Does anyone have or know the schedule for the Ward Cove Shuttle to Downtown in Ketchikan Alaska?

[dpavid]

We arrive on the Encore in May 2024. How often does the shuttle run, and how many are running simultaneously? Will there be a long line and queue where we must wait over an hour to get to and from the ship? Any insight would be terrific.

[Kp125]

There are typically 3-4 big school busses. They fill up and take off but at least every half hour if not 15 minutes. There could be a line but it moves fast

[JIMESOPUS]

As of last year, the line will snake through the building ( shopping area ) and the buses will be there waiting for you once you get to the other side. Depending on whether there is a second NCL ship will determine how long the wait is for an available bus.

It's a continuous loop from the port to Ketchikan, the longer it takes to fill and empty the buses the longer the wait.

At Ketchikan, they will prioritize who gets on the buses closer to your departure time. Last year they boarded the Encore PAX first and us the Sun PAX to fill the bus.

[tokidoki]

This is from the daily.

[dmwnc1959]

1 hour ago, dpavid said:

We arrive on the Encore in May 2024. How often does the shuttle run, and how many are running simultaneously? Will there be a long line and queue where we must wait over an hour to get to and from the ship? Any insight would be terrific.

You may already know this, but on some days Ward Cove hosts two ships, which may make it more interesting when using the shuttle services. It appears on the day you’re their Norwegian Encore has Ward Cove all to herself…

 

https://claalaska.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/KTN-Ketchikan-2024.pdf
 

 

[dpavid]

3 hours ago, dmwnc1959 said:

You may already know this, but on some days Ward Cove hosts two ships, which may make it more interesting when using the shuttle services. It appears on the day you’re their Norwegian Encore has Ward Cove all to herself…

 

https://claalaska.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/KTN-Ketchikan-2024.pdf
 

 

Thank you! 

[dpavid]

4 hours ago, tokidoki said:

This is from the daily.

Thank you! That's terrible. It's such a short window. To maximize time, we need to be on the first shuttle in the morning. Thank you for posting this.

[9tee2Sea]

Whenever  do another Alaskan cruise , looks like I won't get off the ship in Katchikan ( I know I mis-spelled it).  I used to love just walking off the ship, strolling down  onto Creek Street ( I think that was the name). Seeing the Eagles by the river and on the street light.  That city was always so relaxing.  

[tokidoki]

8 hours ago, dpavid said:

Thank you! That's terrible. It's such a short window. To maximize time, we need to be on the first shuttle in the morning. Thank you for posting this.

U r very welcome!

[tokidoki]

8 hours ago, dpavid said:

Thank you! That's terrible. It's such a short window. To maximize time, we need to be on the first shuttle in the morning. Thank you for posting this.

U r very welcome!

[NikiPinkston]

Something else to be aware of is that the shuttle drops you off at Berth 4 in Ketchikan, which is 1/2 mile from "downtown" and it's a 10-15 minute walk.

[dpavid]

23 minutes ago, NikiPinkston said:

Something else to be aware of is that the shuttle drops you off at Berth 4 in Ketchikan, which is 1/2 mile from "downtown" and it's a 10-15 minute walk.

I just saw that on Google Maps. Terrible. Berth 3 was perfect when we went in 2019.

[dpavid]

What is there time to do in town now that the window is so short if you don't book an excursion? Arrive at 7 am but nothing in the town opens until 10 am. The last shuttle back is at 11 am. Walk Creek Street? That's about it. What a waste hanging out in their tourist trap.

Edited March 27 by dpavid

[NikiPinkston]

I agree @dpavid when NCL docked at Berth 3 it was so much better. Or, if you have a long port stop, shuttling from Ward's Cove is okay. The stop in Ketchikan this time is way too short, but we've stuck with NCL because we love the relaxed vibe and the other port calls on our upcoming cruise are long (Juneau and Skagway are virtually all day). In addition to Creek Street and downtown, we've done the Lumberjack Show and the Duck Boat, both of which I recommend, but this time we probably will just stay onboard, or maybe get off to take a look around the building at the pier.

[dpavid]

We're going to attempt the lumberjack show for the kids. That's about it. We really enjoyed the Christmas Store but won't have much time.

[Panhandle Couple]

By the end of last season, they had brought in double decker busses, helping the situation some.

There may be other non-town excursions that leave directly from Ward Cove.

[PandaBear62]

8 hours ago, NikiPinkston said:

Something else to be aware of is that the shuttle drops you off at Berth 4 in Ketchikan, which is 1/2 mile from "downtown" and it's a 10-15 minute walk.

 

Can you share a marker by Berth 4? When I look at Google Maps, it gives the address as 105-120 Schoenbar Rd and its right by Bar Harbor Ale House. Is this correct? Thank you!

 

[Nisi T]

Hired a private van for my extended family of 11 people (four hours/$500 for the van) for July 6, 2024 sailing on the Bliss. The van will pick-up/drop-off our group at Ward Cove.  The excursion is customized and we have a tentative itinerary to see Creek Street, Totem Bight State Historical Park and Herring Cove.  We're going to ask our guide/driver for recommendations since this is our first Alaskan cruise.  Mom is 90 years old and wanted to make the excursion as seamless as possible.

