Ketchikan Excursions...

[RondaRed]

I need some help deciding what to do in Ketchikan. I havn't booked an excursion there yet because I can't figure out what I want to do. The popular items seem to be the float plane or the Totem Poles. The float plane seems interesting but expensive and I'm susceptible to motion sickness so I think I might skip that one.

I've been to Stanley Park in Vancouver and seen the totem poles there. So should I go see them again in Ketchikan? I'm not really that interested in them. I wouldn't mind fishing but I don't want to spend the entire day on a fishing trip. The ducks sound interesting but their not listed as an excursion with Princess. Any other thoughts on what might be interesting to do.

Thanks
Ronda

[Suzanne123]

Ronda - You can book the Duck excursion here:
[url="http://www.akduck.com/home/"]http://www.akduck.com/home/[/url]
[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

[Coral]

RhondaRed - I was on the Dawn Princess for 2 weeks. I did the Duck tour and enjoyed the tour - it wasn't outstanding but fun. The duck tour was heavily booked by a HAL ship and the ship was late -- so we only had 3 people on our "Duck". I booked it at the tourist center on the dock.

I did not look at the shore excursion sign up sheets on the first week (all of my tours were booked privately) but did on the second week and the duck tour was listed on the second week. It didn't have a description but said "look at pamphlet" or something like that. I didn't find a duck card at the shore excursion desk but was indeed surprised it was listed since it wasn't in the Princess excursion book.

[RondaRed]

Thanks Coral and Suzanne... It doesn't sound like a problem booking the Ducks at the dock. I have rode them in Branson Missouri many many years ago... as you said it's not outstanding but a little fun to pass the time...

Ronda

[Coral]

Ronda - I went into the tourist building on the dock to book the tour. About an hour later, I noticed a tourist stand on the dock for the duck tours which hadn't been there earlier. I don't think you can miss it.

[natesfirewife]

You can go kayaking. Check out [url="http://www.kayakketchikan.com"]www.kayakketchikan.com[/url] . We did the Orca Cove tour and the water was very still. We had a blast and would do it again. There are only 6 people allowed per tour so it is very quiet and you can see bald eagles everywhere.

Misty


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[sarahjane]

There are also a lot of 1/2 day fishing charters if you want to go fishing. It won't take all day. When you get back you'll still have time to see the town, etc. before you get back on your ship! My DH and I are doing that while our 2 teens are going snorkeling!
sarahjane

Serenade to Alaska 7/25/04!!!
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[mnwildfan2]

Hi,

I would recommend the Wilderness Exploration and Crab Feed excursion. You go on a boat ride (basically) to see how crab traps work and learn a little about crabs (and see some wildlife) and then have a dungeness crab lunch at the George Inlet Lodge. I know that it doesn't sound like much, but it was an *excellent* time and only around $140pp. They have a website at [url="http://www.catchcrabs.com"]www.catchcrabs.com[/url]

Jen

1st Cruise on Celebrity Mercury - Alaska 6/4/2004

[dustyroad]

rondared

surf the net under ketchikan tours and you will see all there is to do. there are so many things that would be a good tour. or go to the cruise site excursions and just get an idea of what there is too do there. i went on the floatplane trip last year with michelle of island wings and it was a wonderful tour. but i do not get motion sicknes on a plane, although it was a very smooth ride. i am going to do the saxman totem pole tour next. i want to see all of them and the dancers. also i might take in the lumberjack show. some say it is a little hooky buy fun. or just plan a day of shopping and visit creek street and ''dolly's house''. have fun finding a tour to take. there is also kyaking.

DUSTY

Carnival Spirit, 9/10/03 Alaska glacier bay

Carvival Spirit, 5/11/05
Alaska glacier bay again

[hooked-on-travel]

RondaRed-
No one has mentioned it yet, but before they do, there is a logger competition show in Ketchikan. If you're close enough to Branson, I recommend going there. Save your time in Alaska for things you can't do closer to home.

[ejhall]

mnwildfan2:

Thanks for the suggestion about the Crab Feed. I was already considering this excursion, now I'm convinced after reading your post and visiting the website you included. Now, to talk my mother into it.... [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Celebrity Infinity 9/5/04 (I can't wait! Woohoo!)
Celebrity Mercury 6/12/98

[RondaRed]

Thanks for your ideas everyone... It's less than a week before I get to leave... but I can't even get excited yet... too busy at work trying to get stuff done before I can go...

Keep the ideas coming...

Ronda

[Coral]

I actually did the Great Alaskan Lumberjack show in Ketchikan a few weeks ago (one week duck tour, second week lumberjack show). It was fun - sort of cheesey - but I enjoyed it.

This is very close to the dock and you can purchase the tickets the day of the competition. Ironically, the tickets were a little more by purchasing them directly then on the ship because the ship doesn't charge tax on their excursions.

This is a great thing to do if it is cold or wet (it was warm and sunny when I was there). The stands where you sit are covered and heated. The guys were impressive.

[mnwildfan2]

One word of warning though about the Crab Feed. There are many stairs that need to be walked (first down, then up) although they have a service road and a van that can assist with that. I counted 75 stairs with 3-4 rest landings in between, if needed. Once you get down the stairs there is a VERY STEEP ramp to the boat. It has boards nailed in to it to help you with balance. I'm having some severe back problems right now and I managed fine, but I know others may have other limitations.

Jen

1st Cruise on Celebrity Mercury - Alaska 6/4/2004

[gaschatt]

Our ship leaves Ketchikan around 12:45, so I figure I need to be back on by noon. I want to take my 9 year old to the lumberjack show which I believe goes to about 9:45. Is the remaining hour and a half to two hours we have enough time for us to walk around and see the town?

[Kayla's Mom]

Has anyone done the bear watching excursion out of Ketchikan? Princess offers it but I can't tell if it's a float-plane and how it copmpares to Katmai.

RCCI Legend of the Seas to Alaska 8/02
NCL Star to Hawaii 04/04

Next up:
Island Princess to Alaska 8/13/05

[natesfirewife]

Jen - Thanks for the website. I tried to talk my DH into doing that tour last summer but he wanted to do kayaking. I should him the website and he wants to do the Crab Fishing for next summer. Do you know if the meal is all you can eat crab??

Misty


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