Category: Ketchikan (Alaska)

CITY HIGHLIGHTS, TOTEMS and CREEK STREET BY TROLLEY

This approximately 75-minute excursion takes you on a trolley ride through Ketchikan’s waterfront district, passing landmarks including Thomas Basin and Creek Street. Continue to Saxman Totem Park and learn about the significance of its many totem poles and how they were carved.

Excursion details

Ketchikan’s downtown landmarks and Indigenous carving traditions come together on this roughly 75-minute tour, which includes a trolley ride through the city’s historic district and a visit to Saxman Totem Park.

Depart from the pier for an approximately 15-minute drive on a trolley through downtown Ketchikan. The trolley will pass Thomas Basin, where fishing boats often line the waterfront, and will also visit Creek Street, a historic boardwalk built on wooden pilings above Ketchikan Creek. The district now houses a lively and colourful row of restaurants, shops and galleries.

You’ll arrive at Saxman Totem Park, located south of town, where around 45 minutes are set aside for a guided tour. The park features more than 20 totem poles carved by Tlingit artists, many recreated or restored to preserve traditional designs from older villages in Southeast Alaska. You’ll also find out about the symbolism and significance of the poles and the techniques used to create them when you make a stop at the park’s carving area.

Finally, you’ll be able to browse and buy locally made artwork and souvenirs at a store within the wider Saxman village, before a drive back to the port, lasting 15 minutes or so.

Important Information: It is recommended that guests wear proper rain gear and footwear on the tour. Tour operates rain or shine

LUMBERJACK SHOW and CRAB FEAST

Take in an exciting performance featuring lumberjacks competing in logging sports during this excursion of about three hours. Afterwards, you’ll walk to a restaurant on Ketchikan’s harbour for an all-you-can-eat crab meal, with sides.
Excursion details

Lasting around three hours, this excursion allows you to tick off two thoroughly Alaskan experiences during your time in Ketchikan, while also learning about the area’s history.

Start with a walk of about 10 minutes from the port to the site of Ketchikan’s former spruce mill, now an arena that hosts the much-loved Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show. This competitive display lasts approximately one hour and involves real-life lumberjacks showcasing strength, dexterity and accuracy across a series of challenges. Events may include speed sawing, axe throwing and tree climbing.

Following these feats, walk to Ketchikan Harbor Haus, a restaurant on the Thomas Basin harbour, where you can soak up the waterfront views while enjoying all-you-can-eat Dungeness crab and accompanying side dishes. After your roughly 75-minute feast, a walk of approximately 10 minutes returns to the ship.

Important Information:No age restrictions on this tour. We have a concession stand open for purchase during the show. It has pretzels, hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, chips, candy, beer, wine, soda, hot drinks, and water.

If the ship is docked on dock 4 (furthest away from us, we do offer a complimentary shuttle to and from the show site. Vegetarian and non-crab options are available. One alcoholic beverage included during meal per guest (beer or wine) additional glasses can be purchased at your own expense. Tour may run in reverse

FLIGHTSEEING and TASTE OF ALASKA

This excursion of around three hours lets you view Alaska from the air on a “flightseeing”trip before touching down to visit a countryside resort and fishing retreat, where you’ll savour a seafood meal.

Excursion details

Prepare to enjoy two different but equally rewarding sides of Southeast Alaska during this approximately three-hour excursion, beginning with a drive of around 15 minutes to Taquan Air. This Alaskan airline specialises in trips which reveal the visual splendour of the state’s southeast region by cruising over some of its most impressive terrain.

After a short orientation and safety briefing, it’s time to board the aircraft, a de Havilland Beaver. Designed for flying in a range of tough conditions, it’s the perfect aviation vehicle for the Alaskan wilderness.

Over the next 25 minutes or so, your flightseeing trip will take you over scenic stretches of Alaskan wilderness featuring soaring mountains, carpets of thick forest and other dramatic natural wonders.

After your plane has landed, there’s around 15 minutes to disembark, meet your host and transfer to World Famous George Inlet Lodge by cart. On the way, you’ll make a quick photo stop at a nearby waterfall.

Once you’ve arrived at George Inlet Lodge, settle in for a seafood-based feast and drinks over approximately 70 minutes (an alternative menu is served on early-morning excursions).

