Oh My G--, 4 ships in Ketchikan!

[tjcletsgo]

On my May 20th sailing on Volendam, there will be 4 (yes, four) cruise ships in Ketchikan!!!!!!!!!!! Considering it's such a small town, how can that be??????????????? We'll be there from 10:00-6:00. Should we bother getting off the ship? We aren't doing any excursions.....:confused:

I really wanted to go get some smoked salmon............:(

[Assateague Island Princes]

Yeah, it will be a bit crowded. Only two ships when we were there. But definitely get off - its a touristy town, but take a walk around, up on the Married Man's trail, go up the funicular, walk Creek Street, and get your smoked salmon! Lots of nice hiking trails in and around the area, so you could always get away from it all on your own. Not one of my favorite ports, but hey, its Alaska! Make the best of it! Great sea kayaking in this port, or flight seeing (but VERY expensive!). Don't stay on the ship! Try something fun - maybe the Deadliest Catch tour? Enjoy!

[jtl513]

I looked at the times for the other ships: the Carnival Spirit doesn't get in until 11:00a, the Diamond Princess leaves at 2:00p, and the Norwegian Star leaves at 3:00p. So there's only 3 hours (11:00a to 2:00p) when all four ships are there. Plan on doing things after 3:00p when you're only competing with the Spirit.

[Sleepladypalmdesert]

Yeah, and go to Ketchicandy and get some of those yummy Oreo things, or some other old school candy. I would get off just for that!

[kenish]

We went sea kayaking and had a great time. It's not too expensive as shore excursions go, and we used a Toursaver coupon. At the top of Creek Street, continue about a mile (moderate uphill) to the Totem Heritage Museum and the adjacent hatchery. The museum has historic totems in various states of arrested decay. They were brought out of the forest from abandoned villages and put on displat out of the elements.

[stevexy]

yes--go to ketchicandies--remarkably good--try the truffles and the fudge--better than what you can get in Juneau

[sailinglisa]

yes--go to ketchicandies--remarkably good--try the truffles and the fudge--better than what you can get in Juneau

I've been to Ketchikan three times, but have never found this place.....exactly where is it?

Thanks in advance!

[brucory]

Back in May of this year, we had 4 big ones andsome other smaller ships...

The shore excursions are timed so that everyone gets a chance at going and doing things...

Of all the stops Ketchikan has the most and largest stores. There is also plenty of food options etc, so you should not worry about missing out on anything...

Have a great time... We did...

:D :D :D

[Krazy Kruizers]

Only 4 ??

One year we were there with 6!! Even though one arrived early in the morning -- left early in the afternoon -- and another took it's docking space, there was still one ship where everyone tendered!!

Really a mess that day -- and very crowded.

[Sleepladypalmdesert]

Sailinglisa,

To get to Ketchicandies...take a right when you disembark to go into town. As you walk, if you look left down the side streets, you will see the store on one of the side streets. It is on the left side of the sidestreet. I am not sure the name of the street....but it is pretty easy to find. It is a great candy store for sure!

[catl331]

That would be 315 Mission Street. Get a glance of all their goodies on www.ketchicandies.com (http://www.ketchicandies.com). :)

[manbehindthecurtain]

It's the street with the sign across it "Salmon Capitol of the world".

You can see it from the ship, that is if you are on berth no.1 or 2. From the 2 new docks you cannot see it directly.

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

There were four ships when we were in Ketchikan in early September. I agree they must have the tours scheduled well because when we walked around town, it seemed like there were not a lot of people there. We walked early so perhaps that is why. Definitely, enjoy Ketchikan but walk towards Creek Street and get away from the Diamonds International type stores. It is definitely a quaint and touristy place. Get a local map and do the walking tour. Go to the salmon hatchery.

Barbara

[Krazy Kruizers]

Best I could find:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7d/Ketchikan_Sign.JPG (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7d/Ketchikan_Sign.JPG)

[jcrandle]

It'll be wall-to-wall at the Wal-Mart!

[c-cruise]

Only 4 ??

One year we were there with 6!! Even though one arrived early in the morning -- left early in the afternoon -- and another took it's docking space, there was still one ship where everyone tendered!!

Really a mess that day -- and very crowded.

LOL, that was my first thought too, only 4. Take a look at the schedule for Summer 09. It's hard to find a day when there are not at least 4 ships in Ketchikan. We were there last Summer and there were 4 large ships (2 Vistas, 2 Princess Grand Class) and two smaller cruise west ships.

Best advice is to get off the ship early and do your town stuff in the morning. By the afternoon it was wall to wall tourists.

I attached a pic of the line to get back on the Oosterdam in the afternoon.

[ekerr19]

I attached a pic of the line to get back on the Oosterdam in the afternoon.

Wow, that is a very long line!!!! I'm really not sure I would want to go somewhere that crowded...

[Krazy Kruizers]

LOL, that was my first thought too, only 4. Take a look at the schedule for Summer 09. It's hard to find a day when there are not at least 4 ships in Ketchikan. We were there last Summer and there were 4 large ships (2 Vistas, 2 Princess Grand Class) and two smaller cruise west ships.

