What to Do in Ketchikan on a Disney Alaska Cruise
- Ashlie & Lauren
- Sep 26
- 6 min read
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If you are planning a Disney Cruise to Alaska, chances are you’ll be stopping in Ketchikan, Alaska. This small town is full of beautiful scenery, rich history, and is the salmon capital of the world. All of the stops on your cruise are wonderful as Alaska’s beauty surrounds you, but there is something very special about Ketchikan, Alaska that made it my favorite stop on our cruise in June.
On a Disney Alaska Cruise, your stop in Ketchikan, Alaska is usually short. We disembarked at 11:00 am and had to be back by 4:45. Luckily, the ship docks right in town—so you’re just steps from the dining and shopping. No shuttles needed! I’ll guide you through what choices you have, even if you see the famous Lumberjack Show excursion!
If you want to see OUR day in Ketchikan, you can check out our vlog!
Downtown Ketchikan Shopping
When you first disembark, you will be steps away from a shopping district. If you’ve read any of our previous articles or watched our vlogs, you might remember my tip about NOT waiting until your last day to get a souvenir. That’s because I made this mistake and highly regretted it. The shops directly near the dock are very similar to the shops you will find at the other ports. They are very tourist friendly but not budget friendly.
While you’ll see many of the same items from Juneau or Skagway, prices in Ketchikan run higher—shirts and sweatshirts were about $10 more. That said, if you want something with “Ketchikan” on it, go for it! My mother-in-law still raves about her super-soft hoodie from Tongass Trading Company. You’ll also find plenty of jewelry shops, but for more local and unique finds, I recommend heading to Creek Street.
Explore Creek Street in Ketchikan, Alaska
Creek Street in Ketchikan, Alaska, is to me what makes this city so special. What was once a thriving red light district, is now home to local shops and museums. The boardwalk area will make you feel like you’ve stepped into a Hallmark Movie. The colorful buildings against the backdrop of the mountains will leave you cozy and romantic.
There are many shops within this district that host local artisans and goods. Yes, it is still a bit pricey here, but I am willing to pay a little more if I know it’s handmade and supporting a local artist. You can also visit the Dolly House, which is a museum dedicated to the history of the red light district.
Just behind Creek Street is the salmon walk. We were a bit too early in the season to see any salmon swimming upstream, but I would still highly recommend taking a stroll here as the walk is lovely and peaceful.
Where to Eat in Ketchikan, Alaska (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Breakfast
As the salmon capitol of the world, you can imagine that there are plenty of delicious spots to enjoy the fresh food. But first and foremost, let’s start with the most important item of all, coffee. During our cruise, I wanted to try a local coffee house so I would stop and ask a local for recommendations. A kind city employee directed me to the Local Grounds Cafe where I ordered a Banana Split Mocha and it was perfection.
Lunch
We had a rare opportunity for a day date as my mother in law took our kiddos exploring; so once again, I asked a shop owner on Creek Street where she would go for a date. She recommended the New York Cafe and to be honest, I wasn’t that thrilled as the title alludes to a burger or pizza joint. But thank the stars that I went against my judgment as this place turned out to be our favorite restaurant on our entire cruise.
New York Cafe is a cozy pub located steps away from Creek Street. The menu offers a little something for everyone without being too overwhelming, including vegetarian options. I opted for the chowder and salmon cakes while my husband
ordered the salmon filet.
Ladies and gents, each item was SUPERB. We ate a lot of salmon on this trip and this was by far the best of the best. My husband also ordered a beer flight which he very much enjoyed. I would not recommend this if you have really little kiddos. The vibes are small, romantic and the menu is priced more for adult dining. But if you get a chance to eat here, do not miss it!
Dinner
One of the most popular spots for dining is The Alaska Fish House. This local eatery is right next to the docks and the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show. My husband decided to stay back in town while we boarded the ship for dinner and divulge in their delicious fresh seafood.
The Fish House will more than likely be busy all day so be prepared to wait a while for your meal. I would not try and order a dish close to your all aboard time as they prepare everything fresh for you to enjoy. My husband ordered the fish tacos and said they were absolutely amazing and well worth the wait.
Museums to Visit in Ketchikan, Alaska
There are actually quite a few museums you can visit in Ketchikan that are all within walking distance. The first one we explored was the Ketchikan Firehouse. Now we didn’t know that it was a museum as the only reason we stopped here was because my son likes to visit every firehouse in a new city. This is a very tiny one room museum, but it houses an old firetruck and gives history on the fire department. We even happened to meet some firefighters just by luck who were VERY kind to give my son a full tour of the fire department.
My mother in law visited the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center downtown. General admission is $5 which gives you access to the museum and a short film. Ages 15 and under are free. The Tongass Historical Museum is located near Creek Street and has a $6 dollar admission fee for adults.
A little further away is the Totem Heritage Museum. There is a free shuttle and also a bus service to get to this museum. It also has a $6 entry fee for anyone over 17 years of age, but you can grab a museum pass for only $9 dollars if you plan on visiting both the Totem and Tongass museum!
Excursions in Ketchikan, Alaska
We typically don’t book excursions on a Disney Cruise, but for Alaska we wanted to make sure we explored each city in a unique way. As we looked through the options for Ketchikan, the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show seemed to be the only option for our family of four. We booked directly through Disney for this as they offer an exclusive show just for Disney Cruise guests.
It is a highly interactive show where kids and adults are chosen to participate in various activities. Goofy also makes an appearance but doesn’t actually meet guests. You watch two teams of lumberjacks compete in multiple rounds of logging competitions. It’s very loud, so if you have someone in your party that is sound sensitive, headphones would be recommended.
There are also many fishing and hiking excursions offered here. I booked one through Viator but sadly had to cancel because of some personal issues. However, Viator is a wonderful app and super easy to use if you’re looking to explore Ketchikan without paying the Disney excursion price.
What to Wear in Ketchikan on a Disney Alaska Cruise
I realized that you might be reading this guide for information on the city, not for fashion advice. But outfit planning is what we do here at Once Upon a Wardrobe and knowing what to wear in Alaska for our trip was stressful.
So I thought I would share my outfit so you can get an idea on what to pack. We cruised the first week of June and found that light layers were perfect for our day in Ketchikan. If you’re starting to plan your outfits, check out our full guide on what to wear on a Disney Alaska Cruise.
If you need further help with outfits for Alaska, you can check out our customized outfit planning services.
Ketchikan, Alaska is a tiny but mighty city. It offers so much culture, history, and stunning views of the coast of Alaska. I am happy to answer any questions you might have about this stop on your Disney cruise. Just leave your thoughts in the comments! Wherever your adventures take you, I hope they are magical.
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