We docked at The Mill at Ward Cove while stopping in Ketchikan on the Norwegian Bliss. At first, we…read morehonestly weren't sure what we were looking at because it looked like an old factory of some sort. Then we found out that's exactly what it was! The owner actually ended up being our shuttle driver over to see the Lumberjack Show and shared some of the history with us. He told us his father was the last person to lock the gates to the old pulp mill when it closed in 1997. We absolutely loved hearing that he now owns the property himself -- such a full circle moment and an incredible story. The building at Ward Cove was filled with merchandise to buy such as t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, snacks, jewelry... the list goes on and on. There were even a few local vendors set up selling their goods, which we really enjoyed. We also noticed the prices at Ward Cove were a little cheaper and the taxes were less as well. We did take the shuttle bus into town, and it was a very simple process. The ride was maybe 15-20 minutes at most, and they dropped us off and picked us back up at the same location, which made everything very easy and convenient. We really wish we would have taken a video of what the property looks like now so that when we go back in a few years, we can compare all of the improvements. They also shared a few exciting things planned for the next several years, and it sounds like this place is going to become something really special. The atmosphere, history, waterfront views, shopping, and friendly people made this such a memorable stop in Ketchikan. Definitely worth taking the time to explore while visiting Alaska!

We visited The Mill at Ward Cove during our Norwegian Alaska cruise on the Norwegian Bliss, and…read morethis is the port where Norwegian ships dock instead of downtown Ketchikan. The moment you step off the ship, you walk right into a huge warehouse marketplace filled with multiple shops and tons of Alaska‑themed merchandise. There are so many souvenirs, clothing items, snacks, and gifts that it's easy to spend time browsing before heading into town. To reach downtown Ketchikan, you pass through The Mill to get to the shuttle buses, and sometimes there's even a live singer with a guitar performing while guests wait -- a nice touch that makes the line more enjoyable. Overall, The Mill at Ward Cove is a convenient and lively first stop for anyone arriving on a Norwegian Alaska cruise, with plenty of shopping and an easy setup for getting into town.

We loved this excursion. We purchased it directly through our cruise ship and it was well worth it…read more The tour itself was informative and fun. The staff were beyond friendly and accommodating. Kelsey the captain was great. She provided a lot of really cool information. The hot chocolate was to die for. The snack plate was delicious. It was a great day in Ketchikan with the Lighthouse Excursion team.

We went on the Eagles, totems and lighthouse tour. The captain and deck hands were very nice,…read morehelpful and informative! When I couldn't find the eagles nest on my own they directed me towards the correct area. We saw sooo many eagles it was breathtaking! We drove by the totems, couldn't get too close so if that is your goal, you might choose another tour. We really went for the eagles so we were not disappointed as we saw tons! They also pointed out some seals and other wildlife. Much to our surprise they served us a delicious little snack with salmon dip, smoked salmon, crackers and locally made chocolate...as well as some pickled kelp I believe (I'm not a fan of pickled things so I tried but didn't pay attention lol). Well worth the price of the excursion in our opinion. Another surprise was they had a few locally made gifts on board, one of the deck hands is also a very gifted artist so he had designed some of the stickers and tees for sale. It's great to support locals! The captain was very knowledgeable about the homes along the shoreline as well...who knew there was a home featured in architectural digest in Ketchikan!?!

We had a GREAT tour of the rainforest and Totem Park with Kevin of Wild Wolf Tours on June 2, 2026!…read moreIt was delightful to have a guide who is a long-time area resident who know so much about the area, the rainforest, and the native Alaskans and the totems. He was ready and waiting at the designated spot just a few minutes walk from our cruise ship and took the three of us on an interesting, informative, and picturesque tour.

Had a wonderful experience booking with Wild Wolf Tours for an excursion during a port stay in…read moreKetchikan. We used Viatour to book and had clear communication with them from booking, pickup, and through the drop off at the end of the excursion. We were lucky to get Austin as our guide for our group of 4 and he provided us with knowledgeable, engaging and entertaining information about our surroundings. We started off with the Rainforest walk and then stopped over at visitor center and learned about the local Totem art and history. Overall had a great experience, made all the better with Austin's contagious love for Ketchikan and Alaska. He expressed how much he loved working with Wild Wolf Tours which made our experience even sweeter. Check out and support this local family owned business if you get the chance!