Following the meal, spend 15 minutes or so browsing the gift shop and boarding your vehicle before the roughly 25-minute drive back to the port.

Important Information:Depending on the tour departure time, guests may receive brunch with Dungeness Crab Cake Benedict and smoked salmon bagels, while later tours will receive a Ketchikan Green Salad and a seafood feast with crab cake, honey soy salmon, and halibut. This tour may operate in reverse order, starting with the drive to Salmon Falls, followed by the flight. The FAA requires guests’names and weights for weight and balance calculations and flight manifesting. This ensures the aircraft operates within the safety parameters. Due to weight and balance limitations, as well as for guests’safety and comfort, guests weighing 250 lbs. (114 kg) or more will incur a weight surcharge of $168.

If applicable, this surcharge will be paid directly to the tour operator prior to the tour departure. Dietary restrictions cannot be accommodated on the day of the tour and must be communicated to the shore excursions desk at least 48 hours prior to tour commencement. There is a set price per person for this tour. Child rates are not applicable. Flight time is approximately 25 minutes

BLACK BEAR and WILDLIFE EXPLORATION

Enjoy a guided walk through rainforest terrain as you seek out black bears during this approximately three-hour excursion. You’ll also visit several historic and cultural sites preserved within the sanctuary, including a sawmill, as well as watching a blacksmith at work.

Excursion details

On this excursion lasting about three hours, you’ll travel to the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary at Herring Cove. The area provides an important habitat for wildlife, including black bears, and you’ll be trying to spot some of these fantastic creatures during the excursion.

A drive of around 30 minutes takes you from the port to the sanctuary, where you’ll meet your guide for a brief orientation before setting out on a walk lasting approximately 75 minutes. The route follows well-maintained trails through dense forests, arriving at an elevated boardwalk that leads to viewing platforms above Eagle Creek.

You’ll then be on the lookout for some of the black bears that call the area home, plus other local wildlife, but please be aware that wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed.

Afterwards, you’ll have roughly 30 minutes to explore some of the sanctuary’s historic sites and buildings. These include the Herring Bay Lumber Company sawmill, where old machinery survives from Ketchikan’s once-thriving logging era, and a totem park featuring totem poles carved by the Tsimshian people, an Indigenous community of the Pacific Northwest.

You’ll be able to learn more about the significance of the totem poles and find out how they’re carved, and there’s also the chance to observe further skilled craftsmanship while watching a blacksmithing demonstration.

Following this, you’ll have approximately 15 minutes to shop for souvenirs before a drive of about 30 minutes – featuring commentary from an onboard guide about the local area –returns you to the port.

Important Information:It is recommended that guests wear warm clothing and comfortable walking shoes.

The boardwalk can reach heights of up to 15 feet, and the walking path is on a well-maintained, compact gravel surface. The minimum age to participate is 8 years old. Guests will be standing for long periods of time. Food is not permitted to be brought on this tour. The spotting of wildlife is not guaranteed. Please be aware that the boardwalk railing may obstruct the view of wildlife for those using wheelchairs

THE ALASKA YOU CHOOSE: CUSTOM HUMMER EXPERIENCE – YC EXCLUSIVE

Exclusively crafted for MSC Yacht Club Guests, this experience combines luxury, premium service, and exclusive access to make every moment ashore memorable. This excursion of around four hours is a chance for MSC Yacht Club members to craft their own tour of Ketchikan, with tailored recommendations from a guide. The trip could include museum visits, rainforest walks, wildlife spotting and much more, and you’ll be driven between sites in a Hummer H2 off-road SUV.

Excursion details

Experience Ketchikan, known as Alaska’s “First City”, on your own terms during this approximately four-hour excursion, which puts you in charge of the itinerary. Together with your guide – who will also be your driver throughout – you’ll create a private tour fully based on your own interests and preferences, with all stops being flexible and optional.

Whether your interests include a city tour, cultural centres or natural activities there are plenty options to choose from. Options include Creek Street, a historic wooden boardwalk overlooking Ketchikan Creek and lined with colourful shops and restaurants. The adjoining downtown area is another option, full of public art, waterfront viewpoints and buildings that reflect Ketchikan’s rich history.

If interested in cultural centres, guests can choose from the city’s many museums and galleries, spending as much or as little time as they wish. These include the Tongass Historical Museum, where you can learn more about local history, and the Totem Heritage Center, which displays art from the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian peoples and explores the region’s Indigenous cultures.