[NikiPinkston]

10 hours ago, PandaBear62 said:

 

Can you share a marker by Berth 4? When I look at Google Maps, it gives the address as 105-120 Schoenbar Rd and its right by Bar Harbor Ale House. Is this correct? Thank you!

 

 

@PandaBear62 That is the correct address for Berth 4, but here are the directions from Berth 4 to downtown from Google Maps. It shows that walking will take you 11 minutes. I read somewhere that there's another shuttle from Berth 4 to downtown but can't confirm that. Perhaps someone else on this board knows, although then that would be another shuttle to have to wait for.

 

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Ketchikan,+Alaska/Berth+4,+105-120+Schoenbar+Rd,+Ketchikan,+AK+99901/@55.3433222,-131.6562625,16z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x540c25088729e15b:0x7e90e56bcfc60674!2m2!1d-131.6461112!2d55.3422222!1m5!1m1!1s0x540c25f3bce98341:0xdaf2944023c1c2c6!2m2!1d-131.6561142!2d55.3442609!3e2?entry=ttu

 

[erisajd]

omg - there will be SIX ships in port the day we arrive in KTN . . . a day to stay on the boat.  No way are we going to fight the crowds to walk a street where everyone selling the same stuff for the same prices - I'll work out that morning - maybe get a $300 massage

[PandaBear62]

12 hours ago, NikiPinkston said:

 

@PandaBear62 That is the correct address for Berth 4, but here are the directions from Berth 4 to downtown from Google Maps. It shows that walking will take you 11 minutes. I read somewhere that there's another shuttle from Berth 4 to downtown but can't confirm that. Perhaps someone else on this board knows, although then that would be another shuttle to have to wait for.

 

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Ketchikan,+Alaska/Berth+4,+105-120+Schoenbar+Rd,+Ketchikan,+AK+99901/@55.3433222,-131.6562625,16z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x540c25088729e15b:0x7e90e56bcfc60674!2m2!1d-131.6461112!2d55.3422222!1m5!1m1!1s0x540c25f3bce98341:0xdaf2944023c1c2c6!2m2!1d-131.6561142!2d55.3442609!3e2?entry=ttu

 

Thanks. That's what I thought. I just wanted to make sure I had the correct location.

[dmwnc1959]

20 hours ago, NikiPinkston said:

 

@PandaBear62 That is the correct address for Berth 4, but here are the directions from Berth 4 to downtown from Google Maps. It shows that walking will take you 11 minutes. I read somewhere that there's another shuttle from Berth 4 to downtown but can't confirm that. Perhaps someone else on this board knows, although then that would be another shuttle to have to wait for.

 

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Ketchikan,+Alaska/Berth+4,+105-120+Schoenbar+Rd,+Ketchikan,+AK+99901/@55.3433222,-131.6562625,16z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x540c25088729e15b:0x7e90e56bcfc60674!2m2!1d-131.6461112!2d55.3422222!1m5!1m1!1s0x540c25f3bce98341:0xdaf2944023c1c2c6!2m2!1d-131.6561142!2d55.3442609!3e2?entry=ttu

 

I’ve watched a couple of videos of Wards Cove, one of them was the full bus ride from the dock into town. The walk from the downtown bus stop into ‘center city’ is definitely not ideal, but manageable. 

[vacation44]

On 3/27/2024 at 3:07 PM, NikiPinkston said:

Something else to be aware of is that the shuttle drops you off at Berth 4 in Ketchikan, which is 1/2 mile from "downtown" and it's a 10-15 minute walk.

 

21 hours ago, NikiPinkston said:

 

@PandaBear62 That is the correct address for Berth 4, but here are the directions from Berth 4 to downtown from Google Maps. It shows that walking will take you 11 minutes. I read somewhere that there's another shuttle from Berth 4 to downtown but can't confirm that. Perhaps someone else on this board knows, although then that would be another shuttle to have to wait for.

 

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Ketchikan,+Alaska/Berth+4,+105-120+Schoenbar+Rd,+Ketchikan,+AK+99901/@55.3433222,-131.6562625,16z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x540c25088729e15b:0x7e90e56bcfc60674!2m2!1d-131.6461112!2d55.3422222!1m5!1m1!1s0x540c25f3bce98341:0xdaf2944023c1c2c6!2m2!1d-131.6561142!2d55.3442609!3e2?entry=ttu

 

I just want to say great post explaining the Berth 4 situation.   I know I automatically thought last year that the NCL transportation would be more directly in town.  

[NikiPinkston]

1 hour ago, vacation44 said:

 

I just want to say great post explaining the Berth 4 situation.   I know I automatically thought last year that the NCL transportation would be more directly in town.  

Thank you, @vacation44 Appreciate your kind words. I love it when I can be helpful!

[NikiPinkston]

2 hours ago, dmwnc1959 said:

I’ve watched a couple of videos of Wards Cove, one of them was the full bus ride from the dock into town. The walk from the downtown bus stop into ‘center city’ is definitely not ideal, but manageable. 

The bus ride can actually be pretty entertaining. Last time, the driver had some great bear stories!