Had a great time with Captain Don on the Silver King. His communication through email was great…read moreand I booked direct with him. His boat was docked RIGHT at the cruise dock and he met us there as we debarked from our Holland America ship. What service! Compared to the other ridiculously expensive excursions in Alaska, this was a great deal b/c we only had SIX people on our private charter and for about as much money as we would have spent to go on a cheesy "tour a crab fishing boat" excursion! The process was new to me, trolling for salmon, so rather than stand with a pole in your hand the whole time, all the poles are hooked up and trolling. We drew numbers as we headed out of port, and when the pole jerks up, if it's your turn you grab ahold and start reeling! Captain Don was enthusiastic and his excitement made me feel like we were definitely going to catch some salmon today, and catch we did!!! On the way back, you stop at the processing center to have you salmon cut up, smoked, etc and shipped back home. As he said, "I hate fishing!!! .... I like CATCHING!" haha. I caught three salmon during our 4 hour trip (which Captain Don actually ended a little bit too, how awesome!) and my husband caught two. A mix of pinks and silvers salmon were caught by our group of 6. Captain Don was very personable, told funny jokes because he feels it's good luck. You can tell he's good, b/c two of the people on our charter had fished with him multiple times, every single time they came back to Ketchikan! Repeat business says something! The boat itself, well, it's a fishing vessel. It's not fancy. The interior cabin is a bit musty so I preferred to stay out on deck. Captain Don offered snacks and cold beverages. There is a "head" below deck on the boat, but it is teeny tiny ! We saw a bald eagle, but unfortunately no whales. He took us by some totem poles on the ride back to port. Just an excellent day!!!! Be sure to dress in layers WARM b/c towards the end of the 4 hour trip, the winds kicked up and a storm was brewing and it got quite quite chilly!

They cancelled our reservation of 8 but refunded only 4. They claim they refunded all 8 but we…read morenever got the credit for the 2nd 4. Do not use a debit card with them as you cannot get the bank to reverse/refund it. Also, they are quite rude in communications. We attempted to contact them multiple times and never got a response for weeks. Then they come back and say we are "harassing" them.

We had a fantastic time with Emily, our tour guide on the Wilderness zodiac Quest. We booked the…read morefirst trip of the morning and our group was very small, which made for a great time. The van picks you up and drops you off at the cruise docks, so no worries about transportation. They were very conscientious about getting us back to the boat on time. The cannery was a cool and unique venue, which included snacks and drinks after the zodiac ride. They have all the equipment needed to stay warm and dry. Emily was extremely knowledgeable and personable, which made for a great experience. We saw eagles, seals, deer, and of course, stunning scenery. 10/10 would recommend this, it was one of the highlights of our Alaska trip.

Date of tour: July 18, 2025…read more Really enjoyed this all-women(!) crew on our visit to the Dawes Glacier. The boat was clean and spacious--there's nothing worse than being on a boat that is packed to the gills with people--with two levels to enjoy and outside areas as well, including a third level that was opened when the boat was not in motion. Everyone was friendly and the snack and drink options were plentiful and for the most part, affordable. Given the captive audience, I appreciated that they weren't outright gouging us during our journey. They also offered up some free items as well, which was also quite unexpected. Crew interacted well with the passengers, asking them how their cruise has been and where they were from. The collection of glacier ice to be used in the making of drinks at no additional cost was a nice touch, even giving the kids cups of glacier ice without a charge was something you rarely see in this day and age! There were some things that could be improved, though: - The captain scolding the crew over the public address system was unnecessary. Apparently the other boat forgot their net and we needed to pass it over to them but the crew was busy helping passengers and didn't want to make the lines longer by going to fetch the net and pass it over. Confident that this could have been handled better. - The free donut holes were awful. Like puffs of stale bread that sat next to sugar, hoping the wind would blow some sweetness onto them. I know, it's free, but still something that should not have been served. - Hearing a crew member awkwardly navigate the tipping section of the credit card machine literally 50 times the exact same way. Saying, "You can just hit skip. If I do it, I'll get talked to about it." There are so many other ways to handle this that don't come across like she's going to be beaten at the end of the cruise.