Additionally, there are several totem park options nearby, which you may choose to include in your itinerary. These include Totem Bight State Historical Park, a short drive out of town and home to restored or replicated totem poles, and Saxman Totem Park, a smaller site featuring more than 20 totems crafted by Tlingit communities.

If you’re looking for nature activities, you can choose to include hiking or wildlife spotting. Tongass National Forest offers a wide range of trails, and your guide can advise on routes suited to your preferences. For wildlife spotting, Whale Park is one possible stop, offering access to the water where humpback whales can sometimes be seen. Other trails in the area may also provide wildlife viewing opportunities, although please note wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Important Information:This tour is available for guests who are booked in the Yacht Club only. The listed price is per vehicle (not per person); only one person needs to book, with the tour payment chargeable to only one account. The name of the companions joining the purchaser must be registered with the Yacht Club concierge desk once onboard. Each vehicle can fit up to 4 guests. This is not a self-drive tour; a driver will be provided. The driver of this tour is also the guide. Entrance fees to attractions are included. The vehicle does not travel off-road. Hiking trails can range from easy to strenuous.

Food and drinks are not included in the tour price and are at the guests’own expense. It is recommended that guests bring cash or credit cards for any additional purchase. The deadline to cancel this tour without any penalties is 48 hours prior to the call. Any cancellations made less than 48 hours prior to the call will result in a 100% penalty of the tour price

AUTHENTIC ALASKA FISHING

Find out why Alaska is known for having some of the best fishing in the world during this excursion of around five hours. See if you can get a nibble from salmon, cod or rockfish as you and your guide craft a fishing itinerary while admiring the natural scenery.

Excursion details

During this flexible trip lasting approximately five hours, you’ll get to experience the diversity of Alaska’s fishing first-hand, while travelling through a scenic setting that showcases the region’s rural splendour.

The outing starts with an approximately 15-minute walk from the ship to a nearby marina, where you’ll spend around 15 minutes receiving clothing needed to keep you dry and warm, plus your fishing equipment and a fishing license for the day.

Then set off in your boat for around 45 minutes, arriving at the fishing area that you and your guide have chosen based on the day’s conditions, where you’ll spend approximately two hours and 45 minutes on a fishing quest. If the salmon are “running”(that is, if they are in nearby waters), your guide might recommend trying to catch pink, silver and the elusive king salmon. Other options include rockfish or – if waters are calm on the day – your boat could head further out to look for Pacific cod and lingcod.

Wherever you and your guide end up, enjoy the Southeastern Alaskan scenery during your travels. And please note that although you have a good chance of catching fish on the day, this cannot be guaranteed.

After the fishing, it takes around 45 minutes to return to the marina and another 15 minutes or so to walk back to your ship.

Important Information: Participants must be at least 5 years of age, weigh a minimum of 30 lbs. and a maximum of 300 lbs. Deck or rubber soled shoes must be worn on board. We recommend that you wear warm, layered clothing. Baranof provides rain gear, rubber boots, comfortable float jackets, wool socks, hat and gloves, as well as all fishing equipment and tackle.

Alaska State Law requires a fishing license that can be purchased in cash at the outfitting room for $15. You’ll need a credit card in order to have your catch processed and sent home (U.S. only). Fish cannot be stored on board the ship. -This tour is not recommended for expectant mothers or Guests who have neck, back or heart problems, because the weather can change rapidly, causing the vessel to navigate through some sea swell

ALASKAN CULINARY TASTINGS, TLINGIT TRADITIONS AND LUMBERJACK SHOW

Experience several different facets of Southeast Alaska’s personality during this multi-layered excursion of around three hours. You’ll learn about some of the region’s Indigenous culture at Saxman Totem Park before enjoying local culinary treats, ending with a high-energy lumberjack show.

Excursion details

Lasting approximately three hours, this celebration of Alaskan life begins with a transfer of about 15 minutes to Saxman Native Village. The site was established when residents from two settlements of Alaska’s Indigenous Tlingit people – Cape Fox and Tongass – came together to form one village.

Discover more about Tlingit culture during approximately 15 minutes, as you walk past artefacts, restored totem poles and other objects that delve into Tlingit history and heritage. You’ll also learn about various Tlingit villages in the area, including Cape Fox, whose residents are said to have relocated to the wider Saxman area in order to attend the village’s school and church.

