get the most out of their Alaska trips. I have more cruise training coming up—a 10-day Land + Sea trip with Holland America in July, and a 7-day Celebrity Alaska sailing in August to keep expanding my firsthand knowledge and specialization in that location. If anyone ever wants ideas or has questions, I’m happy to share what I’ve learned and would love to work with you to book a sailing! https://bit.ly/FBTanyaAveryTravels

 

[IowaNative]

I opted for the Jet boats on that leg of the cruise and it was a blast. Wife had fun and we still had time to look at the town and stretch out legs