Best advice is to get off the ship early and do your town stuff in the morning. By the afternoon it was wall to wall tourists.

I attached a pic of the line to get back on the Oosterdam in the afternoon.

That line is as bad as the one we had in Amador waiting for the tenders -- we waited one time for 1 1/2 hours to get a tender back to the ship -- in the broiling sun!!

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I am one of those that has to agree that 4 ships in Ketchikan is nothing. We have been there with 5 and 6 and never less than 4. Usually Ketchikan is a short stop and there are often tends to be more ship excursion done from this port so it really never feels that crowded in town. Although I have to admit when we were there in June we never even got off the ship.:)

[bigwally]

Only 4 ??

One year we were there with 6!! Even though one arrived early in the morning -- left early in the afternoon -- and another took it's docking space, there was still one ship where everyone tendered!!

Really a mess that day -- and very crowded.


Makes you wonder just what the powers that be are thinking (except for seeing the $$$ signs floating in front of their eyes!). I've been talking to another party about the number of ships visiting Cozumel for our upcoming Mexico trip vs. theirs. We're fine (relatively speaking) with 4 during the time we're there, but there are 7 when the other party is visiting. :eek:

[Brown Eyed Gurl]

I don't recall how many ships were in port when we there, it was at least 4. I think we were there from 8-1? We waited til around 9:30 to get off and walk around and the streets really weren't crowded. The stores closest to the ship were very crowded, but other than that, most stores were giving free gifts out just to lure you into their stores. We returned 30 minutes early to the ship and had to wait for about 15 mintues to get back on due to the long line.
Yes, must go to Ketchicandies! We left with way to many goodies-Irish cream truffles, licorice, choc-covered oreos . :o

[Boytjie]

Makes you wonder just what the powers that be are thinking (except for seeing the $$$ signs floating in front of their eyes!). I've been talking to another party about the number of ships visiting Cozumel for our upcoming Mexico trip vs. theirs. We're fine (relatively speaking) with 4 during the time we're there, but there are 7 when the other party is visiting. :eek:

We were in Cozumel in february - 10 ships in port!

i did not think it was that bad... then again, I went scuba diving and did not domuch else. Some excursions like to Tulum were picked up at the ship and taken to Playa del Carmen directly.

[hammybee]

I looked at the times for the other ships: the Carnival Spirit doesn't get in until 11:00a, the Diamond Princess leaves at 2:00p, and the Norwegian Star leaves at 3:00p. So there's only 3 hours (11:00a to 2:00p) when all four ships are there. Plan on doing things after 3:00p when you're only competing with the Spirit.

I always appreciate your willingness to go the extra mile and specicifity of your responses. :)

[Alaska05]

Have they posted the 2009 port schedules for Alaska yet. Last time I checked it was still for 2008?

[jschm27]

There were at least four ships in town when we were there in 2006. We didn't take any shore excusions but we did walk around town. We didn't think it was that crowded.

We took a bus to the fish hatchery and walked back along the creek to the main part of town. Glad we did because salmon were running in the creek.

When we got back to the ship (VEENDAM), there was no waiting to get back onboard.

John

[c-cruise]

Have they posted the 2009 port schedules for Alaska yet. Last time I checked it was still for 2008?

Don't know about an official schedule from the port, but if you go to cruise TT and select port/Alaska/Ketchikan/July09, you will get a decent idea.

http://www.cruisett.com/

c-cruise

[pipedreams62]

Leaving on a halibut trip last summer

http://pipedreams62.eaph2.com/share/afunstuff/dist.jpg

[RuthC]

http://pipedreams62.eaph2.com/share/afunstuff/dist.jpg
That sky is reminiscent of how it was my first time in Ketchikan! There was a light mist/rain pretty much all day. The stores so prominent now weren't even there then. It looked like it must have looked back in the Gold Rush days. :)

Every time I've been back since it's been hot and sunny (you haven't truly been to Ketchikan if it isn't raining), full of ships, and basicly a tourist trap. :(

[Willsot]

When we were there, which I believe was the longest day of the year in late June, there were six cruise ships in port. One was tendering. We took the Misty Fjords seaplane tour which was fantastic. It was crowded, but we walked all around town and visited Saxman village in the same day.

[sailinglisa]

Thanks for hte directions to Ketchikandies! Next time there, will be looking for it!

[InTheWASide]

On my May 20th sailing on Volendam, there will be 4 (yes, four) cruise ships in Ketchikan!!!!!!!!!!! Considering it's such a small town, how can that be??????????????? We'll be there from 10:00-6:00. Should we bother getting off the ship? We aren't doing any excursions.....:confused:

I really wanted to go get some smoked salmon............:(

When I was in Ketchikan there was the Norwegian Pearl, Westerdam, Carnival Spirit and Silver Shadow...

It was a very "bustling" town that day, but not as insane as I think you're imagining...