Next, it’s time for a culinary experience at Saxman’s community centre section. Over 45 minutes or so you’ll sample a variety of Alaskan specialities.

Following the tasting, a transfer drive of about 15 minutes, followed by a walk of around 15 minutes, moves the excursion to the site of Ketchikan’s former spruce mill, now an arena that hosts a locally loved extravaganza: the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show.

Lasting approximately one hour, this visual spectacle features real lumberjacks competing against one another in rounds of timber sports and other feats with connections to Ketchikan’s logging industry, formerly a cornerstone of the region’s economy. Axe throwing, tree climbing and speed sawing may be among the events on display.

After enjoying the show, a walk of around 15 minutes returns to the port.

Important Information: Guests should inform the Shore Excursions Desk at least 48 hours prior to the call in case of any food allergies. Tour may operate in reverse order

HISTORIC HIGHLIGHTS, DUNGENESS CRAB and MIMOSA BRUNCH

This approximately four-hour excursion begins by exploring Alaskan Indigenous culture at Saxman Totem Park, where you’ll view totem poles and learn about carving styles of the Indigenous Alaskan Tlingit people. Afterwards, continue to a waterside lodge for a Dungeness crab brunch.

Excursion details

During this roughly four-hour excursion, you’ll discover how both historical traditions and coastal landscapes have shaped life around Ketchikan. A drive of about 15 minutes transports you from the port to Saxman Totem Park, home to over 20 restored totem poles carved in traditional Tlingit styles, many based on designs recorded in abandoned villages across Southeast Alaska.

Spend approximately 90 minutes at the park on a guided tour, finding out about different types of totem poles and the significance of the figures carved into them. The visit also includes a photo stop at the Beaver Clan House, a traditional-style Tlingit building, plus a chance to observe a carver at work.

A transfer of around 15 minutes then brings you to George Inlet Lodge, where the next 90 minutes or so are set aside for a meal of steaming Dungeness crab – a favourite across Southeast Alaska – and a selection of side dishes, plus mimosas, all served amid the lodge’s smart décor. The building itself was originally constructed in the 1940s for use as a salmon cannery bunkhouse and was later relocated by log raft to its present waterfront setting.

Following the meal, a drive of about 30 minutes returns you to the port.

Important Information: Guests should inform the Shore Excursions Desk at least 48 hours prior to the call in case of any food allergies. Guests must be able to transfer 2 to 3 steps into smaller shuttle at the George Inlet Lodge. There are 89 steps from parking lot to the main dining floor. Tour may operate in reverse order

HISTORIC CANNERY, DUNGENESS CRAB MEAL and BEER FLIGHT

This approximately four-hour excursion explores Ketchikan’s salmon-canning heritage with a guided visit of the historic George Inlet Cannery. Afterwards, continue to a nearby lodge for a Dungeness crab brunch paired with local craft beers.

Excursion details

During this excursion lasting about four hours, you’ll travel south of Ketchikan to George Inlet, an area long connected with Alaska’s commercial fishing industry and coastal communities.

A drive of around 30 minutes brings you to the George Inlet Cannery, which opened in 1914 and operated intermittently until the 1950s. After meeting your guide, follow a short trail through rainforest landscapes to the cannery grounds, pausing briefly at a waterfall along the way.

About 75 minutes are then set aside for a guided visit of the cannery complex, where original buildings and preserved equipment illustrate how the salmon industry operated during its peak years. Explore the different areas while learning how salmon moved from the fishing boats to the processing line. Displays of historic tools and machinery help bring the daily routines of cannery workers to life. You’ll also get to taste the cannery’s smoked salmon dip.

A transfer of about 15 minutes then moves the excursion to George Inlet Lodge, where you’ll be served a meal of Dungeness crab, accompanied by a tasting of local craft beers. After approximately 90 minutes at the lodge spent enjoying the food and drink, a transfer of about 30 minutes returns you to the port.

Important Information:Guests should inform the Shore Excursions Desk at least 48 hours prior to the call in case of any food allergies. Tour may operate in reverse order. Guests must be able to transfer 2 to 3 steps into smaller shuttle at the George Inlet Lodge. There are 89 steps from parking lot to the main dining floor. Tour may operate in reverse order.