Misty Fjords from a cruise ship

Can you do Misty Fjords on a cruise day?

Yes. It is the most common way people reach it, and every option here is built to run from the cruise docks.

The question is how much of the port day it uses. The boat takes 5 hours 15 minutes, the longest flight takes 2.5 hours and the shortest takes about 1. Take your ship's all-aboard time and work backwards. If the margin is thin, choose a flight, not the boat.

Where do the tours meet?

Most meet within a short walk of the berths. Berth 2 serves the Taquan and Island Wings flights, and Berth 3 serves the boat.

Check the meeting section on your own listing before you pay, because times and spots are specific to each operator.

What if your ship docks at Ward Cove?

Ward Cove is a separate cruise terminal out of town. Ask the operator where to meet, because early flights may pick up there.

CruiseMapper's Ketchikan port page describes four downtown berths and a Ward Cove terminal about seven miles north, where Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings brands are the usual callers. Operator text says an 8 am Seawind departure from Ward Cove uses a different pickup, since the ship is about 20 to 25 minutes from town. The listing text for the 1.5-hour Seawind flight says Ward Cove guests are dropped at the shuttle stop on return. Confirm your own pickup with the operator or in your booking.

What does the all-aboard guarantee mean?

It is a promise in the listing that you will not miss the ship. The Taquan flight and the 1.5-hour Seawind flight both state it.

The Taquan flight lists a 100 percent guarantee that you will not miss your cruise ship's all-aboard, and the 1.5-hour Seawind flight (non-refundable) says the same. The Island Wings and boat listings we read do not state one, so ask. One boat guest reports missing the boat by ten minutes and getting a refund from the operator, which shows that arriving late is the real risk.

How early should you book the flight?

As early in the day as your ship allows, so that a weather delay still leaves room.

An early time is a cushion on a refundable tour, where you can cancel before the day. On the non-refundable flights it is the only cushion you have, because they cannot be changed. If your ship is in port only a few hours, the weather and cancellations guide is worth reading first.

How much time should you allow?

The listed length plus travel to the meeting point, plus 30 to 45 minutes of margin at the end.

Island Wings includes its van in the 2.5 hours. One Seawind listing puts pickup about 30 minutes before the departure shown, and the boat tour asks for arrival about 15 minutes ahead. The flights end back at the downtown docks, so the walk to the ship is short. Count that walk and any queue at the gangway.

What else is there to do in port if you skip it?

Whale watching at $190 or a waterfall and wildlife van tour at $117, both of which refund up to 24 hours before.

The Ketchikan whale-watching boat runs about 2.5 hours and is rated 4.8 from 1,046 guests. The waterfall and wildlife van is a 2 hour road tour from Berth 2, rated 4.6 from 248. Neither goes into Misty Fjords, and neither takes a whole day.

A shorter, calmer boat trip near town that leaves time for the rest of the port.

★ 4.8 1,046 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $190

Explore the Ketchikan whale-watching boat →

Which tour suits which ship day?

Short port day: a flight. Long port day: the boat or the private boat. Unsure: choose a refundable one.

• The Taquan flight for a refund and a guarantee on a tight day.
• The fast boat for a full port day and the lowest price.
• The private boat for a group that wants pickup at the dock.

For prices, see the prices guide.

Frequently asked questions