Through an unfortunate series of events, we missed the boat by 10 minutes, but this operator…read moregraciously have us a refund. We have taken this adventure in the past and it is awesome!

We did the wildlife waterfall tour with Pam and 10,000/10 highly recommend! She was so fun and…read moreknowledgeable. Even if we hadn't seen bears, eagles, and (kind of close up to a) whale, it would have been a great trip. So very happy we booked. THANK YOU!!

Katlyn has always got her eyes out for you! Spotting bears, eagles, and any other animals worth…read moreseeing. You can really feel how excited she is to share this experience with you.

I coordinated the trip for my 6 family members and they all came back raving about the captain,…read moreGrayson. He made sure they caught their halibut limit and a to of salmon and rockfish. Everyone was very happy and I have a tough crowd here. Do note, no bathroom or food (beyond granola bars) onboard for 8 hours. Be prepared!

From the owner: Ketchikan, Alaska #1 Rated Fishing Charter…read more Fishing charters in Ketchikan, Alaska for salmon and halibut. Offering a variety of fishing charters specifically for cruise ship guests visiting Ketchikan or in town multi day trips. Fishing charter times and durations are customized to fit cruise ship schedules. We also offer guaranteed on time pickup and drop off. We offer a service to have your Alaska catch processed and shipped home. Choose from a variety of salmon and halibut trips which range from 4hr trips, 6hr trips and full day trips. Experience exclusive fishing excursions in Ketchikan with the top rated company based on guest testimonials.

This is my opinion of Big Fish Charters. Our group of 4 arrived at the airport and there was a…read morevehicle waiting in the parking lot for us to just load our gear, hop on the ferry and be at the apartment within 10 minutes of departing the ferry. A very nice two bedroom with two beds with all your necessary needs and full kitchen plus a grill outside in case you needed it. The apartment was not fancy but we were there to fish. Met with Captain Rick later that day and we went over all the questions we had and a general idea of what kind of fishing we wanted to do. We left for the boat every morning at 6:15 am and fished 12 hours a day for three days. We caught Kings, Coho, Pinks and a large Chum Salmon and we also caught 2 small halibut. Captain Rick pretty much left it up to us as to what kind of fishing we wanted to do since the Coho bite was on we fished the main part of the tide for Salmon and when it slowed down we asked to fish for Halibut. When we asked for a change Captain Rick did not blink a eye and put us on his spots, working hard trying to put us on fish. Since everyone should know, they call this fishing otherwise they would call it catching so there was no misconceptions on the few slack times we had not getting fish. During the slack times we all got to know all about the Captain and he learned a little about each of us and it was a great experience. Our experience with Big Fish Charters was great and we will be booking with him on our future trips to Ketchikan. If we had gotten another skipper this review might be different, who knows. Dale M

Went on a pink salmon excursion during vacation. We were lucky for the excursion to be split onto…read moreRick's boat. Rick was great. He was laid back and had patience with people who have never fished before (especially when we couldn't determine what a bite on the line was). He showed us how to bait the line and the procedure for bringing the fish into the boat once it was caught. With 6 of us on his boat, we caught about 12 or so salmon for the few hour excursion. He made it fun and also had one of the guests on the excursion drive his boat most of the time. While waiting for the bites on the lines, he also told us some of the history and going ons of the town.

Absolutely the best way to experience Ketchikan! Our guide Rick has lived in Ketchikan for over 30…read moreyears and was a font of local as well as Alaskan knowledge. Rick really cared that we have a great experience while in Ketchikan. The Honda Odyssey van was spacious enough for the four of us. Rick had pairs of binoculars and waters for us. He took us to a place to see black bears catching and feasting on salmon. We saw Bald Eagles and just missed seeing an orca. While on Creek Street, a black bear emerged from under a building to eat blueberries and huckleberries. We ate a few too after the bear moved on. Rick took us to a totem pole park and gave a great tour and history of totem poles. We took many tours while in Alaska and this was by far the most enjoyable one. You can't beat having a private tour with a guide who is proud of his town and wants you to have a great experience.

Leon our tour guide was awesome and very knowledgeable of Ketchikan. He went above and beyond the…read moretour listed. He also take great photos with you in them. When I come back I will book an all day tour to see more.